Sony Artisan Andy Mann is an environmental photographer and filmmaker who works in ocean conservation. He's also one of the the co-founders and lead storyteller of SeaLegacy, a conservation collective of experienced storytellers dedicated to protecting our oceans. "My career as a storyteller began documenting rock climbing and remote expeditions across the most remote regions of the planet," he explains. "So I am accustomed to wearing as many hats as possible, being light and fast and driving as much impact as I can with my work. My bag of gear is assembled for in-the-field, run and gun, photo and video capture.” We caught up with Mann to learn more about his run-and-gun kit for conservation storytelling – keep reading as he shares what’s in his bag.
Product Preview – In This Article You’ll Find:
–Sony Alpha 1
–Sony Alpha 7R V
–Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master II
–Sony 600mm f/4 G Master
–Sony 35mm f/1.4 G Master
–Sony 28-60mm f/4-5.6
–Sony UWP-D21 Wireless Lavalier Microphone System
–Sony ECM-B1M Shotgun Microphone
Cameras
Sony Alpha 1 (topside): I helped shoot the launch video for the Sony Alpha 1 “Hunters of Light” and using that model for our “A” cinema cameras, I knew then and there that most places I needed to go and tell stories, no longer needed a large cinema buildout. It was and still is, my silver bullet for capturing high quality video (8K + 4K/120) in a Tilta Cage.
Sony Alpha 1 (underwater): One of the challenges of filming wildlife underwater is that when the moment is happening, you don't get a second chance. I need to be able to quickly move from the highest quality video to the highest quality still images at a high frame rate, quickly and efficiently. So for my underwater setup, I have a second Sony Alpha 1 in a Nauticam Housing.
Photo by Andy Mann. Sony Alpha 1. Sony 28-60mm f/4-5.6. 1/125-sec., f/5.6, ISO 400
Sony Alpha 7R V: This is my third essential camera. When my topside Sony Alpha 1 is built out for dedicated video I always have a dedicated stills camera nearby. The Alpha 7R V is unmatched for resolution and accuracy.
Photo by Andy Mann. Sony Alpha 7R V. Sony 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 G Master. 1/1250-sec., f/9, ISO 800
Lenses
Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master II: This is the most versatile lens in most spaces I find myself working. I’m not setting up a lot of my shots, so when I’m on the go and I see a moment within close proximity to me, I can quickly find a focal length that I’m happy with. The 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II is all I need a lot of the time. It’s basically my Sony Alpha 7R V’s body cap.
Photo by Andy Mann. Sony Alpha 7R V. Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master II. 1/2500-sec., f/2.8, ISO 100
Sony 600mm f/4 G Master: The merits of this lens needs no explanation if you’re documenting wildlife. If I can accommodate this lens I will. I keep it in the case and don't mind carrying it along in a free hand. It’s the only lens that if you find yourself in an amazon wildlife event, and you don’t have this lens, you feel it in the pit of your stomach. And I hate the feeling. It’s arguably Sony’s greatest lens.
Sony 35mm f/1.4 G Master: The holy grail of photojournalism, style and grace. I use this as my go-to portrait/people lens as I am able to include the environmental story around my subject while still getting that boutique shallow depth of field. This will be my first choice when moving to video as well. It’s the most beloved prime lens of all time for a reason.
Sony 28-60mm f/4-5.6: I thought I’d throw you a surprise. In most cases, if I’m traveling along with this kit, I’ll run a smaller dome port on my underwater housing called a Compact Wide-Angle Conversion Port (WACP-C) which operates over this exact lens, transforming it into of the sharpest, fastest, widest, lightest underwater options in the world. Look it up.
Photo by Andy Mann. Sony Alpha 1. Sony 28-60mm f/4-5.6 G. 1/125-sec., f/7.1, ISO 400
Accessories
Lemur Strap: It took me over five years of testing different ideas & designs to get it perfected. I decided to build myself a custom camera strap, with my friend Jim Cursly, when I couldn’t find one that worked for me. It’s now solved a lot of my issues and makes carrying cameras practical, fun and easy again. So we patented it, manufactured it and It’s currently on Kickstarter to share with the world!
Small HD Ultrabright: I love this 5” video monitor when I’m filming during the daylight, especially at low f-stops. I often pull my own focus as well. It complements my Alpha 1 video buildout very well.
Photo by Andy Mann. Sony Alpha 1. Sony 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G. 1/2500-sec., f/6.3, ISO 800
Sony UWP-D21 Wireless Lavalier Microphone System: I shoot a lot of in-the field interviews in all kinds of conditions. These have never failed me. I don't often need a tripod but I always need clean audio.
Sony ECM-B1M Shotgun Microphone: My preferred shotgun video mic. I built my video system to be small and light and having clean audio is a must.
See more of Andy Mann’s work on his Alpha Universe Profile and on Instagram @andy_mann.
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Promos
