The unveiling of the new Sony Alpha 1 II and Sony 28-70mm f/2 G Master puts unrivaled technology at the fingertips of talented creators. Professional portrait photographer and Sony Artisan Miguel Quiles put the new camera and lens to the test, using it for a studio portrait shoot, outdoor portrait shoot, and even some video. See the stunning portrait images he was able to create with both and keep reading to learn why he plans on adding them to his kit, calling the Sony Alpha 1 II a no-brainer and the Sony 28-70mm f/2 G Master his new standard zoom lens of choice for just about everything. Learn more about the new Sony Alpha 1 II HERE. Learn more about the new Sony 28-70mm F2 GM HERE.
Photo by Miguel Quiles. Sony Alpha 1 II. Sony 28-70mm f/2 G Master. 1/250-sec., f/2, ISO 200
Take Top Shelf To The Next Level
Quiles has used nearly every Sony camera out there, and after shooting portraits with the Sony Alpha 1 II, he’s ready to call it one of the best. “This camera blends all of my favorite features and functions from the Sony Alpha 9 III and Sony Alpha 7R V, making it one of the best all-around cameras that I’ve ever used.”
As a professional, Quiles needs his portraits sharp and in high-resolution. After using the Sony Alpha 1 II in studio and outdoors, he found many benefits to using this camera for his work. “The Sony Alpha 1 II’s image quality is fantastic,” he explains. “I appreciate high resolution files, which is one of the big benefits of the Sony Alpha 1 II. I was also surprised to see the improvements in AF on this camera. The original Sony Alpha 1 was already great, but Sony managed to push the envelope even further. No matter what the subject was that I tried to photograph, the camera was able to identify it and track it, leaving me the opportunity to focus more on the creative aspects of taking the shot.”
Photo by Miguel Quiles. Sony Alpha 1 II. Sony 28-70mm f/2 G Master. 1/1600-sec., f/2, ISO 100
A Standard Zoom Lens For Just About Everything
Just what is the 28-70mm range good for? “Everything,” Quiles says. “If I go out for a photo or video project and I’m unsure of where I’m going creatively, this focal length covers the majority of situations that I might run into.”
In addition to the incredibly versatile range, there were several standout aspects of the new Sony 28-70mm F/2 G Master that Quiles calls out after using it for his work. “The first was how light the lens was,” he says. “The only other f/2 zoom lens on the market left me feeling that this type of lens would never be something I would want due to the heavy weight and awkward size it presented. Seeing what Sony was able to accomplish with this f/2 GM lens flipped that idea on its head for me, and now I will make this my standard zoom lens of choice for just about everything.”
Photo by Miguel Quiles. Sony Alpha 1 II. Sony 28-70mm f/2 G Master. 1/250-sec., f/2, ISO 200
Not only that, but Quiles says the maximum f/2 aperture is massively important for him, especially for video use. “Being able to shoot in lower light situations with a zoom lens is something I’ve wished for the longest time.”
Prime-Level Bokeh
Beautiful bokeh produced by a Sony G Master lens is at this point to be expected…but this level of bokeh, and from a zoom lens, has Quiles saying that it was by far his favorite part about the Sony 28-70mm f/2 G Master. “I’m used to seeing that kind of bokeh coming from a prime lens, and it's insane that we’re living in an age where you can enjoy prime-quality bokeh in a versatile zoom lens.”
“It's insane that we’re living in an age where you can enjoy prime-quality bokeh in a versatile zoom lens.” – Sony Artisan & Portrait Pro Miguel Quiles
Bokeh is such a valuable tool for portrait photographers. It adds a sense of depth and dimension, and it can contribute to the overall mood and aesthetic of the photograph. Quiles utilized this technique with the new Sony 28-70mm f/2 G Master to create portraits that soften the subject’s surrounding elements and enhance the overall visual.
Photo by Miguel Quiles. Sony Alpha 1 II. Sony 28-70mm f/2 G Master. 1/1250-sec., f/2, ISO 100
“There was a portrait that I took where I had some plants in the foreground that had some beautiful bokeh. I’m so used to seeing the beautiful bokeh coming from an f/2.8 lens, but seeing the results at f/2 is even more impressive.”
New Default Gear
While Quiles paired the new Sony Alpha 1 II and Sony 28-70mm f/2 G Master, he also created a fitness video to see how the combination worked with capturing moving footage. “I shot a fitness video with it and loved how the colors looked,” he says. “The added AI chip allows me to get through my video projects quickly. Pairing the Sony 28-70mm f/2 G Master with the Sony Alpha 1 II gave me top-tier sharpness and overall image quality.”
Will he be adding the new Sony 28-70mm f/2 G Master to his bag? Yes, but it sounds like it will be spending more time attached to his camera than in his actual bag. “To me, this lens is an engineering marvel,” Quiles says. “How Sony managed to make an f/2 zoom lens that was so light and compact while also putting out the kind of image quality I expect from a prime is absolutely insane. I can see this becoming my default lens for location portraits and video.”
And what will that camera be? He says the new Sony Alpha 1 II will also definitely be finding its way into his bag. “Whenever I need the unique balance of high resolution stills with blazing fast frame rates, this truly is a no-brainer choice. The ergonomic improvements alone make this a substantial upgrade over the original. I think the overall design is the very best that Sony has ever made for an Alpha series camera.”
Learn more about the new Sony Alpha 1 II HERE.
Learn more about the new Sony 28-70mm f/2 G Master HERE.
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