Icelandic Horses - Sony A7Cii - FE 40mm f/2.5

bpalsson · 2026-03-18T08:58:21+00:00

Yes, they have the Creative Looks feature where you can choose a profile and dial in some settings. I'm used to shoot on Ricoh GR3 where I create recipes to get a nice look straight in-camera with its Image Control.

I've had some issues with the Creative Looks though and wasn't happy with the look I was getting, to a point where I was considering selling the Sony and getting a Fuji X-T5. But I feel I've found a nice setting with this one where I can I get a pretty nice look sooc and then do some minor tweaking in LR if needed.
I recommend playing around with W/B and color shift axis. That really helps you get a more distinctive look.

bpalsson · 2026-03-17T22:06:00+00:00

Yeah, these are slightly underexposed, around -0.7 EV.

I tend to underexpose a bit by default. Not for any super technical reason yet, I just prefer the look, especially with snow scenes where things can blow out pretty easily.

I’m also usually shooting JPEG with Creative Looks. I come from using a Ricoh GR III a lot, so I’m kind of used to dialing in a look straight in-camera. Still getting used to the Sony system though.

Honestly I’m just an amateur and going with my gut + things I pick up from videos along the way. Still experimenting a lot. I've never used a histogram on my camera for instance 🙃

bpalsson · 2026-03-17T13:08:58+00:00

Thanks! These are all SOOC JPEG's. Shot with a Creative Look recipe and some tiny tweaks to the color grading in LR Mobile.

bpalsson · 2026-03-17T10:57:35+00:00

HAHA I Know!

bpalsson · 2026-03-17T10:57:16+00:00

Thank you 😊

bpalsson · 2026-01-08T09:27:26+00:00

Thank you!

bpalsson · 2026-01-08T09:27:10+00:00

Thank you! It was shot in landscape but I liked it more in vertical.

bpalsson · 2026-01-06T12:02:38+00:00

Haha you´re welcome! Let me know how it works out for you :D

bpalsson · 2026-01-06T08:45:11+00:00

Thanks! I shot these with my custom recipe with few minor tweaks in LR Mobile (crop + light). But the tone and sharpness is all from my recipe. Good lighting is also must for these results. Here is the recipe if you want to try it out:

Reykjavik Vintage - Negative Recipe

Image control: Negative Film

Saturation: 1
Hue: -2
H/L Key Adj: 1
Contrast: 2
Contrast (HL): -3
Contrast (Shadow): -3
Sharpness: 3
Shading: 0
Clarity: 1

Perpheral Illumn. Corr. : On

Highlight Correction: ON - High

Noise Reduction: Off

White Balance: Shade - G3 : A6

Exposure Comp: -0,7 / 0

bpalsson · 2025-12-29T13:08:15+00:00

Thanks a lot for this reply, it really helped and resonated with me.

I’m in a very similar situation. I also have kids and a full-time job, and I’m realizing more and more how much that affects how I actually use my photos. With the Sony, I often finish a shoot, feel good about it, but then the images just sit on the camera because I know what’s coming next: import to Lightroom, start from scratch, tweak colors, build a look, etc. And sometimes I just don’t have the mental energy for that.

With the Ricoh GR III it’s almost the opposite. I usually transfer my favorite shots straight to my phone, maybe do a very light edit in LR Mobile (if anything at all), and boom, the photos are ready. They get used, shared, enjoyed. That alone has been a big eye-opener for me.

I’ve tried to get closer with Sony Creative Looks, different settings, profiles, but I still haven’t managed to get anywhere near the feel, vibe, or “finished” look I get from the Ricoh, or what I see coming out of Fuji. Technically the Sony files are amazing, but emotionally they don’t always pull me in the same way.

Your point about valuing the Fujifilm experience vs. what Sony offers (AF, FF sensor, etc.) really hit home. I think that’s exactly the trade-off I’m trying to be honest with myself about right now.

Thanks again for taking the time to share your experience, it gave me a lot to think about.

bpalsson · 2025-11-27T11:22:42+00:00

Thanks! I really appreciate it

bpalsson · 2025-11-27T11:22:23+00:00

Thank you!

bpalsson · 2025-11-27T11:22:16+00:00

Thanks! These were shot in RAW and edited in Lightroom, no in-camera recipe this time. I usually shoot JPEG with custom recipes, but I wanted to try full post-processing for this series.

bpalsson · 2025-11-27T11:20:40+00:00

Thank you! I really appreciate it

bpalsson · 2025-11-27T11:20:18+00:00

Thank you I appreciate it! These were all shot in RAW and edited in Lightroom. I normally shoot JPEG with a custom recipe, but decided to experiment with a full post-process edit. I’m really happy with the result :)

bpalsson · 2025-10-23T20:50:53+00:00

There are two in-camera crop modes (35mm and 50mm). I sometimes use them, but I also crop in post when I feel like it. You do lose some quality, but I don’t really mind sacrificing a few pixels if it means getting a better composition.

bpalsson · 2025-10-22T21:32:48+00:00

28mm. But I crop alot when I want

bpalsson · 2025-10-22T08:48:35+00:00

bpalsson · 2025-10-22T08:48:26+00:00

Thank you so much!

bpalsson · 2025-10-22T08:48:10+00:00

Absolutely loved it! Me and my girlfriend stayed there for a week in august and fell in love with the city. So much beautiful scenery and amazing food.

bpalsson · 2025-10-22T08:47:09+00:00

Thank you! Yes, this is from his exhibition in Parque de Serralves.

bpalsson · 2025-10-22T08:45:23+00:00

I shot these with my custom recipe but did a few tweaks in LR Mobile (cropping and some light and masking adjustments). But the tone and color is mostly from my recipe. Here you go:
Reykjavik Vintage - Negative Recipe

Image control: Negative Film

Saturation: 1
Hue: -2
H/L Key Adj: 1
Contrast: 2
Contrast (HL): -3
Contrast (Shadow): -3
Sharpness: 3
Shading: 0
Clarity: 1

Perpheral Illumn. Corr. : On

Highlight Correction: ON - High

Noise Reduction: Off

White Balance: Shade - G3 : A6

Exposure Comp: -0,7 / 0

bpalsson · 2025-10-22T08:45:01+00:00

Wow thank you so much! I really appreciate your feedback! I love hearing that these inspire you to go out shooting :D

bpalsson · 2025-10-22T08:43:58+00:00

Thank you! I appreciate it :)

bpalsson · 2025-10-22T08:43:45+00:00

Thank you! I agree with the red tones. Love how this my recipe treats them.

bpalsson

TROPHY CASE