On July 9th, Sony released a new full frame 35mm f/1.8 lens. Well… a week before Sony had given me a preview copy of the lens and asked if I’d shoot with it to develop some thoughts and images to share.
I did just that, and the result was a reminder of some different ways to shoot landscape photos (that I had lost sight of over the years).
I did a quick video that talks about some other thoughts when shooting landscapes and the nice part about it, is that you don’t need a f/1.8 lens to do it. Any low aperture on your lens (f/2.8, f/4) will do just fine.
Plus, there’s a quick edit of one of the photos I took (in really crappy weather) at the end so you’ll see some tips I have for bringing some life to blah sunset 🙂 Enjoy!
PS: Here’s a link to read more about the Sony 35mm f/1.8 lens if you’re interested.
I love teaching and photography... In that order. I feel that enjoying photography, and photo editing can get WAY too complicated. So my personal mission (and favorite thing to do), is to create education that simplifies the process of taking great photos, and how to edit them to get the results you’ve always wanted.
What software are you using to edit?
Lightroom (and Photoshop if needed)
Love your little videos. I always get some take away to use as well as reminders of editing and photography things that I know but that I tend to forget to use because, as you said yourself, we sometimes get locked into doing what why usually do. Thanks for all your lessons, little and big.
This is obvious when you think about it but something I’ve never done.
A landscape needs to be in focus front to back right; wrong
Thanks Matt, been watching a lot of your videos lately… Can’t get out enough to shoot, so processing ideas are great to revisit older photos. Also, it’s always a good reminder to stop doing things the way you always to and try something different.
I know you like to shoot Landscapes. In your video you said you use f16 to get the most front to back Depth of Field. If it is Depth of Field you need why not use f22, f27 or f32? Unless you also need the extra light. Also is there some problem with the quality of the image that shows up when stopping down so far? The answer to this question could help me a lot.
When using small apertures, i.e. f22, etc., the light passing through the small opening can be distorted and suffer from diffraction. This would reduce sharpness. You can experiment with your lens and stop down to f16, f22 or higher while taking the same shot and see which photos are the sharpest.
If you search for “diffraction in photography,” you should come up with some articles explaining this in detail.
Would hyperfocal focusing help in getting more of the photo sharper with the 1.8 lens?
I think I will keep using my 24 – 70 Sony lens. Probably a bit heavier than the 1.8 but it is a super lens. Had to laugh at your comment “If you don’t like it, don’t do it.” I shoot to please myself, unless I am entering a competition. I feel the same about post processing, I love colorful sunsets, and… it is my work, my walls, my art… :-). Love your tutorials and clear suggestions. Keep these coming.
I am a Sony shooter and have already pre-ordered the 35 f/1.8 lens (mostly for street). However, I am also a nature photographer and so wanted to thank you for this excellent video on how to use the shallow DOF to shoot landscapes in order to get some very creative images! In fact, in reviewing all the images shot with this new lens from Sony Artisans like yourself (and on other sites, e.g. DP Review) I wondered why there were none shot at f/16! Now I know why!!
Thanks again for this very informative video.
Matt, always appreciate your videos on what you’re photographing and the post work. Hadn’t thought about using such a large aperture on my landscape photography, but it can make sense.
Thanks for sharing.
Laughed at your comment, “If you don’t like it, dont’ do it!”
Thanks, Matt, for this video — both on the use of the 1.8 lens and the use of the graduated filter. I’m excited to play with this feature more.
Why not disclose what the mount style is for this lens. A mount, FE mount or E mount.
https://lmgtfy.com/?q=new%20sony%2035mm%201.8%20lens&s=g
Or just click the link in the post that you had to scroll past to write this comment 😉
I loved this video.
I am reminded of the idiocy of my getting into stupid debates in forums with photographers debating the merits of f/1.8 lens compared to f/2.8 for photographing landscapes. I guess f/5.6, f/8, and f/11 are unexplored territory for many.