Sony Camera
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Make Your Sony Feel Like a Leica

Sony shooters are now blessed with an array of fairly fast 35mm prime lenses, a glaring void in its lineup not too long ago. The latest addition is the Sigma 35mm f/2, a faux-vintage lens that brings a lot of tactile refinement to a compact and classic form.

Another Masterpiece?

“A classic reimagined” is how Sigma’s website describes its new (ish) 35mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary, part of its recently released I series of lenses for Sony and L-mount cameras. The entire range draws heavily on vintage aesthetics, and Sigma’s engineers have not only created something rather beautiful to look at but lenses that have a physicality to them that make them particularly distinctive when attached to a Sony body and far from out of place when slotted onto a Leica.

Clickable aperture rings on electronic lenses don’t get any better (though filmmakers will wish that it was de-clickable), replicating the feel of a high-quality, all-mechanical lens and making you forget that there is no direct connection between the twist of your hand and the shift of the blades. It even sounds good, and it makes particular sense on the Sony a7 III, given that changing apertures with the thumbwheel is not a smooth experience.

The focus by wire ring is equally deceptive, the dampened metal ring giving a haptic feel that’s completely in keeping with the elegant, slightly cinema styling.

Given the other compact 35mm offerings available, Sigma has done well to differentiate the DG DN from the competition

All three are similar in size, each sporting nine rounded aperture blades and each giving autofocus and sharpness performance that won’t disappoint anyone given their respective prices. With only a single gasket (at the bayonet), the Sigma theoretically offers the worst protection against the weather, but it is clinically sharp, and for me is by far the most beautiful of the three and gives the best shooting experience in terms of physicality. If such things are important to you — and to Leica owners, they weigh heavily — it’s a no-brainer.

In addition, you get a metal lens hood to match the metal construction of the lens itself and a minimalist magnetic lens cap that’s a nice touch as long as you overlook the fact that it’s impossible to remove if the lens hood is attached. Everything about this lens feels precise down to the millionths of an inch, whether it’s the seams on the lens barrel where the various rings slide alongside one another or the satisfyingly snug fit of the lens hood. 

Conclusion

Sigma has done an excellent job with this compact, classically styled lens, and we are confident that it will be the best seller by far of its I series glass. I shoot a lot at 35mm, and were I forced to choose, it would be an obvious choice over the others; the 24mm f/3.5 and the 45mm f/2.8 don’t tickle my excitement in terms of their maximum apertures, though the 65mm f/2 would be a nice addition where I allowed a second.

Sony users are now even more spoiled for choice at 35mm; Panasonic shooters will welcome the addition, and a fair chunk of the Leica crowd may be tempted given its looks and tactile shooting experience, as this feels like a different proposition compared to other non-Leica L-mount lenses.

Sigma has created something innovative in terms of design that delivers in terms of performance.

Tripod
CategoriesBlog, Photography, Tripod by

All You Wanted to Know About Tripods

Stability helps us sleep at night, and makes life easier. Considering how important stability is to our everyday lives, it amazes me how often people overlook it when it comes to their photography, opting to go with inexpensive tripodsa if they even use a tripod at all.

A good tripod makes all the difference to photography. We get calls at the gallery, e-mails, and people ask us more questions in regards to tripods than any other piece of equipment. To better understand the importance of the tripod to photography, we’ll look at a few of the reasons landscape photographers don’t leave home without one. Then we’ll go over what to look for when buying your own tripod.

Stability

First and foremost, tripods provide stability. Believe it or not, you can’t hold a camera dead still when trying to photograph a scene. At the very least, there will be some vibration introduced to the camera in the process of taking your photo.

  • With a normal mid-sized lens, say 50mm, the typical saying is that it becomes VERY difficult to handhold a shot at anything below 1/60 of a second.
  • If you’re photographing wildlife with a larger lens (say 100-400), the rule of thumb is that your shutter speed should be double your focal length in order to minimize vibrations.
  • If you’re shooting at 200mm, you will need 1/400 of a second to hopefully capture a nice sharp image.

In low or limited light, stability becomes more and more difficult. Seasoned pros can usually handhold about 2 stops lower than normal and achieve decent results…but this usually requires contorting into an abnormal position, locking elbows, using a knee as a resting point, or some other kind of bodily interpretation of a tripod.

Creativity

Did you ever see one of those silky waterfall images in a magazine and wonder, “How the heck did they do THAT?!” Actually, it’s easy. The main ingredient is not technical skill. There is a bit of that, sure, but the main component of getting those types of images is a tripod. Once you place your camera on a tripod, the choices of how you want your images to look is up to you. You’re no longer bound by the limits of your shutter. If you want to capture an image of the sea over hours, you just need to pick the right time of day, set up your camera, trip the shutter, and wait. If there isn’t a strong breeze blowing or a pesky 5 year old shaking your tripod, you’re good to go.

The advantages of a tripod don’t end with moving water. Many of the images you see these days have been captured ON a tripod.

  • Star trails — tripod
  • Nighttime city skylines — tripod
  • Architecture interiors — tripod
  • Portrait work — tripod
  • Product photography — tripod

Quality

Every time you open your shutter, there is vibration introduced to the camera. The best way to minimize this is to use a tripod. The tripod allows you to set up the shot the way you want it, and then leave it in place so you know that when you trip the shutter the image will be like you framed it.

Hand-holding an image, I’ve found, is tough because you always move a bit from when you frame it to when you click the shutter. I’ve always operated under the rule that images made using a tripod will be sharper and of higher quality every time.

Some will argue that using a tripod becomes a lot of hard work when photographing wildlife. I agree. It can be. Using a monopod (or your tripod, with legs folded in) will help give you stability and mobility. A Wimberly or Gimbal head for your tripod will also help give you stability and mobility for shooting wildlife. Anything you can use to increase stability and minimize your contact with the camera will increase overall image quality.

Seriousness

First and foremost, how serious are you about photography? Is it something you’re planning on doing regularly? Once a month? Only on vacations? Do you plan on shooting a lot of landscapes? Do you want to make the most out of sunsets and sunrises?

Once you know the answers to these questions, break the selection of your tripod down to a few key categories (mentioned below), and then make the call based on what you feel will benefit you the most.

Use

The first category is USE. How are you going to use this tripod? If you’re a portrait or wedding photographer, you’ll be keeping the tripod indoors a lot, maybe out in a park on occasion. The size and weight of your tripod won’t be as big of an issue. If you’re a landscape and wildlife photographer, you’ll be outside a lot, hiking, setting up in and around water. This will come into play with the type of tripod you choose.

Material

Once you know what kind of legs you want on your tripod, then you need to decide what you want it made out of.

  • Carbon fiber is expensive, light, durable, easy to clean, handles the elements well, and has minimal vibration (when I talk about vibration, I’m talking about a car driving by, people walking on a pier near you, water rushing by in a creek, etc.)
  • Aluminum is cheap, lightweight, easy to clean, fairly durable to elements, but can have quite a lot of vibrations in certain circumstances. Aluminum is very receptive to vibrations. I’ve also seen quite a few of them bend or get dented so that they don’t close right.
  • Wood is expensive, durable, very stable for heavy gear, and if treated correctly, good in the elements, very low vibrations, but it weighs a TON. It’s not something you’ll want to lug around longer than you need to. For people who do a lot of indoor work, or photography with very limited walking, wood tripods aren’t a bad way to go.

There are other materials as well, such as metal, basalt, plastic (which we discussed) and some combination systems. For landscape and wildlife photographers, the tripod goes with them everywhere. Weight is a big factor. Carbon fiber tripods are the norm for landscape and wildlife photographers. Once you’ve lugged around a 10-15lb. tripod for any period of time, you will relish the joys of carbon fiber.

Final Selection

The best way to pick the tripod that will work best for you is to go to a camera store and touch the merchandise. Understand that you do get what you pay for, but that in some cases you will be paying as much for the name on the tripod as the function you are receiving.

  • Read reviews on the tripods you’re thinking about purchasing.
  • Make the decision to make a tripod a vital piece of your gear, and buy one that will last and stand up to the type of photography you plan on creating.
  • Ask friends or professionals what they use, and why.
Flash photography
CategoriesBlog, Photography by

Transform a Photograph Using Flash

One of the quickest and easiest ways to completely change an image and make it more memorable is to add a flash. Introducing flash techniques to your photography doesn’t only mean more light. It also means more more exposure options, and more control. And a lot more complications.


But it also opens up whole new areas of photography, allowing you to advance your skills.

What Is Flash Photography?

As the name suggests, flash photography means the creation of images using artificial light. The light source can be a classic Speedlight flash or studio lights.

The beauty of flash photography is that you are not forced to adapt to the ambient light. Instead, you create and sculpt your own light.

So how can I control light using a flash?

  1. Change the intensity of the light: choose from full output power down to 1/64th or 1/128th of full power.
  2. Adjust light spread (zoom): You can either make the flash beam narrow or wide by zooming in/out the flash head (measured in mm). As you zoom out the flash head the flash beam becomes more narrow. As you zoom in, the beam becomes wider.
  3. Change direction of the light: by bouncing the flash off another surface or by entirely moving the flash off-camera
  4. Modify the quality of light: by using different light modifiers.

Flashes are also useful outdoors, to improve your photos in tricky light conditions.

Tips on How to Use a Flash

Using flash in your photography may sound intimidating at first. That is why we wanted to give you these tips and tricks to get the best results out of your flash photography.

Use Fill Flash Outdoors to Balance Exposure

Do you struggle to get good family photos during outdoor activities?

The main problem, especially on sunny days, is that most of the time you will shoot ‘into’ the light.

A woman, her child and dog by a lake, shot into the sun
A classic family outdoor snapshot. As you can see from the direction of the shadows, the sun is high up in the sky, slightly behind the people, so their faces are in shadow. Photo by Andrea Minoia.

In this case, particularly if you shoot in automatic mode, one of two things will happen. Both of which are undesirable.

  1. The bright background will be properly exposed, but the backlit subject will be underexposed; or
  2. The backlit subject is properly exposed, but the brighter background is overexposed.

How to Avoid Red-Eye When Using Flash

The red-eye effect happens when the flash is used to take a shot and the pupils of humans or animals appear red.

In low-light, pupils dilate, but the flash occurs so fast they cannot contract. Thus, the camera picks up the light reflected back through the pupil after bouncing off the back of the eye. The main cause of the red color comes from the blood vessels in the eye.

The simplest solution to avoid the red-eye effect is to ask the subject to look away from the camera.

If that is not ideal, most cameras have red-eye reduction capabilities built-in. For example, they can fire the flash twice when the shutter is pressed, causing the pupil to contract. This function will tame the red-eye effect.

Bounce Your Flash for a Softer Light

There are two types of light in photography: hard and soft.

  • Hard light creates more contrasted images
  • The soft light gives more balanced images

If you take an image using direct flash, the light is hard and will cast strong, ugly shadows on the background.

To learn more about applying these principles and buying Best Camera or to know camera price in Pakistan, please contact our experts.

Portrait lighting camera
CategoriesBlog, Photography by

Common Portrait Lighting Mistake and How To Correct It

We all make mistakes in photography. All of us. But these are things that help us learn and grow as photographers. We make mistakes, we figure out what went wrong, we correct it, and then don’t make that mistake again. Thanks to the modern Internet, though, we can learn from the mistakes of others, too.

https://youtu.be/RICH8X3a_ww

In this video, portrait and wedding photographer, Jiggie Alejandrino talks about some of the most common mistakes in using off-camera flash and how to determine the proper placement for your light sources. Armed with a Sony a7R IV with a Sony Ziess 50mm f/1.4 remotely triggering a Profoto B2 with an installed Magmod Magbox modifier, this video was shot on-location at an actual wedding. 

Placement of Catchlights

The first one is nice and simple to avoid once you know what you’re looking for, and thankfully, it’s super easy to know when you’ve done it not. It is, of course, catchlights in the subject’s eyes. Catchlights are the spectral highlights in eyes created by the direct reflection of the key light.

Under-lighting

The reason this looks so bad is because we’re used to seeing one another when we’re lit from above. We go outside and the sun is lighting us from above; when we’re indoors the lights are lighting us from above. In fact, this is so present in our visual recognition of the world that lighting from anywhere other than above simply tells our brains that something is wrong.

Shadows

Again, this is a mistake that is quite subtle and sometimes tricky to avoid, but it always worth being aware of it. A basic rule of lighting for me is that you always want to create “clean lighting

Poor Hair Light Placement

The placement of hair lights is another example of how something looks fine until you’re shown how it could look better. Firstly, you have to know why you’re using hair lights, to begin with—are you simply adding them to add a little shine to the hair, are you trying to accentuate shape in the hair, or are you just trying to create a strong separation between your subject and background? All of these are valid reasons, and with a little care and attention, your hair light placement can achieve all of these goals.

For more information or buying Best Camera or to know camera price in Pakistan, please contact our experts

Photographers equipment
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Achieve Productivity and Organizational Perfection For Photographers Using Simple Categories

Staying focused is a premium in the 21st century, and nothing makes you feel more lost in the sauce than not knowing which way your lens is pointed. This method will help you stay focused and help create a system to save all the information you come across in a searchable database for future reference. 

It’s important to understand the fundamentals of the method before I go into why it’s helpful, so below is a more detailed overview of P.A.R.A., with definitions from the method’s author.

Projects (a series of tasks linked to a goal, with a deadline): This is where all current activities go regardless of the level of completion. Losing weight, saving money, planning trips, photo sessions, etc.

Areas (a sphere of activity with a standard to be maintained over time): Parts of your life that are ongoing but don’t have specific timelines. Family, health, finances, hobbies, etc.

Resources (a topic or theme of ongoing interest): This is where you store everything that can either help with the previous two categories or is just of interest to you. How to write better, cooking recipes, places to visit, tutorials, etc.

Archive (inactive items from the other three categories): Exactly what it sounds like, a catch-all for everything you no longer need. For this, I duplicate the database from whichever area I’m archiving from so it’s still searchable and keeps the same hierarchy from the other three areas.

Here are nine ways you can increase your productivity and earn more as a photographer:

Use workflow software

Scheduling follow-up reminders, creating invoices, and keeping track of expenses can all be automated.

There are tons of workflow software tools out there, including Táve and JotForm.

Create templates for frequent emails


Do you find yourself writing roughly the same emails over and over again?

Creating customizable templates or canned responses for emails that you send to most clients at some point in your workflow (for example, introductory emails to new clients) can save you a lot of time. Instead of writing a new email for every client, you can reach for your trusty template, fill in the client’s name and details, and send it off in just a few minutes.


Set up systems for editing photos more efficiently


Editing photos can be one of the most time-consuming aspects of your photography business. Devising systems to reduce the time you spend editing affords you more hours a week to land new clients and do more photoshoots.

A straightforward way to improve your editing efficiency is to tackle edits in large batches.  Newborn photographer Nicole Smitt uses Lightroom and the Batch+ plugin to organize all of her edits.

Another way to save time while editing is to create custom keyboard shortcuts for every editing action. While it takes some time to create these, in the long run they will save you hundreds of keystrokes during editing sessions.


Protect your calendar


You can’t get much done if your day is peppered with meetings, so it can be helpful to set aside blocks of time every day for working.


Companies like Calendly make it easy to set meetings with clients around your work schedule. The scheduling software allows you to allot specific intervals of time every day for meetings, which means your “work time” is automatically protected.


Maximize your social media efforts with a scheduling app


Planning and scheduling all your content for the week or month at once can ensure your social media is consistent and efficient. Currently, the only way to effectively schedule content on most social media platforms is to use a third-party app.


Keep a notebook for jotting down ideas


How many times have you kicked yourself for forgetting that thing you were going to do?

A recent survey showed that the majority of professionals prefer old-fashioned pen and paper to record their creative ideas on the go. Having a notebook handy ensures that when inspiration strikes, you’re prepared to make a quick note to refer to later.


Set specific short-term goals


Setting clear short-term goals for growing your business and developing an actionable plan for achieving them may be the single best way to increase your productivity. That’s because when you define your goals, you have the internal motivation to focus on your work.

The quickest way to stymie your progress and kill motivation is to be overwhelmed. Think of this as a way to tip the balance of power in your favor in a system bent towards using your time for the least amount of payment. We have to spend an inordinate amount of time just trying to stay relevant in this fast-paced, content-over saturated world. So, take any advantage you can and run with it.

For more information or buying Best Camera or to know camera price in Pakistan, please contact our experts

 
Canon camera in pakistan
CategoriesBlog, Canon Camera by

Canon Announces Firmware Updates for R5 & R6

Canon R5 and R6 are all getting firmware updates—Canon software will also receive updates.

Canon announced the immediate release of firmware updates of its high-end cameras, adding several features that users have been asking for.  Two of Canon’s most recent releases, the EOS R5 and R6 cameras, will be getting firmware updates v1.3 and v1.3, respectively—the firmware updates are not identical. Both cameras, which were released over this past summer, are part of Canon’s high-end line of full-frame mirrorless cameras.

Increased image quality and usability

The Canon EOS R5 will benefit from a number of upgrades including Full HD 120p and support for greater customization of the camera. Users will now able to save personalized and preferred camera settings to a memory card, which can be copied across to a different camera or used when settings are adjusted. There is also the option to turn the LCD monitor off during shooting and use it for playback only, providing a familiar DSLR-style operation. For both the EOS R5 and Canon EOS R6, the firmware achieves full-time manual support for RF lenses, allowing photographers to override the focus of RF lenses manually when in Servo AF mode.

Streamlined professional workflows

For the EOS R5, professional photographers can safeguard and quickly share photos with the new Protect Image Transfer function allowing protected images to be locked – preventing them from accidentally being deleted – and transferred via FTP. Across the EOS R5, professionals can now see FTP Transfer status on the display clearly showing how long it will take to transfer pictures.

Enhanced video functionality

This firmware enables low-bit rate RAW movies reducing the size of RAW video files making file transfer faster for the EOS R5. The update also provides enhanced video capabilities for the EOS R5 with the addition of Canon Log 3 – the log gamma curve used by all Canon Cinema EOS cameras enabling greater dynamic range, superior colour editing capabilities, and easier file management. For even greater flexibility of filming formats across all cameras, this firmware unlocks a lower bit rate IPB movie option creating small, easily shareable video files.

Following the release of the R5 and R6 cameras last year, it quickly became clear that both cameras suffered from an overheating issue when recording high-resolution video. Firmware updates were quickly released to address the overheating issue on both mirrorless cameras, but the controversy surrounding their initial release has cast some doubt on the camera manufacturer. 

The firmware updates are all available right now, as well as the software updates to several different Canon software. The EOS Utility software is receiving update v3.13.1. Canon is providing support for devices using Apple M1 processors. Rosetta for Digital Photo Professional is getting update v4.14. 

You can take a look at Best Canon camera in Pakistan also for more. For guidance or buying at affordable price cameras please contact Golden Camera – Best camera shop in Karachi.

Are you excited about these updates? Tell us why, in the Comments section below!

Panasonic s series
CategoriesBlog, Filmmaking, Panasonic Camera by

Panasonic S Series Firmware Update

Panasonic is proud to announce the release of firmware updates for the LUMIX S Series full-frame mirrorless cameras DC-S1H (Ver.2.4), DC-S1 (Ver.2.0), DC-S1R (Ver.1.8), DC-S5 (Ver.2.2) to further enhance their functions, performance, and usability. Firmware updates are a key value-added service provided for LUMIX cameras and Panasonic will continue to improve our cameras and offer updates for our valued customers.

ModelFirmware VersionRelease Date
DC-S1HVer.2.4 March 31, 2021
DC-S1Ver. 2.0April 6, 2021
DC-S1RVer.1.8April 6, 2021
DC-S5Ver.2.2April 6, 2021

Lumix DC-S1H, which adds numerous raw recording functions and video assist features:

  1. Adds the Blackmagic RAW format, for use with the Blackmagic Design Video Assist 12G HDR monitor via HDMI, and enables full-frame 5.9K, Super 35 DCI 4K, and Super 35 3.5K Anamorphic raw recording
  2. Supports V-Log or Rec.709 gamma on a live monitor when outputting raw video
  3. Supports zebra when outputting raw video
  4. Adds video assist functions such as waveform, vectorscope, and luminance meters
  5. Allows the camera orientation setting to be moved to a different menu in case of accidental rotation
  6. Allows you to go into Power-Save mode when using an AC adapter

The rest of the firmware updates are released on April 6, 2021, including firmware version 2.0 for the Lumix DC-S1 that requires the DMW-SFU2 upgrade software key:

  1. Supports a number of resolutions recordable in MOV format, including 4K Anamorphic, UHD 4K, DCI 4K, and 6K
  2. Adds the ability to output ProRes RAW video up to 5.9K via HDMI
  3. Allows you to record raw video using a monitor such as the Atomos Ninja V
  4. Adds timecode

There are also firmware updates for the S1 available without the DMW-SFU2 upgrade software key that:

  1. Support Dual Native ISO settings
  2. Allow you to move the camera orientation menu position
  3. Allow you to go into power-save mode when using an AC adapter

And finally, firmware updates 1.8 for the Lumix S1R and version 2.2 for the Lumix S5 both add the ability to move the camera orientation menu position and the ability to go into power-save mode when using an AC adapter.

Be sure to grab the updates for your cameras as soon as you can to take advantage of raw recording and all the other enhancements from Panasonic.

For guidance or buying at affordable price cameras please contact Golden Camera – Best camera shop in Karachi.

Are you excited about these updates? Tell us why, in the Comments section below!

Best sony cameras
CategoriesBlog, sony camera by

Best Sony Camera 2021: Full-frame, APS-C and Compact

Over the last few years, Sony has mounted a strong challenge to the dominant duo of Canon and Nikon, overtaking Nikon to become the number two player. The best Sony cameras come in all shapes and sizes, from high-speed sports shooters to high-resolution mirrorless models, to highly compact pocket cameras. So the best one is ultimately the one that’s right for you and your needs!  

They’ve largely achieved this success by concentrating on the more premium, higher end of each market – whether that be full-frame, APS-C or compact – and delivering the most high-tech product that they possibly can at that time.

This is a common trait that applies to all of the Sony cameras in this list, from the breath-taking new Alpha 1 full-frame mirrorless to the excellent A6100 APS-C model, to the niche Cyber-shot RX0 II action camera.

What is the Best Sony Camera in 2021?

Here’s our list of the best Sony cameras that you can buy in 2021:

Best Sony Mirrorless Camera 2021

Sony don’t make DSLR cameras, unlike their main rivals, Nikon and Canon, instead choosing to concentrate on developing an extensive range of Alpha-branded full-frame mirrorless cameras.

This has resulted in them being the number one full-frame mirrorless camera manufacturer for a long time now, although they’ve recently faced some stiff competition from the likes of Canon’s EOS R system and Nikon’s Z-series.

Sony make a full-frame camera for seemingly every market niche – the A7R for landscapes, A9 for sports, A7S for video, A7 for all-round, and the A7C as a super-compact option.

And in January 2021 they launched the flagship Alpha 1, a stunning camera that takes all the best features from the other Alpha series models and combines them into one 8K, 50 megapixel monster.

Best Sony Compact Camera 2021

As cheaper compact cameras have declined in popularity over the last few years, Sony have switched tack to making the best possible compacts instead, whether they be for recording video, stills, action, or wildlife.

The cream of the Cyber-shot crop are are undoubtedly expensive compared to their main rivals, but they are also invariably the best in their particular class.

Whether it be the ZV-1 for vloggers, RX10 IV for wildlife, RX100 IV for all-round use , or the RX0 II for action, they all share one thing in common – to try to be the absolute best that they can.

Sony Camera Buyer’s Guide

Sony cameras

A selection of the Sony cameras tested for this article.

If you want a short version of the reviews below, here are my recommendations of what Sony camera body to invest in:

  Want the best resolution and image quality? Get the Sony a7RIII or the latest Sony a7RIV – the 42.4 (or 61!) megapixels files will leave your jaw on the floor.

  Want the best AF performance of any camera on the market? Get the Sony a9. Any shots you miss will definitely just be user-error!

  Want the best full frame performance out of the smallest body? Get the Sony RX1R II, which also happens to be the most tactile, involved and enjoyable Sony camera I’ve ever shot with.

  Want the best all-round mirrorless interchangeable lens camera of the year? Get the Sony a7III – incredible performance with an attractive price to match.

  Want the best APS-C sensor performance? Get the Sony a6400, which has the added benefit of a front-facing screen for vlogging/selfies.

  Want the best performing compact that fits in your pocket? Get the Sony RX100 VI, a compact marvel with a wide angle to long range zoom lens.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Sony camera is the best?

When it comes to Sony cameras, our number one pick is the Sony a7III. The a7III is a near-to-perfect full frame mirrorless camera that’s versatile, sharp, and packs an impressive number of features for its price.

Which Sony camera is best for video?

There are a number of Sony cameras that are great for video. One of our favourites is the Sony a9, which offers 4k video and a set of powerful video-shooting features.

Is Sony a good camera brand?

There’s no denying that Sony have some of the best mirrorless cameras on the market today. While Sony may not have as many lenses or accessories on offer as other brands, they are continually expanding their range and the quality of their products is impressive.

What are the Sony Alpha cameras?

Sony Alpha is a camera system introduced by the company back in 2006. In this range are a number of interchangeable-lens cameras, including DSLRs and mirrorless cameras.

For guidance or buying at affordable price cameras please contact Golden Camera – Best camera shop in Karachi.

sony a1 vs canon r5
CategoriesBlog, Camera Equipments, Filmmaking by

Sony A1 vs Canon EOS R5

Canon has enjoyed a lot of success recently with the EOS R5 camera, topping last years best-selling charts in Japan and being one of the main drivers behind Canon’s profitable 2020.

Now Sony have struck back with the secretive launch of the Alpha 1, easily their most impressive camera to date, which is clearly a direct challenger to the EOS R5.

The Sony A1 price in Pakistan and the much cheaper Canon R5 price actually share quite a lot of similarities, though, when it comes to their core specifications and features, so which one should you pick?

We’re bringing you this in-depth Sony A1 vs Canon R5 head-to-head comparison to help you choose between these two flagship full-frame mirrorless cameras.

Design: Curves versus angles

It’s business as usual in the Sony and Canon design labs. The Sony A1 and Canon EOS R5 have fairly similar dimensions, but the A1’s main body box is trimmer and more angular than the R5’s.

Canon lets its contours bloom out, for a softer appearance and shape. Thickness is the one significant practical difference here. The Sony Alpha 1 is around 17mm slimmer than the Canon. 

But when you compare these cameras from above, much of the difference is down to the jutting of the EVF eyepiece and the shape of the handgrip. 

The Canon EOS R5’s grip extends out a little further, and perhaps has better contouring for your fingers. 

Both cameras are weather-sealed, and there’s only a gram between them once you add the battery and memory card. The Canon EOS R5 weighs 738g, the Sony Alpha A1 737g. 

Screens: Sony wins on EVF, Canon for rear screen

Added consideration for awkward shooting positions continues in the Canon EOS R5’s rear screen. 

Its display folds out on a hinge, where the Sony Alpha A1 has a less flexible flip-out display. Sony’s style will be quicker to use in some situations (particularly photography, rather than video), but the Canon’s is a good deal more flexible. 

The Canon EOS R5’s display specs are also superior. This is a 3.15-inch, 2.1-million dot LCD. That equates to a 960 x 720 pixel resolution. 

The Sony A1’s display is a little smaller, with a 3-inch diagonal. And its resolution is lower at 1.44-million dots, or 800 x 600 pixels. 

The most important differences here are the Canon’s greater screen size, and that more versatile hinge. 

The situation flips around in the EVF, the electronic viewfinder. Sony’s EVF is significantly better. The Alpha A1 has a 0.64-inch OLED panel with 0.9x magnification, zero image blackout while shooting, and an excellent maximum 240Hz refresh rate. 

The A1’s EVF resolution is 9.44-million dots, equivalent to 2048 × 1536 pixels. This is a fantastic, large, very high resolution viewfinder. 

The Canon EOS R5’s EVF belongs to the league below. It uses a smaller 0.5-inch OLED panel with 0.76x magnification and lower 5.76 million dot resolution. That is 1600 x 1200 pixels. 

It’s not quite the difference between a Full HD TV and a 4K one, but there is a significant gap here.

Autofocus: Canon EOS R5 wins on numbers

Back when full-frame cameras had to rely on separate AF modules, the number of focus zones was a reasonable indication of AF performance. Nowadays? Not so much. 

The Canon EOS R5 has 5,940 focus points when you use “single point” AF, or 1,053 in area focus. 

By comparison, the Sony A1 has a more traditional-sounding 759 focus zones. Either way you look at it, Canon’s numbers are higher. 

Frame coverage is perhaps more important. The Canon covers 100% of the frame, the Sony ‘just’ 93%. Of course, this isn’t going to affect too many people as we’re talking about the extreme edges of the frame here. 

Burst shooting: Sony A1 wins for ultimate speed

Action photographers, take note. The Canon EOS R5 can shoot at up to 20fps using its electronic shutter, or 12fps using its mechanical one. 

It’s fast but the Sony A1 is faster, at least in its electronic shutter mode. Its Bionz XR processor allow for 30fps capture of 50MP files. There are also 20fps, 15fps and 5fps modes if you don’t need that max speed. 

Battery life and connectivity: Sony brings the advanced tech

It’s time to tackle some of the slightly dry, but important, practicalities of these two cameras. The Sony A1 uses the NP-FZ100 battery, a 16.4Wh unit. The Canon EOS R5’s LP-E6NH battery has slightly lower capacity of 15.3Wh.

Sure enough, the published Sony figures are a little better than Canon’s. The Alpha 1 is rated for 530 shots using the LCD screen, or 430 shots with the viewfinder. This drops to 490 shots (LCD) and 320 (viewfinder) in the EOS R5. 

Canon does not publish any video stamina figures, but Sony does. It claims the A1 offers 145 minutes of continuous recording with the viewfinder, or 150 minutes using the LCD display. There’s no word on the video mode used for these tests, but it’s not going to be 8K.

Both cameras have dual memory card slots, but the types they accept are different. 

Wrap up

The new Sony Alpha 1 seems to have the clear edge over the Canon EOS R5 in many ways, most notably 8K video, the stacked 50mp BSI sensor, faster burst shooting, and the class-leading LCD viewfinder – but it’s not all a one-way street, with the R5 offering a great AF system, better handling, more effective IBIS system, and a more versatile LCD screen.

Obviously, the price tag is literally a big difference between the two – do the extra features and, on paper at least, better performance justify the substantial hike in price for the Alpha 1?

For guidance or buying at affordable price cameras please contact Golden Camera – Best camera shop in Karachi.

So what do you think? Would you choose the new Sony A1 or the Canon R5, and why? Leave a comment below!

Canon camera 2021
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Best Canon Camera 2021: Top Mirrorless, DSLR, and Compact

Canon are still the leading camera brand in 2021, despite some fierce competition from the likes of Sony and Nikon.

Canon have recently been concentrating most of their efforts on full-frame mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras, quickly developing a superb range of of bodies and lenses to rival the best that their rivals have to offer.

What is the Best Canon Camera in 2021?

Here’s our list of the best Canon cameras that you can buy in 2021:

Best Canon Mirrorless Camera 2021

Canon were a little late to the mirrorless party, only releasing their first full-frame model in 2018, but they’ve certainly been making up for lost time in recent years with the release of a slew of new cameras and lenses.

Chief among these is the EOS R5, a 45 megapixel camera that can shoot at 20 frames per second and can also record 8K video.

If the R5 is too expensive, there are three other excellent options available, the EOS R6, EOS R and EOS RP (in descending price order).

Canon also has a range of APS-C sensor mirrorless cameras, the EOS M series, which has received a little less love in terms of development but is still worth considering if you can’t stretch the budget to a full-frame model.

Best Canon DSLR Camera 2021

Just when most people assumed that DSLRs were going to die a slow death, Canon decided to prove otherwise. The EOS 90D is the first camera of its kind to boast a 32.5MP sensor and, alongside a Digic 8 processor, gives the snapper the ability to capture 4K video at up to 30fps which, thankfully is uncropped. While it’s the same sensor and image engine pairing as the EOS M6 Mark II mentioned above, the EOS 90D doesn’t quite have the speed of its mirrorless cousin, instead of topping out 11fps when shooting continuously in live view mode.

There’s a new metering sensor under the hood as well and its performance is excellent, exposing areas of light and shadow to near-perfection. However, we did find that due to the high pixel density on the crop sensor, noise performance isn’t the best but for the most part that can be taken care of during post-production.

Digital SLRs have been Canon’s best-selling cameras for many years now, and even with the recent advent of mirrorless, they still make up a large part of the company’s overall sales. Indeed, Canon are still the number one player in the DSLR market.

Consequently they offer a vast range of different models, from the Olympics-level EOS-1D X Mark III right down to the beginner-focused EOS 2000D camera.

If you want an interchangeable lens camera and prefer an optical viewfinder to an electronic one, Canon literally have a DSLR for every budget.

For in-depth knowledge or more information of Canon DSLR or Canon camera price in Pakistan, please contact our experts