Video Link: https://youtu.be/7QVI51zIKRo
These photos were captured in Bali over the course of two months in 2025. The cameras I used were the A7CII and A7CR. The lenses I chose for this trip were Sony's FE 20-70 F4 G, FE 70-200 F4 Macro G OSS II and the FE 50mm F2.5 G
I also carried teleconverters for the 70-200 but rarely used the 2.0x Teleconverter.
I was able to carry two bodies and two lenses in my Pilot 7L...
Video Link: https://youtu.be/BZqmwqyNvAg
This 10-minute video provides patrons with a quick tour of the support site. It includes information about changing your membership tier and canceling your membership. The video shows how the learning resources are organised into 'Collections' and why the eBook collection is a better place to access the eBooks rather than the Patreon Shop (a service primarily for Free members). ...
2025-10-11 03:13:56 +0000 UTC View Post
(Make sure you download the SONY folder and not the SETTING folder inside the SONY folder - ignore the _MacOSX folder)
Note > This 2nd draft has corrected some typos and some minor errors.
NOTE > You do NOT need to joi...
2025-10-10 06:21:42 +0000 UTC View Post
Video Link: https://youtu.be/dUQ1s0SsUHw
Sony's new FE 100mm F2.8 Macro G Master is a lens optimized for Macro photographers who often find they are shooting moving subjects hand-held in low ambient light. How does the new GM compare to Sony's FE 70-200 F4 Macro G zoom lens, and are there any competing non-Sony lenses for this type of work?
Gallery of ultra High-Definition Images for both of Sony's fast-focusing ...
2025-10-07 20:18:59 +0000 UTC View Post
Premium and Premium Plus members do NOT have to purchase eBooks. They are part of the Patreon subscription. The prices some Patrons are seeing are probably the ones listed in the Patreon SHOP - which is where non-members can purchase eBooks for the mostly older model cameras. Every book in the SHOP has a product description that lets Premium members know that they do not have to purchase the eBooks. Members should go to 2025-10-01 06:48:07 +0000 UTC View Post
The Wotancraft September Giveaway saw 3 lucky Patreon/markgaler members from the Premium tier win a Parashooter Wrist or Neck strap. We are now opening the October Giveaway for Premium Plus members.
For the October draw, the winners will be drawn at the end of the first week of October. This month winners will be drawn from all of Mark’s Patrons on the Premium Plus tier or Premium members who upgrade to Premium Plus tier during the first w...
2025-09-30 16:00:20 +0000 UTC View Post
These Raw files will open in their edited state if imported into Lightroom or Lightroom Classic. The FE 1000 F2.8 GM Lens Profile for the processing soft...
2025-09-30 14:05:48 +0000 UTC View Post
'Mode Dial Control Set' is a significant new feature that has appeared with the Version 3.00 firmware update for the A1 II (A1M2) camera. The second item in the 'Benefits and Improvements' list on the Firmware Download page reads:
Allows you to select whether to change the Shooting Mode, Drive Mode, and Focus Mode using the dial or through the menu.
It is the ability to change the Focus M...
2025-09-12 22:36:17 +0000 UTC View Post
The images above were all captured at the 20mm Focal length when using the Sony FE 20-70 F4 G on my recent travels to Bali.
I own both the Sony FE 20-70 F4 G and the Sony FE 24-50 F2.8 G, which I find are an ideal size when working with the A7CR and A7CII cameras. They don't take up a lot of space in my Pilot 7L sling/messenger bag. I can, however, only take one of them with me when travelling light, as I need to leave room in the camera bag for a second camera body and telephoto lens ...
It seems like every week brings yet more new lenses. Most of these new lenses don't interest me at all, because I am acutely aware of my own priorities when choosing a lens and I know what I need from a lens, and most of these new lenses don't offer any significant advantages over the lenses I already own.
Some of the recent lens announcements have, however, had me scratching my head, wondering whether the Alpha community will be asking the same questions of the manufacturers as I am.
Sony have recently updated their 'Bluetooth Shooting Grip' and 'Bluetooth Remote'. These new updates may have gone under the radar for some Sony Photographers. In the Patron Accessories guide and camera eBooks I have always listed the SmallRig SR-RG1 Bluetooth shooting grip as well as the Sony Shooting Grip. This was primarily because the SmallRig grip had a detachable remote, therefore saving money as you didn't need to purchase a separate remote when travelling without the grip. One downsid...
2025-09-05 02:30:27 +0000 UTC View Post
Because some Patrons want to avoid Adobe's subscription model, when choosing a post-production editing software, I created a 90-minute 'DxO PhotoLab 8 - Transitioning from Lightroom to DxO PhotoLab' video tutorial back in February this year. DxO have now announced Version 9 of the software that addresses some, but perhaps not all, of my reservations when choosing DxO PhotoLab over Lightroom. If you don't need the Li...
2025-09-02 15:59:03 +0000 UTC View Post
A7RIV eBook for Premium and Premium Plus Patrons
All prices have now been adjusted to reflect the US Tariffs. Guide now includes Sony's new Bluetooth Remote, Bluetooth Grip and Dual Battery Charger.
Mark Galer Patrons are again being given the chance to win one of three Parashooter wrist or neck straps during September.
If you are a Premium member of Mark’s Support Channel you are automatically in the draw for your chance to win one of three Wotancraft Parashooter wrist or neck straps.
Winners will be drawn at the end of the first week of September.
Three winners will be receiving a Parashooter wrist or neck strap in their cho...
2025-08-31 22:00:00 +0000 UTC View Post
A1 II eBook: October 2025 Edition
Updated to include the new Macro GM lens and new Bluetooth Grip and Bluetooth Remote
Wotancraft have just announced a Version 2 of their popular 'Rider' series of bags. I am currently on an extended location shoot, so I won't have the opportunity to review these new camera bags until I return home in September. There are a couple of features in the product pre-release pdf Wotancraft sent me that have caught my eye, so I will be interested to see if these new bags will offer any advantages to my own travel and photographic needs over the Pilot and Rider series bags I currently...
2025-08-21 06:41:07 +0000 UTC View Post
Many have listed the lack of a tilting monitor as a deal breaker when considering the RX1R III to replace their RX1R II camera. I would prefer the RX1R III to have a tilting monitor, but I have decided to order an RX1R III camera anyway (primarily because of the AF improvements over my second-hand RX1R II).
A few days ago I was covering a cremation ceremony in Bali with an A7CR ...that has a fold-out and tilt monitor. I noticed that I often don't fold the monitor out and then tilt it when ...
I am currently travelling in Bali, Indonesia with the A7CR and A7CII cameras, plus the FE 20-70 F4G and FE 70-200 F4 Macro G OSS II zoom lenses. This gear (plus 1.4x Teleconverter) all fits neatly into my Wotancraft Pilot 7L medium-sized messenger bag. There are times, however, when I just want to carry a single camera body and one small compact prime. For these times I choose the A7CR and FE 50mm F2.5 G. I zoom with my feet or crop to get a tighter angle of view. I program the custom button ...
2025-08-15 01:26:10 +0000 UTC View Post
All-eBooks are available for FREE download for Premium and Premium Plus Patreon members.
This 540-page eBook offers you learning support and contains links to more than 50 video tutorials to help you master the craft of taking creative photographs.
IMPORTANT: to ensure full compatibility, eBooks should be viewed in Adobe's FREE Acrobat Reader and NOT o...
2025-08-03 01:29:00 +0000 UTC View Post
NOTE > All-eBooks are available for FREE download for Premium and Premium Plus Patreon members. Patreon Members should go to Patreon > Collections > eBooks to access all of the learning resources that are part of the subscription service.
This 529-page eBook offers you learning support and contains links to more than 50 video tutorials to ...
2025-08-02 22:01:00 +0000 UTC View Post
All-eBooks are available for FREE download for Premium and Premium Plus Patreon members.
This 550-page eBook offers you learning support and contains links to 50 video tutorials to help you master the craft of taking creative photographs.
IMPORTANT: to ensure full compatibility, eBooks should be viewed in Adobe's FREE Acrobat Reader and NOT other PDF R...
2025-08-02 03:23:00 +0000 UTC View Post
All-eBooks are available for FREE download for Premium and Premium Plus Patreon members.
This 540-page eBook offers you learning support and contains links to 50 video tutorials to help you master the craft of taking creative photographs.
IMPORTANT: to ensure full compatibility, eBooks should be viewed in Adobe's FREE Acrobat Reader and NOT other PDF R...
2025-08-01 21:18:00 +0000 UTC View Post
All-eBooks are available for FREE download for Premium and Premium Plus Patreon members.
This 573-page eBook offers you learning support and contains links to more than 50 video tutorials to help you master the craft of taking creative photographs.
IMPORTANT: to ensure full compatibility, eBooks should be viewed in Adobe's FREE Acrobat Reader and NOT o...
2025-08-01 21:14:00 +0000 UTC View Post
All-eBooks are available for FREE download for Premium and Premium Plus Patreon members and can be accessed by going to Patreon > Collections > eBooks.
This 624-page eBook offers you learning support and contains links to 50 video tutorials to help you master the craft of taking creative photographs.
IMPORTANT: to ensure full compatibility, eBooks should ...
2025-07-31 23:48:00 +0000 UTC View Post
All-eBooks are available for FREE download for Premium and Premium Plus Patreon members and can be accessed by going to Patreon > Collections > eBooks.
This is a 600-page eBook that outlines the best camera settings to capture a range of different subjects such as Portraiture, Action, Landscape plus the optimum settings for capturing movies and when using flash. The book outlines custom key, custom dial and custom Fn menu settings and the settings I register ...
2025-07-31 23:20:00 +0000 UTC View Post
All-eBooks are available for FREE download for Premium and Premium Plus Patreon members and can be accessed by going to Patreon > Collections > eBooks.
This is a 366-page Camera Setup Guide for the ZV-E10 II Alpha camera. This guide is not an big as my 600-page eBooks that I make available for the other Alpha cameras, but does contain all of my suggested settings and preferences for shooting Stills, Movies and Time-lapse movies.
I won't be adding this camera...
2025-07-31 23:15:00 +0000 UTC View Post
I have also included recommendations for accessories and lightweight lenses.
Premium and Premium Plus members can download a supporting CAMSET (camera setup file).
2025-07-31 23:11:00 +0000 UTC View Post
CAMSET for the A1 II (A1M2): Firmware Version 3.00 and later
(Make sure you download the SONY folder and not the SETTING folder inside the SO...
2025-07-29 15:30:00 +0000 UTC View Post