I had the opportunity to visit Malaysia again after my last trip in July 2019. This time, I stayed from December 2 to December 26. I chose Turkish Airlines for my journey, departed from Copenhagen Airport (CPH) for Istanbul Airport (IST). After less than an hour layover in Istanbul, I took the second long journey leg towards the east. Upon reaching Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL), I transferred to a Malaysia Airlines flight (codeshare with Turkish Airlines) headed for Penang International Airport (PEN). Upon arrival, my mother and my sister’s family picked me up and dropped me off at my apartment, a place where I hadn’t slept in nearly 5 years.
Landed at Penang International Airport on Malaysia Airlines. Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
I fell ill from the second day until my last day in Malaysia. By the fourth day, I had to seek medical help at the hospital due to a heatstroke. Fortunately, tests for COVID-19 and dengue were negative. A midnight x-ray ruled out pneumonia. Despite battling an on-and-off fever, losing my voice, and enduring a persistent cough that caused chest pain, I pushed through and stuck to my plans: meeting people for outdoor activities.
I spent a night in the hospital due to a heatstroke, and the next day, I fell seriously ill. Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
During my stay at my mother’s in the countryside, I made it a habit to get up at 5:30 every morning, ensuring I caught the sunrise. Some days, I waited for sunset. The only exceptions were the day I returned from the hospital and the final day of my stay when continuous rainfall continued for two days.
The first I arrived at my mum’s, it rained. After it stopped, a not-so-vibrant rainbow emerged just before dusk. Sony ɑ7 IV + Sony FE 24mm F2.8 G
The first person I met was Diyana. Our first destination? Queensbay Mall! We opted for Zus Coffee, a local brand gradually gaining ground over Starbucks (thanks to a boycott due to war). Afterwards, it was for some casual window shopping. For dinner, we had authentic Malay cuisine, which turned out to be delightfully spicy! To cap off the night, we treated ourselves to a foot massage. There were fits of laughter, even from the two masseuse, when a funny incident occurred (Diyana, you remember the details!)
A collage of photos of Diyana and me. Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
A quick heads up: I’ll be sharing additional photos and videos soon once I get on my proper laptop 😅
Trekking from Cáceres to Plasencia, with captivating pit stops in Casar de Cáceres, Cañaveral, Riolobos and Carcaboso was an adventure that immersed me in the breathtaking Spanish countryside. The landscape was an exquisite tapestry of rolling hills, lush meadows, and picturesque vistas that left me in awe.
Sony ɑ7 IV + Sony FE 24mm F2.8 G 1/800 sec. f/2.8 ISO 100Sony ɑ7 IV + Sony FE 24mm F2.8 G 1/400 sec. f/2.8 ISO 100
As I ventured through some of the villages en route, a sense of timelessness pervaded the air. Some seemed like they were frozen in time, their streets quiet and still during night time, yet enchanting ambience.
The roads stretched endlessly, disappearing into the horizon, a seemingly infinite ribbon of adventure. Each step brought me closer to the next destination, but it also reminded me of the vastness of this journey. The Spanish countryside, with its undulating beauty, offered a stark contrast to the bustling urban life I was accustomed to.
The mental image of lamb, seasoned to perfection and served with savoury accompaniments, painted a vivid picture that helped me push through fatigue and keep pace with each step. It was a delightful daydream that brought a smile to my face, reminding me that sometimes, the most unexpected and mouthwatering motivations can be found in the simplest of pleasures.
Suckling Goat Chops at Restaurante Asador Villa de Cañaveral (€19) Snapped using iPhone 15 Pro MaxSony ɑ7 IV + Sony FE 40mm F2.g G 1/60 sec. f/2.5 ISO 250Sony ɑ7 IV + Sony FE 24mm F2.8 G 1/640 sec. f/2.8 ISO 100
However, nature had its own plans for our journey. As we neared the culmination of this epic trek, the sky unleashed its fury, drenching us with a relentless downpour. The skies above remained shrouded in darkness for much of our final stretch. Despite the challenging weather, the temperature remained moderate, providing some comfort as we trudged on, our spirits undampened (but then waned off).
The journey’s crescendo, an experience that would stay with me forever, was the train ride from Plasencia to Madrid Atochas. Sitting in the cosy train cabin, I watched the world outside transform. The landscape shifted from rural tranquillity to urban vibrancy, as Madrid’s lively spirit greeted us to its chaos.
This voyage was not just a physical journey but a spiritual one. It exposed me to the diverse facets of Spain, from the serene countryside to the bustling city life. It was a reminder that the magic of travel lies not only in the destination but in the stories woven along the way.
BACKPACK
I’m travelling light this time around, with just two shirts, two pairs of shorts, and two sets of socks. The good news is that most of the places have laundry machines. So I get to keep things fresh and clean throughout my journey.
GEARS
I brought along my trusty Sony α7 IV, along with a pair of lenses – the Sony FE 24mm F2.8 G and the Sony FE 40mm F2.5 G. While the 24mm lens offered a wide view for capturing landscapes, I found myself increasingly drawn to the 40mm lens. Even for landscape shots, it had this unique ability to “zoom in” and isolate exactly the elements I wanted to highlight.
The GoPro Hero 11, a reliable companion on my journey, was a saviour as my hiking legs began to grow weary. Its horizon levelling feature became something I was truly grateful for, especially when fatigue set in, and maintaining a steady frame became a challenge.
But the real surprise of my gear collection was the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max. It proved to be an indispensable sidekick, effortlessly snapping photos and shooting videos. I alternated between using the default camera app and the BlackMagic Cam, and, at times, it almost made me forget that I had a high-end full-sensor camera and a trusty GoPro in my kit.
All these cameras were packed into my Peak Design Everyday Sling 10L V3.
Every day, I would be busy transferring photos and videos to my trusted companion, the Samsung T7. This routine not only freed up space on my phone but also ensured that my GoPro was always ready to capture more videos without any storage concerns. The portable hard drive, cables and other electronic stuff were packed in Peak Design Tech Pouch.
FINAL THOUGHTS
It was an enlightening experience that offered me fresh perspectives on life beyond the confines of my comfort zone, away from the familiarity of my apartment. Devoid of a computer for reading, composing emails, or watching YouTube, this adventure provided ample opportunity for an amateur photographer like myself to hone my skills in outdoor settings. It allowed me to confront the challenges posed by scorching hot days, rainy weather, and biting cold, offering a valuable learning experience.
In terms of gear, I wish I had opted for just one lens – a versatile zoom lens like the Sony FE 24-70mm F4 would have been ideal, considering the frequent lens changes I made throughout the day. Additionally, I found myself yearning for the DJI Osmo Mobile 6 on certain occasions to stabilise the horizon while recording videos on my Apple iPhone 15.
In 2011, my trusty companion was the iPhone 4, a sleek piece of technology that felt cutting-edge at the time. But in 2014, the call for a bigger screen, a superior camera, and a faster processor lured me towards the Samsung Galaxy Note 4. It was a choice made for practicality, and it served me well.
Fast forward to 2022, I was eyeing the iPhone 14, adding it to my ever-growing wish list. However, by the time the iPhone 15 graced the market, patience was no longer a virtue. What held me back, you ask? The “Action” mode. It irked me that it still recorded in 2.8K instead of 4K. Yet, the iPhone 15 was not one to be underestimated, continuously punching above its weight.
My alternative companion during this tech journey was the Huawei P20 Pro since 2018, chosen for its remarkable camera prowess. It was hailed as a photography marvel upon release. But when it came to video, it faltered, especially in low light conditions. The all-around sharpness felt like it belonged to another era – the distant past of 2018.
Now, in 2023, I’ve resolved to step up my mobile phone game. The photos I capture are often washed out when dealing with varying contrasts and sometimes unnaturally saturated. The iPhone has been making remarkable strides in computational photography, introducing features like macro shots, zoom, and a plethora of “lenses” that are as versatile for photography as they are for videography. Low-light performance has improved, although it’s still not quite on par with a full-frame camera.
My choice? The iPhone 15 Pro Max, adorned with 512GB of storage coming in the natural titanium hue. I figure that’s more than enough space for me, as I’ve learned the hard way not to keep precious photos exclusively on my phone. After my Huawei P20 Pro had a microphone issue, I sent it in for warranty service, naïvely thinking only the mic needed fixing. To my dismay, they replaced the whole board, and I lost most of my photos from August and September from 2018. So, these days, when I return home daily, my ritual involves transferring the day’s photos to my trusty hard drive, ensuring I never make the same mistake again.
In the words of my friend Zahidi, the iPhone 15 can be aptly described as a “compact yet potent fusion of a supercomputer and a top-tier camera, all wrapped up in one sleek package.”
One minor hiccup I’ve encountered in my tech journey is the file system. Android offers a user-friendly, navigable file system that lets you effortlessly copy or move files around. What I miss most is the ease of transferring my photos and any other files to the hard drive on my server via LAN. It’s not just about photos; it’s about the flexibility to manage and organise all types of files seamlessly.
After 3 weeks? I’ve really grown to adore it. While the photos are decent, it’s the videos that have truly won me over. They’re remarkably stable, and the colours are nothing short of stunning.
After 3 months? I’m pleased with my new phone and its camera capabilities. However, I’ve noticed that the photos and videos produced by the native app tend to be overly sharp. Fortunately, the BlackMagic app allows recording in Apple Log, enabling colour-grading. Similar to GoPro, this iPhone excels well in well-lit environments. Upon comparing videos from the native app and the BlackMagic app, the sharpened results are less appealing than those produced by the latter.
A low-light test in the Turkish Airlines cabin. Adjustments were applied to rectify the perspective and enhance shadow detail, with no alterations made to sharpening. Dec-2023, 24mm 1/2 sec. f/1.8 ISO 4000Unedited photograph captured mid-flight somewhere over Europe utilising the 5x telephoto lens. Dec-2023, 120mm 1/830 sec. f/2.8 ISO 50 A screenshot extracted from a video captured using the native iPhone app. Very sharp and detailed.A screenshot extracted from a video captured using the BlackMagic app after LUT has been applied, but no sharpening has been added.
After nearly two months, spanning from mid-August to the end of September, during which I exclusively carried the Sony FE 24mm F2.8 G and the Sony FE 40mm F2.5 G in my Peak Design Everyday Sling 10L V3, I’ve made some noteworthy observations. While I’ve previously highlighted the merits of the 24mm lens for travel photography, this post will delve deeper into my experiences with the 40mm lens.
Having only two lenses in my sling bag is truly convenient. Since both lenses sport compact profiles, I can cleverly utilize the origami flap to stack one lens at the bottom, with the camera attached to the other lens on top. This arrangement makes zipping up a breeze, eliminating the struggles I faced when carrying the camera with the Sony FE 35mm F1.4 GM attached.
PORTRAITS: In the first portrait photo below, where his hand is outstretched, the image retains a remarkably natural appearance, devoid of the pronounced distortion typically seen in head-versus-hand perspectives. In the second close-up shot, the absence of facial distortion is evident, particularly when compared to the effects of using a 20mm or 24mm lens, which can lead to facial distortion. When combined with the Sony α7 IV, this lens excels in capturing portraits with precision. It locks onto eye focus, ensuring sharpness precisely where it’s intended to be.
I made a slight crop to adjust the top and bottom frames. White balance and colour correction were achieved using Calibrite. This shot was taken indoors, illuminated with Aputure ML-F7 lighting on both sides and captured using the Sony α7 IV with the Sony FE 40mm F2.5 G lens wide open at f/2.5.This is an uncropped close-up portrait. I reduced the vignette effect to only 50% in Lightroom. White balance and colour adjustments were made using Calibrite. The shot was taken indoors with Aputure ML-F7 lighting on both sides, using the Sony α7 IV paired with the Sony FE 40mm F2.5 G lens wide open at f/2.5.
STREET PHOTOGRAPHY: While not classified as a wide-angle lens, this optic showcases an impressive knack for capturing the essence of bustling city streets. What’s even more remarkable is its knack for preserving the authenticity of the scene, steering clear of any distortions along the periphery that might compromise the true-to-life perspective. When it comes to photographing people amidst the urban hustle and bustle, this lens truly shines, rendering subjects with enhanced clarity and focus, all without the necessity of getting uncomfortably close as seen the image below.
Capturing the kaleidoscope of emotions with candid moments on the streets of Copenhagen.Capturing the City’s Rhythm: A Summer Afternoon Moment in Frederiksberg Forum Metro Station, Frederiksberg. Sony α7 IV | ISO 100 | f/2.5 | 1/1000Late Summer Afternoon at Nyhavn, Copenhagen Sony α7 IV | ISO 100 | f/2.5 | 1/6400
DISTORTION & VIGNETTING. While there is a discernible distortion present, the lens also imparts a striking vignette effect, as evident in the two images above. Through lens correction, the vignetting has been dialled back to a 50% intensity, resulting in a more visually pleasing outcome. However, it’s worth noting that for environmental photographs, excessive vignetting, as demonstrated in the Nyhavn image, can sometimes detract from the overall appeal.
APERTURE. This lens boasts a generous aperture range. Typically, with the Sony FE 55mm F1.8, I opt for f/2.8 when capturing portraits. However, the 40mm lens, which opens up at f/2.5, proves to be more than adequate for achieving impressive results.
ENVIRONMENTAL & SURROUNDING: When it comes to environmental photography, this lens may present some challenges, particularly in capturing expansive surroundings. Its focal length may not lend itself easily to encompassing the full breadth of a scene.
Conclusion
The 24mm lens is definitely going to stay. But regrettably, the 40mm focal length doesn’t quite steal my heart, and I find myself gravitating towards the 55mm F1.8 instead, thanks to its more captivating bokeh. All things considered, this 40mm lens falls short of the razor-sharp quality delivered by the likes of the Sony FE 35mm F1.4 GM, Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM, or even the Sony FE 55mm F1.8 ZA.
Can it replace 35mm and 55mm focal lengths and serve as my second everyday lens?
Inspiration
I found inspiration from Mitch Lally’s YouTube video, where he paired the Sony ZV-E1 with a Samyang 35mm F2.8 lens for his everyday carry camera setup. Initially, I was about to acquire the Sony ZV-E1, but after contemplating for 10 hours, I made the decision to upgrade to the Sony α7 IV. Just a month before, I had purchased the Sony FE 24mm F2.8 G lens and was truly impressed by its compact size and sleek profile.
I researched the Samyang 35mm F2.8, known for its super-compact design. However, I discovered some significant drawbacks, including the absence of weather sealing, noisy autofocus, and a susceptibility to dust. Furthermore, I already had a 35mm focal length lens in my collection.
Subsequently, I learned about the Sony FE 40mm F2.5 G, which was available for 2,500 kr. In the end, though, I opted to purchase only the 24mm F2.8 G lens. This decision is one that I might come to regret in the future.
35mm Focal Length
I currently own the Sony FE 35mm F1.4 GM lens, and it has become one of my absolute favourites. Previously, I had the Sony FE 35mm F1.8 lens. Together with my Sony FE 55mm F1.8 lens, these two are my constant companions, finding their place in my bag, including my school bag. I’ve used them extensively, capturing photos of my classmates after lectures and shooting outdoor portraits. The versatility of the 35mm focal length is truly remarkable.
I’ve employed this lens during various occasions, including my department’s Christmas Lunch and the Annual Spring Gala. However, it does have its drawbacks; it feels a bit weighty in my hand, and I often switch to the 55mm lens when shooting portraits. With the recent addition of the 24mm lens to my collection, the 35mm has seen less time on my camera. Nevertheless, for gatherings where wide-angle or landscape shots aren’t a priority, I still find it convenient to bring along my 35mm lens, especially at parties like these:
RUC IMFUFA Christmas Lunch 2022 Sony ɑ7R III + Sony FE 35mm F1.8RUC Spring Gala 2023 Sony ɑ7R III + Sony FE 35mm F1.4 GMRUC Open House 2023 Sony ɑ7R III + Sony FE 35mm F1.4 GM
My System
Returning to Mitch Lally’s story, I wholeheartedly concur that an ultra-compact lens can significantly enhance the photography experience. Firstly, for someone like me, who tends to be introverted, having a camera with a smaller profile makes me less self-conspicuous when taking photos. Secondly, the reduced weight of the setup, whether held in my hand or slung across my body, is much appreciated. And, perhaps most importantly, it’s easy to retrieve the camera from and stow it back into my camera bag swiftly. Often, the bulkiness of a backpack or a camera fitted with a large, heavy lens like the Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM can deter me from spontaneously capturing moments.
I chanced upon a secondhand copy of the lens on the DBA (a secondary marketplace) and engaged in some negotiations with the seller to get a price that matched what MPB, a photography equipment reseller, would typically offer. To Michael, if you are reading this, I apologise for the haggling—it was a mix of lingering regret for not acquiring the lens at a lower price when the opportunity arose and my anticipation of MPB’s clearance sales. Moreover, I was in no particular hurry, and I also harboured concerns that if I didn’t fancy the lens, I might incur some losses when reselling it.
What were my initial thoughts upon receiving the lens? Well, it was nothing short of petite! Incredibly compact, and it had this somewhat unconventional appearance at the end.
Ofelia Plads, Copenhagen. Sony ɑ7 IV + Sony FE 40mm F2.5 (Opened at f/2.5)Street of Copenhagen. Sony ɑ7 IV + Sony FE 40mm F2.5 (Opened at f/2.5)Copenhagen Canal. Sony ɑ7 IV + Sony FE 40mm F2.5 (Opened at f/2.5)“The road leading to Copenhagen” Sony ɑ7 IV + Sony FE 40mm F2.5 (Opened at f/2.5)Fog blanketing this countryside town. Sony ɑ7 IV + Sony FE 40mm F2.5 (Opened at f/2.5)Cafe by Roskilde Harbour Sony ɑ7 IV + Sony FE 40mm F2.5 (Opened at f/2.5)Cropped close-up of a flower showing nice bokeh all around. Sony ɑ7 IV + Sony FE 40mm F2.5 (Opened at f/2.5)
Upon reviewing my photos, I have noticed the presence of vignetting effects, which, interestingly, impart a pleasing aesthetic to them.
As part of my ongoing process to streamline my camera bag, especially now that I’ve transitioned to a sling bag from a backpack (the Peak Design Everyday Sling 10L V3), I aim to keep it as lightweight as possible—because sometimes, less is more! With this in mind, I plan to replace my Sony FE 35mm F1.4 GM and Sony FE 55mm F1.8 lenses with the Sony FE 40mm F2.5 G during the months of August and September.
The question that looms is whether this pairing of only two lenses, the 24mm and 40mm, will suffice for my everyday photography needs. This is especially relevant since I frequently use my camera to document my daily life and often engage in portrait photography. Stay tuned for an update in October; I’ll share my experiences and insights then!
Eriksvej, Roskilde August 2023
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