Best of Bosque 1 opening due to cancellation Dec 6 to 10 2021

UPDATE: NOW SOLD OUT!

Best of Bosque Dec. 6 to 10, 2021 One spot open due to cancellation

A winter paradise for Snow Geese, Sandhill Cranes and many other birds, Bosque del Apache is located along the Rio Grande River near Socorro, New Mexico. Touted as the Crown Jewel for bird photography by many, Bosque does offer some incredible images, but there is so much more to the area than just this one place. After many, many years of visiting the refuge and surrounding areas, I've decided to offer another photographic workshop there . This is, by far, the very best New Mexico has to offer in the winter; we will visit Bosque del Apache NWR when the conditions are right, but you will also have the opportunity to join me and learn where all of the other amazing, and somewhat secret spots are. We will visit some of my old haunts, blinds and secret locations.

Join world-renowned Canadian nature photographer, blogger, photo educator, lecturer, Sony ambassador and X-rite Master Coloratti Christopher Dodds in, and around, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge for 5 action-filled days of incredible bird photography, learning and fun!

The trip is timed to coincide with the very best time to be at Bosque del Apache NWR for fall migration.

Includes five days of professional instruction and guiding and logistics management by Christopher Dodds. Not included in the price is your transportation, hotels (I have a block of discounted rooms available at a discounted rate), park access fees, meals, drinks, souvenirs or other expenses of a personal nature.

Who should attend: This workshop is highly recommended for any level photographer. Whether you are completely new to nature photography, an experienced amateur, or a seasoned pro. There will be something to photograph and we will have plenty of time to tailor your instruction to your abilities. The seasoned pro can take full advantage of the logistics, my site and subject knowledge.

Getting there: Socorro is 73 miles from Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ).

Details: An extremely detailed email with the precise itinerary, hotel recommendations (for the night before your workshop), camera gear suggestions and tested clothing checklist will be emailed after registration is complete.

“My recent trip with Chris Dodds to the Bosque del Apache reserve was a roaring success! Five full days of shooting opportunities were exactly what I bargained for, and great lessons were learned. Specifically, high-quality results come with time, patience, and attention to detail. My experience with Chris gave me a taste of all three in a truly relaxed and fun atmosphere.

Each and every one of our five days working primarily with snow geese and sandhill cranes offered welcome variation in conditions to provide a broad package of opportunities. I left the workshop with a full portfolio of portraits, flight shots, behaviors, and great shots of those magnificent “blast offs” of thousands of white geese and elegant cranes, all under excellent light conditions for bird photography. Chris is a master at choosing and teaching about the best positioning for photos (clouds, sun, wind, behavior etc.) It was a busy time, with all the instruction I wanted, and that’s exactly how it should be!

I most admired Chris Dodds’ active coaching combined with openness to questions at any time. Chris was often right next to us shooting away and teaching-by-example, but his clear priority was to boost the abilities of each participant, no matter whether they were beginners or pros. It is a rare ability to coach a well-experienced photographer one moment, and then patiently help a newbie with a point-and-shoot learn how to set up their tripod!

I’m busily planning another trip or two with Chris!”

— Darrell Vodopich, Waco, Texas

Sony a7 IV for birds in flight photography: First thoughts

My friends over at Sony of Canada sent over the first Sony a7 IV in Canada for me to give it a spin and test it out. Let's make no mistake, this is not a camera that was purpose-built for action or birds in flight photography, but it is much more affordable than both the much more capable (and expensive) Sony a9 II (CAD$5,999.99) and the Sony Alpha 1 (CAD$8,499.99) bodies that I use.

Priced at CAD$3,199.99, the Sony a7 IV is the base model Sony Alpha 7 series of cameras, but it now boasts many of the features of the much more expensive higher-end cameras like the Sony Alpha 1.

Since there are already many reviews out there, here are my initial thoughts about the camera from a bird photographer's perspective. This is simply a point-by-point summary of what I feel anyone considering the upgrade for bird (or action) photography may want to know. Do keep in mind that my experience with the camera is limited, as I only had one day in the field with it.

The new 33-megapixel full-frame Exmor R CMOS sensor should offer a similar dynamic range and noise performance as the Sony a9 II (To minimize the noise in any image on any camera, avoid underexposing and cropping). I say should, because of my limited experience with the camera. My results are excellent, but I don’t feel that I have enough variety to say with authority.

The maximum frame rate is 10 frames per second when using the mechanical or electronic shutter while recording lossy compressed RAW images. The scan rate of the sensor is much slower than the flagship Alpha 1, so there is significant rolling shutter distortion when photographing moving subjects with the electronic shutter. To minimize rolling shutter distortion, be sure to avoid the electronic shutter (silent shutter mode) in favour of the mechanical shutter.

Using the mechanical shutter to avoid the rolling shutter distortion becomes challenging while tracking fast and erratic birds in flight with significant electronic viewfinder blackout, and what you do see in the viewfinder has already happened.

Real-time Eye-AF for humans, animals and birds is incredible and works very much like the flagship Sony Alpha 1. I did have to rethink my autofocus settings and strategy to work around the significant EVF blackout and display lag. With the a9 and Alpha 1 there is no EVF blackout, and I always like to use the smallest group of autofocus points. With the Sony a7 IV, I found it best to use the largest group in tracking AF and zoom out just a little to give more room for error: to clarify, while photographing fast and erratically moving birds, there are significant intervals when the EVF is black and when I do see an image it has already happened, so I need to keep the subject slightly smaller in the frame and use the largest array of AF points to increase the odds of getting the bird in the frame.

The Sony a7 IV uses the same NP-FZ100 Z-series Rechargeable Battery Pack as the Alpha 1, a9, a9II, etc., with makes it an obvious low cost back-up camera for those who can’t afford or justify buying two flagships for redundancy while travelling.

One of the most overlooked new features of the Sony a7 IV is the bird eye AF while recording video - something I hope to see come the the Alpha 1 via a firmware update :)

Do consider supporting this site and order yours here:

Buy the Sony a7 IV in Canada HERE

Buy the Sony a7 IV in the USA HERE

Deluxe Puffins Galore last minute openings August 7 to 10

Last-minute cancellations!

I have two last-minute cancellations due to positive Covid-19 CORONAVIRUS tests for my August 7 to 10, 2021 Deluxe Puffins Galore photography adventure/ workshop. If you are looking for a dream Puffin adventure on a small exclusive island with gourmet food and Puffins Galore, this is the trip for you! We will see and photograph loads of Atlantic Puffins, Razorbills and so much more! Learn more and sign-up HERE.

Christopher Dodds Presenting at Downtown Camera for Sony April 29 at 7PM ET

Join me at 7PM on April 29, 2021 for a virtual presentation on Bird and Nature Photography at Downtown Camera. This is a free event sponsored by Sony of Canada.

Atlantic puffin LOOK BACK

Chris delivers a premium product, in every way.

I’m an experienced wildlife photographer and I’ve had puffins on my bucket list for several years. Around my Colorado home, I scout my own sites and work my network of photography buddies, so I know what it takes to find good sites, get in and then have the wildlife cooperate, to get good pictures. I’ve even been a scout for a leading professional photographer, looking for superior deer and turkey subjects and locations.

Regarding puffins, I’d considered renting hide times, but most involved day-trips on boats. Most importantly, time in the hide is limited and you won’t necessarily be able to shoot when they’re feeding, nor will you likely shoot in the ideal light. The angle of view is often not ideal from a hide.

I don’t know how, but I ran across Chris’ Deluxe Puffins Galore Workshop at the Mingan Archipelago National Park of Canada. It sounded too good to be true. You can shoot ALL DAY and have gourmet meals morning, noon and night. Hang on.

The “galore” part of the title is entirely true. I took over 13,000-shots in my three-days. It required merciless culling to get down to under 200 for sharing. I have many worthy of framing and the culls contain many shots that I might have been happy with, had I not had so many superior shots.

There are rules, to protect the birds, about where you can go on the islet, but that in no way excludes you from puffin activity. For example, every evening, we sat in chairs as puffin filled our frames landing, taking off, kibitzing, posing, all in the ideal light. By the end of the first day, I didn’t know how I’d possibly improve my shots, but I did, indeed, add to my archive.

Importantly, Chris is an affable and professional guy, but he pays close attention to safety, respect for our subjects, and the comfort of his guests. Everyone in my group was experienced, with good equipment. In fact, I was the only newbie. All had shot with Chris before. Guess what, I’ve signed up for his Snowy Owl Adventure, next January. I suspect that won’t be my last.

Chris delivers a premium product, in every way. Planning information was thorough and detailed, making it crystal clear what you needed to get there, to wear, etc.. The only thing left was to take the pix.

This is a premium product and a photographer’s dream. This is THE way to shoot Atlantic puffin.

Dave Stephens Colorado | USA

Atlantic puffin Singing Praise

Puffin singing praise:

I found Chris via the strong images on his web site.

Having now taken two of his photo workshops, I have seen a significant improvement in my images due to improved capture and post processing techniques. Having taken many other wildlife photo workshops, Chris stands out for his top notch instruction. His workshops provide many excellent photo opportunities.

If you are serious about your photography and want to get better, Chris can help you in many ways. He is willing and able to explain what he is doing and why he is doing it. He emphasizes not only the vision but also the execution in the field and the post processing.

It was fun shooting with and learning from Chris. I give a hearty recommendation to anyone considering a photo workshop with Chris, a recommendation I plan to follow.

Carl Zanoni Connecticut, USA

I want to thank you again for one of the best photo workshops I have ever attended. The trip to Northern Quebec to photo Puffins was truly an adventure. I was very impressed with the planning you put into ever aspect of the tour. Everything ran smoothly and the opportunity to photograph these amazing birds was an experience I will not soon forget. I also appreciate the time you spent with each of us to make sure we got the best possible result from whatever equipment we were using. Your technique for reducing noise while maximizing detail when shooting at high ISO's was particularly helpful. No one had ever explained the science behind this and now it makes a lot of sense. This trip was everything I had hoped for and I look forward to joining you again in the future.

Chuck Raines Camarillo, California

Atlantic puffin in flight with fish

“Puffins Galore" is a very apt name for this photography workshop with Christopher Dodds on L'Ile Aux Perroquets in the St. Lawrence Seaway. Puffins, Razorbills, Guillemots, and many shorebirds use this little island in the Mingan Archipelago as their nesting home during the breeding season and the place is alive with activity with many opportunities for images of birds in flight and birds around their burrows. Chris Dodds is acquainted with every aspect of puffin behaviour and is very generous with time and advice; he helped me improve my skills capturing images of fast-moving birds. Everyone in the group came away with images that they were thrilled with. The guest house on the island is a converted lighthouse keeper's residence and provides a very comfortable experience. The meals alone would be worth the trip. Puffins Galore and much, much more.”

— Paul Ludden Wisconsin | USA

Atlantic puffin in the Spring 2021 World Wildlife Magazine

I don’t often share or brag about published images, but I hope someone out there will send me a copy of the spring 2021 World Wildlife Fund Magazine. All of their staff at the magazine are working from home and seem unable to get me anything other than this low-res proof. Let me know if you are willing to part with your copy of the magazine, and you may end-up with a limited edition print :)

This is an Atlantic Puffin portrait from my 2019 PUFFINS GALORE DELUXE WORKSHOP. We woke to fog on several mornings and there were Puffins perched everywhere. We used the park information signs as blinds, and were able to spend hours making portraits at just about point blank range. After making the standard tight head shots, I always explore more interesting poses while working at minimum focusing distance with an extremely limited depth of field. Little did I know that the Covid-19 world-wide pandemic would shut me out of my 2020 trip :(

There is limited space available in August 2021:

July 29 to August 1: SOLD OUT!

August 1 to August 4, 2021: SOLD OUT

August 4 to August 7: SOLD OUT

August 7 to August 10, 2021: ONLY THREE ROOMS LEFT!

Atlantic Puffin PORTRAIT in the fog (Fratercula arctica, Macareux moine, ATPU) Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve, Quebec, Canada. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony Alpha a9 Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 2X Teleconverter @1,200mm ISO 1,600, f/8 @ 1/400s Manual exposure. Full Frame.

Atlantic puffin with fish Vertical

Kudos:

My teenage son (an avid youth nature photographer) and I just came back from Chris' Puffin trip. We had a day of pouring rain, a day of cloud cover and a day of sunshine and Chris gave practical advice on how to get great images no matter what the weather. Chris is skilled at meeting each photographer where they are as he gives individual customized attention out in the field. Chris uses a variety of teaching strategies (including great metaphors!) to make complex information concrete and understandable. My son came back with incredible images - puffin portraits in beautiful golden light, puffins and razorbills with fish in flight, beautiful groupings, single puffins in grass, flowers and rocky cliffs. He also came back with a wealth of tips, tools and strategies. And amidst all of the superb photography instruction and individualized attention, there was also lots of camaraderie and great stories. Chris is not only an excellent teacher but an outstanding host. Can't wait for our next Chris Dodds adventure!

- Deborah & Christopher Graham Ontario | Canada

Atlantic puffin in flight with fish at 20,000 ISO

Q&A: High ISO

Q: Hey Chris, There's a lot of hype on the internet about buying the latest Sony a1 for its high ISO capability which is particularly important to me as a bird photographer. My question is more about the financial side of things: I remember several posts where you claimed the a9 was a great performer and wondered since I don't have the money but value your opinion if you would go into debt to buy the a1, or continue to work with the a9 that I have and stay out of debt. - Marc Lejeune

A: Hi Marc, Here's an image of a Puffin flying with fish that was made with the Sony a9, Sony 100-400, and Sony 1.4X teleconverter. I used 20,000 ISO and the results are remarkable in my opinion.

The key to making great images at high ISO with any camera is simple: Use a fast enough shutter speed to freeze the action, be sure to expose the image correctly, and try your best to shoot full-frame and not to crop.

I would never go into debt to buy a camera. In today’s electronic and disposable world, cameras lose value much more quickly than ever before. Look at it this way: by the time you save your money for it; something better with more features will be available :)

Deluxe Puffins Galore Lighthouse Island Adventure

Puffins Galore Deluxe Edition!

Time to start thinking of my Covid-19 reboot and my beloved Puffins!

Join me for A Dream Photo safari: Live on a small island in a newly restored lighthouse just feet away from Atlantic Puffins and Razorbills.

I have been in search of the ultimate destination for an Atlantic Puffin workshop/safari for a very long time. The mandate was simple; find a location that is within reach, safe and easy to get to without a dangerous boat landing on slippery rocks and a place where we can get close to these comical little seabirds without hauling our gear up, and over, huge distances or having to hang over towering cliffs; a place where anyone can comfortably reach, regardless of age or physical ability; a place with reliable, safe and easy boat landings. I have photographed Atlantic Puffins in Iceland, England, Scotland, Wales, Maine, Newfoundland, New Brunswick and Quebec; All of these "known" places have their drawbacks., and I simply can't imagine subjecting my clients to the abuse. Mission accomplished; I have found Puffin Paradise. This is the very best place in the world to photograph Atlantic Puffins and Razorbills fishing, with fish in their bills, in-flight and in golden light.

Beyond the 50th parallel, along the North Shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, lies a remarkably beautiful scattering of some thirty limestone islands and more than 1000 granitic islets and reefs. The territory, the "Mingan Archipelago", became Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve of Canada 1984.

This necklace of land carved out of the limestone bedrock is the site of spectacular natural monuments that bear witness to the never-ending wear of the sea and the centuries. And there is an abundance of life in this strange half-world: plants of variegated hues and shapes, seabirds gathered in colonies, seals, dolphins and whales, swarming the blue vastness in which the islands bathe.

Many of my favourite images of Puffins and Razorbills were made with only my Sony a9 and Sony 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 G Master lens! The Puffins and Razorbills and plentiful and they fly within inches of us. There will be many opportunities to photograph the Puffins and Razorbills returning to their burrows with fish in their mouths!

Join me, Canadian Wildlife Photographer Christopher Dodds, for a dream Puffin photography workshop/safari. This trip will be limited to 5-8 participants and will surely be the trip of a lifetime for anyone seeking to get close and personal (safely) to Atlantic Puffins and Razorbills. We will be the only inhabitants of the island; we will be sleeping within 50 feet of the nesting Puffins and Razorbills! Gourmet meals included! Dawn to dusk Puffin photography.

Price is $3,995.00 (plus sales tax) including three nights single occupancy accommodation in newly restored lighthouse keepers home on an isolated island, all Gourmet meals, Boat transportation to and from the island, park access fees and expert instruction from Canadian Nature Photographer Christopher Dodds. Other subjects might include Razorbill, Black Guillemot, Great Cormorants, Savannah Sparrow (there are many) Common Eider, Grey Seals and whales. Items of a personal nature, alcoholic beverages, transportation to Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan, Quebec, and souvenirs are not included.

Sony A1 missing features and am I really full of Sh1t?

“Chris, I hate to say it, but you are full of shit! You wrote a great review of the new Sony a1 but skipped over anything that might be missing or any weaknesses - just like the Sony fanboy that you are. How much money has Sony thrown at you for a 5-star review? Shameful! I dare you to post this and include missing features and product weaknesses. Looking back through this blog, you used to be able to capture some of the best birds in flight shots in the world! Why did you need to bother upgrading from your beloved a9? Better yet: a full comparison to Canon and Nikon offerings” - James Laporte

James,

While I appreciate your thoughts, you sure do have a funny way of asking nicely! I dunno why, but I am accepting your dare!

First off, I didn't skip over the single most important weakness to me as a bird photographer. I clearly stated that in my limited time with limited opportunity, I had indeed experienced bird eye auto-focus failure when the camera kept locking onto the shoulder of a small dark bird.

Now that is out of the way, I can't think of anything else that I would like to see on the new a1, other than a top LCD. Not for me: I never used it when I shot with Canon or before that when I used Nikon. It is a great way to see what photographers in my workshops are doing, and a great tool to help direct my teaching toward them or alert them that there may be an exposure or shutter speed problem.

What I know others want: I know there is a high percentage of photographers who use built-in GPS to geotag their images, and I don't understand why Sony seems oblivious to this. Perhaps they are so determined to win over the press that they are blind to every other genre that drives their sales? If I were still a working photojournalist, I would want to have the image location embedded in the EXIF data for better image/event management.

While I prefer to review my images and change the menu through the electronic viewfinder, there is a significant number of Sony shooters who are screaming for a newer, higher-resolution, and fully articulated rear monitor. That's it.

Videographers complain that their favorite codec is not supported out of the camera.

That is honestly all that comes to mind.

As the image above demonstrates, the Sony a9 was an awesome camera. Why did I need to upgrade from my a9? Image file size, 30 FPS, better and faster auto-focus, and more dynamic range. Yes, the Sony a9 was the best in class at the time, but getting 30 images per second gives me an edge when it comes to the exact wing/head/eye/body position. The better dynamic range makes for a richer and truer image, while the bigger files allow more options for bigger images and cropping.

As for a real-world comparison with Canon and Nikon flagship camera bodies, although I have used both systems extensively, I don't own three systems to make that an option.

How much money did Sony throw at me for the review? The answer may surprise you: $0.00. I did get my hands on the first a1 in the country, and I am paid for my public appearances/presentations that Sony sponsors, but I got a great big fat nothing for the review. Many influencers raise funds with various degrees of begging campaigns to motivate you to place your order via affiliate links carefully placed throughout their reviews, but I choose not to do that (for now, at least).

So, full of shit? I guess the jury is out, but you can at least thank me for my honesty! The time I took to write and share my thoughts. That review yielded absolutely nothing towards my bottom line, it was a public service and an act of charity for those wanting to hear my thoughts about the newly announced/released camera :)

Images Alberta Camera Club Presentation Kudos

Here are some kudos from my recent presentation to the Images Alberta Camera Club:

As a member of the St. Albert Photography Club, I was able to piggyback onto the Images Zoom session on the 14th. The session was interesting, beneficial, and enlightening on many fronts, and it was visually stunning due to the quality of your work. Thank you very much for sharing your wealth of knowledge in such a friendly, easy-going manner. - Ken Collett

I know this is repetitive but I really am very grateful to you and to Sony Canada for the fantastic presentation tonight. You set a record for us in terms of attendance and we didn’t have as many guests from other clubs as we could have if I had opened up the numbers of invites I sent to them. The chat messages were very laudatory as you will see when I send the file tomorrow. - Garry Ford

I saw your presentation Jan14 and am in awe of your images. - Michele Baddoo

Really really enjoyed your presentation. You were so very generous with your tips! The photos are stunning! - Judy Johnston

From the live chat:

• Thank you for that histogram explanation. - Tanya Ironside

• I am in awe... -Katie

• Absolutely stunning images. - Satvinder Singh

• I'm speechless...absolutely amazing images! - Erin Oor

• Very generous with the tips...thank you so very much!

• Amazing images. thank you!!! - Linda Marion

• Incredible information, birds in flight are my passion - Lee Lachance

• Keep going !!!!! - Katie

• Thank you very much & merci beaucoup! Fantastique - Cathy

• Following you on Instagram now! Amazing! and I agree great info along the photo tour. Thanks a bunch! - Maritta Renz

• Amazing photographs. Thanks for sharing these with us. - Wendy Royer

• Thank you so much, loved the presentation. Beautiful work. - Michelle Shynkar

• This has been an amazing presentation. I cannot believe how tack sharp your images are and how much work you put into making them such incredible captures. Thank you for sharing your passion and your expertise with us tonight!! - Colleen Sayer

• Great presentation with lots of interesting tips and information. Thank you! - Tanya Ironside

• Fabulous presentation with great tips, all backed up with superb images. - Ken

• Thanks for the great information accompanied by amazing pictures. It was very illustrative and interesting. It felt like 5 minutes - David A.

• Excellent presentation - just loved it! - Lynette Jonson

• A wonderful presentation. thanks so much. - Barbara Adams

• Thank you so much for inviting other Clubs - Victoria in particular. This has been fantastic and so worthwhile. I'd love to go on a workshop with you! - Kim

These comments after realizing I went way over my scheduled time limit, and asked if anyone wanted to keep going - smile!

• Keep going!!! - Judy Johnston

• Waahooo! - Katie

• Yeah, keep going - Tarra

• You are a natural teacher, way to go!! - Cathy

• Thanks for sharing your photos and expertise. Loved the presentation. • Absolutely awesome images. Thank you Chris, Sony, and the Alberta club. Love from the West Coast. - Lynn

• This has been an eye opener presentation. - Satvinder Singh

• Thanks Christopher .. - Brenda and Jean-Marcel

• Very inspirational! Thank you so much - Lee Lachance

• Thanks for the presentation Christopher. It inspires me to get out there and take some great photos. - Christine

• Thank you Chris and thank you Alberta Photo Club for giving us the opportunity. - Satvinder Singh

• Thank you very much for the presentation. - Dipan Das

• Loved this. Thanks to Images Alberta for inviting Camera Club of Ottawa to share in this evening. Chris you're awesome. - Julia Hardwick

• Thank you so much. - catherinepage

• (And when I said I had to end the meeting) NOOOOOO! - Katie

• Thank you so so much Chris! Amazing presentation. - Erin Oor

• Thanks so much Chris. I learned a lot and really enjoyed the show! - Clayton

• Thank you so much!!! - Katie

• Fantastic presentation !!! - Ron Snider

• Thanks, Christopher, for staying up late for us - Cathy

• Amazing photos.... great body of work! love to go on a trip with you! - Nora

• Amazing presentation and images - Michele

• Thank you for your time - Curtis Polishuk

• Thank you, Chris, for your very inspiring information and photos. - Corinne Overwater

• Thanks so much. wonderful - Sue

The organizer was copied on a message to a member of another club that attended, who was describing the show to a friend who missed it:

Chuck,

Sorry about the short notice, I only noticed the email late afternoon.

I hate to say it, but it was one of the best presentations I have ever seen! Not only was the photography, every single image, absolutely amazing, he offered tips and strategies that I had never heard of before. Unfortunately, it will also be a very expensive presentation for me … no question now that I will make the jump to Sony as soon as my Nikon gives up the ghost, not too long from now.

Bird Photography Intentional Blur and Q&A

Q:

Christopher,

I am constantly gobsmacked by your exceptional images. The details are captivating to me. I do wonder if you ever slow down your shutter and create artistic blurs? - Peter Wentworth

Hi Peter,

Thank you. Yes, I am not typically a fan of intentional blurs, but I do occasionally play around and slow my shutter speed down. Here is a Great Gray Owl I recently photographed at 1/40s with the new Sony a1 and 200-600mm lens. I find the key to my liking an intentional or artistic blur is having the eye(s) relatively sharp.

Q:

Hello Christopher, I liked your comments on the new alpha 1. How did you find it with the 200-600 zoom. I use this lens with the a7r3. The combo I found a bit slow to focus with wildlife. Where you happy with it on the a1. I have preordered the a1 and hoping to not have to upgrade the lens. Best, - Steve Aidelbaum

Hi Steve,

I think you will notice a significant autofocus performance boost with the focus acquisition speed and AF responsiveness of the 200-600 with the a1 vs. the a7RIII.

Q:

Thank you for responding to my query (Antman) in the comments. I would value your opinion on the following.

If you could buy either the 600MM f4 or A1 what would you go for based on the pairing

A9 + 600mmF4 or A1 + 200-600MM.

I own the A9 + a7R4 and 200-600mm and am wondering what makes more sense. My gut feel says go for the 600mm f4. However, I have never used either and I cannot get to see or feel the 600mm f4 in Australia. Both options have advantages. - Thanks, Anthony Heuver

Hi Anthony,

The most practical and financially sensible direction here is to invest in glass and buy the 600mm f/4 GM lens that you will have for the rest of your life. Camera bodies are refreshed at a staggering pace and the used value of them seems to be diminishing at a faster and faster pace with each new release. You can get a great deal on a new a9 (the version I), or take advantage of the "depressed" market and get a lightly used one: remember the shutter count is much less relevant for a mirrorless camera body and if you use the electronic shutter to achieve the fastest capture rate of 20 fps, there are no moving parts. The a9II has better ergonomics and connectivity, but I see little reason to spend the extra cash at this time. Holding off on the newly released a1 until we see promotional discounts or used bodies on the market will give you time to save money toward the purchase and save on the initial investment.

Sony 200-600 with Sony A1 Image Quality

There has been a lot of chatter about the image quality of the Sony 200-600mm zoom lens when used with the new high-resolution Sony a1 camera body. My observations were limited in time and opportunity, but I don't see any issues with the incredible level of detail in this full-frame image of a Great Gray Owl in a snowstorm. I purposely tested the camera in the field as I typically use my equipment to produce the kind of images that excite me.

What I can tell you is that this may not be the best example to clearly define any issues that the lens may have when paired with an ultra-high-resolution camera. If I were to try to find a weakness, then I would test it for edge-to-edge sharpness, chromatic aberration, image degradation, and barrel distortion on something as simple as a black and white chessboard; an image with lots of contrast and linear lines. To test that most accurately and rule out any interference from traffic or ground tremor vibrations I would have to use one of only a very few seismically stable platforms that are typically used to test/measure helicopter or jet engine vibrations.

My advice is to completely ignore the critics who are photographing outside of their usual genre and posting bird pictures that most of us would throw in the trash: always to test equipment under the conditions that you would normally use it - smile.

Sony a1 Bird Eye AF The Real Test

To truly test the bird eye AF of the newly launched Sony a1, I needed to find a moving bird against a distracting background that would normally confuse the camera's AF system into focusing on the background. Sounds easier than it was, as I first had to overcome my natural reflex of finding birds and animals against nice clean out-of-focus backgrounds. This image is perfect to demonstrate the ridiculous accuracy of the bird eye autofocus of the Sony a1: Not only is the background close and cluttered (photographing the subject further from the background would have made the background more out of focus and made the whole test easier for the camera), but the subject is relatively low contrast against it. The random scattering of snow covered branches is harder for most autofocus systems to negate when compared to the predictable vertical tree trunks on the edge of a deciduous forest. It was remarkable to see the camera lock onto the eye and follow it through a sequence of 40 images that were all razor-sharp.

Sony a1 Bird Eye Autofocus ROCKS

I have been lucky to have had several shoots with this beautiful Great Gray Owl relatively close to home in Southwestern Quebec. It was the perfect model for my recent test of the Sony Alpha A1 for Sony of Canada. It is amazing to think back on all of the owls I have photographed over the years and I can’t remember the last time I got to photograph one completely alone without a group of eager winter owl workshop participants, so this is one silver lining of the Covid-19 pandemic that has wreaked havoc across the travel/workshop industry.

In truth, this is a big and relatively slow moving owl. I would have loved to test the camera and it’s built-in and industry leading bird eye auto-focus on some small and fast moving Auklets in The Pribilofs or Atlantic Puffins in Quebec.

The a1 locked onto the owls eye instantly and stayed locked-on to the eye until the owl’s head turned away from the camera; that is when a larger focus target locked-onto it’s head, and quickly regained it’s lock on the eye as soon as it looked back towards me. The bird eye autofocus in extremely impressive and when combined with the camera’s ability to verify focus 120 per second (twice as often than the a9 & a9II) it truly is a game changer! Does it work every time? Almost; the only time it had a little trouble so far was when pointed at a dark bird in low contract light when it tried hard, but ended-up choosing the bird’s shoulder instead of it’s dark eye.

Sony a1 high ISO performance and how to minimize noise in any digital capture

After quickly assembling and setting-up the Sony a1, I headed outside to what turned out to be the quietest feeder in town. This Eastern Gray Squirrel didn’t even stay for long. This image was made with the Sony a1 set to APS-C mode and the Sony 600mm f/4 with the 2X teleconverter making a staggering effective focal length of 1,800 mm. I was at just about minimum focusing distance.

This image shows almost no noise at 10,000 ISO, but it is important to observe that the image is mostly midtones through highlights with almost no dark shadows except the eyes, so one could argue that this is a calculated attempt to cover-up any weakness of the new Sony a1. I would argue that this is a full-frame capture, but since the camera was set to APS-C mode and I was set to compressed RAW to achieve the full 30FPS capture rate, the noise performance is quite remarkable. Add to that that I know I have always got more detail, color accuracy, and less noise when converting RAW images with Adobe Camera Raw which has not yet released an update for the new camera just yet (as mentioned in my Sony a1 review HERE, this may simply be user error while trying to get the most from Sony’s Imaging Edge Software).

To minimize noise with any digital camera be sure to understand and use the histogram to make sure your image is exposed correctly: the whites should reside at the right-hand side of the histogram, but should not be touching the edge to avoid over-exposing them and losing details. Since the camera sees and records light like our eyes, it can’t see or record darkness: it is imperative to remember this! Most vocal armchair warrior critics online consistently underexpose and use one of many available techniques to brighten their images after capture: every one of them will introduce noise into the image (particularly in the darkest areas or the shadows).

Since noise is magnified by cropping an image, it is best practice to avoid cropping much from the original capture. Again, this is something I have seen consistently from those vocal interweb armchair critics.

Sony a1 review

I have spent a week immersing myself in the wonder of the new Sony Alpha 1 digital mirrorless camera from the perspective of a bird/wildlife/nature photographer. If you want the quick and easy answer from the end of the review: This is the best action, birds-in-flight, and all-around digital camera that I have ever used. Amazing image files, blazing-fast auto-focus, and capture rate: it is the new King of the digital camera world. There is no more need for a separate high-speed and high-resolution camera body: this is the all-in-one professional camera body we have all been waiting for and Sony has delivered..... and I haven't even mentioned the 8K video yet ;)

I'll skip copy & pasting all of the camera's specifications that can easily be found on the Sony A1 product page, so click HERE to see them all. What I will do is talk about the things that are important to me and what I do.

Like the a9II, the A1 feels light and comfortable in my hand. I have grown to love the small form factor, and intuitive dial and button placement. The new color touch menu has carried over from the Sony a7SIII, and I find it easy to navigate and in a logical order.

The new Electronic View Finder (EVF) is better than anything I have ever seen in a camera with 9 million dots and .9X magnification; it is big, bright, and fast. The high-quality mode is spectacular.

The new bird eye auto-focus is exclusive to the a1, and works remarkably well. I programmed a button to instantly switch between bird and animal eye auto-focus. I would have loved to test it on small and fast birds in flight, but seasonal variations in available species and local COVID-19 restrictions made that impossible. I was impressed with the bird eye AF on the larger owls and raptors that I was able to find, but they are large and fly relatively slowly. The a9 and a9II both excelled here, so I expect that the a1 will be just that much better. I was able to verify the autofocus acquisition speed is greatly improved over the a9 and a9II, which was already extremely impressive. Sony states that the camera can confirm sharp focus 120 times per second (twice as fast as the Sony a9 and a9II). This not only helps the camera snap into focus quickly but ensures AF accuracy between frames when shooting at 30 FPS: truly mind-blowing performance! I have seen a few reviews that mention the camera sometimes jumps between the bird's eye and shoulder when pointed at a static bird on a perch, and I did experience a little of this particularly when photographing a dark bird with dark eyes and especially while using extreme focal length (particularly the 200-600 with the 2X installed), but the overall performance is what is important to me, and it is exceptional: noticeably better than the already impressive a9 and a9II. I do expect that there will be a fair number of people complaining about this feature (bird eye auto-focus), as we should have reasonable expectations: if a crow or raven is gliding towards me at a high altitude, I wouldn't expect the camera to be able to see, let alone lock onto its eyes - smile.

I immediately set the camera to compressed RAW to be able to achieve the full 30 FPS capture rate and the resulting +/- 57MB files are better than anything that I have seen: More details, less noise, richer color, and more dynamic range. I was unable to see any difference between images made using the electronic shutter and those made using the mechanical shutter. I want to be crystal clear that I won't be able to extract the most out of the RAW files until Adobe or Capture One releases an update to their RAW conversion software. Sony's Imaging Edge Software is the only way I can see the files, and I have always been able to squeeze so much more from either Adobe or Capture One (perhaps due to my lack of understanding of the software, rather than software shortfall, I dunno). So I do expect to be even more impressed as these software updates are released.

I had planned to release my mini-review earlier this week but wanted to hold out and see if anyone found any weaknesses that I could debunk here. I am glad I waited because a lot of attention went to a review video that states that the camera is not capable of shooting 30FPS. It turns out that they used the Sony 70-200 f/2.8 GM lens which needs a firmware update to achieve the full 30FPS that will be released sometime soon. I tested the a1 with my workhorse lenses (and teleconverters) and can confirm that the following lenses and teleconverters are all capable of capturing 30FPS in COMPRESSED RAW (The capture rate is slower using uncompressed RAW):

Sony 600/4 GM

Sony 600/4 GM with 1.4X

Sony 600/4 with 2X

Sony 200-600

Sony 200-600 with 1.4X

Sony 200-600 with 2X

An interesting find was how well the affordable 200-600mm worked with both the 1.4X and 2X, and it was able to maintain the 30FPS capture rate with the 2X in APS-C mode which resulted in a 23-24MB file during my tests. The 200-600 is a great and affordable lens that costs about 20% of the prime 600/4 GM, so there are trade-offs. The AF acquisition and tracking speed are slowed down and the image quality is slightly degraded when the 2X is used, but it still offers remarkably good results. It is not likely I would use the 1,800mm for birds in flight because there would be too much atmospheric compression degrading the image quality, but I do see using this combination extremely close for incredible close-up details at the minimum focusing distance of the combination.

I am grateful that the two card slots accept both CFexpress type A or SD memory cards. While I used the CFexpress type A card that came with the loaner unit for most of my testing, I did test my 128GB Sony SDXC SD Type G memory cards to see if I needed to invest in new cards. There was little to no difference in capture rate, but an obvious difference in write speed. The camera has an impressive buffer, and I don't typically hold down the trigger for more than a short burst, so I don't expect to be buying new memory cards anytime soon. I can confirm that you can now change menu settings and review images while the camera writes to the memory card to clear the buffer.

Another bonus is the a1 used the same NP-FZ100 battery as the a9 and a9II, so I was pleased that my extra batteries will still be useful.

In closing, this is the best action, birds-in-flight, and all-around digital camera that I have ever used. Amazing image files, blazing-fast auto-focus, and capture rate: it is the new King of the digital camera world. There is no more need for a separate high-speed and high-resolution camera body: this is the all-in-one professional camera body we have all been waiting for and Sony has delivered..... and I haven't even mentioned the 8K video yet ;)

Stay tuned to this blog for images made with the Sony a1.

Canadian Nature Photographer Christopher Dodds with the new Sony a1 camera, Sony 600mm f/4 GM lens and Sony 2X extender.

Sony Alpha A1 in the house

I’ve been out & about testing the brand new and industry leading action camera, the Sony Alpha A1. Stay tuned here (www.NaturePhotographyBlog.com) for my review early next week.