Well…I’m finally doing it. After years of owning this 11-pound tank of a telephoto, it’s time to put together a review of “Big Papa”. I’ve shot with the lens for events and wildlife sparingly, in my time in Japan I couldn’t just drive anywhere with this optic in tow. All my photowalks consisted of train rides and lots…and lots…of walking. Now that I’m finally back in the States, and I have a high-performance full-frame camera to test on, I have the opportunity to really get out there with the lens and try some more wildlife shots, and perhaps some sports/events if I get the chance. Thankfully I do have at least a few shots over the years that will easily find their place in the review if needed.
Looking back in May in the wide world of photography, there really wasn’t a lot going on. Aside from Sony really getting a better foothold in the camera market with the A7III and the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 becoming available, it’s been a pretty quiet Spring. For the former, there are so many reviews of this camera out there already it doesn’t make sense to put any time into writing at length at what’s already been said: the A7III is the best camera you can get for $2,000, period. Now for the latter, I’d love to score a copy of this standard zoom for review, as it’s becoming quite popular for an all-around lens that mates perfectly with the A7III. As always, we’ll see.
Photography-wise, it was a cold and dreary end to Spring here in North Chicago. I put off doing photo walks downtown in the windy city because, as its name implies, the wind there is just biting cold when it’s anything below 60 degrees. Over this past Memorial Day weekend, however, I brought my camera along for a work trip and managed a few shots while in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The A7III is not without its quirks, but overall its handling is very familiar to other Sony cameras I have shot with.
Peek through the Condos
50mm, ISO 100, f/8, 1/320
Harrison Park Sunset
50mm, ISO 100, f/8, 1/640, 18 images stitched
Sun Capture
50mm, ISO 100, f/5.6, 1/3200
Kalamazoo Allyway Fountain
50mm, ISO 100, f/1.8, 1/13
Old Dog Tavern
50mm, ISO 100, f/5.6, 1/60, 16 images stitched
That’s all for this update, guys and gals, thanks for dropping by! A big thanks as well to all those who hopped over to this site to subscribe after I permanently suspended any further Facebook posts. Social media is a pretty toxic environment for photographers to grow in their craft, as it prioritizes a constant feedback loop of likes and views instead of artistic merit and improvement. I removed my personal account many years ago, and I’m glad to do the same for my photography page. The cold grip of the North Chicago winter has finally let go, so this June is looking great for photography! As always, have a great day!
Matthew Durr Photography 