New to Alpha Shooters but not photography

[Lynzie Flynn]

I'm strictly a hobbist, mostly bird photography which is how I ended up here 6 years ago when Covid started. Went for a walk in the local marsh, saw some ducks I had never seen before and returned the next day with a camera. Quickly realized that a max of 300mm wasn't long enough and that started my never ending (until now - I think) quest for better and longer. I've gone through Canon, Olympus, Nikon, OM, Sony and here I am. Actually started with other types of photography prior to Covid so other cameras. I currently use OM but love, love, love my Sony a1 and now also shooting the last month with the a1 Mk II. Strangely enough, due to advancing age and strength, I can't lift heavy gear so I'm back to using 300mm but now it's the Sony 300 f2.8 on my a1 Mk II and usually with a 2x or 1.4 TC. I am not technical at all and totally perplexed by all the settings in the cameras but somehow manage to make it all work. I look forward to being able to post and view other's work and words of wisdom on here.
Thank you for being here and being able to join.
Lynzie

 

[FowlersFreeTime]

Welcome!

 

[iamdlewis]

I am not technical at all and totally perplexed by all the settings in the cameras but somehow manage to make it all work.

As long as you know what aperture, shutter speed and kind of understand ISO (does anyone really know the black magic going on with ISO?) you can do good things.

 

[Lynzie Flynn]

As long as you know what aperture, shutter speed and kind of understand ISO (does anyone really know the black magic going on with ISO?) you can do good things.

That I know and mostly happy with my images. I think using compenstation is the hardest for me and have to use it often with various light conditions changing all the time or half bird in shadows, half in light, birds in flight (getting better at that) etc. It's always a challenge so it keeps my brain active. Probably metering has a lot to do with it but tend to keep the meter unchanged. I wish there was a button (all used) to change the meter mode easily, ot that I'm sure what I'd need to change it to. For my new Mk II, a friend gave me all his settings so I'm using those (different from the Mk I) and trying to remember what is where and what does what.

 

[THXGEEK]

Hello & welcome!

 

[iamdlewis]

various light conditions changing all the time or half bird in shadows, half in light, birds in flight (getting better at that) etc. It's always a challenge so it keeps my brain active. Probably metering has a lot to do with it but tend to keep the meter unchanged. I wish there was a button (all used) to change the meter mode easily, ot that I'm sure what I'd need to change it to.

Just go out and try to be better than yesterday or at least no worse. The A1 and A1ii have a lot of custom buttons so yeah it can be easy to have the metering attached to one but yeah what do you select? For me my bird in tree I go with the multi (I think) for the bird in flight I use spot linked to the focus point.

 

[Unframed Dave]

Welcome Lynzie.

 

[Lynzie Flynn]

Just go out and try to be better than yesterday or at least no worse. The A1 and A1ii have a lot of custom buttons so yeah it can be easy to have the metering attached to one but yeah what do you select? For me my bird in tree I go with the multi (I think) for the bird in flight I use spot linked to the focus point.

I'm pretty sure all the buttons are already assigned. We need more buttongs. I'll have to take a look and see if that is already in My Menu or add it if not. I didn't know you can use spot metering attached to a focus point. That certainly would be helpful. Thank you.

 

[jacobomerced]

Welcome to the forum.

 

[Lynzie Flynn]

Thank you.