The release of firmware update 3.0 for the α7R III and α7 III has given Sony shooters a new, groundbreaking AF feature: Animal Eye AF. Like, tracking Eye AF, Animal Eye AF detects and tracks the eyes of dogs and cats (more animals are coming in future updates). Animal Eye AF makes it much easier to get a good, sharp photo of a furry friend than it’s ever been before. Over the next several weeks, we’re inviting you to share your #SonyAlphaAnimalPortrait on Instagram for your chance to be featured by the @SonyAlpha Instagram and here at AlphaUniverse.com!

Share your #SonyAlphaAnimalPortrait on Instagram for your chance to be featured on @SonyAlpha’s Instagram story!

To be part of #SonyAlphaAnimalPortrait just use your Sony camera to make a portrait of any animal and share it on Instagram using the #SonyAlphaAnimalPortrait hashtag. For a little inspiration, check out these Sony shooters with experience photographing our four-legged pals.

Marti Gutfreund - Suki Cat

The Sony Alpha Imaging Collective’s Marti Gutfreund (@enchanted.forest) created this account featuring her cat, Suki (@sukiicat). Marti has already had the chance to try out the new Animal Eye AF with Suki, and was impressed with how much easier it made it to keep Suki in focus.

Nancy Borowick

Sony Artisan Nancy Borowick (@nancyborowick) recently showed us how she used the α9 and α7 III to photograph the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in her article What’s In My Bag: Nancy Borowick’s Mobile & Minimal Photojournalist Kit. As she continues to work on her long-term dog project, she’s incredibly excited to use the new Animal Eye AF capabilities from the firmware 3.0 update for her α7 III.

Zach Allia

Zach (@zachallia) is a Sony photographer whose work focuses mainly on people, places and….puppies! He’s taken a ton of great animal portraits and we can only imagine how Animal Eye AF is taking his game to the next level.

Lizzy Gadd – Pepper The Adventure Dog

Pepper (@adventurepepper) is the loyal partner in crime of the Alpha Collective’s Lizzy Gadd (@elizabethgadd). Lizzy uses Sony to capture the most majestic photos of her 7-year-old shelter mystery mutt, and the results are adorably impressive.

The Dogist

The Dogist (@thedogist) is the ultimate Instagram account for dog lovers to follow, and the photographer behind the photos is a Sony enthusiast. With a mission to tell the story of dogs, the portraits posted on this account capture the personality of some playful pups!