Mark Galer

RX1R III eBook-2nd Draft

Note > This 2nd draft has corrected some typos and some minor errors.

DROPBOX DOWNLOAD LINK 
GOOGLE DRIV...

2025-10-10 06:21:42 +0000 UTC View Post

100mm Macro GM & 70-200 Macro G Review

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 fo...

October 2025 Updates to eBooks

IMPORTANT UPDATE

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 no...

Wotancraft Giveaway for October

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 2025-09-30 16:00:20 +0000 UTC View Post

FE 100mm F2.8 Macro GM (DNG Raw file download)

Download from DROPBOX

Download from GOOGLE DRIVE

These Raw files will open in their edited state if im...

New to the A1 II with Version 3.00 Firmware: Mode Dial Control Set

'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...

  2025-09-12 22:36:17 +0000 UTC View Post

Compact Zoom for Travel?

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 trav...

What's wrong with this picture? A question of differing priorities.

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, wonde...

New Sony Shooting Grip (GP-VPT3) & Wireless Remote Commander (RMT-VP2)

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 ...

DxO PhotoLab 9

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 per...

A7RIV eBook: October 2025 Update

A7RIV eBook for Premium and Premium Plus Patrons

Download from Dropbox

Download from Google Drive 2025-09-01 05:05:00 +0000 UTC View Post

Accessories Guide: September 2025 V2

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.

DROPBOX DOWNLOAD LINK
2025-09-01 00:13:00 +0000 UTC View Post

Wotancraft Giveaway for September

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.&...

A1 II eBook October 2025

A1 II eBook: October 2025 Edition

Updated to include the new Macro GM lens and new Bluetooth Grip and Bluetooth Remote

DROPBOX DOWNLOAD LINK 
2025-08-31 21:35:00 +0000 UTC View Post

*NEW* Wotancraft Rider Series V2

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...

Tilting Monitors - to have one, or not to have one. Is that the dealbreaker?

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...

One camera, One lens

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 5...

A6600 eBook October 2025 Edition

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.

https://get.adobe.com/reader/

IMPORTANT: to ...