Author: Joey Lombardi

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Sony A7C: First Impressions Review

I uploaded a few videos yesterday while messing around with my new Sony A7C. I didn’t think anybody outside my social circle would look at them… but I was wrong.

I felt like I should do a proper first impressions review of the camera based on my (relatively) limited experience… which I am trying to use to my advantage in this scenario. A professional photographer is going to have a specific point of view that is vastly different than an amateur.

Not calling the pros jaded, but some of the complaints I have read about the A7C don’t seem to make any sense if you just want a nice camera to use.

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Camera Test: Tamron and Sony Lenses

I continued to test my A7C camera with lenses purchased used on eBay. This video morphed into a bit of vlog – I shared my thoughts on some hand-held tripods, sticky floors (not a typo), and buying used camera equipment.

Waiting over a month to get the A7C was a little bit daunting because I wasn’t sure if these used lenses worked 100% (I test them on a cropped sensor Sony A5100).

I started with the Sony 16-35MM F4 lens, but I ended up spending more time with the Tamron 28-75MM F2.8 (which I really liked).

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Camera Test: Sony A7C

I finally got the Sony A7C that I ordered in September. I did some out of the box tests to see how everything looked and sounded.

This is a no shame video. Didn’t comb my hair, I had a cut on my nose that wasn’t pretty… but no time for vanity, needed to get some testing done.

I used a Sony 20MM F1.8 Lens and the 28MM-60MM kit lens that came with the camera (I have a few others to try out).

I also tested a Deity D4 Duo that I bought 4 months ago that I never got a chance to use.

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Cape May: Looking For Ghosts

This vlog features two attractions (kind of). The first is the location of a sunk concrete ship built in 1919.

The SS Atlantus was only in operation for 2 years before it was decommissioned. In 1926, the ship was scheduled to be sunk to help create a ferry dock. But in June of that year a storm broke the ship free and it ultimately sank in the wrong position.

After visiting the Atlantus, we attempted to find the Cape May “Ghost Tracks” at Higbee Beach. The tracks were not visible for over 8 decades, but were rediscovered in 2014.

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Cape May: WW2 Lookout Tower

We visited another WW2-era structure in the Cape May area. This building is Fire Control Tower #23.

According to Cape May MAC:

Built in 1942, the tower was one of 15 towers that helped aim batteries of coastal artillery, stretching from North Wildwood, N.J. to Bethany Beach, Del. Four were in Cape May County, N.J.—the towers located in North Wildwood and Wildwood Crest were torn down and a third tower is located inside Cape May’s Grand Hotel, Beach and Philadelphia avenues. Fire Control Tower No. 23 is on land now part of the Cape May Point State Park.

Due to somewhat longer lines and unexpected crowding, we opted not to go inside the structure, but like most things back then… it was built to last… so maybe next time.

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Cape May: Bunker At Cape May Point

We visited the WW2-era concrete bunker at Cape May Point. Built in 1942, it is amazing the thing is still standing, but it does have 6 ft thick concrete walls designed to take a battle ship blast.

The bunker was built to protect the coast from Germans should the United States be invaded during WW2.

After the war, the bunker was decommissioned and used as a military radio center during the 1950’s.

The local government does not allow access inside the structure, but with those thick walls, I wouldn’t expect a cell signal in that thing.