Alpha Universe Podcast

Alpha Universe Editor Christopher Robinson sits down with Sony’s El Deane Naude to talk through the new a7R IV. The new high-resolution mirrorless camera has a new 61 megapixel full-frame image sensor, 16-image Pixel Shift Multi Shooting, Real Time Tracking and Animal Eye AF, Real Time Eye AF in video mode and more. El-Deane walks us through the new features and capabilities for today’s photographers and filmmakers. See more at AlphaUniverse.com 

Everyone wants to be a story teller, and few do it as well as photojournalist Nancy Borowick. She's the kind of photographer who reveals the heart of a story through incredibly intimate photos. AlphaUniverse.com editor Christopher Robinson talks with Nancy about her shooting style and how it was born out of a personal project that she didn't originally intend to share. In Tech Talk, Sony's Amy Koppmann explains how to use lens stabilization in conjunction with camera stabilization. And we get some Do This Now tips from Nancy Borowick for photographers who want to do the kind of photojournalistic story telling that she’s famous for.  

With the 2019 Major League season just underway, pro sports photographer and new Artisan Of Imagery, Jean Fruth joins AlphaUniverse.com editor Christopher Robinson to talk about photographing the action on and off the diamond. In Tech Talk, Sony’s El Deane Naude gives us insight into the extended battery life in the latest generation of Sony full-frame mirrorless cameras. Then Jean Fruth returns to offer up some of her top tips for photographers who are want to capture all of the action on the baseball field this spring and summer.

After a special shoot at a UFC gym north of Los Angeles, Sports professional Patrick Murphy-Racey sat down with Alpha Universe editor Christopher Robinson to talk about the version 5.0 firmware update for the Sony a9 and how the update “makes the camera reborn.”  See more at AlphaUniverse.com

Alpha Universe Editor Christopher Robinson connects with Sony’s El Deane Naude about the new a6400. The latest 24.2 megapixel APS-C camera has Real Time Tracking AF, 4K video, and a flip-up touchscreen. El-Deane explains the ins and outs of the new AF system, what Real Time Tracking AF is and how it incorporates advancements in tracking Eye AF, as well as some of the features that vloggers in particular will be interested in. “We've come to a point where the technology allows itself to be put onto smaller cameras as well as full-frame cameras. So essentially, this is taking most of the features that you’ll find on a camera like the α7 III or even some features from the a9 and putting it into an ultra-compact APS-C body.” See more at AlphaUniverse.com 

Sony's Michaela Ion and Alpha Universe editor Christopher Robinson discuss the just-launched Alpha Female program and how it aims to level the playing field for women in creative fields. At the heart of the program are $25,000 and mentoring from the Sony Artisans Of Imagery. Join us as Ion describes how Alpha Female came into being and how you can apply for the  Find out more at alphauniverse.com/alpha-female

AlphaUniverse.com editor Christopher Robinson talks with Matt Parnell about Sony's growth from zero a few years ago to be the leader in full-frame interchangeable lens cameras in the US. Parnell and Robinson also discuss the new Be Alpha campaign, the massive reach of the @SonyAlpha community and how the Sony Alpha brand is positioned for the future. See more about Be Alpha and @SonyAlpha at AlphaUniverse.com and in Instagram.

In this episode of the podcast, AlphaUniverse.com editor Christopher Robinson speaks with photographer, writer and international man of mystery, Kishore Sawh, Editor-In-Chief of SLR Lounge. Based in Miami, Kish is also a devoted dog lover and, when he's not writing about trends in photography or making pictures, Kish works with a variety animal rescue organizations including PetsInDistress. In Tech Talk, Sony’s El Deane Naude explains the ins and outs of the Sony Live View Display Setting Effect. We get some Do This Now tips from Kish for photographers who are looking to up their writing game to be multi-faceted story tellers. See more at AlphaUniverse.com

AlphaUniverse.com editor Christopher Robinson connects with Hollywood set photographer Jennifer Clasen. Born into a photography family, Clasen didn't simply follow in her father’s footsteps. We discuss how a global gap-year trek she took during college kindled her love of making photographs and how twists and turns along her path  brought her to independent film set and began a career shooting behind the rolling cameras. In Tech Talk, Sony’s El Deane Naude explains how high-speed silent shooting works in the Sony α7R III. Jennifer Clasen offers up Do This Now tips about how to break into the multi-faceted realm of TV and feature production photography.   

EXCLUSIVE: AlphaUniverse.com editor Christopher Robinson talks with professional sports photographer and Sony Artisan Of Imagery Patrick Murphy-Racey about the new Sony 400mm f/2.8 G Master lens. Murphy-Racey had a chance to use the lens on the sidelines and he describes it’s performance and how it worked in conjunction with his α9 cameras. See more including Patrick Murphy-Racey's photos from the game at AlphaUniverse.com.

Before its early June release, Katrin Eismann had a chance to use the new Sony RX100 VI around the streets of New York. AlphaUniverse.com editor Christopher Robinson sits down with Eismann at her School of Visual Arts office in New York to learn more about her approach to street photography and why the new RX100 VI is such a powerful camera for capturing life in the city.

In 2017, Sony created Kando Trip to be a special retreat where the Sony Artisans Of Imagery and the Alpha Imaging Collective could step back from their hectic lives and spend a few days pushing their creative boundaries. In 2018, for Kando Trip 2.0, members of the public were given the opportunity to come and be part of the experience at Asilomar on the Monterey peninsula in California. AlphaUniverse.com editor Christopher Robinson had a chance to sit down with Sony's Matt Parnell at Asilomar to talk about what "Kando" is and how Kando Trip 2.0 was made to create creative synergy and give the photographers and filmmakers a chance to explore the power of "Wow!".  See more at AlphaUniverse.com and follow #sonykandotrip on Instagram.

In this episode of the Alpha Universe podcast, AlphaUniverse.com editor Christopher Robinson speaks with landscape and sports photographer Don Smith about his experiences with α7R III in the field. In Tech Talk, Sony’s El Deane Naude explains how Pixel Shift technology in the α7R III works. Then Don Smith returns with Do This Now tips from about how to break out of a creative rut. You can see more about Don Smith and the Sony α7R III at AlphaUniverse.com.

Prior to its release, wedding pro Robert Evans had a chance to use the Sony α7 III, doing what he does. We sat down with Evans to talk about how the camera works and why he says "it's the perfect cameras for wedding photographers."

Christopher Robinson, editor of AlphaUniverse.com speaks with photographer and member of the Alpha Imaging Collective, Oscar Nilsson about the enduring power and allure of landscape photography and the Art Rangers project to help preserve and protect our national parks. In Tech Talk, Sony’s El Deane Naude explains how some of the advancements in the new Sony α7R III that improve image quality. And we get some Do This Now tips from Oscar Nilsson about how you can make a difference with your photography.

Chris Burkard had a chance to use the Sony α7R III prior to its introduction. Taking advantage of this special opportunity, Burkard along with fellow Sony Artisan Of Imagery Renan Ozturk took the camera on a whirlwind project through the desert southwest. In this special episode of the Alpha Universe podcast, we spoke with Burkard on the eve of the camera’s global launch to find out why it’s going to be his new workhorse camera.

AlphaUniverse.com editor Christopher Robinson speaks with travel writer and photographer Erin Sullivan, founder of the immensely popular Erin Outdoors blog and member of the Sony Alpha Imaging Collective. In Tech Talk, Sony’s El Deane Naude explains the ins and outs of face detection in Sony cameras. And Erin Sullivan returns with some Do This Now tips about how you can be a global adventure traveler.

Editor of AlphaUniverse.com, Christopher Robinson speaks with National Geographic photographer Ira Block about photo essays in an Instagram world. In Tech Talk, Sony’s El Deane Naude explains how Eye AF works and how to set it up on your camera. And Ira Block offers some Do This Now tips for getting National Geographic-caliber photos.

AlphaUniverse.com editor Christopher Robinson sits down with CameraLabs.com founder Gordon Laing about his book In Camera, how he reviews photo equipment and why he’s on a mission to get photographers to get it right in camera. In Tech Talk, Sony’s Mark Weir explains how electronic viewfinders work and how an EVF gives you an advantage over a reflex viewfinder. And we get some Do This Now tips from Gordon Laing about one of his passions, long-exposure photography.

Alpha Universe sits down with landscape professionals Don Smith and Gary Hart to discuss the new Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master and the Sony 12-24mm f/4 G lenses. Smith and Hart have been using the pair of wide-angle zooms and we find out their impressions of how the lenses perform.