Apiq Sulaiman, who recently won the Grand Prize for the Sony Malaysia “Love in Every Frame” Contest with his impressive wildlife submission, is known as a full-time bird photographer and birding tour guide across Southeast Asia, having photographed more than 1,000 bird species throughout his journey. In this article, we explore his bird photography experiences, along with new Sony lens FE 100-400mm F4.5 GM OSS review.
Bird Photography and Videography Through Apiq’s Eyes
Before dedicating himself fully to birding photography, he spent over 10 years working as a professional architectural & commercial photographer. Outside of work, however, he constantly sought adventure — traveling, hiking, camping, and immersing himself in nature.
His solo camping trips across New Zealand and Australia helped deepen his understanding of birds — from their behavior and habitats to the different species found in nature — shaping the foundation of his birding journey today.
For Apiq, birding goes far beyond capturing beautiful images.
“Birding is not just shooting birds. It’s about immersing yourself in nature.”
What also makes his work unique is his approach to video.
While many bird photographers focus solely on still images, Apiq actively creates birding videos to document the full atmosphere of the experience.
“Video can tell more stories.”
Through motion, sound, and environmental context, his videos bring viewers deeper into the world of birding — allowing them to feel the environment rather than simply observe it.
Camera and Lenses Apiq Uses
After trying multiple brands, Apiq ultimately settled on a powerful combination: the Sony Alpha 7V paired with the Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS - the latter being his go-to for his bird tours.
Recently, he also had the opportunity to try Sony’s latest telephoto lenses Sony FE 100-400mm F4.5 GM OSS in the field. Here are some of his impressions and reviews from real birding situations.
“It focuses very fast — I was also very impressed with its low-light performance.”
Usually shooting with the Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS and recently trying the Sony FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS, I found the 100-400mm range lightweight, flexible, and comfortable for field shooting.
“A unique super-telephoto zoom lens with a constant aperture — especially for birders looking for a lightweight setup.”
I particularly appreciated the close focusing capability, which helps capture nearby species, as well as the smooth/tight zoom adjustment that supports both photo and video shooting styles seamlessly.
Paired with the Sony Alpha 7V, the setup also improved my hybrid workflow too.
“I used to bring 2 to 3 cameras for dedicated photo and video usage, but this setup can truly be an all-in-one solution.”
Beyond birding, I believe the versatile 100-400mm range is also suitable for sports, events, and commercial photography. Recently, I have even started shooting weekly rugby tournaments with the lens.
