Cat videos may feel like a relic of 2015, but today, pet accounts dominate Instagram, drawing massive, loyal followings. The enduring appeal of pet photos and videos lies in their simple joy, offering viewers a moment to escape the daily grind and connect with the charming lives of furry companions.
“[W]ith the α7 III and Animal Eye AF, I’m not having that issue whatsoever. Not even a little bit. It’s really been fantastic.”
Among the most celebrated feline stars on Instagram is Suki (@Sukiicat). Her account was launched by Marti Gutfreund, a member of the Sony Alpha Imaging Collective, when Suki was just a kitten. Two years later, @Sukiicat boasts an impressive 1.4 million followers. Gutfreund notes the unique engagement: “It’s just been a really interesting experience. People are really passionate about animals and pets in general, so I feel like there’s been a ton of engagement on a very different level than I’ve had on my photography page by comparison… People are always more inclined to interact when I’m with Suki rather than just me.”
Sukiicat poses outdoors, demonstrating the appeal of pet photography fueled by cameras like Sony’s first with Animal Eye AF.
Keeping A Constant Stream Of Suki Content
Maintaining Suki’s success on Instagram requires a consistent flow of fresh content. Gutfreund explains their routine: “During summer months, and spring and fall, we usually try to make a trip out to the mountains every couple of weeks. And we do go on walks almost every day with her as well.”
Capturing these moments, however, is often easier said than done. Cats are famously independent and not always cooperative subjects. While Suki is accustomed to the camera, getting the perfect shot remains a challenge. “As much as you want them to listen, it often comes down to a lot of external factors as well,” Gutfreund says. “Suki might be sitting and looking pretty, but then a bird flies by or a squirrel is in the tree and then all hell breaks loose.” This unpredictability necessitates a team effort: “So my partner and I do these Suki photos as a team, because it’s just impossible otherwise. One is basically the Suki wrangler and I take the photos.”
Sukiicat looks towards something off-camera, illustrating the challenges of capturing unpredictable pets even with advanced features like Animal Eye AF.
Animal Eye AF Changes Everything for Pet Photography
Gutfreund recently transitioned to a Sony α7 III camera, finding its features significantly streamlined her workflow with Suki compared to her previous equipment. “Now that I’ve been using the α7 III, I’m never going back,” she states. The camera’s multiple focus points made it much easier to capture Suki, and she utilizes high shutter speed and continuous high speed shooting to freeze the right moments.
A close-up shot of Sukiicat looking towards the camera, captured with the Sony α7 III before the Animal Eye AF firmware update.
A significant advancement arrived with Firmware 3.0, released by Sony for the α7 III and α7R III in mid-April. This update introduced Animal Eye AF, a feature specifically designed to detect and track the eyes of animals. This has been a game-changer for photographing Suki. “I think it’s a really great feature,” Gutfreund enthuses. “If people have the α7 III, I would absolutely recommend using that.”
Prior to this update, achieving precise focus on Suki, especially with wider apertures (higher f-stop numbers like f/8), was often difficult. The camera tended to focus on larger objects in the foreground rather than Suki herself. This required a tedious zoom-in, focus, and zoom-out process. “Lots of my photos just ended up being in f/4, f/5.6 range, because I didn’t want to deal with it,” she recalls. However, with the α7 III and Animal Eye AF, this issue vanished. “I’m not having that issue whatsoever. Not even a little bit. It’s really been fantastic.”
Sukiicat sits attentively outdoors, a perfect subject benefiting from Sony’s first camera with Animal Eye AF’s precise focusing.
Gutfreund highlights the combined power of the α7 III’s focus points and the new Animal Eye AF. “Between Animal Eye AF and the multiple focus point in the α7 III, it’s been a great experience,” she says. Simply half-pressing the shutter button prompts the camera to find and lock onto the animal’s eyes automatically. She even notes its effectiveness when photographing Suki alongside a dog friend: “I found that when I have the two animals in the frame I can lock onto Suki and the camera stays locked on. The experience is just phenomenal, I’m so happy with it.”
Conclusion
The integration of Animal Eye AF via firmware update transformed the Sony α7 III into an exceptionally powerful tool for pet photographers. As demonstrated by Marti Gutfreund’s experience capturing the popular Sukiicat, Sony’s first camera with Animal Eye Focus technology significantly simplifies achieving sharp, well-focused images of unpredictable animal subjects. This innovation proves invaluable for content creators aiming to produce high-quality visuals for the booming world of online pet entertainment.
