On a trip for this summer 2023, I brought with me 24mm, 35mm and 50mm lenses. I tried to constraint the use to only 24mm and it works perfectly. If there’s only one lens I am permitted to bring, I’ll take that 24mm easily. Due to its small footprint, when it is on the camera, the entire system looks very discreet.
Some photos might have looked better with 35mm (my favourite focal length) while 50mm can make things pop better, especially with its macro function. But when going out for an excursion, there is a mix of things that you want to capture. The city, the street, the people, the food, the beaches and probably a half-body portrait. I find that 24mm has this versatility, despite my heart racing for 35mm. Having 24mm the entire time was also a wise decision.
When I was in Ibiza in the spring of 2023, I had with me 20mm F1.8 G. I found that this focal length is not versatile enough. It was just too wide for a subject close-up. So whenever I need to take photos of food and flowers, I have to switch to 35mm. However, 20mm was good for “selfies” and “vlogging” as I don’t have to stretch my arm that far.
Sony α7R III and Sony FE 24mm F2.8 G
This time around, I have the 24mm F2.8 G with me, it is just very light and snuggles nicely in my Peak Design Everyday Sling 6L V2. It was quick to take the camera out and then in again. I captured the landscape at its widest, foods at the restaurant at its closest and normal portraits without much distortion.
Sony α7R III and Sony FE 24mm F2.8 GSony α7R III and Sony FE 24mm F2.8 G (with Godox V1)
It might not be the best, but it works most of the time. Perhaps because it is small and light. However, this lens has its own drawback. While I like the colour coming out, it exerts barrel distortion, quite strongly I must admit.
Another camera that I used VERY often was GoPro Hero 11. I found a tweak using GoPro Labs to set the maximum shutter speed to avoid blurriness when in darker environments. So, the recordings are no longer jittery! In addition to the horizon lock setting, the footage came out like it was held on a gimbal. For the entire week, I have not used DJI Pocket 2 at all. It is one of my favourite pocket cameras as it has a built-in gimbal.
GoPro Hero 11
GoPro is quick (hence the name it carries with, action) and can be used where Sony can’t. Holding the camera outside of the car’s window while driving. Then taking it along when diving in the water. Enduro battery definitely has a longer life and having three of them has been really helpful. Another strong case for GoPro is that even a screen grab from its footage is sharp!
GoPro 11: A photo taken under the water.GoPro 11: A screen grab from a 5.3K footage.
A drone, whilst it is not necessary but captures and yields different perspectives from a higher angle. I took along the DJI Mini 3 Pro. It was very light and easy to travel with.
DJI Mini 3 Pro: Another perspective of Cala Comte.
It seems like I have found my almost perfect and light travel setup. Only two cameras and three lenses!
Sony α7R III + GoPro Hero 11 Sony 24mm F2.8 G Sony 35mm F1.4 GM Sony 50mm F2.8 Macro
This is one of my favourite lenses for portrait photography and also for general photography. It is also quite compact and doesn’t leave a big footprint in my bag. I also like this lens due to its weight and I can handheld when recording videos.
I like this focal length more than the 35mm as the angle of view is a bit more “tight” hence reducing the surrounding “noise”. It also works fine for product photography when I could not quickly get the Sony FE 50mm F2.8 Macro.
But, I find that it is not a “fast” focussing lens. I missed a lot of shots because it was taking some time. But, the thing that I really dislike about this lens is the purple fringing (chromatic aberration). A very strong one even! Check the photo below and it was just annoying.
I like the bokeh produced from this lens. The subject and the plane separations are really good as well. I find that f/2.8 is the best aperture setting for my camera. But my interview video recording works nicely at f/1.8.
I acquired this lens in March 2022 and it is one that travelled with me the most and always is in my bag (even my I don’t plan to use it, you just don’t know when you might need it). But of course, 50mm GM F1.4 is on the list 🙂
Aperture range: f/1.8 to f/22 The angle of view: 43° Minimum focus distance: 50 cm Maximum magnification ratio: 0.14× Filter size: 49 mm Dimensions (ø × L): 64.4 × 70.5 mm Weight: 281 g
At one time (2023), I have had GoPro 7, 8, 9 and 10 at once. Then I decided to sell GoPro 8 and 9. Trying to sell GoPro 7 as well. Only been utilising GoPro 10. Then with the new sensor dimension and with the promise of a better HyperSmooth 5.0, I upgraded to GoPro 11 in May 2023 and sold my GoPro 10 in June.
I found that this model with the new Enduro battery lasts longer than the normal blue battery. The “QuikCapture” function is also snappy! This function allows you to turn on the GoPro and start recording immediately by pressing the record button. The subsequent press stops and turns the camera off. This function lets you capture a moment as soon as it happens.
It is an “action” camera and is meant to be. But, I am not really using this for the intended “action”. I found it useful as the lens has no moveable parts, therefore I can be quite rough with it. It is tiny, and can easily pack into my winter jacket. Also, it works great in waterproof housing and taking it under the water.
Despite my dislike for the distorted lens (fisheye), I have to live with it. I took videos in 8:7 resolution to avoid cropping and upscaling. Similar to photos! But still, from time to time, I’d switch to linear as editing videos/photos to remove the distortion just made the visual look even worse. When using 8:7 the only “lens” available is Wide, which is the native view. Other digital lenses like Linear are cropping at the centre and upscaling to match the set resolution.
GoPro processor has a better distortion “correction” when set to Linear, as neither Final Cut Pro nor Lightroom can correct the distortion similar to when using the Linear lens.
Dimensions (W×H×D)
71.8 × 50.8 × 33.6 mm
Weight
154 g
Image Sensor
1/1.9″ CMOS
Processor
GP2
Max Video Resolution
5.3K 8:7 (5,312 ? 4,648)
Colour
10-bit
Max Photo Resolution
27.13MP (5,568 ? 4,872) from previously 23MP
Battery Size
Enduro 1,720 mAh
GoPro Labs
With a faster processor and seems rather quick, I upgraded to GoPro Labs firmware. I have tested this before, but it slowed down my GoPro unit, hence restored to the original firmware.
I changed the bitrate to 190 Mbps, the maximum shutter speed to 1/200 per second, the file name to include the date and time and some other changes. So far, everything work is just perfect!
Leeming LUT
I have started exploring “Color Grading” using Final Cut Pro to grade my drone videos recorded in D-cinelike. Then I began to grade my videos which were recorded in “Flat” colour and “Native” white balance. The result was not amazing but I can see that I can improve myself and the look is just better than the “Natural” colour profile.
I explored YouTube looking at comments about Native white balance and stumbled upon a post and he recommended I check his post using Leeming LUT. Not long after, I was AUS$50 poorer. The file was sent to my email the next morning.
Left: Flat/AWB/Sharpness=Low/Noise Reduction=1/WIDE=1/LOGB=400. Right: After Leeming LUT Pro III – GoPro 11 – Wide Gamut log400 has been applied.
Applying the Leeming LUT Pro Quickie – Neutral Film 102 gives more contrast and the colour looks almost natural.
It looks like I need to explore more and see if it is really worth spending for the LUT. Now, I missed the “vibrant” looking colour and the vibrant blue sky 🙂
Really sharp for portraits and an “almost” a close-up for small objects
It has a focus hold button on the barrel, and I customized it for Eye AF. It is a very sleek short-telephoto prime lens that is easy to be carried around. It is lightweight, fast and produces creamy photos when the aperture is wide open.
Even though it was meant for portraits, I have used this lens to take photos of small objects in nature. The results were surprisingly good! I tried this lens for landscape but really have to walk back quite far to put large/tall objects into the frame.
Verdict
I prefer to keep this lens for object close-up and for half-body portraits.
I used this lens for a wedding. It works fantastic for a one-person or two-person half-body portrait. It is also good for small object close-ups; for example, flowers, table-setting and food at the buffet area. During speeches, it works amazing as I can stand a bit far away and do not need to invade the space between the speaker and the audience. Somehow, other situations require 28mm (group photos) and 50mm (guests and other larger objects).
While this lens (can) works on all occasions, it has to be complemented by other lenses when it comes to tight space.
Sample Photos
Half-body portrait using 85mm. It separates the subject from the creamy background. ISO 100 f/1.8 1/250 sec.Snowdrop. Taken from 1 meter away and cropped. ISO 200 f/3.5 1/125 sec.Copenhagen, winter sunset. ISO 100 f/3.2 1/500 sec.Two full-body portraits were taken using 85mm. Left: ISO 100 f/3.2 1/250 sec. Right: ISO 100 f/3.2 1/320 sec.
Key Features
Aperture range: f/1.8 to f/22
The angle of view: 29? Minimum focus distance: 80 cm Maximum magnification ratio: 1:7.7 (0.13?) Filter size: 67 mm Dimensions (? ? L): 78 ? 82 mm Weight: 371 g
Sept. 2022: I sold this lens off as it duplicates Sony FE 90mm Macro G OSS.
A highly versatile, pocket-sized compact point-and-shoot camera designed for personal photography, boasting impressive 4K video capabilities. An ideal choice as a secondary camera, nearing perfection in performance.
September 2022 Update: While there is a slight delay in powering on/off and occasional focus issues at 70mm, this camera proves exceptionally practical in compact environments such as trains or planes. Its petite size makes it an excellent companion for outings to restaurants or dinner invitations.
January 2023 Update: I got the α7 IV towards the end of July 2023. I began to explore the 10-bit video bitrate, which I discovered to be much more satisfying when editing in Final Cut Pro. The bokeh effect looks more pleasing too. Then on, I spent less time with ZV-1 and haven’t used it at all since September 2023.
Since March 2, 2021, this camera has been a constant companion, capturing the vibrant blossoms of spring and accompanying me through the summer of 2021. It was with me through Copenhagen Airport, spent a month in Ibiza, and even had a day in Mallorca.
The ZV-1 stands as a unique hybrid, bridging the gap between conventional and mirrorless cameras. It carves its niche, delivering results surpassing smartphones and approaching the quality of pricier mirrorless counterparts. Compact yet feature-rich, it effortlessly blends advanced capabilities from both realms, easily slipping into the pocket of a winter jacket.
Impressive photo quality, especially with its RAW shooting capability, and clean low-light video performance characterise this camera. Its solid and rugged build makes it an ideal daily companion, always ready in my pocket.
Note: When referencing a second camera here, it denotes a backup body that seamlessly alternates with the primary without requiring extensive settings or additional peripherals, all while delivering photo and video results that closely rival those of the primary camera.
Photography
A compact camera tailor-made for holidays, this device discreetly blends into public spaces, ensuring you won’t draw undue attention while capturing moments. Perfect for unobtrusive shots of food or group gatherings in bustling environments, it excels in maintaining a low profile. Moreover, its effectiveness extends to confined spaces, making it an ideal gadget.
Cala Comte, Ibiza, Spain. Sony ZV-1, 24mm ISO 125 f/2.0 1/1000 sec.
It has a good close up too, at 5 cm. Quite useful to get a closer shot of flowers, foods or products.
A close-up on an active bee. Sony ZV-1, 24mm ISO 125 f/2.5 1/640 sec.
I’ve taken numerous photos with the Sony ZV-1 and observed that when employing auto white balance, it delivers more visually appealing colours for sunsets compared to the Sony ɑ7R III. While the ɑ7R III’s output can be enhanced through post-processing, the ZV-1’s straight-out-of-the-camera results are notably quick and pleasing.
Sony ZV-1 (minor adjustment in Lightroom) 24mm ISO 125 f/2.0 1/2500 sec.Sony A7R iii (minor adjustment in Lightroom) 49mm ISO 100 f/7.1 1/400 sec.
Videography
In contrast to the GoPro, the maximum frame speed of the ZV-1 is limited to 25 fps (PAL standard), while the GoPro Hero 9 boasts 60 fps (4K) or 30 fps (5K). While I seldom slow down my videos, a higher frame rate can be beneficial in reducing motion blur. The ZV-1 compensates for this limitation by delivering sharper and crisper video output than the GoPro, with a significantly more pleasing colour rendition.
This camera records UHD 4K videos at a robust 100 Mb/s bitrate (BUT ONLY 8-bit), utilising full pixel readout without pixel binning (where pixels are grouped together). The 1.7x oversampling enhances clarity, resulting in higher resolution and mitigating issues like moiré and jaggies. Employing Sony’s proprietary XAVC S codec, equivalent to H.265.
While equipped with Active SteadyShot, it doesn’t match the effectiveness of GoPro’s Hypersmooth technology combined with horizontal levelling. The slight jerkiness during handheld recording is present but not overly distracting, making the video still enjoyable. Utilising Active SteadyShot kicks the camera to 1.12 crop factor effectively turning 24mm to 27mm.
Two screenshots from two 4K videos were taken using GoPro Hero 8 (left) and Sony ZV-1 (right) from inside a car while it was moving. Personally, ZV-1 is sharper, has less artefact and also with better colour.
Cons
This camera utilises micro-USB (USB 2.0) for charging, a feature that could have been better if it was USB-C.
In comparison to the GoPro’s convenient QuikCapture feature, which swiftly powers on and initiates recording with a single button press, the Sony ZV-1 has a delay in powering up, especially if it has not been used for some time. Additionally, it takes a noticeable amount of time to power off and retract the lens.
A single battery proves insufficient for sporadic recording, depleting in less than an hour. During a 12-hour trip to Mallorca in August 2021, where I relied solely on this camera and a GoPro 8, exploring the island and capturing continuous photos and videos, the ZV-1 required recharging at least twice.
While attempting to gather facial images for an experiment for my study using this camera, I noticed the output lacked the same level of detail and sharpness as the ɑ7R III. Images appeared blurry and lacked the crispness that the ɑ7R III effortlessly achieves.
Prognosis
While this camera excels in capturing everyday moments and proves ideal for holiday snapshots, it falls short of replacing the ɑ7R III for superior and detailed photos. It serves as my go-to option when a quick snap is needed, offering convenience and efficiency. Despite the ɑ7R III’s superior quality in recording, the ZV-1 takes the lead as my primary recorder, thanks to its lightweight design.
Technical Information
Focal length: 9.4mm to 25.7mm(35mm-equivalent focal length: 24mm to 70mm) Optical zoom: 2.7x Maximum aperture: f/1.8 to f/2.8 Minimum aperture: f/11 The angle of view: 84º (24mm) to 34º (70mm) Minimum focus distance: 5 cm (wide) to 30 cm (telephoto) Dimensions (W × H × D): 105.5 × 60 × 43.5 mm Weight: 294 g
Featuring a versatile flip-out, tilt-around, and side-articulating touch LCD screen, this camera proves invaluable for capturing selfies and exploring creative low-angle compositions. Additionally, its Wi-Fi capability facilitates seamless file transfer, enables geo-tagging, and allows convenient remote camera control.
Setup / Gears
128GB SanDisk Extreme microSDXC Class 10 UHS-I U3 V30 A2 (on adapter).
Ulanzi VL 100C 2,500-6,500K CRI95+ (2500 lux at 30 cm / 800 lux at 50 cm / 200 lux at 1 m) 2,000 mAh.
JJC camera case pouch. It fits the camera well even when the wind muff was on.
4 units of Batmax NP-BX1 and a portable USB charger.
I bought a Ulanzi ultra-slim mount lens adapter ring (52mm) with the intention of getiing the Ulanzi wide-angle lens, specifically the ULANZI WL-1 Additional 2-in-1 Lens which was designed for the Sony ZV-1, featuring an 18mm wide-angle and 10X macro capability. However, upon further consideration, I concluded that an additional lens was not essential for my needs. Instead, I’ve decided to opt for K&F filters. Despite this, my conscience is urging me to reconsider. The mounting of the adapter may compromise the aesthetic appeal of the camera, particularly when the filters are infrequently utilised.
