Criz Quinn (@crizquinn) is a traveler and photographer who enjoys immersing herself in different cultures, forming meaningful connections and capturing breathtaking sceneries in remote locations around the world. With a focus on landscape and aerial photography, Criz is also a licensed commercial drone pilot in the U.S. and EU. She has owned and managed several photo tour companies in the U.S. and Iceland since 2018. She loves participating in the Sony Alpha Female community, supporting, and empowering female photographers to explore their creative potential. In addition to her artistic pursuits, Criz is a licensed clinical laboratory scientist specializing in molecular pathology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and she's attending a marketing management and digital strategy program at Harvard University. Since Criz is often traveling to places with limited time to photograph, she needs gear that won’t miss a beat. Since switching from Canon to a Sony Alpha system, she's steadily built her gear quiver. She gives us a look inside her camera bag at the Sony kit of her dreams.

Product Preview – In This Article You’ll Find:
-Sony Alpha 1
-Sony Alpha 7R V
-Sony 24-105mm f/4 G
-Sony 12-24mm f/2.8 G Master
-Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master II
-Sony 100-400mm f/4.5–5.6 G Master
-Sony TOUGH Series Memory Cards

Cameras

Sony Alpha 1: I made the switch from Canon to Sony in 2019 and never looked back. The Sony mirrorless technology has been a game changer for me. I bought the Sony Alpha 1 as a replacement for my Sony Alpha 7R IV and it has been my main camera ever since. I use this camera for almost everything. I love the versatility that it gives me for any photographic opportunity that might come up during a tour. It performs extremely well in low light situations, landscape, wildlife and even some astrophotography. The autofocus is insane and love how fast this camera is.

Photo by Criz Quinn. Sony Alpha 1. Sony 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 G Master. 1/8000-sec., f/5.6, ISO 640

Stabilization is key for me because I shoot a lot of aerials from a helicopter and this camera is the only one I would trust for once in a lifetime shoots like flying over windy Patagonia! While in Patagonia this April, I had the once in a lifetime privilege to fly in a search and rescue, open door helicopter. With 60+ mph winds and one emergency landing, it was not a flight for the faint of heart. With trembling hands and the constant vibration from the helicopter, I was pretty sure that all my shots would come out noisy or out of focus but I was able to nail many shots with the help of this camera.

Photo by Criz Quinn. Sony Alpha 1. Sony 24-105mm f/4 G. 1/500-sec., f/6.3, ISO 1000

Sony Alpha 7R V: I previously owned two Sony Alpha 7R IV’s and replaced the second one with the Sony Alpha 7R V. This is my second body and has proved indispensable for shooting during epic trips in case I lose my first camera. The articulating screen is a game changer for me. While in the remote island of Sumba in Indonesia earlier this year, the water level was only about a foot deep. To get the reflection shot I wanted, I had to have my camera just barely above the water. The articulating screen was super helpful for this situation as it was impossible for me to peek into the viewfinder to take the shot I wanted.

Photo by Criz Quinn. Sony Alpha 1. Sony 24-105mm f/4 G. 1/8-sec., f/10, ISO 640

This past April, I was struggling to keep my gear safe in windy Patagonia and decided to use the Sony 12-24mm f/2.8 G Master on the Sony Alpha 7R V instead of mounting it on the Sony Alpha 1. I was a little nervous about how it would do it extremely windy conditions especially since I was trying to get a handheld bracketed shot of the scene. I was pleasantly surprised by the stabilization in this camera as well and truly happy to have this as my back-up camera to the Sony Alpha 1.

Photo by Criz Quinn. Sony Alpha 7R V. Sony 12-24mm f/2.8 G Master. 4/5-sec., f/11, ISO 100

Lenses

Sony 24-105mm f/4 G: I require a lot of versatility during the photo sessions we have for various workshops that I organize or join as a participant and this lens has been my absolute favorite for the last five years. If I can only take one lens during a trip, this will be it. I very rarely take it off my Sony Alpha 1 and I love how light this lens as well. This lens has performed extremely well for me even in low light situations. The stabilization has performed well for me. I usually shoot handheld because I am in a boat or in a helicopter and this is the lens I always have for these shooting conditions.

This first shot is a 5-shot HDR image from Bali, Indonesia taken during sunrise. It was too crowded for me to set up and use my tripod in the space we had so I decided to shoot handheld.

Photo by Criz Quinn. Sony Alpha 1. Sony 24-105mm f/4 G. 1/25-sec., f/7.1, ISO 800

This second photograph is also a 5-shot HDR image from Greenland. I was shooting from a moving boat and was still able to shoot handheld with this amazing lens. I just love this lens and I do not think that it will ever leave my camera bag!

Photo by Criz Quinn. Sony Alpha 7R IV. Sony 24-105mm f/4 G. 1/1000-sec., f/8, ISO 1250

Sony 12-24mm f/2.8 G Master: Landscape photography requires a lot of wide-angle shots and this lens has been perfect for my needs. I used to use a 16-35mm lens but during a private tour to Amsterdam with Sony Ambassador Albert Dros, he recommended that I picked up this lens for the canals. It has been my go to wide angle lens ever since! It works well for all the conditions I’ve needed it in, and I have also used it for Milky Way shots in the past. I love how sharp the photos are from this lens and even at such a wide angle, the distortion is not bad at all. This shot from a magenta dream of a sunrise in Patagonia was taken using this lens.

Photo by Criz Quinn. Sony Alpha 1. Sony 12-24mm f/2.8 G Master. 3-sec., f/5, ISO 400

This lens was also the winner for the photo tour I joined in Dubai. With all the city and skyscraper shoots, this lens delivered for both daytime as well as nighttime shoots.

Photo by Criz Quinn. Sony Alpha 1. Sony 12-24mm f/2.8 G Master. 1/40-sec., f/7.1, ISO 200

Sony 100-400mm f/4.5–5.6 G Master: I also own the Sony 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G lens, but the Sony 100-400mm f/4.5–5.6 G Master is my preferred lens to travel with for wildlife and compression shots. It’s a little bit on the heavy side but it is easier to manage during travel. I have owned this lens since 2019 and the autofocus is incredible. It will always have a spot in my bag because you just never know when the need for a longer focal length will come even during a landscape shoot.

Photo by Criz Quinn. Sony Alpha 1. Sony 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 G Master. 1/1250-sec., f/5.6, ISO 200

Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master II: This lens is relatively new for me but it has become a fast favorite. It was highly recommended by a friend for a horse workshop I joined last year in France. I needed a mid-zoom that would be faster than my Sony 24-105mm f/4 G and boy, this lens is blazingly fast. It is a beast when paired with the Sony Alpha 1. I rarely photograph wildlife and I do not enjoy it as much but this lens gave me the confidence I needed to nail these shots of the white angels of Camargue. I am very happy with this lens and I hope to be able to use it more as I dabble in portrait shoots for upcoming landscape and cultural tours.

Photo by Criz Quinn. Sony Alpha 7R IV. Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master II. 1/1250-sec., f/7.1, ISO 400

Accessories

Really Right Stuff Travel Tripod With RRS Ballhead: This carbon fiber tripod has survived several rough winter conditions as well as strong winds. It is lightweight enough for me to carry in my backpack and set up is fast.
 
Rocket Blower: I have not needed it as much to clean my sensors now that the Sony Alpha 1 and Sony Alpha 7R V have the protective curtains on the sensors but it is still good to have for when I need to blow some dust off of my gear.

F-Stop Gear Accessory Case: I use this to store and organize my Sony camera batteries and charger, lens cloths and extra lens caps and covers. I also have a 3-legged thing tool for tightening tripods and l-brackets attached to it.

Photo by Criz Quinn. Sony Alpha 7R IV. Sony 24-105mm f/4 G. 1/400-sec., f/7.1, ISO 640

NiSi Filters: I always have a circular polarizer on all my lenses and I carry a variable ND for my Sony 24-105mm f/4 G lens.
 
F-Stop Gear Memory Card Case: Holds and secures my Sony TOUGH CF Express Cards and micro-SD cards for my drone. 
 
Drone: For aerial shots and videos.
 
Peak Design Leashes: I carry several of these in my bag and use this when I need a camera strap or as a lanyard for my phone when I am shooting in an open door helicopter, boat or plane.

See more of Criz Quinn’s work on Instagram @crizquinn.