Alpha 1: Capturing Birds in Flight with Howard Yap
A speeding vehicle, an active animal, a playful child — moving subjects are undoubtedly a challenge to photograph. So what more can be said for capturing soaring, darting and flapping birds in the sky?
It is only second nature for bird photographer Howard Yap. After all, the photographer has been doing this for years and years.
“I love nature,” he swelled with excitement. “And every time I see raptors hunting, I get an adrenaline rush while capturing the moment.”
Aside from having a keen eye to pinpoint these winged creatures, Howard has to rely on a dependable shooter. He shared how previously he had to use two camera bodies, which both compromised in certain aspects. For instance, one camera has high megapixels for detailed shots, but it is not as fast as the other with superb Autofocus and high FPS. The latter, however, lacked the desired image quality. He lamented how switching cameras would sometimes lead to missed critical action shots.
This all changed when Howard picked up the Alpha 1.
Merging of true speed and resolution with Alpha 1
The ideal camera for bird photography has to be fast, accurate and boasts reliable auto focus with high resolution that allows better flexibility in editing, Howard specified. To his delight, the Alpha 1 ticked off all the boxes on his list.
For starters, the Alpha 1 offers the remarkable combination of high resolution and blazing speed. This is perfect for some fast-flying birds with unpredictable movements. Thankfully, the camera’s 50.1 MP sensor can accommodate the continuous burst of up to 30fps, freezing any bird action moment in high quality. Some users have pointed out that it is almost equivalent to shooting a video at a frame rate of 30 frames a second, which means photographers have all the freedom of choosing the most impressive moment and most impactful shot of the bird’s trajectory. Such action moments include how the claws touch the surface of the water when eagles nose-dive to hunt fish.
“In the past with a lower fps camera, I was able to capture such shots occasionally,” Howard compared. “At 30 fps, my chances increase substantially.”
Some other benefits of the Alpha 1’s high megapixel count is its excellent noise control that does not compromise on image quality and speed when Howard shoots with a fast shutter and teleconverter. Its remarkable ability to crop also left an impression on Howard, especially when shooting small and fast birds. Howard said he can retain tack sharp details of a cropped shot.
Fast and focus
The Alpha 1’s Autofocus is truly a force to be reckoned with. The camera not only covers and detects 90% of the frame, but it also boasts Real-time Eye AF for birds. It tracks and accurately focuses on birds’ eyes, from wide-angle shots of birds perched on a branch to fleeting captures of them taking flight which demands frame changing. The focus point intelligently and instantly locks onto the bird even if there are other objects in the surrounding or in the foreground, completely removing the need for adjusting focus manually that saves precious time. Furthermore, the Autofocus performs brilliantly in low light situations.
What about those once-in-a-lifetime shots? Howards shared that he’s having luck with getting those nailed down, big thanks to the Alpha 1’s blazing 30 frames per second, plus its blackout-free shooting which allows an uninterrupted view of the bird. This way, he is able to follow the bird’s movement in real-time and predict where it will go next.
Rugged for bird-shooting
Howard has had many brushes with the natural elements. After all, the serious bird photographer always does his due diligence of researching the geographic locations and weather conditions all for the perfect shot.
Hence, a handy and durable camera like the Alpha 1 is ideal for such photographic excursions. Howard often pairs the camera with the fast and reliable FE 400MM F2.8 GM OSS and FE 600mm F4 GM OSS lenses to equip him for all shooting scenarios.
The Alpha 1 comprises dual media slots supporting CF Express Type A and SD card to reduce the hassle of switching cards. Furthermore, the camera boasts an improved dust and moisture resistant design, sealing all the body seams and battery cover. A lens lock button and mount cushion also proved to be helpful too.
“With the Alpha 1, I now worry less about the gear and more on nailing the shot,” Howard concluded. “And I look forward to raising my game.”
Watch the Alpha 1 in action!
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this publication are those of Howard Yap. They do not reflect the opinions or views of Sony Singapore.
