My name is Tom Oldham, and I’m a UK-based award-winning portrait photographer. I work commercially and editorially, photographing some of the biggest names in music and sport, while also taking on personal projects and supporting charities and NGOs. As a Sony Europe ambassador, I use the Alpha 7R V with a range of lenses for my everyday work, but when Sony asked me to launch the Alpha 1 II and the FE 28-70mm f/2 GM lens, I knew I needed to thoroughly test this high-performance setup. I wanted to see if they truly deserved the ‘must-have’ title, and I took on the challenge by bringing the gear to Abuja, Nigeria, to shoot new imagery for Riders for Health, an NGO I’ve partnered with for nearly 20 years.

You had the opportunity to test both the new Alpha 1 II and FE 28-70mm f/2 GM together. What were your first impressions of this combo?

Unboxing brand new, unreleased kit is always quite a moment and holding the Alpha 1 II, I could immediately tell it was purpose-built for the demands of professional photographers. Aesthetically it sits perfectly within the Alpha range, plus it’s lightweight yet feature packed, with impressive AI-driven autofocus tracking—a feature that was essential for our fast-paced location work in Nigeria. The native 1/400th flash sync speed really stood out as well; it’s perfect for controlling ambient light when using flash, a small detail that offers big creative flexibility in bright, sunlit settings.

As for the FE 28-70mm f/2 GM lens, its weight of just 918g pleasantly surprised me. Despite housing 20 elements and ultra-fast autofocus, it’s incredibly compact, making it ideal for fieldwork – and a host of other scenarios where a long day makes weight more challenging. The lens’s dust and moisture resistance was comforting to know, invaluable in challenging environments where swinging a lens is problematic.

What standout features did you find most useful in this camera and lens setup, and how did they impact your photography?

The Alpha 1 II truly delivered exceptional performance on this shoot. Its fast and accurate autofocus was a game-changer for capturing on-the-move set ups, providing clear, instant results that gave me a real confidence right from the start. The combination of pre-capture, rapid autofocus, and 30fps continuous shooting ensured we didn’t miss a single moment, even with fast-moving subjects in unpredictable scenes. The camera’s high-resolution capture capabilities and reduced noise in low-light situations allowed us to push our shots further and still retain incredible detail.

Close up crop from the image above.

The FE 28-70mm f/2 GM lens complemented the Alpha 1 II perfectly, providing the flexibility of a zoom with the sharpness and quality typically associated with prime lenses. The extra f/2 stop was invaluable in low light, and its edge-to-edge sharpness and smooth bokeh added a beautiful quality to each portrait. This set up gave us everything we needed to keep shooting confidently, even in challenging conditions.

The Alpha 1 II aims at providing photographers the image quality, operability and autofocus performance they need to carry out their projects no matter how demanding they are. Do you think it achieves this goal?

The Alpha 1 II has everything a photographer could need for demanding work. It captures high-quality, detailed images that hold up well under heavy cropping, which is especially useful when fine-tuning composition. Its advanced AI autofocus with human pose estimation makes it incredibly effective at recognising and focusing on subjects, ensuring sharp and precise focus even in low-light environments. The enhanced in-body stabilisation, up to 8.5 steps, allows for steadier shots in low light at slower shutter speeds. The 4-axis multi-angle screen provides flexibility, enabling me to shoot from more creative angles without sacrificing control. For photographers looking to elevate their work, these features remove technical barriers, making it easier to focus on storytelling and connecting with the subject – the really important stuff after all. This camera is built to support creative exploration with the reliability needed to capture every shot perfectly and the rest is up to you!

How did you find the balance of the lens with your camera?

The FE 28-70mm f/2 GM was the only lens I used, and it covered everything. In Abuja, where light conditions shifted constantly, this lens was perfect for adapting to whichever set up we landed on. Given its capability, the lens is also incredibly lightweight, which was a major benefit as I moved between scenes in the field. Having reliable dust and moisture resistance meant fewer lens changes, saving valuable time on a fast-paced shoot. The lens resolution matches the Alpha 1 II’s capture capabilities, and together they felt like a great solution to the perpetual question of the best camera and lens combination.

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

For those looking to build their skills in portrait or documentary work, my advice is to minimise the technical barriers between you and the subject. This setup allows you to focus on the story, not the science, which is exactly what I want in a camera system. Get to know your subject, let go of overthinking, and trust the kit to support your vision. This combination - the Alpha 1 II and the 28-70mm - felt like an essential, go-to choice for multi-discipline photographers who need versatility and reliability but in an uncomplicated way. This kit enables beautiful things to happen under a huge range of circumstances without compromise - and how many professionals out there don’t want that?!