Dogs in Action with Sony – An Afternoon with Sony's Flagship Cameras

I recently had the chance to attend the "Dogs in Action with Sony" event, organized by 220volt in collaboration with the HPD Training Center. The goal of the day was to test Sony's latest cameras and G Master lenses in real-world conditions, while photographing dynamic dog training exercises.

If you know me, you know there's hardly a better offer you could make me.

What happened during the day?

The program was packed with variety: obedience exercises, protection work, fast-paced action scenes, and at the end of the day, the chance to shoot dog portraits. Exactly the kind of variety that puts a camera and lens through their paces — specs on paper only mean so much until they're put to the test.

The cameras and lenses

Throughout the day I had the opportunity to use both the Sony A9 III and the Sony A1 II, paired with several G Master lenses.

For the action scenes, the Sony FE 600mm F4 G Master stole the show. This lens knows no limits: even from a great distance it delivered stunning detail, and its autofocus tracked the fast-moving dogs effortlessly.

The reason I really came

If I'm being honest, there was one lens I was most looking forward to testing: the Sony FE 85mm F1.4 GM II.

I got to use it extensively during the dog portrait session, and it delivered exactly what I hoped for. The autofocus was fast and confident, sharpness was excellent even wide open, and the background blur was simply beautiful. Working with it felt so natural that at some point I forgot I was even testing a lens — I was just shooting. Now I understand why so many consider it one of Sony's best portrait lenses.

Closing thoughts

Overall, it was a truly rewarding afternoon. It's rare to get the chance to test equipment outside of showroom conditions — amid real movement, unpredictable situations, and varied shooting scenarios — and that's exactly what gives a day like this its true value.

Thanks to the teams at 220volt, Sony Hungary, and the HPD Training Center for organizing the event and making it possible. Days like this aren't just about trying out new gear — they're also a great source of inspiration and fresh experience.