The largest national news agency in the United Kingdom and Ireland, PA (formerly known as the Press Association), has announced a deal with Sony to have its photographers shoot with Sony cameras and lenses.
PA was founded 153 years ago, in 1868, and its parent company is PA Media Group Limited. PA Media Group Limited is a private company owned by 26 shareholders that are primarily UK-based newspapers, like the Daily Mail.
PA has over 90 staff photographers and video journalists working in the UK and Ireland, and the process of switching them all over to Sony’s full-frame Alpha mirrorless cameras and Cinema cameras, like the FX3, has begun.
Sony UK writes, ‘With developments in the quality of still and video technology and specifically the introduction of Sony’s full frame silent shutter mode and remote capture it has meant that journalists and photographers have been able to adapt and shoot in situations not possible before – for example silently during broadcast – a key requirement for official engagements, where most recently the Sony Alpha 9 II has been used. Remote shooting is becoming a more common requirement, so being able to control cameras and send images quickly and efficiently to the newswire, is key for success. Along with a close working relationship with the Sony UK Pro team, it is for these reasons that Sony imaging kit was selected as the preferred choice.’
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Beyond Sony A9 II and Sony FX3 cameras, additional full-frame cameras will be used. Cameras will be paired with a wide range of Sony E-mount lenses, including several G Master models, like the FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM, FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS, FE 135mm f/1.8 GM and FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS.
PA members will be receiving their kit personally from Sony, along with product setup support and regular training. After all, some photographers have likely been working with non-Sony equipment for a long time, and there will probably be an adjustment period.
‘We are extremely honored to announce this collaboration with PA Media, the largest press agency in the UK and Ireland. We are incredibly proud to be working alongside them to deliver best in class photography and videography for news and sports to their clients,’ said Yasuo Baba, Director Pro Business, Sony Europe, ‘The partnership and on-going relationship will not only help us develop our camera system further but allow us to better serve their professional photographers and video journalists in future, giving them the opportunity to capture, transmit and deliver imagery in ways they never could before.’
Martin Keene, Group Picture Editor at PA Media Group, added, ‘Sony’s silent shutter, superb lenses and brilliant sensors, along with the relationship that we have built-up with them over the past few years made the switch an easy choice.’ Keene also discussed the support PA has received from Sony as a reason for the switch. Keene added, ‘It’s a big investment, but the opportunity to have all of our team using the same brand new, state-of-the-art kit is both rare and really worthwhile, and will make a real difference to the quality of the pictures that our customers see.’
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This news from the UK and Ireland comes just over a year after The Associated Press announced that it partnered with Sony to exclusively provide its visual journalists with Sony camera gear. The AP’s undertaking was massive, including journalists in more than 250 locations across 100 countries being supplied with Sony cameras, lenses and accessories. Last July, the AP said, ‘A wide variety of Sony’s imaging solutions products will begin delivery immediately, including the full-frame mirrorless Alpha cameras, FS series professional video cameras and an assortment of Sony’s 57 E-mount lenses including G Master models.’
At the time of AP’s big move, we interviewed J. David Ake, Director of Photography at The Associated Press, to discuss the switch to Sony equipment. To learn more about the switch, including what motivated the AP’s partnership with Sony, read the full interview.
It wasn’t long ago that photojournalism was dominated by Canon and Nikon DSLR cameras. How things have changed in a short period.
Press release:
SONY BECOMES KEY CAMERA SUPPLIER FOR PA MEDIA GROUP
Sony Europe announces partnership making Sony supplier of Imaging kit for PA Media Group’s (formerly the Press Association’s)still photographers and video journalists.
With over 90 staff photographers & video journalists working for PA, based in the UK and Ireland, the process for switching has begun and kit lists are made up of Sony’s full-frame mirrorless Alpha™ camera series, includingthe Cinema Line Camera FX3. These will be paired with a broad selection from Sony’s E-mount lenses including several G Master™ models – FE 24-70mm F2.8GM, FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS, FE 135mm F1.8GM and the FE 400mm F2.8GM OSS. The PA team members have been receiving their kit personally along with a product setup support from the Sony UK Pro team.
Being the largest press agency in the UK and Ireland, the PA team providesimages from key events throughout the year including major annual sporting events through to the biggest news stories and momentous official events and engagement.
With developments in the quality of still and video technology and specifically the introduction of Sony’s full frame silent shutter mode and remote capture it has meant that journalists and photographers have been able to adapt and shoot in situations not possible before – for examplesilently during broadcast – a key requirement for official engagements, where most recently the Sony Alpha 9 II has been used. Remote shooting is becoming a more common requirement, so being able to control cameras and send images quickly and efficiently to the newswire, is key for success. Along with a close working relationship with the Sony UK Pro team, it is for these reasons that Sony imaging kit was selected as the preferred choice.
Regular training and support will also be available for the PA team to ensure that this continues, and to keep them at the forefront of what Sony imaging technology can deliver
“We are extremely honoured to announce this collaboration with PA Media, the largest press agency in the UK and Ireland. We are incredibly proud to be working alongside them to deliver best in class photography and videography for news and sports to their clients,” said Yasuo Baba, Director Pro Business, Sony Europe, “The partnership and on-going relationship will not only help us develop our camera system further but allow us to better serve their professional photographers and video journalists in future, giving them the opportunity to capture, transmit and deliver imagery in ways they never could before”
Martin Keene, Group Picture Editor at PA Media Group, said: “Sony’s silent shutter, superb lenses and brilliant sensors, along with the relationship that we have built-up with them over the past few years made the switch an easy choice.
“In addition, we have had first-class support from the Sony team in the UK to make the swap and ensure that our photographers can go out and use the kit the next day. Having both stills and video cameras from the same manufacturer simplifies the workflow and colour balance across both genres.
“It’s a big investment, but the opportunity to have all of our team using the same brand new, state-of-the-art kit is both rare and really worthwhile, and will make a real difference to the quality of the pictures that our customerssee.”
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
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