FE 35mm F1.4 GM | Enjoy dynamic shooting capabilities | Review by Angela Chan
Angela is a movie enthusiast who loves studying the various compositions and camera movements used in films. She is particularly influenced by Wes Anderson's creative shots, angles and colour grading techniques.
Creative inspirations, equipment selection
I absolutely love movies, and constantly study new techniques for improving my filmmaking standards.When it comes to lifestyle videos, I believe that research is essential, along with planning your shots, angles and scripts well in advance of every shoot.
My hope is that through my videos, audiences can be captivated as they travel on a dramatic visual journey with me.My camera of choice is the Sony Alpha 7C full-frame camera as its vari-angle, rotating touch screen and 4K recording capabilities make it ideal for photos, vlogs, selfies and everyday shots. And my favourite lens? Definitely the FE 35mm F1.4 GM prime lens!
Why prime? Why not?
With thoughtful planning, you can capture all the shots you need for a film using your favourite prime lens. For me, the FE 35mmF1.4 GM prime lens delivers everything I could ask for from a lens - outstanding resolution, detail and clarity.
What's more, the FE 35mm F1.4 GM's close-up capabilities suit almost every situation. Whether you're recording landscapes, headshots, open streets, close-ups of subjects or your environment, this lens captures every stunning detail in high-resolution.
An adventure across Hong Kong
A circle-themed cinematic sequence
I enjoy using visual themes in my videos. This particular video contains clips of my adventures across the streets of Hong Kong. To inject cohesion between scenes, I've introduced a theme of "circles" into the video.
This theme involves two key concepts - recording the many circular constructions that I came across as I travelled Hong Kong, as well as framing my subjects within circular compositions.
With a theme in place, your audience will enjoy the smooth transitions and be fascinated with how your story weaved together through a theme that's both visually engaging and simple-to-understand.
Travelling through time on a subway
Some of my favourite footage comes from this interesting subway station. By blending several innovative composition techniques with shots of glass reflections and other parts of the station, I was able to create a scene that echoed the visual effects popularly associated with time travel - which, if you think about it, is an apt association for the fast-moving subway trains.
When shooting lifestyle videos, lots of shots are going to be handheld, and this is where an easy-to-handle camera and lens combination is ideal. Mounting the FE 35mm F1.4 GM prime lens to the lightweight Alpha 7C camera provides an amazing level of portability and manoeuvrability - allowing you to taking recordings of interesting sights anywhere and everywhere, from sunrise to sunset.
Stunning portraits and a natural field of view with 35mm
I've always been a fan of G Master lenses, and this one definitely impresses. From its high pixel count to 35mm focal length - which captures a natural field of view that's similar to what you see with your eyes - everything about this lens is astonishing.
With its large aperture, the FE 35mm F1.4 GM blends incredible high-resolution images with soft bokeh that dissolves into the background. Even in dim light, this lens masterfully preserves all the detail and colour in your shot.
Amazing close-ups from 0.27m
I take lots of close-up shots in my lifestyle videos, and the FE 35mm F1.4 GM is a star performer in this area. Its focus is stunningly clear when shooting from a minimum distance of 0.27m, which means that you'll be able to capture sharp portraits that will make your audience feel like they're in the video.
And when it comes to food photography, this shooting distance and outstanding focus lets you take fantastic close-ups and side shots of your dishes.
Capturing high-speed movement
This video includes some fast-paced action shots, with fast moving objects like taxis and fans featured. While shots like these can be challenging (or even impossible) with many lenses, the FE 35mm F1.4 GM handles these with finesse.
Its fast and accurate follow-focus capability ensures that objects are only blurred when you desire it as an effect - and sharp when you demand focus.
On the horizon
With my Sony Alpha 7C and FE 35mm F1.4 GM prime lens in hand, I'm enjoying my adventures capturing lifestyle videos - whether at home or overseas. My equipment gives me the ability to tell captivating stories through the unveiling of messages and themes throughout each video.
I'm looking forward to continue working on film productions, and incorporating new and innovative cinematic stylings into my lifestyle and travel films. With the right equipment, I'm sure you'll enjoy recording your best and most creative films, too.
Just remember that when shooting lifestyle videos, a good script, angles and camera movement are essential. Plan these in advance and you'll know exactly what shots you need to take for a film that will capture your audience's hearts and minds.
