Testing the Sony A7riii and Batis 18mm- My First Impressions

Testing the Sony A7riii and Batis 18mm

My First Impressions

As you all know by now I got the Sony A7riii and the Batis 18mm F2.8. Yas!

When I got home, I had to charge the battery before I could take it for a test run. Talk about a bummer. They really should come with fully charged batteries, just saying...

So there I sat on my couch watching the battery charge. I tried to walk away and do something, but I wanted to play with it so much that I just couldn't help but check on it every 10 minutes. Charging... charging... charging...

Finally, the battery was charged and I could begin playing with it! Yay! My very first impression, was that yes, it is just like the Sony A7rii. Now, the menu is a little different, and there was a surprise to the menu that I wasn't ready for. Read here to see more about that.

I decided to head over to Millerton lake for sunset. I figured it would be a good hike, and an awesome sunset opportunity. Now, if you don't know about this trail, you should really check out my blog post about it here. It is gorgeous.

For this trip I decided to only bring my new Batis 18mm F2.8 lens. The whole point of this adventure was to try out my new gear. Typically, I use my peak design clip, and this day was no different. I wanted to see how my new set up worked with my backpacking set up. Let me tell you it was a dream! Super light and amazing! The Batis 18mm F2.8 is so incredibly light you barely feel it on your hip! This is exciting for my upcoming backpacking trips.

As the sun began to set, the colors in the sky began to change. Let me tell you it put on quite a show.

My First Impressions - The Good:

1. The colors that come out of this camera are amazing!
2. The images seem to be much crisper and cleaner than with the Sony A7rii
3. The continuous focus feature on the Sony A7riii is amazing
4. The low light Autofocus worked wonders! Seriously it is so much better in low light that the Sony A7rii.
5. The entire set up is so incredibly light you barely feel it
6. The camera is so similar to the A7rii it doesn't take any time to begin using. There isn't a 'learning curve' per se.
7. The Batis lens is such an incredibly wide lens. The prime lens is going to take a bit of getting used to as I typically shot with the Sony 16-35mm f4; however, for the weight savings, I think it is going to work out perfectly.
8. I know that the F2.8 on the Batis is going to come in handy for my backpacking adventures and astro photography.

My First Impressions - The Bad:

1. Check out this blog for the 2 things no one tells you about the Sony A7riii
2. I can be lazy, so the 18mm prime lens is going to take a minute to get use to as I am going to have to move around quite a bit to get the perfect composition.
3. That's It! So far, this set up is BadA$$

I can't wait to share all the amazing images that come from this new set up. I will do an update on what I think about the set up in a future blog just to keep you guys in the loop : ) ; however, I don't think my impression is going to change much because wow! Just Wow!

I hope you all enjoyed the blog. Make sure to leave a comment below!

Wishing you the very best,

Bessie

P.S. Did you love this blog? Here are some similar ones:

Unboxing Sony A7riii

Unboxing Sony A7riii

I am just so dang excited for this camera! You guys! Yay!

So if you want to see more of the reasons of why I bought this camera make sure to check out the blog post. I also touch on it slightly in the video ; )

I wanted to do an unboxing video just for kicks. I thought it would be fun, and that way if you were thinking about the Sony A7riii there would be absolutely no surprises.

Hopefully you all like it ; ) and it helps you with you decisions.

Wishing you nothing but the best,

Bessie

Like this post? Check out Similar ones like it:

I Got New Gear for 2018 - Sony A7riii and Batis 18mm

2018 is going to be amazing. It already is so far, but there is just something about this year.... this year just feels right. It seems as though everything is falling into place and I couldn't be more excited! I have so many things scheduled for the upcoming months, so much planned, and it feels so good!

Now, I am pretty good at not buying the latest and greatest gadgets whenever they come out. It is hard to stay disciplined when there are so many cool new tech things, cool lenses, and all around so much cool new gear that floods our lives. Every way we turn we see an advertisement about this cool new thing and that cool new thing. The struggle is real guys! Ultimately it makes it hard to say "no I don't need that"; however, when the Sony A7riii came out I knew that at some point in the future I would own it.

Right now I shoot on the Sony A7rii and it has been an amazing camera. I love it, but when Sony announced the Sony A7riii I knew that at some point I was going to get it. Well, that point came last Saturday and I couldn't be more thrilled! There was a 'Sony Trade In Event' happening at my local camera shop, so I had to take advantage of it.

Sony A7riii

As I walked in the door I ended up passing the used gear section and saw a lens that I have been wanting for my adventures and backpacking trips. This is the Batis 18mm f2.8 . It has been a lens I have been keeping my eye on for quite some time.

So, I am sure you are wondering why I would want this lens. Well, I try to backpack as lightweight as possible. My typical weight for my pack is around 35-40 pounds. This Batis is a pound lighter than my Sony 16-34mm plus it has a wider aperture, so its a win all the way around! Since the lens was in the used gear cabinet is was much cheaper than new, so of course I was interested in it. I asked the for the history of the lens and it was barely ever used,  so I just couldn't help myself and had to get it too!

I am super excited about this new step forward. I will be testing out the Sony A7riii and providing a review in a couple of weeks. So stay tuned for my next post!

Wishing you nothing but  beautiful day!

Bessie

P.S.

Here is my original Sony camera that is now my backup camera ; ) :

Sony A7rii

2017 Holiday Gift Guide for Photographers | $500 and above

Christmas is just around the corner!! That means it is time to start thinking about gift giving, what you are going to buy that special loved one, and then buying gifts!

I have put together a selection of the best gifts to help make your holiday season a little less stressful.

This hand picked assortment is for if you want to go all out for that special someone in your life! This list is featuring the best gifts above $500 for the photographer or the photography lover.

If you haven't seen the other Holiday Gift Guides make sure to check out the

Under $100 Holiday Gift Guide for Photographers

$100 - $500 Holiday Gift Guide for Photographers

$500+ | Holiday Gift Guide for Photographers:

1. A full frame camera! Yes!!

So this would be the mother of all presents for a photographer. I don't really know if you can get any better than this. There are so many different full frame cameras out there, but I am going to only give you two suggestions... make sure to do your research as this present will be over $3000.

 Sony A7rii or the Canon 5d Mk iv

2. Wide angle lens

So many photographers by themselves one nice lens and typically that is a documentary lens or a portrait lens; however, a wide angle lens is much needed for those epic portrait shots, or for the landscape photographer. Again, there are many different types of wide angle lenses. So make sure that it works with the camera. I am going to add the 2lenses that will fit the 2 cameras mentioned above.

Sony 16-35mm f2.8 or the Canon 16-35mm f2.8

3. Zoom Lens or a Telephoto Lens.

Zoom lenses are great for wildlife photography. You would want to make sure that it is 100mm+ . In my opinion you need something that will reach the 400mm range.

Sony G Master 70-200mm f2.8

4. Portrait lens

So if your photographer friend is looking at getting into portrait photography they need a 50mm or an 85mm lens.

Sony 85mm f1.4 , Canon 50mm 1.2, Canon 85mm 1.2 , Sigma Art 50mm 1.4

5. Filters

Filters filters filters! Do I need to say it again? Ok Filters!!! Seriously though, filters are something that are not necessary but truly make all the difference! ND filters, Gradient Filters, Polarizers, etc. They are awesome! So what filter should you get? Well, honestly, this one might be a better gift card option. It really depends on what your photographer friend shoots. If you were to choose one I would say a polarizer filter hands down. This is my go to filter for landscape photography.

6. Landscape Fine Art Prints

All photographers love photographs! Plus, it is always awesome to have inspiration hanging on your walls throughout your home in order to help inspire you to get outside and shoot :)

7. Amazon Gift Card

Sometimes gift cards are just better. This way you are insuring that they are getting the exact thing that they have always wanted and needed. Now amazon is an amazing place to get a gift card; however, for photography lovers you can also go to places like B&H Photo, Adorama, Horn Photo and so forth.

8. Of course a Bessie Young Photography Gift Card ;) I had to add this one :)

This list is meant to help you all with your gift giving this holiday season. Hopefully it makes it easy and you can now relax and enjoy the holidays a little more.

Merry Christmas!

Bessie

Make sure to check out the other gift guides here:

Under $100 Holiday Gift Guide for Photographers

$100 - $500 Holiday Gift Guide for Photographers

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please note, that these links are affiliate links that helps support this small business.

2017 Holiday Gift Guide for Photographers | $100 - $500

Christmas is just around the corner!! That means it is time to start thinking about gift giving, what you are going to buy that special loved one, and then buying gifts!

I have put together a selection of the best gifts to help make your holiday season a little less stressful.

This hand picked assortment is for if you want to spend a little more money on that special someone featuring the best gifts between $100 - $500 for the photographer or the photography lover.

$100 - $500 | Holiday Gift Guide for Photographers:

1. A portrait lens (50mm lens)

So depending on what you shoot, the canon 50mm f1.8 lens is a steal of a deal. It is actually called the nifty fifty. So, if you are a canon shooter, or have an adapter this lens is amazing coming in at under $130. That is craziness for a lens. But, the lower the f stop the better the lens, and then the more expensive. There is the Canon 50mm F1.4 which comes in at under $400 and then there is the f1.2 that comes in at over $1200. So the lens ultimately depends on your budget.

2. Tripod

I used to hate tripods. I was definitely that person that thought I never needed to own a tripod. Boy was a W R O N G!  A tripod is a necessity to any landscape photographer. You just have to have one. No questions asked. If you disagree, I challenge you to give me a good reason in the comments below ;) . My tripod is a Vanguard Tripod; however there are multiple brands to choose from. I have found that the Vanguards aren't cheaply built, and still somewhat reasonable. (no I am not a sponsor, I am not that cool).

Basically, you want a sturdy tripod, that will withstand wind. Depending on the quality of the tripod, and the functionality, this will cost you around $400.

3. Landscape Fine Art Prints

All photographers love photographs! Plus, it is always awesome to have inspiration hanging on your walls throughout your home in order to help inspire you to get outside and shoot :)

4. Leica Sofort Instant film camera

Seriously what better than instant photos!!! Especially if you are buying for the little ones. This way there is no transferring photos to the computer, editing, or worrying on how to print. You just snap and boom! There it is! This is around $300.

p.s. don't forget to buy the extra film... just saying :)

5. Bose headphones

So these bad boys can range anywhere from $99-$400 ! When photographers edit photos, alot of the time they want to listen to music to put them in the creative mood. Same thing on blog posts, and just anything creative in general. Also, they are fantastic for talking on the phone. This way you can be hands free and ready to go! I am obsessed with my Bose headphones. I personally bought the wired earbuds that come in at $99 and I love them; however, some don't want to have a wire (it can be a hastle sometimes).

6. One Year Creative Cloud Subscription

So this is the new super awesome thing from Adobe. Ok, it actually isn't that new, but it is getting more and more popular as time goes on. This subscription allows you to edit your photos on the go! You don't have to be at your computer where you have photoshop downloaded... you can edit anywhere that has internet. Umm... pretty awesome. I don't even have this!

 7.  Lightroom

Every photographer, in my opinion, needs Lightroom to edit their photos. Enough said. This is going to cost about $150.

8. Photoshop Elements

So what you can't do in lightroom to edit your photos you sure as heck can do it in photoshop! Photoshop elements is perfect for any photographer, professional or not.

9. Amazon Gift Card

Sometimes gift cards are just better. This way you are insuring that they are getting the exact thing that they have always wanted and needed. Now amazon is an amazing place to get a gift card; however, for photography lovers you can also go to places like B&H Photo, Adorama, Horn Photo and so forth.

10. Heliopan polarizer filter

This filter is hands down my most favorite filter. It is my go to filter for ANY landscape photo! Basically this is a must have for any landscape photographer.  Now, it doesn't have to be a Heliopan polarizer. It can be any brand; however, I want to warn you.... do not buy the cheap ones. You get what you pay for. These are going to run you anywhere from $200-$400.

11. Of course a Bessie Young Photography Gift Card ;) I had to add this one :)

This list is meant to help you all with your gift giving this holiday season. Hopefully it makes it easy and you can now relax and enjoy the holidays a little more.

Merry Christmas!

Bessie

Make sure to check out the other gift guides here:

Under $100 Holiday Gift Guide for Photographers

$500++ Holiday Gift Guide for Photographers

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please note, that these links are affiliate links that helps support this small business.

2017 Holiday Gift Guide for Photographers - Under $100

Christmas is just around the corner!! That means it is time to start thinking about gift giving, what you are going to buy that special loved one, and then buying gifts!

I have put together a selection of the best gifts to help make your holiday season a little less stressful.

This hand picked assortment features the best gifts under $100 for the photographer or the photography lover.

Holiday Gift Guide for the Photographer:

Under $100

1. A good photography book :

So there are a few different Photography books that I love. For landscapes it is hands down the Landscape Photography On Location by Thomas Heaton.

For Portraits it is Boudoir Photography Cookbook by Jennifer Rozenbaum. This book is great not only for Boudoir, but for posing and understanding how to pose women.

2. External Hard Drive:

I personally think the more memory the better. Now days our digital files are huge and the space fills up fast. I personally like the 1 TB Passports.

3. Battery Packs / Portable Chargers:

The worst thing that can happen to a photographer is you run out of battery. Whether that be your phone battery or your camera battery. You are sitting there, on location, with a beautiful scene in front of you, and then the red battery symbol starts blinking. Your heart sinks, you begin to become frantic, but that isn't needed when you have a battery pack on hand!

Check out many different options here.

4. Monitor Color Calibration

If your monitor isn't calibrated your colors will be completely off. I mean your skin tones will be bright orange when you print the image even though they look beautiful on your screen. These are essential. I have heard good things about the Spyder but that one was almost $200. I ended up choosing the ColurMunki which has worked awesome for under $100.

5. Creative Live Classes

In today's world of technology things are always changing. Whether you are brand new to photography or you are a professional, continuing education is important. These classes range from $19 to $300+.

Find photography classes here.

6. Peak Design gear

I am seriously obsessed with all things Peak Design. All there things are high quality and just make life easier. My all time favorite is the Peak Design Clip for $60. This thing is amazing for backpacking and adventuring.

Check out all peak design gear here.

7. Camera Strap

Growing up, my mom would make me camera straps almost every year. Actually, she would do it whenever I asked, or whenever she found an awesome fabric. Talk about lucky! I was always so excited to switch up my camera strap and have a different style. Then I could change it out whenever I felt like having a little bit of a different vibe. It was awesome! So I know that alot of people do not have this luxury. Let's just say my mom is extra ordinarily creative and awesome at all things. So, if your special someone is anything like me, they will looovveeee a camera strap. Typically photographers just keep the same boring black camera strap on their camera (you know the one that came with the camera) and never buy a special one for themselves. There are so so many neat handmade camera straps for under $50.

8. SD Cards

Again, the more memory the better. SD cards only last a certain amount of time, and photographers are constantly needing it. My personal favorite is the SanDisk Extreme Pro 64GB.

9. Landscape prints to decorate your home:

Photographers need inspiration and not just their own photographs. I have many different photographers images hanging on my walls and it inspires me to get better and get outside to shoot.

You can always find my Images for sale here.

10. Rocket Air Blaster

This thing is seriously amazing especially for mirrorless cameras like my Sony. I love this thing as it cleans your sensor with no touch and at under $10 it is a no brainer.

Get yours here.

11. Fujifilm Instax mini 9 Instant Film Camera

My very first camera was an instant film camera. These are amazing. You take the picture and BOOM there it is in your hands, printed right there! It is amazing. These come in at under $100; however, if you get the full package it is $110 .

12. Lens coffee cup

Ok so I just think these are the coolest! If you love coffee and photography then this is like two of the best things combined and under $30 !

13. An Awesome Coffee Cup

So photographers work long hours! We stay up late for sunset and star images, but then we get up early for sunrise images. This means coofffeeeeee!!! Coffee is seriously a must. One of my favorite coffee cups is this one:

Plus it is a small business company 100% made in the USA!

14. Joby Gorilla Pod

These are just fun! They make it possible to have a tripod anywhere and for under $50 I am obsessed. This was actually my very first tripod and It was awesome. It will grip tree branches, sit on the ground, hang from a railing, and so much more :)

Check it out here.

15. Of course a Bessie Young Photography Gift Card ;)

This list is meant to help you all with your gift giving this holiday season. Hopefully it makes it easy and you can now relax and enjoy the holidays a little more.

Merry Christmas!

Bessie

Maker sure to check out the other gift guides here:

 $100 - $500 Holiday Gift Guide for Photographers

$500++ Holiday Gift Guide for Photographers

----------------------

please note, that these links are affiliate links that helps support this small business.

Unboxing the Sony A6500 | I finally got one!

I am beyond excited about finally getting the Sony A6500 (if you watched the video, you could probably tell by how many times I said it). This past week, I finally bit the bullet and decided that in order to really up my video game I needed to use something other than my smart phone. I also decided that it would be a good idea to have a second camera for those needed or unexpected moments.

This camera is going to allow me to get some awesome video and behind the scene shots for my adventuring and 'how I got the shot' videos. I can't wait to take this out and give it a try. So why did I choose this one? Why didn't I get another Sony A7rii, A7, or A6000? Well alot of factors went into this decision. I have been putting this purchase off for quite some time as I wanted to make sure I made the right decision. Basically, the deciding factors were the size, the fact that it would use all my lenses, the price tag, the burst mode capability, and the video capability. I wanted to mainly use this camera for my videos and then having a backup camera is much needed. It is slightly smaller than the A7rii, my main camera.

Is there a down side? Yes. This camera is a cropped sensor camera where as my main camera is a full frame. I thought about getting another A7rii, but did I NEED another full frame camera? At this moment in time, I decided that this camera will be the next big step and I am absolutely thrilled!!

So, I just wanted to give you all an update on what I have been up to and the thoughts behind expanding my photography business.

I hope you all enjoyed this small update. If you want to follow along on my crazy life, business adventure, learn photography, and so forth make sure to subscribe to my blog. This way you will get an update on when I post some fun and exciting news :)

Also, don't forget about the photography cheat sheet! You can find it to the right of your screen, or the bottom if you are on a phone. Download it for free!

Wishing you all a beautiful day,

Bessie

P.S wanna know what gear I used? Check it out here:

Kit Used:

Camera: Sony A7Rii: http://amzn.to/1taGpAu
Backup Camera and Video: Sony A6500: http://amzn.to/2rEEh63
Favorite Lens: Sony FE 24-70 F2.8 G Master: http://amzn.to/2n747NJ
Best Wide Angle: Sony 16-35mm lens: http://amzn.to/1UBjBDW
Vanguard Tripod: http://amzn.to/2aoI5ku

Filming:
Samsung Note 4 Smart Phone: http://amzn.to/2rxq2yd
Sony A6500: http://amzn.to/2rEEh63

Editing & Processing:
Bulk editing: Adobe Lightroom: http://amzn.to/1WB7Jnc
Fine tuning: Adobe Photoshop : http://amzn.to/1WB7YPh
Viva Video Pro for combining videos

Top 10 Best Selling Cameras of 2016

Top 10 Best Selling Cameras of 2016

by Bessie Young Photography

Cameras, Cameras, Cameras.... There are so many different choices these days. You aren't sure what camera to get? That is ok. There are so many different options out there and it all depends on your style, what you need the camera for, and your budget. I have put together a list of the Top 10 Best Selling Cameras of 2016. No, this isn't an extensive list. Just the top 10 of 2016.

1. Canon EOS Rebel T6 Digital SLR Camera
2. Nikon D3300 1532 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR II Auto Focus-S DX NIKKOR
3. Sony DSCW800/B 20.1 MP Digital Camera
4. Kodak PIXPRO Friendly Zoom FZ43 16 MP
5. Nikon COOLPIX B500 Digital Camera
6. Nikon D3400 DSLR Camera
7. Canon EOS Rebel T5 Digital SLR Camera
8. Canon Powershot ELPH 160
9. Sony Alpha a6000 Mirrorless Digital Camera
10. Canon PowerShot SX720 HS

If you are in the market to buy a camera there are a few things that you need to consider. Before you make the final decision, ask yourself a few questions:

1. Why do you want one?
   • This will help you decide on which to get. If you want one for documenting your life, or taking pictures of your adventures, you may not need to get one of the big expensive full frame cameras. A point and shoot might suit your needs better.
2. What is your budget?
3. Will you upgrade in the future?
   • Ok, so I am a true believer of the old saying 'buy once, cry once'. I learned the hard way on this one. Believe me, I have been through some lessons learned when it came to camera gear. If you know that you are eventually going to get that big expensive one, you may want to consider getting it now. Are you going to upgrade to the 'nicer' lens or the 'better' camera? Just stop and consider getting it now rather than buying the lesser quality today and then 2 years from now buying the better one. If you go this route, you may spend more money that you ever needed to. Just food for thought.
4. What are you planning on photographing?
   • This will really help you in your decision process, especially when it comes to various lens options.
5. What are your preferences?
   • Ok so this may sound odd, but what I mean here is do you like big cameras... small cameras.... having the shutter button on the right or the left... do you want a hand grip... Think of these things. Each camera is different. Sony cameras are light, Canon cameras are bigger and more substantial, Nikons have the buttons on the opposite side...
6. Ask yourself if the camera has the features you need.
   • Again, this is extremely important.
     • Are you using this camera for video?
     • How big do you plan on printing?
     • Do you want it to have Wifi?
     • What do you want the tool for? Answer this and you will be able to answer if it has the right features for you :)

I hope you all enjoyed this post.

Wishing you nothing but fun adventures, pretty pictures, and a beautiful day!

Bessie

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Wondering what gear I used? Check it out here:

Kit Used:
Sony A7Rii: http://amzn.to/1taGpAu
Sony 16-35mm lens: http://amzn.to/1UBjBDW
Canon 100-400mm f4: http://amzn.to/28TA55m
Sigma MC11 Adapter: http://amzn.to/28TjmRR
Vanguard Tripod: http://amzn.to/2aoI5ku

Filming:
LG G3 Smart Phone

Editing & Processing:
Adobe Lightroom: http://amzn.to/1WB7Jnc
Adobe Photoshop : http://amzn.to/1WB7YPh