Jonathan's Epic A1 Mark 2 Upgrade !

On "Camilla & I" this New Years day we have Jonathan Hodgetts back to discuss his Epic upgrade from the A9III to the Sony A1 Mark 2 . Unfortunately it is raining so we have to sit in the Campervan and discuss Jonathan's new purchases. Jonathan has just got one A1 mark2 but 2 .
If you just want to skip to the last 2 minutes we have some Short eared Owl shots to share taken with the A9III & a Couple of Jonathan's with the new A1 mark 2. Taken the next day in Sunshine.
Sorry about the hot spot behind Jonathan you just can't get a lighting Engineer these days, but the Audio is good if you just want to listen !
Hi All Thank you so much for watching, Subscribing and liking my video and supporting my channel!
IT'S MASSIVELY APPRECIATED!
SpeediGimbal
colinbrister.co.uk
Affilliate link use “Camilla” in code for £5 off
Video Camera : Pocket DJI 3
Sony A9 III & Jonathan Sony A1 mark 2
Sony 300mm f2.8
Sony Teleconverters 1.4 & 2.0
Sirui Tripod R3213X
Sirui Tripod video head VH-10x
Stealth Gear trolley
German folding army mat
Peak Design camera slide sling strap in sage colour
Lens Camo from [e-mail]
Equipment supplier www.castlecameras.co.uk

[@bensal666]

Thank you both of you!! Continue with this kind of talks, informative and in my opinion good aspects that you did cover👌🏻

[@CamillaI]

Thank you! Will do!

[@bensal666]

@CamillaI i'we said it before, you are truly uniqe. Be always your self, your personality in combination with your Camillas is quite someting! Enterntaining and truly inspirational🤴

[@CamillaI]

@@bensal666 Wow thanks. I will pass this on to my co host Jonathan in India having just photographed his first Tiger 💛🐯🐅

[@bensal666]

@@CamillaI wish him good luck, and congratulate to the first tiger!

[@CamillaI]

@@bensal666 will do

[@TheLDunn1]

I do enjoy your chats about the latest kit, thanks! Lovely video & stills at the end too!

[@CamillaI]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@ivorringrose8220]

Don’t worry to 1:11 much just had my A1ii delivered today by DPD in a soaking wet box, condensation all over the camera which was in wet packaging. Back to the retailer and back in the que.

[@holgerkrieg3587]

Have my A1 II since mid of December. At the same time I have kept my old a1, only Jonathan is crazy enough to have two a1 II. Liked the video very much, like always.

[@CamillaI]

Totally agree! 👌🙂

[@alisonandguywildlifephotograph]

Nice video…totally agree with the notion of “ you might not go to India again”…so you want to give yourself the best chances whilst you’re there by having 2 top class bodies and lenses..we’re canon so we have fast r3s for low light and high mp R5ii for good light and video..just added a 300 2.8 mkii …it’s sooo sharp 😎👍

[@CamillaI]

Thanks. The 300 f2.8 has been a game changer last year for me. Normally with a TC so light and versatile 🖐

[@mcr8759]

Great video, thanks! Hanging around with Jonathan can be very expensive but very interesting 😅. I have upgraded to the M2 (I lucked out and found one locally in Canada here) and so far very happy with the upgrade. I cannot afford it, but I think the A9III would be a great backup camera since I love really small and fast birds like swallows, king fishers, and hummingbirds. Fingers crossed you will get your M2 camera soon (are you getting 1 or 2 of them?). Cheers and happy new year to you and Jonathan (congrats on his tiger pics also).

[@CamillaI]

Great to see you have one in Canada and are happy with the Upgrade. I will be buying one and using the A9III as a reserve/second body for the 30-120fps and video . Good shooting and happy new year 🖐

[@peterking1884]

Hi Mark I received mine the same day that Jonathon did and love the camera already, but I have had trouble with the charger that comes with the camera I have just received a replacement from Sony but that doesn't work either its not the batterie as I have five did Jonathon have any problems with his charger.

[@CamillaI]

Thanks for sharing. Jonathan hasn't reported anything yet. I currently use the Hahnel pro Cube 2 charger so don't really need one, but I like the sound of the two battery charger for travel. Mine should be in next week Castle Cameras Rachael assures me. So I will be checking it out soon batteries fully charged raring to go 🤔👍🖐

[@Jonathantuba]

You have got to have 35w+ charging plug or it will not work

[@CamillaI]

@@Jonathantuba I just found that out myself too, so can confirm first charging cable didn't work, very poor one not supplied with the Camera 😥

[@Jonathantuba]

I do think it mean that Sony did not supply cable and plug with such a high priced camera. While in India I used this 3rd party charger as I find better, as can be powered from my MacBook- www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0CWGDLPTC/ While on safari there is often only one charging socket in room/tent, so it makes sense to use the MacBook as a charging hub. Shame that does not work with this new Sony charger.

[@DavidStella]

1:21 which lenses would you recommend for a safari?

[@CamillaI]

I am sure Jonathan would agree on our new favourite lens this year the 300mm f2.8mm with tc's . Ultimate quality lightweight and compact. Second lens the 70-200 f2.8 on second body. However Jonathan's choice for low light Tigers in India where he is on Safari now is the 135mm f1.8 for very low light portraits

[@DavidStella]

@@CamillaII appreciate the response!

[@Jonathantuba]

Hello from India. I am using the 300 most, sometimes at 300 F2.8 and at other times 420 F4 with there 1.4x. A 70-200 comes in very useful when the animals get closer

[@DavidStella]

@@Jonathantubamuch appreciated! I want to plan a safari in 2026, and wanted to get an idea of what to bring. Already own the 70-200mm, but will likely rent the 300mm as I probably won’t have much use for before or after the trip.

[@CamillaI]

@@Jonathantuba You took the 135mm f1.8 as well . Everyone is praying for Tigers for you in the chat and appreciate that you often only get one chance . Anymore yet?🐯🐅

[@Attya-y2y]

20:37 -> Yeah people who are shocked with the cost of the equipment fail to put things into perspective in my opinion. For someone who doesn't have the funds, obviously, it's not a good idea to go broke over camera equipment. But when you do have the funds and the passion for photography/wildlife photography, I see no reason not to spend it to get the best experience possible. The same people probably wouldn't be shocked at people spending extra tens of thousands on cars when they have a passion for nice cars. Do they need fast and expensive cars? Probably not. But if they love it and can afford it? Same thing goes for many hobbies that require a financial investment. And obviously it's even more the case when you have a professionnal use for it.

[@CamillaI]

Agreed, some people have a passion for collecting inanimate objects that serve no purpose. But when you have a passion and one opportunity sometimes for a shot of a lifetime you are looking for the best equipment to perform. You aim to get the best 🖐

[@TW-iu9zy]

… na, na, na. I love my new a1 II but I would never sold my a9 III for a second one - this combo is so strong. of cause, I‘am a journalist and not a wildlife photographer. 😏

[@CamillaI]

I am definitely keeping my A9III as a second body, a 120 fps global shutter has its uses even for Wildlife 🤔🙂

[@deegreen3351]

Fair play. Wonder what cost more the cameras or the holiday!

[@CamillaI]

The Holiday. Well I think it is ? Jonathan informs me he has just photographed his first Tiger of the trip, in the last half hour of a full days searching in a small Jeep ! 👍

[@Attya-y2y]

I think you guys initially moved from the A1 to the A9iii for the pre-capture right? Now that the A1ii has it, it's hard to find an argument for the A9iii even if we try looking very hard for it. That 50mp over 25mp is just too much of a game changer, in addition to all the other improvements

[@CamillaI]

Yes I think that is why Jonathan has gone all in with 2 A1 2's for his Safaris. I will be keeping to one A9III & an A1 mark 2 You still have the increased fps,no rolling shutter and video capabilities of the A9III. But if I had Jonathans pockets and liking of Safaris I would probably go all A1 mark 2 's 🤔👌

[@user-ib8md4zn4n]

Would you recommend these cameras over the fx3 for video?

[@CamillaI]

The video capability on the A1 mark 2 is very good and now with even more in body stabilization. The A1 mark 2 is the best Allrounder, whether it justifies the cost if you only do video you have to decide ?

[@dalemews1]

When did Johnathan win the lottery! Lol

[@CamillaI]

He works hard and plays hard. And he has a more successful International Company than mine . Not everyone waits to win the Lottery in life, and some people do actually earn it . I can see that being hard to believe these days 👌🤔👍🙂

[@TW-iu9zy]

@@CamillaI … 🤷🏼‍♂️ yes, same here: earned the money for my a1 II and a9 III and a bunch of GM lenses - hard to believe for so many people while they watching sponsored youtuber promoting every piece of gear they never bought. 🤦‍♂️😄

[@IMDABROWN]

Johnathan is going to make you broke everytime he upgrades shortly their after you do too.

[@CamillaI]

I was hoping to get mine before Jonathan . But will take a discount for late arrival from Castle Cameras ! 🖐🙂

[@ubend59]

Mark buys so we don't have to.

[@CamillaI]

@@ubend59 Hopefully it will last at least 5 years this time before something better comes along 🙏

[@Attya-y2y]

@@CamillaI As Jonathan said, it's hard to see what they could come up with next that will force an upgrade from the A1ii A1 was already almost perfect but it lacked the crucial pre-capture and now it has it, and everything is on point. Resolution, pre-capture, auto-focus, low light performance, stabilization... Now that is an interesting question to think about, I would ask you as well as Jonathan : what would be an amazing new feature/improvement that would make you guys question upgrading from an A1ii?

[@TheLDunn1]

The good news though is that Johnathan is now on record as saying that he does need to upgrade (his camera) for at least ten years now though!

[@carlthompson9925]

The money the cameras cost you could buy a bengal tiger. New cameras don’t mean you get better photos

[@CamillaI]

Agreed 🙂

[@TW-iu9zy]

… yes, it don‘t mean you get better photos but it mean you GET(!) the photo. 😏

[@carlthompson9925]

@ modern mirrorless cameras have taken all the skill out of photography. Nothing against them if the technologies there use it but it’s at a great expense that most can’t afford

[@CamillaI]

@@carlthompson9925 I can sympathise to some extent but it depends what sacrifice you are prepared to make. 20 Fags a day at £10 . £3,650 a year probably gets you a second hand A9III . But I appreciate the point 👌🤔

[@carlthompson9925]

@@CamillaI so you are presuming I smoke, well I don't and as more making sacrifices what a stupid thing to say most people find it hard just to live never mind sacrifices. Photography is for 99% of people a hobby not a job. The saying all the gear and no idea springs to mind

[@brianchandler1365]

Holy Moly...£6000 for the body alone...really?😂

[@CamillaI]

£6300 x 2 . I am going to get a sizeable discount from Castle Cameras for late arrival !

[@lars-ove8749]

Welcome to the real world…

[@ivorringrose8220]

Don’t worry to 1:11 much just had my A1ii delivered today by DPD in a soaking wet box, condensation all over the camera which was in wet packaging. Back to the retailer and back in the que.

[@CamillaI]

Blimey at least I should pick up a dry copy when Castle Cameras get one ! 😢