Level: Beginner
LESSON 5Capture the Cute Expressions of Pets
Focal length: 144 mm / F-number: 5.6 / Shutter speed: 1/13 sec
When you photograph your pets, the real key is a trusting relationship with them. Just pointing the camera at your pets may make them too cautious. So, first let your pets get used to the camera little by little in a relaxed environment, such as your home.
Let's start by using the P-mode to shoot with the settings automatically selected by the camera.
Focal length: 120 mm / F-number: 4.0 / Shutter speed: 1/100 sec
Capture a relaxed image of your pets at home, the way that only you see them. In addition to taking lively shots of your pets, try to get as many shots as possible and capture various expressions.
Shooting from pets' eye level
First, get down and shoot from pets' eye level. When we shoot from the human eye level (as we often do), the camera is pointed downward. As a result, the background includes only the ground or floor, and getting the defocus effect is difficult. By shooting from your pets' level, you can capture the world as seen from your pets' eyes, and record your favorite cute expressions from various directions and angles.
To shoot from your pets' level, use the monitor at the back of the camera.
For tilt monitors: You can easily match your pets' eye level just by pulling out the monitor and looking down at it from above.
For vari-angle monitors: Open the panel and then rotate the monitor to adjust the angle.
The available tilt angles and shape of the monitor vary by camera model. Refer to the Instruction Manual or Handbook for your camera for details.
Tilt monitor
Vari-angle LCD monitor
Focal length: 24 mm / F-number: 2.0 / Shutter speed: 1/40 sec
The best photo opportunities are not just when your pet is looking at the camera, but also when your pet is excited about food or toys. This lets you capture the interesting scenes that are different from usual. Try shooting your family or friends playing with your pets.
Focal length: 120 mm / F-number: 4.0 / Shutter speed: 1/160 sec
This shot captured the expression of a cat staring at the food above. Shooting from a low level, almost touching the floor, created a different look from the ordinary shot from the front. Also, by moving a little away from the subject and shooting on the telephoto side (with longer focal lengths) of the zoom lens, the background was defocused more, enhancing the cat's expression. Conversely, if you get close and shoot on the wide-angle side (with shorter focal lengths), your pet's entire body will fill the frame, and the photograph will look more dynamic and powerful.
For details on each term, please refer to the following pages:
Focusing on the eyes
Like when photographing people, you can create wonderful portraits of animals by focusing on their eyes when shooting.
Focal length: 55 mm / F-number: 1.8 / Shutter speed: 1/60 sec
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Models equipped with Eye AF (Animal) allow you to focus on the eyes of dogs and cats by setting the detection target to animals.
This function is very convenient for photographing animals whose movements cannot be predicted.
For details on use, refer to the Help Guide for your camera model.
Taking care to reduce subject blur
When pets are moving around, blur may result from the movement of the subject (subject blur). Use the S-mode if this happens.
By selecting faster shutter speeds in the S-mode, you can reduce subject blur. Although recommended shutter speeds vary depending on the environment and your pet's movement, you will generally want to shoot at 1/250 sec or faster.
Because the shutter speed was slow, the image was blurred and unclear.
The amount of light entering the camera is small in dim indoor situations. As a result, if you increase the shutter speed too much, the image may get dark. If this happens, the best solution is to brighten the room. If you cannot adjust the brightness of the room, or you want to shoot in dim light, try shooting repeatedly while decreasing the shutter speed little by little until the image appears bright enough.
Also, having a fast fixed focal length lens is very useful for scenes like these.
Shutter speed: 1/13 sec
For details on S-Mode, please refer to the following page:
Trying fixed focal length lenses
With small F-numbers (fast maximum apertures), fixed focal length lenses can create great background defocus. Also, because they allow a large amount of light to enter the camera, you can enjoy shooting with less chance of blurring even indoors in dim light.
For details on F-numbers, please refer to the following page:
Both APS-C and full frame cameras and lenses are offered, but as long as the same E-mount is used, compatibility is ensured. See the following page for notes on use.
Are APS-C and full frame cameras and lenses interchangeable? (α E-mount)
Note: There are models that are not sold in certain countries and regions.
Focal length: 35 mm / F-number: 1.4 / Shutter speed: 1/200 sec.
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SEL35F14GM
This large aperture wide-angle lens with a 35 mm fixed focal length features a compact, lightweight design and achieves overwhelming G Master resolution even at the widest F1.4 aperture setting, letting you enjoy soft, natural bokeh. In addition to high resolution performance and backlighting resistance over the entire frame, its close-up shooting capability with a maximum shooting magnification of 0.23x (0.26x in MF mode) is also appealing.
Focal length: 55 mm / F-number: 1.8 / Shutter speed: 1/100 sec
SEL55F18Z
This 55 mm standard prime lens achieves stunning ZEISS contrast as well as beautiful bokeh with a large F1.8 aperture. This bright lens demonstrates its power even in environments prone to camera shake and subject blur, such as when shooting at dusk or indoors.
Focal length: 85 mm / F-number: 3.5 / Shutter speed: 1/320 sec
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SEL85F18
This large aperture medium telephoto lens with an 85 mm fixed focal length allows you to easily enjoy portrait photography by making use of sharp rendering and soft bokeh. It also features a compact, lightweight design with a maximum diameter of 78 mm, length of 82 mm, and weighing around 371 g for excellent portability.
Focal length: 50 mm / F-number: 4.0 / Shutter speed: 1/80 sec
SEL50F18
A big, bright maximum aperture of F1.8 lets you take advantage of beautiful bokeh in your shooting. When combined with an optical image stabilization function, this lens demonstrates its power in handheld photography, even in darker conditions.