FE 55mm F1.8 ZA | Capture your children's childhood beautifully | Review by David Boy
An adventurous spirit whose heart belongs at home, with his family. David is a dedicated father, photographer, professional dreamer, part-time engineer, hiker, camper, biker and mountaineer.
Creative inspirations, equipment selection
Children grow up quickly, so it's great to have a camera around to capture every stage of their life - as they grow, play and live their best lives. I trust my Sony Alpha 7C camera, along with my favourite lenses - the Sonnar T* FE 55mm F1.8 ZA prime lens and the FE 24-105mm F4 G OSS zoom lens - to record and remember precious moments from my daughter's life, every day.
Primes lenses and natural snapshots
While a prime lens does require some moving around for the perfect shot, it's great for many situations - such as close-up shots. And I really like how the Sonnar T* FE 55mm F1.8 ZA lens's 55mm focal length offers a similar perspective to that of the human eye - so images look very natural.
Close-up shots with a prime lens
When people think of close-up shots, they often think of zoom lenses - but I believe that prime lenses can be fantastic for close-ups too. With the Sonnar T* FE 55mm F1.8 ZA lens's 55mm focal length, even if I have to take a few steps back to get the ideal distance, the end result is an image that looks and feel really natural - which is a key element in photographing children.
Also, it's great that the Sonnar T* FE 55mm F1.8 ZA lens is lightweight, which makes it easy to hold in one hand - so getting that "perfect shot" is that much easier.
Make shoots fun with lots of praise
When shooting photos of children, remember that you're not just a bystander who's snapping photos - you're also a part of their world. So, take some time to engage with your child - praising them and being highly interactive.
From time to time, you can call out to your child while they're holding a toy (or object) up high, so they'll look towards the camera - and you'll have the perfect opportunity to snap a memorable shot.
And shots like these are another reason why I love the Sonnar T* FE 55mm F1.8 ZA lens. It's F1.8 aperture creates a significant depth-of-field effect, which highlights your child's face and expression - giving the photo a more three-dimensional appeal.
This prime lens is also great for indoor and low-light environments, which makes it versatile and easy to use.
Fleeting memories that last a lifetime
When photographing children, I always emphasise naturalness - that's why I discourage staged photos, as children often look stiff (both in terms of their body language and facial expressions) when they're being asked to pose.
To fully capture a child's joyful, free-spirited nature, let them have fun playing their favourite games and activities! With the right camera and lenses, you'll be able to capture - and reminisce on - these fleeting moments for a lifetime.
