If you want someone to put a new camera through its paces, who better to do so than Sony Artisan Chris Burkard? The adventurous explorer and photographer was able to get his hands on the Sony Alpha 1 II before its launch to do what he does best. “I shot with it in all kinds of situations,” he explains, “including while hanging outside a plane window. Ultimately, I put it through what I felt was a proper test.” Keep reading as Burkard shares his experience with the unrivaled Sony Alpha 1 II and see some of his breathtaking aerial photography. Learn more about the new Sony Alpha 1 II HERE.

Photo by Chris Burkard. Sony Alpha 1 II. Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master II.

“I am excited to see what the world brings to life with this incredible new creative tool.” – Sony Artisan Chris Burkard

“Performing In Concert With My Creativity…”

While up in the air, Burkard switched between pairing the Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master II and Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master II with the new Sony Alpha 1 II camera. Throughout all of the various shooting situations he tested the camera in, he really wanted to push the camera’s dynamic range while photographing the landscape from above. 

“I really feel like the moments that stood out were the aerial photographs with a ton of direct sunlight and shadows,” he says. “There was this moment flying near Half Dome when the sun was rising. That photo really stood out to me, mainly because it was such a split second of perfect light and composition. I felt like the camera was really performing in concert with my creativity at that moment.”

Photo by Chris Burkard. Sony Alpha 1 II. Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master II.

Photo by Chris Burkard. Sony Alpha 1 II. Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master II.

Burkard says that what surprised him most about the Sony Alpha 1 II was the improved autofocus, image quality, and overall fit in his hand. “Those three components really for me are the pinnacle of what a good camera should improve upon, and I think the Sony Alpha 1 II hit all those marks. I was honestly blown away by the image quality. It feels like such an upgrade to my Sony Alpha 1 that I’ve been primarily shooting with for years. I wasn’t expecting it to surprise me, but it did. The depth of detail and color even in the darkest shadows is mind-blowing.”

He continues, “And it may seem unimportant to some people, but the grip in my hand and the articulation around my finger was immediately noticeable when I first picked up the camera. That is always my favorite part when trying something new – trying to identify if I can notice a difference before I even shoot with it. The grip on the camera is superior and the screen also has all the articulation that I was hoping for.”

Photo by Chris Burkard. Sony Alpha 1 II. Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master II.

The Perfect Balance For Hybrid Creation

If you’re familiar with Burkard’s work, you know he’s a hybrid creator. He tells stories through both photo and video, and his camera needs to be able to do both at any given moment. As a Sony Alpha 1 user in the past, he looks forward to upgrading his kit with the new Sony Alpha 1 II. 

Burkard explains, “For me, a hybrid approach is always important, meaning I don't want to sacrifice photo or video at any one moment. Which is why the original Sony Alpha 1 was so important for my work. I love the Sony Alpha 7R V for more commercial photography, but the Sony Alpha 1 had always struck the perfect balance of image quality and video specs –not to mention it was light sensitive enough to shoot low light. I noticed an absolute upgrade in the functionality around ease of use, button locations, menu navigation and overall hybridization of switching from stills to video, which I loved. I will absolutely be upgrading to the improved Sony Alpha 1 II.”

Photo by Chris Burkard. Sony Alpha 1 II. Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master II.

A New Creative Tool For The Community

Burkard isn’t just excited about the camera for himself, he also can’t wait for others to get their hands on it to see how they bring their creative process to a whole new level. “I am just excited to see what people out in the community create with this,” he says. “When you are testing a camera you are really only testing the tip of the iceberg, and I am excited to see what the world brings to life with this incredible new creative tool.”

Learn more about the new Sony Alpha 1 II HERE.