I started vlogging as a way to document my day and to share my life with my viewers. I like to think of my Fun For Louis vlogs as being relatable, where people are able to see themselves in the same situations. It’s a way for to me to create a connection whilst being as real as possible. Every vlog I create is about sharing a specific story, evoking a message. It’s a mixture of sharing what’s around me, sharing my thoughts and packaging it all as a nice story that’s not only visually entertaining, but authentic. As a travel vlogger and Sony Alpha shooter, the E mount lenses I use to tell my stories are so important. Last year when I embarked on a world flight with my friend JP, I brought along quite a few. Since I was filming all the time, I needed a lens for every possible situation.
Travel vlogger Louis Cole (@funforlouis) shares his global travel experiences with over 2 million subscribers on YouTube. He walks us through the Sony lenses he uses to tell his stories.
Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 G Master
The first one I packed was the Sony FE 85mm f/1.4, which has an incredibly shallow depth and is really good in low-light conditions. It’s quite cropped in and has excellent clarity. I find this one has the best focal length for portraits.
Sony FE 16-35mm f/4 OSS
The Sony FE 16-35mm f/4 lens is one of my favorites and was next on my packing list. This lens has Optical SteadyShot (OSS) image stabilization which was very handy for me when I’m traveling because it minimizes the appearance of camera shake for sharper images. It also covers ultra-wide to wide-angle perspectives and the f/4 aperture allows a greater control over focus.
Sony FE 24-240mm f/3.5-6.3 OSS
For vlogging, this is a lens I can’t live without. The Sony 24-240mm f/3.5-6.3 isn’t a new lens, but it’s one of my mainstays as a travel vlogger. At 24mm it’s perfect for filming, and at 240mm I can zoom into cool sunsets and other things in the distance. The f/3.5-6.3 aperture helps keep lens size and weight to a minimum, which is perfect as I’m always running around trying to capture the best images!
Sony FE 12-24mm f/4 G
The Sony 12-24mm f/4 lens is a flexible zoom lens with an autofocus system that’s great for both stills and video. When I was on the Round The World flight project it was perfect for filming inside the plane or doing landscape photos. With both the 12-24mm and the 24-240mm lenses, I have a focal range of 12-240 which is invaluable for my work.
I believe that vlogging is about being passionate about what you’re doing and creating good work. I think viewers can tell if you’re passionate, or just after views. Some people like the process of editing, curating, adding music and special effects, and some people just like the ability to share their personality and what they want to say. For me, when I’m filming, it’s such an organic process. The camera is an extension of myself in that moment and it captures the visual mood and messages I want to convey.
My investment in these Sony lenses has allowed me to create work that I hope inspires others. By being honest, being myself and sharing what I’m up to in a positive way, I believe that my travel vlogs can inspire people to seek out the world and travel themselves or even to live with a more adventurous attitude in their own lives. For me vlogging is a way to promote a message about being socially conscious with the world around us; how we treat people, animals, the planet. These are the messages I like to explore and these lenses help me to share them with my audience.
