Advertising Director Dawson Pon works on creative videos at his day job and on his Instagram page @dawson_pon. But what happens when he’s asked to capture anything he desires? Join Dawson on his day-in-the-life family trip to the coffeeshop, as he shares with us his tips to create Instagram reels with the E 15mm F1.4 G lens.

Lens in focus | E 15mm F1.4 G

Made for APS-C bodies, the wide-angle prime lens E 15mm F1.4 G delivers stunning rendering in a compact and lightweight package that makes handling a breeze, especially for video recording. Its large aperture of F1.4 enables beautiful bokeh, even more so when you’re close to the subject, thanks to the 0.17m minimum focus distance.

Focal length: 15mm
Min. focus distance: 0.20m (AF), 0.17m (MF)
Max. magnification ratio (X): 0.12 (AF), 0.15 (MF)
Weight: 219g

Dawson Pon’s take on the E 15mm F1.4 G

One concern Dawson had was how he would capture his hyperactive dog while on a walk with a fixed focal distance. However, the E 15mm F1.4 G had no trouble keeping up, whether at wide-angle or close-up. “It has the sharp resolution of a prime lens. Even though the focal distance is fixed, it’s versatile. And with the F1.4 aperture, the bokeh makes my close-ups even more beautiful and filled with emotion.”

The lens has two linear motors that makes AF and tracking fast, yet precise, so that even fast moving subjects like Dawson’s dog can be captured reliably. Plus, it has a consistent centre of gravity that makes gimbal balancing easier. 

3 Reel Questions

What kind of reels do you most enjoy creating?

The most worthwhile thing to shoot is what I care about the most. The daily life of taking my dog Abji to buy coffee with my wife. It’s by no means a magnificent scene, but in my heart, this is the moment I want to seize the most for my reels.  

What reel tips do you have for creators?

It’s ok if you didn't shoot in portrait. Many landscape scenes are good when cropped into portrait, as I have done in this shoot. As long as your subject is in the middle of the frame, you’re good to go. 

What do you say to creators who find it challenging to use professional equipment for reels? 

With the popularity of vertical video in the social era, I would suggest giving professional camera gear a try. For example, using wide-angle lenses like the E 15mm F1.4 G makes shooting high quality reels easier. 

Words of encouragement 

Before becoming busy with his filming career, Dawson used to love recording his daily life and would like to inspire others to do the same. “Forget about the stress and just pick up your camera and begin recording the good times you want to capture.”