This is the English edition of a review from my Japanese YouTube channel, iestaLife. I review gadgets from my home studio in Japan, so product links go to Amazon Japan.
Quick take
When I go out with my kids, I can’t focus on photography, but the moments I want to capture still come out of nowhere. After two or three years of trial and error, I settled on one camera, one all-in-one zoom, a waist clip, a flip-open ND filter and a cable-free mic. It covers stills and video, wide to telephoto, and leaves both hands free.
What’s in the setup
| Item | Job | Why I chose it |
|---|---|---|
| Sony α1 | Camera body | The tilting screen is the fastest way to start shooting low, at a child’s eye level |
| Tamron 28-200mm F2.8-5.6 (A071) | Almost everything | Wide to tele in one lens, with F2.8 at the wide end for background blur |
| Peak Design Capture | Carry the camera on my belt | Hands and upper body stay free; easier on the shoulders |
| Rapid filter adapter + variable ND | Video exposure | Flip it open for photos; for video, remove the cap, close it and shoot through the ND |
| Sony ECM-M1 | Video audio | No cable, and you can switch pickup modes |
What I found
- Waist, not shoulder. A camera on a strap gets in the way when you pick up a child or carry bags. On the belt, it stays out of the way and is easier on your shoulders.
- Keep the strap anyway. With Peak Design Anchor Links on the Capture plate, the strap stays attached. It helps in restrooms where you can’t set the camera down, and in crowds where a camera on your hip is right at a child’s head height.
- Strap on the base plate points the lens down. In crowds the lens doesn’t stick out. Just check the plate screw stays tight.
- One zoom beats perfect image quality. If you miss the shot, lens sharpness doesn’t matter. Keep shutter speeds high to freeze moving kids.
- A flip-open ND. The variable ND sits in a flip-open holder that also carries a lens cap. For stills I flip it out of the way; for video I take off the cap, close it and set exposure with the ND.
- Step up to avoid vignetting. On the lens’s 67mm thread, the flip-open adapter showed in the corners at 28mm. A 67–82mm step-up ring with an 82mm variable ND and 82mm adapter fixed it. There’s no room for a protective filter, so I don’t use one.
- Let the phone do ultra-wide. In daylight, an iPhone’s ultra-wide is good enough, especially for walking video with stabilization. If you have room, a light 20mm F1.8 prime is a nice extra.
Who it’s for
- Parents who want stills and video from one camera on days out
- Anyone who misses moments while swapping lenses or accessories
- Not ideal if you mainly want the lightest possible kit that fits in a bag
Watch the video
The video is in Japanese, but the gear is shown clearly. Wearing the camera on the waist starts around 4:15, the body around 6:33, and the lens and ND setup around 8:10.
Limitations
This is my personal setup for full-frame Sony bodies. Other systems will need a different all-in-one zoom, and the step-up ring sizes depend on your lens. I am describing how I use these items rather than a lab test.
Products
Tamron 28-200mm F2.8-5.6 Di III RXD (A071): on Amazon Japan
Peak Design Capture: on Amazon Japan
Sony ECM-M1: on Amazon Japan
Rapid filter adapter, 82mm: on Amazon Japan
NiSi True Color VARIO 1-5 stops, 82mm: on Amazon Japan
The Amazon Japan links above are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Check the listing for the exact model, current price and shipping availability in your region.
More reviews in English
All Camera & Desk Setup (42) →Browse all English reviews →
This review is also available in Japanese.