Sony gets a ton of hype for their cameras in the Wildlife Photography industry. I got my hands on the Sony A1 to test out for a few weeks and found myself amazed in the results with two exceptions to the camera. Watch this video to find out what I loved about it and what I wasn’t a big fan of!
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Learn How to Manually Focus w/ Techniques I’ve Developed Below!
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Timestamps:
0:00 – Intro
0:49 – Image Stabilization
2:12 – Image Quality/Features
3:20 – Video Quality
3:41 – Autofocus Use Cases
5:26 – AF Examples
7:44 – Build/Button Placement
9:00 – Color Space
9:23 – Amazed and Underwelmed
#wildlifephotography #birdphotography #sonya1
Comments
8 responses to “Sony A1 Review for Wildlife/Bird Photography”
Hey y’all! I appreciate your feedback as I’ve been getting a lot of “rebuttles” about the AF… I understand I should have done a better job of representing more extensively my AF tests, there is also so much to display that it’s hard for me to always pick what I should be spending time on, but ultimately I tried it in a few different AF modes and still wasn’t finding myself completely satisfied as you see in this review. Yes, I am sure I could learn more about the A1 and focusing better, but the point in my perspective of having a fantastic AF hyped up as much as the A1 was is so that you wouldn’t have to jump through so many hoops, otherwise we are just back to where we started with having to micromanage our autofocusing like we have for years. Someday (not yet) we won’t have to micromanage our AF and we can rely on it in any situation. This Sony A1 wasn’t that solution yet. Again, in more scenarios then I would have preferred, manually focusing with the techniques I’ve developed would have been quicker than having to joystick spot the subject, select the subject to track by pulling back from the viewfinder to look at the LCD screen, or hunt through different focus ranges in order to get the camera in the right spot, so it just wasn’t as good as I’d like.
You can agree, or disagree with my statements, but that’s what I believe a “good AF” should be when it’s hyped up as much as it is. And please don’t forget, I did say that it was the best I’ve used, just still not what I’ve hoped for… so no need to get defensive 🙂 Thanks for the consideration!
Great video dude. I think the things you were having issues with would be solved with more use tho.
The video mode, you can tap on the back LCD screen to track a subject. I use this all the time and it locks on very well
The issues with foreground I rarely had if I am using the small spot tracking option. You can just use the small "joystick" to select where you want the camera to focus and it will lock on, You could also move the camera to lock onto the subject then move back into position with the foreground element.
A battery grip or small extension grip will solve the grip issues you had and all the buttons become second nature with more time and you can just configure your own custom menus and buttons to help this too.
All in all….I think you should still switch so we can be Sony buddy's haha.
Keep up the good work dude
Hi Jeremy!
Who’s setup tutorial did you use for the A1?
Most setups employ the dual back button AF, one which is more for tracking and nearest items first and one for flexible spot. If you’re only getting near items first there are other modes that don’t do that.
Dual BBAF let’s you pick per scenario.
While explaining the AF wins or issues, it would also be good to know what settings you were using. Like bird eye AF, wide area, small area etc. Hard to know what you are referring to without having some context.
Since when did you get A1
Hey Jeremy, you can solve the camera moving onto the foreground by using the correct focus area and tracking settings. If you use something like small spot to lock in the tracking on your subject, with tracking sensitivity set to locked on, it will never move off of the subject onto the foreground.
I’d also recommend a SmallRig or RRS grip extension to solve the pinky ergonomics.
You can change the way the image in your viewfinder looks by adjusting the settings for Jpeg recording.
I’m down to chat if you wanna find out more.
Best regards, a happy A1 user.
Great Video Jeremy. I use this exact set up and have added the 24-70 G Master and the 70-200 G Master lenses to my collection. I absolutely love this camera, and you are correct, there is some issue with the AF system as I have missed some shots as well. I appreciate your unbiased review of the very system I use and found everything you stated, to be very accurate and real world. Thank you so much
Hey Jeremy. Great review on the A1. I don't plan on switching from Canon as I'm saving for the R1 or the R5 mk2 within the next 2 years. However, the A1 seems to be very solid. Well it better be for $6,000 lol …
If I owned the A1, I'm sure I wouldn't be completely disappointed.
Just a little thing I noticed in your video you shared the high winds in your upcoming field video and noticed you had your lens hood still on. I try to take mine off in winds because it acts as a wind tunnel and collects wind and alot of shake. Anyway im sure you knew that but wanted to point it out. Keep up the great work man. TBH, You can't go wrong with any camera these days. Happy shooting brother 📸