Eloquent Images by Gary Hart
Insight, information, and inspiration for the inquisitive nature photographer
My technology can beat up your technology
Looking Up, Lower Antelope Canyon, Arizona
Sony a7R II
Sony/Zeiss 24-70 f4
1/100 second
F/11
ISO 200
For some reason, the technology choices of others seem to be the source of profound angst to many (self appointed) online “experts.” Whether it’s vinyl vs. digital, Windows vs. OS X, Android vs. iOS, Nikon vs. Canon, mirrorless vs. SLR, nothing incites in-your-face rancor like someone else’s technology choice. While I’ve been quite content to remain on the sidelines during these pointless battles, I must confess to being an occasional (amused) observer.
One thing I’ve observed during these skirmishes is that most desperate attacks seem to come from the side playing catch-up—the underdog. I mean, was there anyone more annoying than an Apple user in the nineties?
On the other side, it seems that the job of the front-running users who are under attack, the users with the technology embraced by the masses, is to respond with smug condescension. Which of course only further inflames the underdog. I mean, is there anyone more smug than an Apple user in 2016?
(Before you accuse me of Apple-user bashing, let me assure you that I’m a committed Apple zealot who long ago lost track of the number of iDevices within arm’s reach. You could plug in Nikon/Canon, vinyl/digital, and so on and easily find the same attack/condescend cycle repeating.)
But given all this, imagine my concern since exiting the Canon/Nikon battle zone—suddenly I was photographing with gear that seemed too anonymous to incite emotion among the masses. Where had I gone wrong? Which is why it was with great excitement that I read a blog post disparaging Sony mirrorless shooters—to be more specific, Sony full-frame mirrorless shooters, a fraternity of which I’m a card carrying member. It was like the new phone book had arrived and suddenly, “I’m somebody!”
According to this self-proclaimed authority, as a Sony shooter I’m an ignorant lemming with dubious lineage and poor bathing habits. (Okay, so maybe I made up the last couple of points, but I have no doubt the argument would have gotten there soon enough.) Rather take offense, I viewed this blogger’s anti-Sony rant as a badge of honor, a sign that my Sony mirrorless gear has achieved enough status to stir the juices of the insecure. Not only that, I’m now in a position to respond with condescending smugness—a significant milestone indeed.
But seriously
Okay, but seriously, who cares? Who? Cares? Are people really that insecure about their technology choices that they feel threatened by mine? I have my own very specific photography needs, as I’m sure you do. You can’t pretend to know my needs, I can’t pretend to know yours. I find no offense (or, I must confess, interest) in the equipment you choose, and certainly hope that you find none in mine.
On the other hand, I’ve reached the point in my career that my equipment choices do affect the decisions of others. People who like my pictures ask what equipment I use, and my opinion on the equipment they should purchase. While I’m happy to answer these questions (as my time permits), the real answer is that the equipment matters very little in relation to the person operating it. Today’s technology is pretty much across-the-board amazing compared to what used to be considered state-of-the-art. The limiting factor in your photography will almost certainly not be your equipment.
My advice is to filter out all the noise, target the few features that are most important to you and the way you shoot, and identify the system that best suits you. It almost certainly won’t be exactly the same as the system that best suits the online experts, no matter how loudly they make their case.
All that said, I’d like to explain why I’m confident that I’ve found the best camera system for my photography. It comes down to the realization over the year-and-a-half I’ve been shooting Sony full-frame mirrorless that I’m getting images that I never could have gotten with my Canon DSLRs. For me, that means ridiculous dynamic range from my a7RII, and similarly ridiculous high ISO performance from my a7SII. It also means more room in my bag, enabling me to carry more gear, which makes me more prepared for whatever Mother Nature delivers.
The most recent validation of my Sony system was captured late last month, on bright afternoon visit to Lower Antelope Canyon near Page, Arizona. Upper and Lower Antelope Canyons are narrow slot canyons carved in red sandstone by millennia of extreme drought punctuated by brief flash-floods. I’ve photographed these canyons many times in the last ten or so years; while I’ve always loved photographing there, I’ve also been frustrated by the extreme dynamic range that forces me (and pretty much everyone else) to decide between the scene’s highlights or shadows.
Since I don’t blend images (if I can’t shoot it in one click, I don’t shoot it), dynamic range is a huge deal for me. Our cameras just can’t capture in one click the range of light—from darkest shadows to brightest highlights—that our eyes see. But that doesn’t prevent me from trying to squeeze out as much dynamic range as my camera will allow (and hoping for more).
Already aware that my Sony a7RII (and the a7R before it) has more dynamic range than any camera I’ve ever used, on this year’s Antelope Canyon visit (helping good friend Don Smith with his Northern Arizona workshop) I decided to put the camera to the test with an extreme dynamic range scene that has always overwhelmed any camera I’ve thrown at it: in one frame, attempting to capture detail in the red rock buried in Antelope Canyon’s deepest shade, and the brilliant, sunlit blue sky outside.
On this visit, for most of the walk through Lower Antelope, a thin layer of clouds obscured the blue sky overhead. But as we were heading toward the exit, I looked up and saw a break in the clouds through the narrow slit overhead. I quickly metered the scene, targeting the brightest part of the remaining clouds and pushing the highlights as far I could without clipping (overexposing) them beyond recovery. On my LCD the image looked like a failure, with blinking (overexposed) highlights and black shadows.
Despite the unusable appearance on the camera, on my computer a small miracle happened: Tugging Lightroom’s Highlights slider to the left restored all the detail to the clouds and blue to the sky. Given my careful exposure, this wasn’t a total surprise, but on previous attempts, capturing blue sky in an Antelope Canyon image always was a death knell for the shadows. So imagine my surprise when I started pulling Lightroom’s Shadows slider to the right and rich red sandstone magically appeared, even in the darkest shadows. It was all there!
Does this mean that my new Sony mirrorless bodies are better than my Canon DSLR bodies? I can’t say, nor will I try to say—we each make the choice that best suits our style and needs, and all the online ranting from experts shouldn’t sway us. But for me, regardless of what others might say, or how loudly they might say it, I know I’m getting images that I never could have gotten before. And that’s really all that matters.
Previously impossible (shots I wouldn’t have gotten before)
Click an image for a closer look, and a slide show. Refresh the screen to reorder the display.
Eloquent Images by Gary Hart 
Can’t agree with you more. I ordered the SonyA7R II the day it was available. Also an A600 for back up, which I love. Took them on a trip
to Europe that included Malta and was really happy with the results. Now my only problem is finding a camera bag that will carry both cameras with lenses attached and 2 or 3 lenses plus the various junk. I am going to Costa Rica in July and need to find the bag soon, and one that will be a carry-on for the flights.
Gary—in the ” Angels View ” did you use a Graduated Neutral Density Filter or did the camera pick the range of light on its own ?
I was using my Canon 5D II then on a tripod. Rainy day and no sun, except at the last minute. I did use a GND. But it also needed some Lightroom work.
No GND on any of my night images, Charlie.
Sounds like you have found the right camera for you and very impressive images to back you up. But as you say everyone has different needs and different budgets so it’s not a one size fits all. I love my DSLR and the only reason I will change in the foreseeable future will be the weight issue both for carry-on luggage and as I get older just the physical heft.
Lee,
Weight was an issue for me. But many of the lenses are still heavy.
Thanks for that info John, I hadn’t thought of thelens weight being similar 😦
If weight is a concern, you’re best off going with a 4/3 or and APS-C sensor as in addition to much smaller bodies (compared to a DSLR), the lenses will be quite compact too. The full frame mirrorless bodies are smaller than a DSLR, but the lenses are nearly as big.
Thanks for that info. Gary. I’ll keep it in mind but at present I’ll stay with my Canon 5D MkIII while I can still carry it 🙂
Hi Gary……I’m with you. I can’t believe the images I’m getting with my A7II. I have experimented enough by taking the same picture with my Nikon and Sony to study the comparisons. Besides, I have to quit buying so much equipment.
Keep on a clicking, Gary Ottp
Sent from my iPad
>
Always remember the best photographs ever made were done with more primitive equipment than we have now. 🙂
Love the antelope sky shot and the lava/Milky Way!!
Thanks, Mark.
Just a wonderful piece here, Gary. Your wonderful way of bringing smiles to the eye, mind, and heart while, simultaneously telling it like it is in the most magical way, just rings to my senses.
Being one who is envious but also proud to say that I “know” you allows me to ride along and try my
Best to absorb the salient elements (which are from you the first word to the last) ;-)…
This is a great post in every way and I thank you for all that you have shared with all of us. And by the way your image and specific description of your efforts are just another example of how your work and words elevate us all.
Thank you so much!
Dj
Thanks, Anonymous (Denny).
Stunning photos. I had a similar revelation when I went from my Nikon D90 to the D800. All the information that was in those files opened up a whole new world in photography for me.
Hi Gary,
We can all debate the pros and cons of the various camera systems, filters or not, software, processing techniques, old school manual focus film days, etc. But as you always do, you have eloquently hit all the important points. When you and Don went all in with Sony, I read your blogs, thought it was interesting, but had no intention of switching from Canon. Well…I am a gear head at heart, and I love technology, but that wasn’t the main motivation to jump into the mirrorless world first with the Sony a6000. It was convenience, cool features, and portability. Once I used this camera for landscapes, I was really hooked! The files were beautiful! My further decision to purchase the a7rII was based on a lot of reading of blogs and reviews, as well as my trust in your work and experience. Since I have been on many workshops with you guys, that makes a huge difference. I was just in Charleston, SC for a workshop the last week in March and did not even put a Canon body on the tripod. It was all Sony. I love the focus peaking and seeing the real time histogram on the LCD. The only reason I took the Canon bodies was for bird photography. I can get two Sony bodies and multiple lenses in a small backpack. I think that this is a game changer for older people.
The digital age has made this all so much more fun. It really comes down to how we use the various tools to create our individual visual art. It is also fun to read and discuss features with other photographers, and I really think that we all keep learning from it.
Looking forward to seeing you in October!
Julie