ITZY: Fun Camera Anecdotes

Today, we take a look at the five very talented members of the K-Pop dance group ITZY and the cameras that we’ve seen them use. They use a number of mirrorless and film cameras, some to record themselves during their live sessions with fans, some when they are doing their vlogging walk-abouts and some as props. Of course, they also use their own smart phones to take stills and videos. So, Put Your Sneakers On, and let’s go on an ITZY camera tour.

YEJI
For a lot of their walk-abouts, we see Yeji, the gentle, caring but also sweetly fierceless leader of the group, use a small camcorder perched on a long selfie stick. It looks like the Canon Vixia Mini Camcorder. The Canon Vixia Mini Camcorder is now out of production. (If you want something as compact, check out the Canon V10.)

Yeji and the other ITZY members have a number of Sony ZV-1 Vlog cameras that they are often seen using when they go about their vlogging walk-abouts (sometimes without the indispensable “deadcat” wind screen).

Even though photographers have complained that the starting 24mm (equiv.) focal length of the ZV-1 is not wide enough for vlogging, the ITZY members do not seem to have any problem with this — and the videos that come out of their ZV-1 are perfect: close enough to see their faces, and who cares about the surrounding. When they need to include other members or show their surrounding, they just turn the camera around to get the desired shots. When livestreaming, they put the camera on the tripod far enough to get the desired coverage.

But if you absolutely must have a wider-angle lens, then the Sony ZV-1F has a 20mm (equiv.) F2.0 lens and the Sony ZV-1 II has a 18-50mm (equiv.) F1.8-4.0 lens.

There is a hilarious and cute video online where Yeji keeps putting her hand over her face to hide it so the camera can lock focus on the object she is holding up to the camera.

@_hwang_yeji #itzy #yeji ♬ See Tình Hoàng Thuỳ Linh (Sped Up Version)

(In case the video does not embed properly, here’s the link: https://www.tiktok.com/@_hwang_yeji/video/7095380739897838874).

Now, of course, you have to do that only if your camera does not have a feature such as the Product Showcase Mode of the Sony ZV-1.

Sony ZV-1 Product Showcase Mode button assigned to C2 (Delete) button

Perhaps, Yeji does not know about the Product Showcase Mode on the Sony ZV-1. By default, the Delete/C2 button (circled in red above) on the back of the Sony ZV-1 is set to Product Showcase Mode. The Product Showcase Mode is turned on by simply pressing the Delete/C2 button on the back of the camera. When reviewing photos on the LCD screen, this button will delete a photo.

But when shooting videos, this button doubles as the Product Showcase Mode. Press it and the Product Showcase Mode will turn ON. Now, the camera will automatically and smoothly switch focus from your face/eye to the product you are holding up. The ZV-1’s Product Showcase Mode prioritizes nearby object and will perform a fast and precise focus transition from you to your featured product (without you having to hide your face), and then back again to focusing on your face/eye when you remove the product from before the camera. Isn’t that great? No need to hide your face anymore, Yeji. (Just don’t forget to turn Product Showcase Mode OFF when you go on your vlogging walk-abouts.)

However, in case someone messed with the camera and assigned another function to C2, here is how to 1) select the Product Showcase Mode and 2) reset the Product Showcase Mode to the C2 button on the Sony ZV-1.

1) To select Product Showcase Mode via Menu:

1. Press the MENU button
2. On the first tab: Camera Settings 1, navigate to the 12th page: Shooting Assist
3. Select Product Showcase Set
4. Select On

2) To make life easier, assign this feature permanently to the Delete Button (C2 button):

1. Press the MENU button
2. Select Camera Settings 2
3. Select Video Custom Key
4. Select Product Showcase Set

Now, each time you press C2, Product Showcase Mode will toggle ON and OFF.

<JOKING>Editor’s note: Received a note from Yeji that the Product Showcase Mode is turned ON, but the camera still refuses to focus on the product. They returned the camera to Sony which couldn’t find anything wrong with the feature. The engineers think that the AI-enhanced AF has developed a mind of its own — and a bias for Yeji — and just will not focus on anything else now but on her face. Ahh, the danger of super-duper AI.</JOKING>

Here we see Yeji using the Fujifilm Instax cameras, the Sony ZV-1 and also a one-time use Kodak film camera. Apparently, Yeji also uses the Fujifilm Instax to snap special moments with the other members of her group and save the prints in a photo album for souvenir.

LIA
Lia is one of the unnies (older sisters), looks after everyone, encouraging, soothing, supporting, inspiring — and is a honorary Canadian. But when it comes to photography, she seems to be of the opinion that it’s “None of My Business.” It doesn’t mean that Lia never takes pictures. Of course, she will use the camera on her smartphone quite a bit, but she has also been known to use the Fujifilm Instax cameras and one-time use film cameras at times.

While filming NOT SHY, Chaeryeong and Yuna asked each other to take their pictures, but did not want to ask Lia. Lia thought the two were the best photographers in their group, and that Yeji was the worst (though good at selfies). Lia did not want Yeji to take her photo but the latter insisted. Yeji, “Not Shy, Not Me,” was adamant she was an artistic photographer. She’ll need to prove that. Yeji, prove Lia wrong, show me your pictures and Kill My Doubt.

RYUJIN
Ryujin is the strategic mastermind, and also the ever charming tomboy and girl crush of the group. She is a lead dancer and her shoulder shake shook the Internet the day Wannabe debuted. Tough and looking fierce on stage, she is in fact an introvert, and soft and vulnerable on the inside.

Apparently one of her hobbies is taking pictures, and we’ve seen her with a Canon AE-1, plus a number of one-time use film cameras: Ilford, Kodak. Yeji will often ask Ryujin to take a picture of her.

On one of their Vlive (“DdaengDdong 2021.05.15”), Ryujin mentioned that she had stopped using her film camera (presumably the Canon AE-1) and now uses disposable (one-time use) film cameras. However, as she also mentioned, she still needs to get the film developed and printed — which is a hassle. I would recommend that she switches to a compact and rugged digital camera such as the Olympus TOUGH TG-6 which is completely waterproof (can be safely taken underwater down to a depth of 15 m / 49.2 ft), dustproof (rated IP6X), shockproof (survives drops from a height of 2.1 m / 7 ft.), crushproof (will withstand 100 kg / 220 lbs of crushing force) and freezeproof (won’t freeze up at temperatures as low as -10°C / 14°F).

Ryujib - Yeji with Fujifilm Instax Mini 90 — Ryujib – Yeji with Fujifilm Instax Mini 90

Here they are trying to take a “screen selfie.” The Fujifilm Instax cameras all have the shutter button on the front left (instead of the top left) of the camera. Since Ryujin is taking a picture in landscape mode to include both of them, she has turned the camera 90° and the shutter button is now front top. This must be the most original — and cutest — way I have ever seen someone hold and operate a camera like Ryujin is doing here. (Ryujin, disable the flash next time.)

CHAERYEONG
It’s not a proven fact but Chaeryeong, the compassionate, caring and considerate empath, has been credited with the mirror selfie trend. She may be the first person to have taken this particular selfie pose that has gone viral on the Internet — and that trend has now been copied by lots of other K-Pop artists. It is not difficult to do, but still a bit challenging to get just right or to get a pleasing pose. Basically, you sit or stand in front of a mirror and simply turn your camera to face the mirror. Easy enough. The challenging part is to compose an interesting shot.

In the mirror selfie above, you see that Chaeryeong turns her back to the mirror and looks at her reflection over her shoulder. She holds the camera up to face the mirror. To correctly compose the shot, you must look at the reflection of the camera in the mirror. You want to move the camera (phone) around and compose what appears on the camera’s screen in the reflection. It’s an original and beautiful shot. Well done, Chaeryeong!

YUNA
Yuna is the maknae (youngest member) of the group and is teased quite a bit by the others. But she is a great dancer, has incredible visuals and a loyal fan following. She uses the Sony ZV-1 for vlogging and the Fujifilm Instax to snap special moments.