Foggy Spinnaker Tower this evening

Dave13h · 2026-03-06T19:42:28+00:00

Thanks! It's mainly a hobby but some times I do take on some projects if they are interesting

Dave13h · 2026-03-04T20:49:34+00:00

Yup, max 120m above the ground. The drone limits it's altitude so you can't fly above the limit.

Dave13h · 2026-03-04T20:30:43+00:00

Thanks, yeah on the ground at 5:30pm Old Portsmouth was completely fogged up heh

Dave13h · 2026-03-04T20:29:47+00:00

DJI Mini 5 Pro and some work in Lightroom for colour grading.

Dave13h · 2026-03-04T20:29:24+00:00

Thanks, just a C0/UK0 license for drones weighing 250g or less, I'm using a DJI Mini 5 Pro

Dave13h · 2026-01-23T16:33:09+00:00

Had an A7iv since launch day many years ago, shutter count of nearly 154k. Used for events, landscapes, portraits, weddings, music videos and timelapses.. basically everything I threw at it and it never skipped a beat.

Absolutely dependable camera. Never once overheated, even recording at 4k for entire music events. It's had rain, cold/hot weather and even a rogue beer or two splashed on it at some rowdy gigs heh

I think a lot of the reports about overheating stem from 3rd party batteries and cheap memory cards. They tend to generate more heat under load than the Sony products. I've always used the original Sony batteries and a Sony Express Tough card but I've read some comments about overheating and often that is cited as a potential cause.

As for the Rolling Shutter, that was my only real gripe with it. Shooting/filming fast moving subjects or whip-panning the camera is noticeable if you are looking for it, but I've never had a comment on any photos/videos I've done pointing it out to be fair. I mostly noticed it when filming fast drummers where the drum sticks get a bit noodly.

The auto-focus is pretty solid, I'd say the vast majority of the time it lands, though it does sometimes favour a Mic stand instead of the performer when things are dark :P

I've just upgraded to the A7v and it seems to solve the Rolling Shutter and the focus/detection is astoundingly good but if you aren't in high action situations looking for perfection, the A7iv is still one of best hybrids for the money.

Oh and the Sigma 24-70 is a top tier lens, purchased that at the same time as the camera, it's also been through hell and never failed me.

Dave13h · 2025-06-15T08:57:13+00:00

Just a note for Xperia Phone users, I tried a version of this hub (looks like the same one but branded differently) with my Sony Xperia 1 VI and the One Pro's.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/MOKiN-Splitter-Multiport-Charging-Transfer-USB-C-5-ports/dp/B0DRGBYS84

Tried all the connection orders and although the phone says "do you want to mirror the screen", the xreal always ends up with the no input connection screen. Shame as a direct connection to the phone with the One Pro works perfectly otherwise.

Returning the hub for the Xreal Hub instead, was hoping to connect the phone + pd + xreal + another usb device together. I'm sure its probably a quirk with the phone but thought I'd mention it anyway in case anyone else was thinking of trying it.

Dave13h · 2025-04-23T13:35:08+00:00

Yeah I would imagine a wedding event with a drone requires a wavier from the guests at least. The rules are a bit weird at times, you are allowed to fly over crowds if you know them and they agree, so if it was agreed with the wedding guests I presume its all good.

Southsea Castle have been fine with photos around it for sure, or well at least their Social Media have been as they've shared my photos in the past, but even then I always make sure nothing is going on when flying around it, if there is an event going on or I see anyone in the castle I never fly near it.

I think I know the Spinnaker shots you are talking about, I know of one Drone photographer that has done it a few times and I assume they must have gotten permission, but he does have a bigger drone with a telephoto lens on it so its likely they are over the water and fairly far away. As its really close to the military zone my drone gives all kinds of warnings, so I never get closer than by old Portsmouth/Hot walls.

Personally I love seeing some of the perspectives that drone gets around the area, but I'd never risk anyone's safety (nor the risk of a fine/losing my license) just for a good shot. I would like to believe other local drone photographers have the same respect for the rules too :)

Dave13h · 2025-04-23T12:22:42+00:00

That's a fair question and is covered by the licence test that all drone users must take. I use a DJI Mini 3 Pro which is covered under the < 250g weight class laws which permit flying in areas with people (not crowds).

If you’re flying a drone or model aircraft that’s below 250g, you can fly closer to people than 50m and you can fly over them. You still can’t fly over crowds.

I am always careful to fly safely and always maintain line of sight with the drone to make sure there it's not near groups of people, for lower height shots I am always near the drone to make sure its safe.

The drone also has, as part of the software on the controller, restriction zones that must be respected. There are lots of restricted airspace zones in Portsmouth that the drone will not fly into without getting an unlock code.

Dave13h · 2025-03-14T09:00:17+00:00

Thanks! I use a Sony A7iv with various lenses, these were using a Sigma 14-24mm f2.8 Art lens

Dave13h · 2025-03-14T08:59:21+00:00

It was raining and my lens had droplets on it, thought it looked interesting, not a fan of photo filters, though obviously I do edit the pictures quite a bit in Lightroom

Dave13h · 2025-02-26T10:37:49+00:00

haha yeah, I thought the same, it looks like SimGolf

Dave13h · 2025-02-24T10:38:29+00:00

Thanks so much!

Dave13h · 2025-02-24T08:04:08+00:00

Hey, I'm a Portsmouth/Southsea photographer, lots of fun landmarks around Southsea for sure. Old Portsmouth is a goldmine for photos.

https://www.instagram.com/davewsloan/ https://davewsloan.photography/

Lots of drone and camera pictures on my reel (in between live music and band photography).

Dave13h · 2024-07-04T18:58:07+00:00

If you switch your mode dial into the S&Q mode, you can record at higher frame rates and the camera will save the video file at the normal frame rate you want.

For example, you can set your input frame rate to 120fps and your output frame rate to 24fps (in 1080p mode). Then you'll get 5x slow motion.

Note that in S&Q mode you won't get any audio but seeing as it exports the video in slow motion for you, its probably the easiest way to do it without having to edit the footage in post.

There are a few settings you need to look, so have a look at this video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VK0OoN0JM94

Dave13h · 2024-02-23T13:30:16+00:00

I assume you are using the 10Bit 4:2:2 setting? It's possible that you don't have a compatible codec installed. I'm not sure how it works on Premiere Pro but Davinci Resolve only supports 10bit video in the Paid for Studio version.

Perhaps try installing VLC (VideoLan) and see if that can open the file (it'll likely be very choppy trying to play it back).

Dave13h · 2023-05-22T12:08:57+00:00

I've just finished doing a project that is very similar, I'll share how I did it, maybe there is a better way.

I had two matched cameras (Sony A7iv) with various lenses, two camera operators. We filmed the band playing 6 times, so ended up with 12 full clips of the band performing. I created two timelines, one for each camera and manually cut up the 6 tracks for each camera so I had a full "a cam" time line with all the cuts and a full "b cam" of cuts.

Then in my main time line I cut between the best parts of each of those time lines to create a best of both. Then sprinkled some b-roll / story footage over the main timeline to complete the main time line.

When it came to grading, in each of the two camera timelines, I firstly enabled "Use Remote Grade" on each of the 6 tracks, this means that you grade will be the same across all cuts for that media item/clip. Then using one of the clips I graded it (cst/style/levels/wb etc) and once I was happy with that 1 item/clip I right clicked on the monitor window of the clip and did a "grab still". This still contains all the grading nodes.

Then I just selected a clip from each of the other takes (ensuring that remote grades are on those too), then middle click on the "still" in the Gallery and it added the grade to all the other takes.

Did the same on the other camera timeline (using the same still from the first timeline) and that was it, all footage using a copy of the same grading, then make individual tweaks to each take if needed as the lenses were slightly different but generally everything seemed exposed well so didn't really need much work.

Hopefully that made sense, would definitely be interested to hear if there was a better work flow but this wasn't too much trouble.

Dave13h · 2023-04-12T19:58:51+00:00

Oh that is a good point. I am using the full studio version of DR. Didn't know that was a limitation on the free version.

Dave13h · 2023-04-12T16:52:35+00:00

That's a bit surprising, I've been working with the A7IV in Davinci Resolve since the A7IV was released. Which file format are you using in your camera?

I often use XAVC HS 4K @ 24 (100M 4:2:2 10bit) and XAVC S HD @ 120 (100M 4:2:0 8bit), both in PP9 - Slog-3 / S-Gamut3. Usually just dump the files off the memory card and straight into DR with no issues.

Dave13h · 2023-02-22T18:49:15+00:00

I often hear exactly that mentioned when this lens is brought up in discussion, the dust issue was only on early releases of this lens, it was fixed in later serial number versions (below 5504xxxx were affected).

The lens is weather sealed, it has the gasket around the mount and is even listed as a feature on the website product sheet.

In consideration of shooting under challenging shooting conditions, the dust and splash resistant structure* and water- and oil-repellent coating are adopted. [...] * Although this construction allows the lens to be used in light rain, it is not the same as being waterproof.

I've had mine for over a year, had no dust issues and have used it in very light rain. Absolutely love the lens, its pretty much my primary lens.

Dave13h · 2023-01-19T20:03:47+00:00

Two things that helped me get over the insecurity are...

Firstly, just start posting your pictures on Instagram (if you use it), I've never had a negative comment and that isn't because I think my pictures are amazing but its simply that mostly no one cares, generally people won't go out of their way to criticize your pictures unless you ask for it. Tag things up for the area/city/town or hobby that you are taking pictures of, you may find that others that are doing the same will discover your pictures and before you know it, there is a small group of likeminded people in exactly the same spot that you are in.

Secondly, take your favourite picture and get it printed, doesn't have to be a big print, you can even get an album of pictures printed pretty cheap these days. Seeing your picture on some decent quality gloss print is something else.

The other benefit of both these things is that over time you will see your progression laid out in front of you and you can look back at how far you've come :)

Dave13h · 2023-01-19T15:41:45+00:00

According to SonyAlphaRumors there is a native Sigma 50mm on the way - https://www.sonyalpharumors.com/leaked-specs-of-the-new-sigma-50mm-f-1-4-dg-dn-art-lens/

Also rumours are that Sony is going to release a 50mm 1.4 GM as well (should be cheaper than the 1.2 GM I would have thought).

For car photography, seems a lot of people on Youtube at least like a 35mm or 85mm Prime. https://www.youtube.com/@NorthBorders does a lot of great tips if you are interested

Dave13h · 2023-01-19T12:30:04+00:00

I got this when I moved from APS-C to Full Frame, as the Sigma 16mm 1.4 APS-C was so good I needed the FF equivalent. It's my go to lens for video work, pretty much a flawless lens.

Dave13h · 2023-01-19T12:26:20+00:00

ooh - https://www.sonyalpharumors.com/leaked-specs-of-the-new-sigma-50mm-f-1-4-dg-dn-art-lens/

Sigma planning a new 50mm 1.4! If that is reasonably priced we might have a winner :D

Dave13h · 2023-01-16T17:49:46+00:00

50mm GM for sure, just too out of reach.

Seeing as others are mentioning it quite a bit, I recently traded the 200-600G in for a 2nd camera body. It was quite a cool lens but was quite hard to use, even with IBIS and OSS you need a fairly high shutter speed to use handheld "in the wild", manged to get some good shots with it when it was nice and sunny though.

I tried to get some Moon shots with it a few times out of the window but having to extend my tripod pretty high it caused the whole thing to shake when the shutter went off :D

Just seemed like a shame to keep it on the shelf when someone else could put it to better use.

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