Mirrorless motoring

I converted from Canon to Sony around a year ago. Ultimately, there were two deciding factors for me. First, I wanted a mirrorless camera system and secondly Sony launched its impressive 400mm f/2.8 lens. This lens demonstrated Sony's commitment to creating a professional mirrorless camera system that could cater for sports photographers, which none of the other manufacturers appeared even close to.

So after months of trialling cameras, and emails to and from Sony reps, I finally went to see my friends at Clifton Cameras and left with a pair of first-generation Alpha 9s and a crate of G Master glass. If you would like to see the rest of my set-up, go to page 28.

This wasn't a decision I took lightly – these are the tools of my trade, after all. On paper, I knew the Alpha 9 stacked up well against my old Canon EOS-1D X Mark IIs. However, I was also well aware that the reality of using a camera professionally is more than just how good it is on paper. The 1D series of cameras have been tweaked and honed over what feels like millennia. The end result is a nigh-on indestructible camera and a form factor that is as comfortable at the end of a 24-hour day as it is at the first moment you pick it up. I