Sony Alpha Universe: From Film to Sony Alpha 1 – Andrew Ringuette’s Photography Journey

BY Sony Alpha Universe June 12, 2026 Sony Alpha Universe, Sports

Hockey player in a black and red uniform skating forward on an indoor ice rink, gripping a stick as snow-like ice chips fly up.

Hockey scene: yellow-clad goalie lunges to stop the puck near the net as teammates celebrate in the background.

Photography has evolved at an incredible pace over the last several decades.

From manually advancing rolls of film and carefully focusing each frame by hand, to today’s mirrorless cameras capable of tracking subjects with remarkable speed and precision, technology has continually reshaped the way photographers work. Yet despite all the advances, the goal remains the same: capturing meaningful moments and telling compelling stories through images.

Few photographers have witnessed that evolution as closely as Andre Ringuette.

Having worked through the film era, the introduction of autofocus, the rise of digital photography, and now the age of mirrorless technology, Andre has experienced firsthand how each innovation has changed the creative process. But when he began working with Sony Alpha cameras, he discovered something that went beyond specifications and performance.

He found a camera system that allowed him to focus entirely on photography itself.

In this Sony Alpha Universe feature, Andre shares his journey through decades of photography, his experience with the Sony Alpha 1, and how modern camera technology has helped make photography fun again.

Andre Ringuette – Offical Photographer of the Ottawa Senators.

Follow Andre:
Facebook | Instagram | Website

Fans in orange and blue jerseys cheer from the packed hockey arena as the sunset lights the city skyline in the background.

Canadian hockey player in a red jersey and helmet, skating during a game with spectators in the stands behind him.

When I first started photography, my original camera was a manual-focus SLR where you advanced the film with your thumb after every shot. When I became interested in sports photography, I bought my first motor drive, which automatically advanced the film at a blazing three frames per second. Then came autofocus, which felt incredible at the time. After that came digital cameras with four megapixels of resolution, and over the years, resolution, noise control, white balance, and overall performance improved exponentially.

But then Sony introduced their mirrorless system.

I had heard and read many great things about what the Alpha system could do, but I’ve always preferred to see things for myself and run my own tests. From the very beginning, everything felt immediately responsive, accurate, and sharp. Working with the Sony Alpha 1 allowed me to focus on composition, timing, and creativity rather than wondering whether a sequence of images was going to be sharp or not.

In fact, I started using my Sony cameras for personal photography — traveling and documenting my children’s activities — something I had rarely done by having to lug my professional cameras before.

Now, photography is thoroughly enjoyable again.

Black-and-white portrait of a man with short dark hair and a trimmed beard, wearing a collared shirt, looking at the camera with a neutral expression.

Andre Ringuette – Offical Photographer of the Ottawa Senators.

Follow Andre:
Facebook | Instagram | Website

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