As photographers and filmmakers, it feels like we all have a wide array of topics we live to geek out on. That’s why we’ve connected with so many creators in the Sony Alpha Universe Community Forums. One of our favorite topics is gear, and there is no greater joy than finding out how someone made a shot and what equipment helped them achieve it. We love chatting about all the technical specs as well as some of the more aesthetic or tactile features. This is such a well-loved topic that many content creators on YouTube create videos dedicated to geeking out on gear. We’ve gathered just a few creators who talk through their kits, mention the important features of their equipment, and how they plan to add to their wish list of gear. Take a look, subscribe to their channel, and let us know what gear you use in the Sony Alpha Universe Community Forums.

Elina Osborne

Elina Osborne is a filmmaker based in Auckland, New Zealand. She has thru-hiked the Pacific Crest Trail and she vlogged her entire journey. Since then, she has done quite a few other major hikes, all the while documenting her journeys and adventures. You can learn more about how she blurs the line between vlogs and documentaries HERE.

Hiking for months on end requires carrying all your equipment, and people constantly ask Elina how she balances lightweight equipment with high-quality footage. In the video below, she talks through all the gear she carried on her most recent trip. She dives into her gear, explaining that she brought the Sony Alpha 7S III and the Sony 20-70mm f/4 G. She says that this focal length was “perfect” for what she needed. She recognizes that she couldn’t achieve the shallow depth of field that she loves visually but she says, “the weight it was for the capability – I was a fan.”

Manny Ortiz

Manny Ortiz is a portrait photographer and Youtube content creator currently based in Chicago, Illinois. His passion for photography began when his wife became pregnant with their first child. He is particularly well known for his lighting techniques, and has even created a softbox in collaboration with Westcott. His channel is a spectacular place to improve your lighting and portrait techniques.

In the video below, he lists his best camera gear purchases of all time – listing the things he can’t live without. The first piece of gear he mentions is his vlogging camera.  He explains that the camera that is most important to him and his video production is the Sony ZV-E1. He raves about the center frame feature, even showing it off with the Sony 14mm f/1.8 G Master. Watch the video below to learn about the rest of the gear Manny loves! 

Chrystopher Rhodes – YCImaging

Chrystopher Rhodes is a music video, commercial, and content creator working nationwide for artists and brands with a small team. He has over 450K subscribers on his YouTube channel, where he details his creative journey through creating music videos, behind the scenes, and filmmaking tips. His audience loves his honest and authentic thoughts on all things filmmaking. 

In the video below, Chrystopher tests out the Sony Alpha 7C II. He explains that even though he’s been a loyal Canon user, he’s also been a fan of Sony equipment for quite a while. He starts out the video stating that he is just trying out the Sony Alpha 7C II along with the Sony 20mm f/1.8 G and the Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master. But by the end of the video he explains that he loves using this camera and he’s really considering using it as his main camera. He cites the size and the ease of use as the primary reasons for his love of the camera. 

Peter Sarellas

Sports videographer Peter Sarellashas created a YouTube channel to share informative tips and tutorial videos about videography and video editing, often with a focus on sports videography. Peter’s job is creating short-form sports and event-based video content for brands. His YouTube channel is where he posts about his experiences producing that content with the goal of helping you start and flourish on your journey with videography.

In this video, Peter is getting ready for the new sports season, prepping his kit to create cinematic sports footage and he walks through his setup and settings for filming football games. He shoots with the Sony FX3, Sony FX30, Sony Alpha 7 IV, Sony 70-200mm f/4 G, Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master, Sony 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 G Master, and the Sony 20mm f/1.8 G. He talks about why his Sony equipment is perfect for sports, mentioning the fantastic autofocus, the low-light capabilities, and the ability to shoot handheld. 

Pat Kay

Pat Kay is a travel photographer and multi-disciplinary content creator based in Sydney, Australia. His passion for exploring the world is constant throughout his work, especially when it comes to exploring the dynamics between nature and urban spaces. Kay does this by exploring the landscape, cityscape, lifestyle and street photography which creates a comprehensive overview of his travels and techniques to provide beautiful images and vlogs that are engaging and helpful to his viewers. 

He recently posted an updated video covering what he brings with him in his camera bag. For his primary camera gear, Pat uses the Sony Alpha 7R V and the Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master II, he says that “this setup is just amazing. It is everything for me.” He explains that the Sony Alpha 7R V is close to being his favorite hybrid camera ever. He also uses the Sony ZV-E1, Sony 16-35mm f/4, Sony Alpha 1, Sony Alpha 7R IV, Sony Alpha 7S III, Sony Alpha 7C, Sony RX100 VII, Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master, Sony 85mm f/1.4 G Master, Sony 24mm f/1.4 G Master and Sony 20mm f/1.8 G.