Photography Devices: A Personal Review
I’ll be providing an in-depth review of the photography devices I use and how they fare in practical scenarios.
I've been shooting seriously for a few years now, and along the way I've picked up gear that stuck and gear that didn't. What follows is my honest take on what I currently use — what works, what annoys me, and what I'd buy again.
Cameras
Sony Alpha ILCE-6400L 24.2MP Mirrorless Camera
I picked this as my first mirrorless and it's been a workhorse. The autofocus is what keeps me on Sony — it tracks bird's eyes, animal's eyes, and faces with very few misses. That said, the menu system is genuinely terrible, and after years I still have to hunt for settings. The battery life is average at best; I carry three for a full day out. But the image quality punches above its price point, and the size means I actually take it with me instead of leaving it at home.
iPhone 14 Pro
I was skeptical about phone photography replacing a dedicated camera, but the iPhone 14 Pro changed my mind for certain use cases. ProRAW gives me real editing latitude, and having a capable camera in my pocket means I never miss a moment. The computational photography is impressive — especially in tricky lighting. That said, it's not replacing my Sony for wildlife or anything requiring reach. It's a complement, not a replacement.
Lenses
Sony Alpha 70-350mm F4.5-6.3 G OSS Super-Telephoto APS-C Lens
This is my wildlife lens and it lives on my camera more than any other. The reach on APS-C is fantastic (effective 105-525mm), and the OSS lets me shoot handheld at shutter speeds I have no business using. The autofocus is fast enough for birds in flight, though I do wish the aperture were faster — f/6.3 at the long end means I'm often pushing ISO higher than I'd like in overcast conditions. The bokeh is surprisingly pleasant for a variable-aperture telephoto. Worth every penny if you shoot wildlife on APS-C.
Sony E Mount Apsc 50 Mm F/1.8 Lens
This lens is cheap, small, and sharp. The f/1.8 aperture gives you that classic portrait separation, and it's my go-to for low-light walkaround shots. The autofocus can hunt a bit in very dim conditions, and the build feels plasticky, but for the price it's hard to beat. I also use it for product-style close-ups of smaller subjects, where the 50mm perspective works well on a desk.
Sony E PZ 18-105 Mm F4 G
This was my first zoom and I still use it when I need a one-lens solution for travel or video. The constant f/4 is convenient — no exposure shifts while zooming. The power zoom is actually useful for video, giving smooth punches, but I find it too slow for stills when I need to react quickly. Image quality is solid through the range, though the 18mm end shows some softness in the corners. It's a great generalist, not a specialist.
Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM Contemporary
This is the newest addition to my kit and it's already competing with the 18-105 for the general-purpose slot. The f/2.8 at the wide end gives noticeably better low-light performance, and the macro capability (22cm minimum focus, 1:2.8 magnification) means I can grab close-up detail shots without swapping lenses. I took this on a hike and it handled everything from landscape vistas to flower close-ups to group portraits — exactly what I wanted. The OS is effective, though the HSM motor is audible in video (not an issue for stills). Build quality feels solid despite the light weight. My main trade-off vs the 18-105 is losing the power zoom and constant aperture, but gaining speed and macro versatility.
Backpacks
Peak Design Everyday Sling 3L
I wanted something small for city walks and this delivers. The quick-access zipper lets me pull the camera out and shoot in seconds. It fits the A6400 with the 50mm or 18-105 attached, plus a spare battery. What it doesn't do: carry a water bottle, a jacket, or anything beyond bare essentials. For a dedicated camera-only bag on short outings it's great, but it's not a daypack.
QUECHUA Hiking backpack 30L
For real hikes I switch to this. It's not a camera bag — there's no padded insert — but the space means I can carry a camera cube, water, snacks, and extra layers. The hip strap takes the weight off my shoulders on long treks. The trade-off is access: I have to stop and unzip to get the camera out. For wildlife hikes where I'm setting up and waiting anyway, that's fine. For fast-paced shooting, it's a pain.
Gimbal & Tripod
MOZA Mini S Essential Foldable Smartphone Gimbal
I bought this for occasional video clips and it does the job. The stabilization is decent for walking shots and the foldable design fits in a small bag pocket. The app is clunky and I don't use half the features, but for smooth pans and follow shots with the iPhone it works well enough. I wouldn't buy it again at full price, but as a cheap entry into gimbal video it's fine.
Laptops
MacBook Air - M2
This handles my entire photo editing workflow — Lightroom, Photoshop, Final Cut — without breaking a sweat. The M2 chip is fast enough that I rarely wait on exports, and the fanless design means I can edit in bed or on a train without noise. The screen is accurate enough for color grading, though I'd love a few more nits of brightness when editing outdoors. The only real limitation is RAM — 8GB shows its limits with large catalogs or heavy Fusion layers. If I bought again I'd get 16GB.
iPad Pro - M1
I use this for culling and quick edits on the go. With Lightroom Mobile and the pencil, it's surprisingly capable for dodging and brushing masks. The M1 handles large RAWs without lag. But it's not a laptop replacement for me — file management is painful, and I miss keyboard shortcuts. It's a great companion device, not a primary editing machine.
Softwares
Adobe Lightroom
I keep coming back to Lightroom because the catalog system, masking tools, and color grading are best in class. The AI masking (subject, sky) saves me enormous time. The monthly subscription still annoys me, but no alternative has matched the workflow yet. My main gripe is performance — it gets sluggish with large catalogs, and the cloud sync has corrupted my previews more than once.
Apple Photos
For quick edits on iPhone or iPad, Apple Photos is surprisingly capable. The adjustments are limited compared to Lightroom, but the deep OS integration makes sharing effortless. I use it for first-pass culling and quick crops before moving to Lightroom for serious work.
Final Cut Pro
I'm not a serious videographer, but for the video work I do, Final Cut is fast and intuitive. The magnetic timeline is genuinely innovative once you get used to it, and the 4K playback is smooth on the M2 MacBook Air. The library management can be confusing if you're used to other NLEs, and the lack of native subtitling tools is annoying. But for performance and speed of editing, it's hard to beat on Apple hardware.
RapidRAW
RapidRAW surprised me — it's a tiny (20MB), GPU-accelerated RAW editor that's genuinely fast. All adjustments render in real time with no lag, something Lightroom struggles with. The AI masking (subject, sky, foreground) works well, and the HSL and curves tools are comprehensive. It's still young — the library management is basic and some features I rely on (like healing brush) aren't there yet — but for quick edits where I don't want to fire up Lightroom, it's become my go-to. The developer is active and it shows.
I've also released a set of Sony-optimized presets for RapidRAW on GitHub. They cover nature, wildlife, landscape, and portrait looks — tuned specifically for the A6400's color science and my lenses. Two collections are available: v1 with punchier, more saturated styles, and v2 with muted, highlight-recovery-first tones for wildlife and nature.
Conclusion
Equipment is just equipment. The best camera is the one you have with you, and the best lens is the one that lets you get the shot. What I've listed here works for my style of shooting — mostly wildlife, landscapes, and everyday documentation. Your needs will be different. The most important thing I've learned is to buy gear that removes friction from your workflow, not gear that looks impressive on paper. The 50mm f/1.8 taught me that better than anything else.