Is Sony's Zebra Technology Really That Important?

Wanted to Buy

Looking for a Sony a-9 iii in Excellent plus or better condition for a friend. If you have one that you would like to sell, please shoot me an e-mail to samandmayasgrandpa@att.net and I will put you in touch with the potential buyer.

Great News!

Both Bedford and B&H have a1 II Mirrorless Cameras in stock. Order yours using one of my two affiliate links to earn a free copy of both the camera setup guide. Then join an IPT to learn to use your new camera body like a pro. Please e-mail if you need help with an affiliate link.

All with the a-1 ii Mirrorless Camera body. Images copyright Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Sony a-1 ii e-Mail Set-up and Info Guide

I continue to be amazed by speed and accuracy of the Bird Face-Eye tracking and the overall performance of the camera. Aside from the improved ergonomics as compared to the a-1, the rear screen that tilts both horizontally and vertically is a huge plus, as is Pre-capture that allows me to create take-off images that I missed! The resolution on the rear monitor has been improved dramatically. And the 51MP files are to die for.

If you plan on purchasing Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the Sony a-1 ii, please click here to purchase from B&H and earn your free a-1 ii e-Mail Guide. Or, get 3% back on your credit card by purchasing from Bedfords using this link and entering the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout. Folks who use one of the two affiliate links above to purchase their Sony a-1 ii will receive my .DAT settings (the complete camera set-up), a Buttons and Dials Guide, and the a1- ii Info Sheet for free.

If you have already purchased an a-1 ii, you can join the e-mail group by sending a PayPal for $227.43 to us at samandmayasgrandpa@att.net.. So, yes, it never hurts to use my affiliate links and it never costs you one penny more. And if you contact me via e-mail. before you make a major purchase, I can always advise you and often save you some money.

What’s Up?

I am still without my laptop 🙁 I sent my MackBook Pro M1 to Apple in Memphis, TN by Fed-Ex on Monday morning past. On Tuedsay, I got the dreaded e-mail: Your repair is on hold. We’ve ordered a new part that’s required to complete the repair. As I never look at or work my photos on a desktop computer, everything from my photo sessions is on one of two Delkin Devices 960GB BLACK CFexpress Type A 4.0 Memory Cards, one in each of my two (back-up) Sony a-1 bodies. I sent my two a-1 ii bodies to Sony to be cleaned and checked before I leave for New York via the AUTO Train on 4 AUG.

If you need to get in touch, please shoot me an e-mail to samandmayasgrandpa@att.net and/or a call a text to 863-221-2372.

Tuesday morning began slowly. I found a scruffy young Great Egret preening on the tiny dock near the boat ramp. It suddenly jumped down, snatched a Bluegill from the canal, and flew back onto the dock where it posed for tight head shots. I am hoping for one good head angle. When I got out of the pool that afternoon it began to rain. As I drove down to the lake the rain was coming down in sheets and the wind was strong from the north. I just missed getting into position on a bathing Osprey but soon thereafter had a ball with two Black-bellied Whistling Ducks as it continued to pour. Next up was a great blue that unfortunately did not catch anything. With the heavy rain and the wind from the north, the trick was to point my car west and shoot out the driver’s window off the BLUBB. That way, only your lens gets wet; the camera stays dry.

Though the summer doldrums continue and the breeze on Wednesday morning was from the W/SW (bad), I enjoyed an excellent morning with lots of tight stuff on the Black-bellied Whistling Ducks (again working off the BLUBB at 1200mm). After that, a young Great Egret grabbed a large dragonfly with a green head — I worked that with the handheld 400-800. I can’t wait to see all of my images. I am hoping against hope to get my laptop back on Friday but that is not looking good.

Today is Thursday 24 July 2025 and I will be heading down to the lake early to see if I can make a good image or two. Whatever you opt to do, I hope that you too choose to have a wonderful and productive day and that you have fun too. Do remember that happiness is a choice — Byron Katie, The Work.Com.

If an item — a Delkin flash card, a Levered-clamp FlexShooter Pro, or a Wimberley lens plate — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.

Gear Questions and Advice

Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are — out of ignorance — using the wrong gear, especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads. And the same is true in spades when ordering new camera bodies or lenses. My advice will often save you some serious money and may help you avoid making a seriously bad choice. Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. If you are desperate, you can try me on my cell at 863-221-2372. Please leave a message and shoot me a text if I do not pick up.

Don’t Just Shoot: Learn

If you are interested in changing your life and becoming a better photographer by joining me on an Extended IPT at Sebastian Inlet for Ospreys and more (SEPT 25 to NOV 24, 2025) in San Diego for Pacific-race Brown Pelicans and more (JAN 6 to FEB 2, 2026), for Roseate Spoonbills at Stick Marsh mid-March 2026, please e-mail for dates, rates, terms, and additional information. Or shoot me a text to 863-221-2372. Some offerings include options for shared AirBnB lodging and meals. Ground transportation during your stay is a possibility at times.

This image was created on 3 December 2024 down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Crouching a bit, I used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 600mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ) The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 12500. 1/3200 second at f/6.3 (wide-open) in Manual Mode. AWB at 6:44:29pm on a mostly sunny afternoon. RawDigger showed the exposure to be dead solid perfect. Tracking: Zone AF-C with Bird Face/Eye Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #1: Sandhill Crane pair

Under-appreciated Zebra Technology

For most camera systems, this exposure situation is quite difficult, even nightmarish. You have two subjects lit by the sun, each with a small area of bright white cheek and neck feathers, and a deeply shaded background. So, at risk of missing the perfect combination of poses, you make a test exposure, check for blinkies (highlight warnings), and evaluate the histogram (hoping not to be tricked by a lying histogram).

Using a Sony camera with Zebras set up correctly and the wide open aperture in place (as is usual for bird photography), you simply select a reasonable shutter speed and then raise the ISO until you see some Zebras on the white feathers through the viewfinder before you make an image! There is no need to make a test image. No need to check for blinkies or evaluate the histogram. You can make perfect exposure after perfect exposure even in extremely difficult situations.

If you are creating raw files and over-expose the highlights, you cannot save the image. I find it difficult to understand so many folks pooh-pooh Zebra technology. “It’s not a great advantage.” “I don’t need them.” By using Zebras so that I can expose well to the right while avoiding toasting the highlights I can create clean images with minimal noise and true, vibrant colors. Another thing that often baffles me is the steadfast brand loyalty that I see so often among nature photographers.

Typos

With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.