Over the past year, I have been making a switch in my digital gear. Per a friend's suggestion, I began experimenting with the Sony digital system. While I have been a long-time Canon shooter, the R system has posed a bit of a challenge with editing (in my experience) with their magenta leaning tones. Hence my openness to trying something new!
After using Sony for over a year now, it's safe to say I'm glad I made the switch. And it's about time I updated my site to reflect my new preferences. While I still fully support anyone purchasing a Canon R5 or R6 (wonderful, fast cameras), I have now begun to use primarily the Sony A1 and the Sony A9ii. I've found the colors of the A9ii and the A1 to be similar, with my preference on colors leaning slightly towards the A9ii, but the up-to-date technology (and an edge of quicker autofocus) leaning towards the A1.
1. Sony Lens Preferences
As I've shifted to Sony, I've gathered a few new favorite lenses. My all-around favorite is the Zeiss 50mm 1.4. This lens is quick and has such beautiful rendering that mimics the Contax 645 Zeiss setup I use in my medium format film shooting quite well. You can find my other favorites below:
- Zeiss 35mm 1.4 - This lens is another favorite. It's only downfall is that it can be a bit slower to focus at nighttime compared to the 24mm or the 50mm. Still a solid lens that isn't leaving my kit anytime soon!
- Sony 24mm - The widest lens in my kit, this is a favorite for dancefloor moments. I've found myself pulling it out for a few documentary-style moments during the daytime as well (although I might be reaching for that smaller 28mm mentioned below now that it's in my kit).
- Sony FE 28mm F/2 E-Mount - This is a very new purchase, but I instantly fell in love with how tiny and light this lens is. I intend to use it for some documentary-style shots, especially when I'm traveling light and need one wider lens in my bag. 28mm is one of my favorite focal lengths, as the 24mm can be just a bit too wide for me sometimes.
- 85mm -
This image was shot with the 24mm vertically. Next time, I plan to take the 28mm instead (a little less warped on the edges, and less than half the size of the 24mm).
2. Preferred Presets w/Sony
If you know me well, you know that I'm never sticking to one single preset or profile. That being said, I've found a couple of recent profiles that I really love, and that work quite well with Sony's colors.
- Goodlight Presets, Pack 4. I specifically love M6, M3, and M5. I typically use these presets at about 50-70% of their max (easy to lessen the amount applied in Lightroom).
- Use the Code ABIGAILLEWISPHOTO for a discount on Goodlight.
- VSCO Lightroom Presets. While these are no longer sold, you may have already purchased these years ago when they were sold. They take a bit of tweaking, but I've created a version I love for some edits!
3. Sony Accessories
*coming soon*
*Please note that links within this article are affiliate links. This means I may earn a small commission if you decide to purchase after viewing these links.
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10 Wedding Essentials You Need as a Wedding Photographer
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