Resolution . . . or Lens Choice?

[jonmanjiro]

it will be winter in Japan -- plenty of darkness.

We haven't had much of a winter here so far - its 24C in Yokohama today. The days will be short, but Tokyo is on about the same latitude as Charlotte, so longer than in Vermont no doubt.

As for your kit, my choice would be one camera and a 35mm (or equivalent) and maybe a 21mm (or equivalent). That's what I shoot normally anyway. Maybe something super wide like a 12mm would be fun as well. Getting around Tokyo involves a lot of walking, so the lighter the kit is the better. Have a great trip!

 

[DanskDynamit]

Well everyone has a point of view, and those points of view are interesting to me, which is why I asked the question. There is always the chance that an argument made here, or an approach that someone takes to their own work, will be useful. So I ask.

thats fine, I'm not judging you, I just don't understand how someone who is into photography can't figure out what gear to use.
If I think about other kind of arts, I can't imagine a painter asking (or even doubting about) which brush to use, a drawer which pencil, a musician which guitar to play in the next song or a sculptor what kind of rasp and let alone asking other people about it.



I hope this thread helps you to find it out. 🙂

 

[Benjamin Marks]

thats fine, I'm not judging you, I just don't understand how someone who is into photography can't figure out what gear to use.
If I think about other kind of arts, I can't imagine a painter asking (or even doubting about) which brush to use, a drawer which pencil, a musician which guitar to play in the next song or a sculptor what kind of rasp and let alone asking other people about it.



I hope this thread helps you to find it out. 🙂

I think you will find that at RFC folks enjoy talking about the gear choices they may as much as they enjoy making the photographs that are meaningful to them. My father was a painter, and I can tell you that choice of materials/gear was of intense interest to him. I think it is part of the creative process. And have you ever hung out with guitar guys? Whoo. Guitar guys can make camera enthusiasts look positively tame.

Perhaps I misunderstood your comment, though. Are you saying that I appear uncertain about my own choices and that apparent confusion is itself difficult to understand? As I explained in the OP, choosing what to take and tailoring the choices to the subject is fun for me. So this activity. . . the one I am engaged in as I type this . . . is part of the pleasure of photography.

 

[Prest_400]

And have you ever hung out with guitar guys? Whoo. Guitar guys can make camera enthusiasts look positively tame.

1959 Les Paul sunburst of course! (All I know about guitar is just from listening to music, can't play the instrument itself. That year and model was quite featured in Classic Rock)
For some reason, Fountain Pen and Clock guys are on that side as well.



I'd pick the Pentax with the Zoom. 24-70 is quite versatile and IBIS is gorgeous on darker streets, gets you some stops back. I seldom Shoot UW so it'd be fine to me.



Bear in mind that, despite itinerary limits, if I were you I'd eventually end up in a camera store for film or other stuff somehow.
I personally ended up in m43 and should sometime upgrade to an EM or G series. Well sorted, in a small space one can carry large kit. Had a friend visiting with a 6D and sigma Art, and I carted the thing without battery juice for half a day.

 

[Skiff]

I am going to be in Tokyo for two weeks next month. I have almost as much fun putting together a kit for a trip, as I do actually going. Yeah . . . bit of a photo nut.

There are three camera choices before me, IQ is excellent in all three:

1) Leica M9/21-35-50-90. Pros: compact; cons: no IBIS, battery life marginal.
2) Nikon D3/21-50-105. Pros: great battery life; cons: heavy, no IBIS
3) Pentax K1/24-70(zoom), 50 (or 31/40/77). Pros: IBIS, better high ISO; cons: no ultrawide.

The Nikon is the old warhorse. Utterly dependable. I have a full selection of lenses -- no compromises on lens choice. It is heavy, but the battery will go for days. File sizes and resolution are moderate, by today's standards.

I will give you a complete different thought, from my own experience. And maybe you will hate me for that....😉.
I recommed the Nikon D3 (I have a D3s so I know this beast very well 🙂).
You say the main disadvantage is the weight.
But in general when photographers today talking about camera weight they are often missing the essential point:
When you are walking around with your camera you are carrying
- your own body with its weight
- the camera and lens(es).
Body weight + camera equipment is the whole weight you have to "schlepp around". The Equipment is only a tiny percentage of this whole package. And the difference in weight between the Nikon and the Leica or Pentax for example is tiny in comparison to the whole weight you carry around. That are only some 100 grams.
The by far best way to carry less weight: Just loose some body weight. It is easy to loose 1-2 kilograms of fat.

I've experienced that by myself the hard way: Because of a hard time in my job and lots of stress and not enough time to do sports I've gotten 10 additional kilograms of body weight over some months.
That is the same as if I would carry a photo bag with 10 kilogramms of gear. With every single step I made! Very uncomfortable, and I got much sooner breathless because of the additional body weight.
It is the same result as always carrying a 10 kg Rucksack or 10 kg photobag.
After I reasiled that I started to change some things in my life and reduced my body weight.

And since then I have a complete different view on the "camera weight" topic. The differences in camera weights are negligible in comparison to the whole package (including body weight).
And most of us in the industrialised countries have too much body weight. So loosing 1-2 kg would be good in every case (improvind our health and general feeling) and that is much more of a difference as the difference between camera bodies or lenses.

 

[jonmanjiro]

Body weight + camera equipment is the whole weight you have to "schlepp around". The Equipment is only a tiny percentage of this whole package.

You're right of course, but I have to wonder if you do much walking carrying a camera bag.

I for one certainly notice the difference between carrying 1 kg of camera gear vs 2 kg of camera gear all day after a solid day walking around carrying it. Especially since the weight is all on one side of the body.

I walked 13 km (17,770 steps!) around Tokyo last Wednesday visiting photo galleries and camera shops. I carried one Leica MP with a 35mm lens. If I was carrying much more than that, I know I would have suffered back pain by the end of the day. YMMV.

 

[Skiff]

You're right of course, but I have to wonder if you do much walking carrying a camera bag.

I for one certainly notice the difference between carrying 1 kg of camera gear vs 2 kg of camera gear all day after a solid day walking around carrying it. Especially since the weight is all on one side of the body.

I walked 13 km (17,770 steps!) around Tokyo last Wednesday visiting photo galleries and camera shops. I carried one Leica MP with a 35mm lens. If I was carrying much more than that, I know I would have suffered back pain by the end of the day. YMMV.

I do indeed quite a lot of walking around with a camera bag. And often more than 10 km per photography tour.
But then I don't use a one-sided camera bag. I've done that in former times and find it not to be good. Partly for the reason you have mentioned.
I am using for several years a LowePro flipside. Perfect solution. Wether you have 1kg or 2kg of photo gear in it, it does not matter. You don't feel the difference in a significant way. It is ideal for longer walking photo tours.

 

[jonmanjiro]

I am using for several years a LowePro flipside. Perfect solution.

A one sided camera bag isn't ideal, but for around 2/3 of the year Tokyo is too hot and/or humid for wearing a backpack to be comfortable.

 

[shawn]

I'd probably go with the Leica and bring all the lens but maybe only carry a couple at a time during the trip. If you are comfortable wearing the camera on the strap get a small belt pouch to hold the lenses and a battery to travel light. By some cheap M rear lens caps and hot glue them back to back to more securely hold two lenses in a small bag without having them banging into each other.

Or put a Domke F5XA on your belt (and look a little ridiculous) and that should easily hold the M9 with a lens mounted and two more lens back to back. It does with my M240 and a 28,50,90 combo. I have a spare battery in there as well but it isn't needed with the M240. Getting the weight on your hips really helps to make it less obvious on full days of walking and someone can't as easily grab the bag from you.

Shawn

 

[Pioneer]

Your best option by far is the K1 and the 31mm Limited. Put the 77 Limited in your pocket if you think you might be somewhere where a longer focal length is useful (not common in Tokyo.) You may use it for a few portrait shots but the 31 is better if you want to incorporate some environment.

 

[Roger Hicks]

M9, because that's how I'd get the best pictures. Two, three or four lenses: they don't weigh much. What normally gives YOU the best pictures? Have you no idea?

Cheeras,

R.

 

[Yokosuka Mike]

Don’t take any of your camera gear with you to Tokyo except some SD cards and maybe your favorite camera strap.

When you arrive in Tokyo buy a Fujifilm X-Pro2 camera and a Fujinon XF 23mm f2 R WR lens.

Have a great trip!

All the best,
Mike

 

[shimokita]

Leica M9 with the Biogon 21/2.8 and Summilux 50/1.4 will cover most locations in the city.

Since you will have a base (hotel or other) in Tokyo and because you have a good rapport with the lens... take the Nockton 35/1.2... and depending on your interest there might be some situations where a tele lens would "work best", the Summicron 75/2 would do the trick. If it was me the 21/50 combination would be enough ; )

For interior low light I carry the Fuji x100t... a smart phone would also work and load the photo-to-translation app for menus etc.

Have a great trip.
Casey

 

[ellisson]

M9 and 35mm lens as your default shooter kit, extra battery and charger, data cards, and if you like a longer or shorter focal length, bring one extra lens. Keep it simple and small. Take a look at your “Keepers” from prior trips to get an idea what lenses (focal lengths) give you what you want.

 

[Ronald M]

M9 and buy an extra battery or two. Use it like a view camera, think before you shoot.

No need to take 25 pics of everything because it is free.

 

[ChicagoMatthew]

I would do the M9 and the 35/90 combo... you'll keep the 35 on most of the time.. and pop the 90 on when you want a portrait... I have the 21 and its just VERY specific.. almost too much so... the 50 is a good middle ground... but if you have the 35, its not really worth a lens change IMO... but 35/90... that's a big difference.

Also! When you are in Tokyo, you have to visit this amazing photo book restaurant I went to... they have 1000s of books from all over the world, and the food is amazing. Link below!

Photo Book Dining Megutama
3 Chome-2-7 Higashi, Shibuya-ku, Tōkyō-to 150-0011, Japan

https://goo.gl/maps/epirvZXxByv

Matt