M9 in Japan

I've finally finished preliminary processing of the thousands of photos I took over three weeks in Japan. I took the Zeiss 21/2.8, CV35/1.4, 50 'cron and CV75/2.5. I found myself using the 21mm for general daily photography of buildings, street and interiors; the Voigtlander 35/1.4 Nokton was always on the camera at night time; and the 50 'cron was much used as well. I hardly used the CV75/2.5, so I could have left it at home.

50 'cron
http://www.flickr.com/photos/archiver/4822899820/



Every day, I transferred the SDHC card to a NextoCF Ultra portable harddrive. I never had any issues with it, and it was very fast and secure. I had three M9 batteries and charger, so I never had an issue with running out of batteries in any given day.

50 'cron
http://www.flickr.com/photos/archiver/4822229977/



Carrying the gear was a little more involved. I used a Thinktank Urban Disguise 40, carrying the M9 and three lenses along with the Ricoh GRD III, phrasebook, umbrella, bucketload of loose change and various sundries. It was heavier than I thought, taking a bit of a toll when walking for six hours a day, but my back got more used to it after the third or fourth day.

CV35/1.4 Nokton
http://www.flickr.com/photos/archiver/4822876304/



Taking the M9 was a big decision for me, especially as I also have a Canon 5D MarkII and assorted L-lenses. I am very, very used to the 5DII, and I can make it do more or less what I want. I had the M9 for two months before I left for the trip, and was shooting with it every day to make sure that I could manage it, as I had never used a Leica rangefinder before. By the time I left, I was confident enough to take it, but only just.

50 'cron
http://www.flickr.com/photos/archiver/4822895604/



While I missed quite a number of photos that AF and zoom would have caught, I was neither burdened nor made conspicuous by a massive DSLR and coterie of lenses. I can't imagine how my back would have felt if I had been lugging my Canon rig for six hours a day, even in a backpack.

Zeiss 21/2.8 Biogon
http://www.flickr.com/photos/archiver/4822294629/



--
Archiver - Recording the sights and sounds of life
http://www.flickr.com/photos/archiver/

All are nice, but for some reason (i think Tone) the Nokton image is fantastic to me. Great job, keep posting!

Good to see you're home mate ...... with little incident hopefully. Nippon images are always so alluring given the cultural chasm that can exist on so many planes for a visitor. These initial images are good though I have to admit to wanting to see more of the old Japan like Kyoto through your black 9 (in time, in time I hear you say!).

Interesting that the 75 is your least used lens - my experience as well. may even sell it and put the dough towards that new 35 that is coming.

By the way, did you find that you were able to point your camera at a stranger and not get glared at? I have this impression that they are a nation of people used to the camera in their face ..... though that is probably an unfair generalisation.

Looking forward to more images.

David

It's been bl* dy freezing here while you were up north.

Thanks, folks.

@David - yes, I'm back, but leaving for Sydney tomorrow! 'Shigoto wa shigoto', or work is work, as they say in Japan.

I will definitely (in time) post images from Kyoto, as I did visit that wonderful place. I only spent one night there, as opposed to the ten I was in Tokyo.

Weatherwise, I actually prefer our freezing weather to the hot swelter of mid-year Japan. I had two showers a day, not to mention being caught in a downpour with no umbrella!

As far as pointing a camera at someone, that depended on the person! I wanted to take photos of the girls dressed as French maids in Akihabara, but most of them shied away from the camera, and one even yelled at me! If you didn't already know, 'maid cafes' are places in Japan where the waitresses are dressed as maids, sometimes even with bunny ears, and they greet customers with 'welcome home, master'. For additional fees they will play games like Japanese rock-paper-scissors, so I hear. My guess is that it is not the most well-accepted profession in Japan. No one else reacted as badly!

Good to hear from you, we will have to catch up sometime, somehow!
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Archiver - Recording the sights and sounds of life
http://www.flickr.com/photos/archiver/

Great post and love your pics and your summary of the gear used.

Well done.

Trevor Kloeden
Sydney. Australia.
http://trevor.kloeden.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/26503291@N03/sets/

very good

just a question, the first image with the blueish hue...you used a special post processing or it was the natural light?

Great pics

How did your GRD III perform?

any good pictures?
--
Irakly Shanidze
http://www.shanidze.com/en

The first image's bluish hue is due to postprocessing. The original image had a much warmer, natural look, but enhancing the blue really brought out the pink in the girl's yukata, so I went with it.

The GRD III was amazing. I don't have a lot of post-worthy images from it, though, as I used it more as a snapshot camera than something for 'serious' photography. I am still going through my M9 images, which will take a while!

The 50 'cron is a great walkaround lens for medium distance shooting. It enables me to capture background and figures at moderate distances while not being overly wide.

Summicron 50mm, cropped to 2.4:1 anamorphic aspect ratio
http://www.flickr.com/photos/archiver/4847346255/in/set-72157624568503606/



It's also great for what I consider very moderate tele effects in close quarters. This was taken in a bar called Dry Dock, a standing-room only bar that is about the same size as a small supply room.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/archiver/4847393961/in/set-72157624568503606/



As the sun went down and the lights came on, the 50 'cron was a wonder.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/archiver/4847370829/in/set-72157624568503606/



I used the Voigtlander Nokton 35mm f1.4 for a walkaround lens at night and in museums, though. I found the combination of small size and wide aperture invaluable for this kind of photography.

Voigtlander Nokton 35mm f1.4
Tokyo National Museum
http://www.flickr.com/photos/archiver/4847973948/in/set-72157624568503606/



http://www.flickr.com/photos/archiver/4847365349/in/set-72157624568503606/



The Zeiss Biogon 21mm is just razor sharp, with almost no distortion and loads of contrast. It also provides quite a natural perspective, which I found surprising for such a wide lens.

Zeiss ZM Biogon 21mm f2.8
Yasakuni Jinja Shrine in Tokyo
http://www.flickr.com/photos/archiver/4847389219/in/set-72157624568503606/



Venus Fort Shopping Mall in Odaiba
http://www.flickr.com/photos/archiver/4847405845/in/set-72157624568503606/



Photos of 'old Japan' for David coming soon!
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Archiver - Recording the sights and sounds of life
http://www.flickr.com/photos/archiver/

I know what it can be like trying to go through them images after a trip. By the way, the first one in this series is outstanding; good crop and vignette is well done. The Nokton 35 looks sweet as well.

I am braving the elements in Hepburn Springs this weekend. Thought I'd take a long weekend for my birthday tomorrow. A couple things have happened that makes me feel pretty happy and also rather silly. Firstly, Camera Lane gave me a call on Friday as I was leaving town to say they had one of the first new 35 summilux. Didn't have to twist me arms to swing by before I left. So I am the happy proud owner of the new 35/f1.4. Initial impressions are very favourable BUT ...... I feel like a goose. Left my spare batteries and charger in a separate bag that I forgot to bring along, so of course the M9 goes flat. But hey, I have the MP right? Wrong! The battery for the MP goes flat so camera is only useable in two fixed settings. What are the odds of that happening, I mean to say. And forget trying to find a special battery like the one used in the MP.

SO ...... I am having a wonderful time in the spa country sans camera. Got a great 35mm lens though. Shame I got nothing to really shoot with. Where's that GRDIII of yours when it's most needed. LOL.

Look forward to some old Japan images.

Supposed you've landed back at work running!!!!

Cheers

David

David28 said:

But hey, I have the MP right? Wrong! The battery for the MP goes flat so camera is only useable in two fixed settings.

David

Click to expand...

MP is mechanical. Get some Tri X and guess exposure.
Pete