Michael Castaneda (@_mcastaneda_) is a landscape and lifestyle photographer based in Los Angeles, California. He has a passion for photographing unique landscapes that showcase and highlight the beauty of the planet we call home. His moody images target light sources and how they contrast with the shadows and darks of any natural setting. He creates these unique images using a combination of Sony Alpha cameras and Sony G Master and G series lenses. We connected with him to learn more about the gear he packs for his work – keep reading as he shares what’s in his bag.

Product Preview – In This Article You’ll Find:
–Sony Alpha 7R V
–Sony Alpha 7 IV
–Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master
–Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master
–Sony 90mm f/2.8 Macro G
–Sony 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G
–Sony RMT-P1BT Wireless Remote Commander

Cameras 

Sony Alpha 7R V: I’ve had this camera for a little over a year now and it’s very hard for me to even consider moving off the R series. I have climbed the ladder from the RII and hit every camera body up to the RV and each time Sony continues to improve my love for these cameras when I didn’t think there was anything else they could do better. The battery life can take me deep into a shooting session and the built in intervalometer is perfect for capturing timelapses. 

The dynamic range is absolutely insane and just that part alone allows me to bring back a lot of the detail in the shadows when I need to move to faster shutter speeds. The autofocus is incredibly fast and the durability in harsher conditions has allowed me to shoot without worry. I’m a detail freak and from top to bottom of my images and with 61 MP Sensor, capturing everything in the scene is never an issue for me. The touch screen on the back also allows me to quickly target points in the frame for accurate and precise focus stacking. The most overlooked, yet most important quality of this camera for me is the size and weight. I often find myself deep in the wilderness so every little ounce matters when you’re traversing miles of rocky and mountainous lands. Overall, this body is a workhorse for me, and I absolutely love having it in my bag.

“I got to the beach 10 minutes before sunset and had to race down the cliffside to try and get into position as the sky began to light up. Having no time to set up my tripod and a ND, I used a rock to steady the body while using the Bluetooth remote in my free hand to capture the image and not shake the body.” Photo by Michael Castaneda. Sony Alpha 7R V. Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master. 1/4-sec., f/16, ISO 100

Sony Alpha 7 IV: A perfect hybrid camera, this body is what I use primarily for video and for timelapses. I have an issue of wanting to pull out of the timelapse to take photos of a scene so with this body, I’m able to have my timelapse running without having to fear I’m missing out on the shot with the R body. At 33 MP and 4K video capabilities, this body is perfect for my extended needs by still providing great detail without overloading my computer’s storage.

“While exploring the sand dunes of Central California, I had my wife stand on the top of one and face toward the setting sun.” Photo by Michael Castaneda. Sony Alpha 7 IV. Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master. 1/125-sec., f/6.3, ISO 100

Lenses

Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master: The title of most used lens in my bag belongs to this one. The detail of this lens is remarkable. As a landscape photographer, I used to try and get as wide as I could, but as I grew more into myself, I realized that the mid-range of this lens is where I now feel landscapes are best captured from. The AF on this lens is very fast and the 2.8 allows me to capture some spectacular star scenes with my Astro work. If I could only use one lens for work, this would be that lens.

"The most incredible experience I’ve ever encountered at Yosemite. Flying above the park to capture Firefall was a project that took a lot of careful planning and patience, but ultimately paid off with an unforgettable experience. Capturing the setting sun shining down the valley to illuminate Horsetail Fall was my primary vision for this project." Photo by Michael Castaneda. Sony Alpha 7R IV. Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master. 1/125-sec., f/5.6, ISO 100

Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master: When I said I used to think wider was better earlier, well this lens is the counter to that statement. This lens captures so much of landscape while still providing incredibly sharp detail. One shot from this can replace a 3 shot pano at 24mm so it is a must have for landscapes. Every time I want to pull closer into a landscape, I find myself still pulling this out to ensure I capture the entire scene as well. This lens is particularly exceptional inside of caves since it allows me to capture more of the walls that provide some moody shadow work that perfectly compliments my light source. Another 2.8 lens means that this one is also perfect from nighttime astro work. It is a must have for landscape photographers.

"While on assignment for Sony, my task was to put the RV to the test so I took it on one of the wettest trails in the country and tested the AF and weathering capabilities of both it and the 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master. Afterward it felt like I was continually splashed with a bucket for about half an hour, but the gear held up strong and produced some pretty amazing images." Photo by Michael Castaneda. Sony Alpha 7R V. Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master. 1/200-sec., f/7.1, ISO 100

Sony 90mm f/2.8 Macro G: The 24-70mm might be my most used lens, but the 90-macro lens is my absolute favorite lens in the bag. For landscapes, the compression from this lens allows me to create unique compositions while still retaining a landscape feel to the scene. It is one of, if not, the sharpest lenses in the Sony arsenal and makes for an incredible portrait and lifestyle lens. I know I mentioned that if I had to choose one for work I would choose the 24-70, but if I had to choose one lens for me, I wouldn’t hesitate to grab this lens.

"On rare occasions, the fall color clashes with the first snow here in California. While shooting in the Eastern Sierra, that is exactly what happened. I had my wife walk into the frame and moved myself far back so that I could capture the compression of the tree tunnel as she walked through it." Photo by Michael Castaneda. Sony Alpha 7R V. Sony 90mm f/2.8 Macro G. 1/500-sec., f/5.6, ISO 100

Sony 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G: The newest lens in my bag, this lens really takes landscapes to a new level for me. As I’ve touched on throughout the article, landscapes are traditionally thought to be shot wide. With this lens, I can really zoom into the Earth’s smaller detail and open up a whole new world of landscape photography. Furthermore, when coupled with the 1.4 or 2x teleconverter, this lens will allow you to get really detailed moon images and is great for the solar eclipse, which was the main reason I purchased it earlier this year.

Photo by Michael Castaneda. Sony Alpha 7R V. Sony 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G + 1.4X TC.. 1/100-sec., f/9, ISO 100

Accessories

Sony RMT-P1BT Wireless Remote Commander: This remote is one of the best items I have ever purchased. When doing ultra-long exposures, it allows me to easily navigate the Bulb function. Since its Bluetooth, it offers me freedom from the camera and the autofocus feature on it makes focus stacking super easy.
 
Two Slik CF-834 Tripods with Slik PBH-45LP Ball Head: Lightweight and sturdy, this combo is perfect for all my outdoor adventures. Remember earlier when I said every ounce matters when hiking distances, well this tripod is the perfect example of saving that weight. I’ve had this tripod for a couple years now and I’ve yet to encounter a situation that it was unable to stand strong in.

Slik SGH-300: This gimbal head is perfect for longer lenses. The weight of any lens I might use is never an issue once secured to this and the maneuverability is almost effortless. It’s especially helpful when shooting the Eclipse or the moon since they track across the sky fairly quick.

Cokin NX Series filter system: You will always see a polarizer and filters in my bag no matter where I go. I like to carry the ND8, ND1024 and the Nuances Clear Sky Filter in my bag and with the NX series holder, it allows me to shoot at 16mm without any vignetting. The aluminum frames around the glass make switching in and out very easy and the gear wheel on the side makes spinning the polarizer a breeze. 

Move Shoot Move Nomad Star Tracker: Very small, very portable, and very effective. This tracker takes night photography to a whole new level and allows me to get the absolute most out of my Sony lenses when pointing up to the stars. I upgraded to the Nomad earlier this year since it can hold double the weight of my prior tracker. This opens up more deep space play with longer lenses.

Walkie Talkies: I have one shown but carry four. When traveling around and shooting telephoto, sometimes you need to be able to communicate easily especially when you’re in a setting that has no cellular signal.

See more of Michael Castaneda’s work on Instagram @_mcastaneda_.