My name is Gamander López, and for the last 10 years I have specialised in wildlife photography. I aspire to capture the beauty of nature and show people how important it is to protect it. That magical moment when the animal I have been waiting for suddenly appears in from of my lens makes me forget everything. I forget time; I am just in the moment and with photography I try to share this wonderful feeling that each encounter gives me.

You were one of the first professional photographer to test the Alpha 7R V. What were your first impressions and stand out features for you?

Coming from the Alpha 1 I felt immediately at home with the Alpha 7R V, having the same well-thought ergonomics. The big surprise was the 4-axis screen of the camera which combines the best of what is already available on current cameras. While using the camera in the field, I was super impressed with the new AI powered autofocus system. It not only recognises the eye of the animal but also the animal’s body which I love because it lets me choose which animal I want to photograph or pick them up easily if the eyes are not visible . Last, but not least for me, the 61 megapixel full frame sensor produces super sharp photos with very accurate colour which saves me a lot of time in post-production after a day’s shooting.

How will those features impact/help the type of photography/content creation you and others in the same field do?

The new screen will be very useful as it offers comfortable framing and access in any possible shooting scenario. Also, the newly improved AI powered autofocus in combination with the amazing sensor makes me very comfortable shooting with the Alpha 7R V. If I see an animal through the viewfinder I know that the focus will lock onto them and that I will have a super crisp, highly detailed image as a result. That is a crucial advantage for me, because you often wait for an animal for a long time and then only get the one opportunity to press the shutter release.

The Alpha 7R V strives to provide professionals the image quality, operability and autofocus performances they need to carry out their projects no matter how demanding they are. Do you think it achieves this goal?

I think this camera definitely provides everything you need for challenging wildlife shooting scenarios. I used it in heavy rain, on birds in flight, in situations where I only had fractions of a second to dial in the exposure and then focus on the subject, and the Alpha 7R V never disappointed me. During my shoot there was an occasion where I was walking in the mountains and suddenly a group of chamois ran across 30m away from me. In a split second, the camera locked focus on a fast running animal and I got a sharp picture before truly realising what had happened. I’m convinced the Alpha 7R V will help creators capture unique moments, no matter the conditions and subjects.

Lenses and accessories are another core component of creating images. Which Sony lenses and accessories did you use for your initial test and why?

I actually used all the lenses I own to test out this camera (sigh). Most of the time I was using my FE 200-600mm G lens because it simply is a great all-round lens for reach and quality. For birds in flight I used my favourite lens for this purpose the 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II. Even with small birds like blue tits the autofocus managed to keep up with their incredible speed. For a photo project on a tree, I set up the Alpha 7R V with my 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II on a branch at 4m height and triggered the camera with the Imagine Edge Mobile App from below. This combination also proved to be perfect for focusing on the birds landing on the branch in front of the camera and then moving around and towards it.

What advice would you give professionals who look up to you and your work?

Always do what gives you the most joy. You can find nature and wildlife everywhere. You don’t need to go to fancy destinations in order to see something special. The next truly memorable encounter could just be down the road. Keep your eyes open and you will have great photos to share!

I never thought that one day I would be holding an unreleased full frame camera from Sony in my hands, and I feel very privileged to have had this opportunity.

At the end of the day, what truly drives me to go out there are the amazing encounters I have with wild animals. Using the Alpha 7R V, for example, I got up at 5am to set up my camouflage tent at a little lake to wait for the kingfisher, and three hours later it appeared and landed on the branch right in front of my hide. Encounters like these are what make me happy and fill me with joy.