Jonas Hafner is a portrait (@aufzehengehen.de) and landscape (@aufzehengehen) photographer who prefers to work with available light. He is known for implementing creative ideas in his portraiture, most of which take place outdoors and often try to incorporate nature as an essential element. We connected with Hafner to learn more about the gear he uses for people pictures. Keep reading for more on what he uses to create emotive portraiture on-location.

Product Preview – In This Article You'll Find:
–Sony Alpha 7R III
–Sony 55mm f/1.8
–Sony 50mm f/1.2 G Master
–Sony 35mm f/1.4 G Master
–Sony 90mm f/2.8 Macro G
–Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master II
–Sony 135mm f/1.8 G Master
–Sony 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 G Master
–Sony VG-C4EM

Camera

Sony Alpha 7R III:
The only camera I own and still use is the Sony Alpha 7R III which has accompanied me since the beginning of 2018. Going mirrorless was such a game changer. I finally could not only see the bokeh through the viewfinder but also trust the autofocus again – no more sending in lenses to get them calibrated. And once you experience working with an Eye AF there is just no way back.

Photo by Jonas Hefner. Sony Alpha 7R III. Sony 50mm f/1.2 G Master. 1/250-sec., f/1.2, ISO 125

Lenses

Sony 55mm f/1.8: The first lens I ever bought for my Sony system was the Sony 55mm f/1.8. Its compact size and low weight are perfect for traveling and being just a tiny bit longer than the usual nifty fifty does not only suit my shooting style very well but also delivers a special and pleasing bokeh. I took so many (great) pictures with this lens and still use it from time to time when I am on the road. But deep inside I was always waiting for Sony to release a faster G Master lens covering this range. And, spoliler alert, you'll find that I didn’t get disappointed.

Photo by Jonas Hefner. Sony Alpha 7R III. Sony 55mm f/1.8. 1/8000-sec., f/1.5, ISO 160

Sony 50mm f/1.2 G Master: When they finally announced the Sony 50mm f/1.2 G Master I was probably one of the first who hit the order button, and although it is not a cheap lens I’ve never once regretted buying it. I would even consider it my favorite lens of all time. It’s tack sharp at f/1.2, the images look like they were taken with a medium format camera, the colors are perfect and even the autofocus is super fast. Considering what it can do, I don’t even mind the extra weight in my bag. If you’re a portrait photographer and haven’t tried this lens, you are seriously missing out on something special.

Photo by Jonas Hefner. Sony Alpha 7R III. Sony 50mm f/1.2 G Master. 1/400-sec., f/1.8, ISO 100

Sony 35mm f/1.4 G Master: Another great addition to my kit is the Sony 35mm f/1.4 G Master which can only be described as one more (almost) flawless lens. I love how it handles light and reflections and sometimes it’s hard to decide between the 50mm f/1.2 G Master and this one. If I really wanna travel light I usually combine it with the Sony 55mm f/1.8.

Photo by Jonas Hefner. Sony Alpha 7R III. Sony 35mm f/1.4 G Master. 1/6400-sec., f/1.4, ISO 100

Sony 90mm f/2.8 Macro G: I bought the Sony 90mm f/2.8 Macro G mainly to digitize my film negatives but as it turns out it’s also a great portrait lens and extremely sharp. If I wanna take close up shots this is usually my lens of choice.

Photo by Jonas Hefner. Sony Alpha 7R III. Sony 90mm f/2.8 Macro G. 1/500-sec., f/3.2, ISO 160

Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master II: I recently bought the Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master II as it’s not only a perfect travel lens but comes in handy for portraits, too. I haven’t taken too many pictures with it yet, but I guess this will change soon.

Sony 135mm f/1.8 G Master: The same goes for the Sony 135mm f/1.8 G Master, which replaced my Sigma 135mm F1,8 DG HSM | Art, a lens I hardly used because of its rather slow autofocus and heavy weight. Luckily I won second prize during the Sony Alpha spring competition and got this fabulous lens delivered to my doorstep. I am so looking forward to spending more time with it.

Sony 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 G Master: The 100-400mm is my favorite lens for landscapes, but sometimes I also take portraits with it as I like the unique look it delivers and opens up new perspectives when taking photos outside. The only downside is its pack size which is also the reason why I usually don’t take it along on spontaneous shootings.

Photo by Jonas Hefner. Sony Alpha 7R III. Sony 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 G Master. 1/250-sec., f/5, ISO 100

Accessories


Sony VG-C4EM: If I plan to shoot the entire day I usually take my Sony battery grip with me as shooting in portrait mode feels way more ergonomic with it. 

Godox V1S: I recently bought a flash. The first time I tried it it fell to the ground due to a material defect. I got a replacement but haven’t tried it ever since (maybe it caused PTSD). I will give it another chance as soon as I can (and once I regain trust in it).

Photo by Jonas Hefner. Sony Alpha 7R III. Sony 55mm f/1.8. 1/6400-sec., f/3.5, ISO 160

CaptureClip Pro: The CaptureClip is usually attached to my backpack strap and keeps my camera stable and secure while I am not taking pictures. Still my camera remains instantly accessible with the click of a button. The newer versions look way fancier and are quite a lot lighter than the one I’ve got.  

Miscellaneous: Otherwise, my bag contains the usual accessories such as a microfiber cloth to keep my lenses clean, a double charger and two spare batteries, a power adapter, filters and an air blower.

See more of Jonas Hafner’s portrait work on Instagram @aufzehengehen.de.