Night shots with Sony RX1Rii

[Min Kin Tun]

Hi everyone, just wanted to share some pics of a recent outing with my little toddler to a night market in Thailand. As a long term follower of DPreview and also lerking in forums but never posting I felt complelled to start also sharing some shots with you all.

For me I am not loyal to any specific brand of camera- coming from previously a Nikon DS3 setup with 28-70 f2.8, 50m 1.8 & 85 f1.4 lens and also Canon 70D for video. But what i must say about technology is that it keeps progressing and my hats off to Sony- as when im also having to look after a little monkey and wanting to shoot in low light situations this little Sony cam really comes into its own and feels as light as a feather. Of course every camera has its limitations etc-but just find out what works best for you and your needs;-)

p.s. This is my first post- hopefully the first of many so go easy hehe!!!

Min Kin Tun

 

[elliottnewcomb]

I am happy to be the first to welcome you to the forum. Very nice set of photos. Am I seeing 2 kids, or one before and after Mom brushed her hair?

You need to post, and keep on posting, I for one want to see them as they grow up. Your kids?

I'm getting an RX1 tomorrow. Nice to see what you are doing with yours.

 

[Marc Aurele]

Very nice !

 

[deafbuzz]

elliott beat me first to welcome you.

enjoyed looking at your photos in thailand.

thank for sharing.
------------------
cuong aka buzz
------------------
carl zeiss lenses do matter to me.

 

[Dandrewk]

Nice images. You have the best camera on the market for walk-around, especially at night.

I noticed your shots were all at F2. There's nothing wrong with that, especially in low light situations. Just know that Zeiss lenses tend to have longitudinal chromatic aberration (LoCA), which is a fancy term describing that purplish fringing you see with out of focus highlights. It's not bad, and can easily fixed in post processing should you wish to do so.

For me, I mostly use F2.8 for close-ups. The bokeh is every bit as smooth, and it eliminates most/all LoCA. At F2.8 with a 35mm lens, the DOF isn't altered significantly. Of course, some situations demand the widest setting, so feel free to experiment.

 

[Marc Aurele]

It's funny to see that the text on the fuel pump is actually in French

 

[Bobo Hodls]

And what an interesting entrance you make. I enjoyed your series a lot. Welcome to here.

I share the joy and reward that this little cybershot offers. Not too big, not to small. . . Goldilocks right with an outstanding sensor and lens. Once getting past the price, it's a joy to possess and use. No?

 

[Min Kin Tun]

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome to the forum! and also for the tips. Yes very much looking forward to learning more from all of you about photography and sharing our experiences and photos.

I also want to share a "sneak peak" into future projects i'm currently documenting here in Thailand in the deep south i just returned from documenting the conflict which is ongoing in 3 southern provinces bordering with Malaysia. My documentation is focusing on men and male youths and the injustices they are facing and also the story of how resilient they are in the face of adversity (here you see a local working in the rubber plantation- but it is often a dangerous place)... but more to come in the coming weeks and months.

cheers,

Min Kin Tun

 

[deafbuzz]

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome to the forum! and also for the tips. Yes very much looking forward to learning more from all of you about photography and sharing our experiences and photos.

I also want to share a "sneak peak" into future projects i'm currently documenting here in Thailand in the deep south i just returned from documenting the conflict which is ongoing in 3 southern provinces bordering with Malaysia. My documentation is focusing on men and male youths and the injustices they are facing and also the story of how resilient they are in the face of adversity (here you see a local working in the rubber plantation- but it is often a dangerous place)... but more to come in the coming weeks and months.

cheers,

Min Kin Tun

i've noticed that guy's eyes are little out of focus due to f/2.

i highly recommend you to use eye af. menu> gear icon (custom settings) > custom key (shoot) > assign the eye af on ael button. you can also turn focus detection on too. it is fast way to focus at a person's face then press ael button to focus automatic at subject's eyes quickly and sharply. that is what eye-af make sony so special.


------------------
cuong aka buzz
------------------
carl zeiss lenses do matter to me.

 

[Bobo Hodls]

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome to the forum! and also for the tips. Yes very much looking forward to learning more from all of you about photography and sharing our experiences and photos.

I also want to share a "sneak peak" into future projects i'm currently documenting here in Thailand in the deep south i just returned from documenting the conflict which is ongoing in 3 southern provinces bordering with Malaysia. My documentation is focusing on men and male youths and the injustices they are facing and also the story of how resilient they are in the face of adversity (here you see a local working in the rubber plantation- but it is often a dangerous place)... but more to come in the coming weeks and months.

I do so admire those that use their cameras for social issues. I just can't manage to do it, but I wish you all the best in your endeavor. It's projects like that which really can matter. Respect.

cheers,

Min Kin Tun

--
...Bob, NYC
.
"Well, sometimes the magic works. . . Sometimes, it doesn't." - Chief Dan George, Little Big Man
.

Bobo Hodls

Explore Bobo Hodls’s 5,812 photos on Flickr!

www.flickr.com

http://www.bobtullis.com

.

 

[elliottnewcomb]

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome to the forum! and also for the tips. Yes very much looking forward to learning more from all of you about photography and sharing our experiences and photos.

I also want to share a "sneak peak" into future projects i'm currently documenting here in Thailand in the deep south i just returned from documenting the conflict which is ongoing in 3 southern provinces bordering with Malaysia. My documentation is focusing on men and male youths and the injustices they are facing and also the story of how resilient they are in the face of adversity (here you see a local working in the rubber plantation- but it is often a dangerous place)... but more to come in the coming weeks and months.

I do so admire those that use their cameras for social issues. I just can't manage to do it, but I wish you all the best in your endeavor. It's projects like that which really can matter. Respect.

...Bob, NYC

I agree, Nice and important work Min

There's a line in a Kate Wolf song, "find out what you care about, and live a life that shows it". Something like that.

Respect is correct.

cheers,

...Bob, NYC
.

 

[Min Kin Tun]

Thanks all for your comments Bob, Elliot and co. (BTW nice line from Kate Wolf song)... "find out what you care about, and live a life that shows it". For me my guru and someone who totally is an inspiration to me in the world of photography is Sebastião Salgado (who has traveled to over 120 of our beautiful countries- focusing on very meaningful issues of peoples lives...)

Deafbuzz thanks for highlight the amazing EyeAf function much appreciated- as i'm still testing out the camera- at the moment I use single focus mode and assigned the eye-af function to the AEL button- which is a very very useful function although in some more complex situations it was unable to pick up the eye of the person. Is there a way of manually selecting from the 399 focus points (is either a firmwire on the horizon or did i misplace it and it is hidden in the menu system?)

Maybe the shot with the man in the rubber plantation (previous photo series)- as he was wearing a hat and "pullover" (to shield from the sun) maybe this was a little bit of a complex shot to use this worthwhile function- as i did try on multiple shots (continuous shooting drive mode) to try and nail the shot. Ideally i would have either got him to remove the clothes covering his face (although this is what he normally wears- so for authenticity i didn't want to deviate from his daily life/or if i had more time i would have changed to DMF or MF focusing modes) - but as it was quite a dangerous location- we only had a limited window to document and shoot a video at the same time!!!

Another project I wanted to share that i'm also currently working on is in northern Thailand focusing on the elderly and the population aging time bomb her in Thailand. Thailand has one of the highest aging societies in the region and is likely to cause deep social and economic issues in the foreseeable future. In this "sneak peek" photo montage i've included 2 of the local elderly one who is already 82 yrs old and still going strong and even attends to a vegetable patch and lives independently in the community... she really demonstrates amazing resilience... hmmm I dunno if i would be the same if the shoe was on the other foot....















One aspect i think is essential when photographing is to build up a relationship with the person/issue we are focusing on- sometimes i might not be fluent in their local language but having a camera with the ability to show them their photo can open the door to then take further photos much closer to them and that's where the "real shot is" so to speak. At the same time being ethnically aware and respectful of the people we are seeking to highlight their voice and lives are essential.

Maybe its too soon to judge and don't get me wrong I do really appreciate the Sony rx1rii camera- but just thinking outloud for future incarnations in maybe the next 2 years time of the Sony rx1r series aka Sony rx1riii on the wish list for me as a photo journalist - if possible would be:

• To see a larger maximum battery (although i have 3 batteries but trying to change them if doing video mid interview is less than ideal)
• Improved heat dissipation allowing for longer and multiple videos to be shot in a short period of time (for key informant interviews)
• A higher maximum shutter speed for f2 (although i can use a filter during the day to help) but would be great to have 1/4000 of a second at f2/
• Headphone socket to monitor sound when doing interviews
• Higher buffer- I think if sony have for example 64 gb of memory built in (some for pics) but say 8gb for a buffer that would be great)
• Live feed during and immediately after shooting (similar to what we are seeing with the new 6300 Sony model)
• Weather proof (living in South East Asia) monsoon period is not good for us!
• Touch screen back would be helpful for video
• Image stabilizing increased (for 3-5 axis) although wouldnt want this to add to the bulk

At the moment i'm using another camera for video and also audio recorded to a "zoom" external recorder- and this maybe the route as maybe i am in the minority ideally wanting to try and minimize gear and use just one cam to shoot stills, video and audio but with technology advancing and media convergence i can but hope;-)

ok sorry for such a long message (got carried away a bit)

Min Kin Tun

 

[SoCalWill]

That very first pic way up at the top - you gotta get a pic of that back wall; forget the faux TVs, that back wall has some serious character, would love to see all of what's back there. Great pics overall..







--
Digital Camera and Adobe Photoshop user since 1999.
Adobe Lightroom is my adult coloring book.

 

[deafbuzz]

sorry, i was rude in rush to leave for church to do photos of memorial celebration for my sister-in-law's dad rest in peace after i left you short comments here without compliment.

first of all, i've enjoyed looking at your photographs in the rubber plantation. i liked your style of photograph with maximum of f/2 for bokeh.

Deafbuzz thanks for highlight the amazing EyeAf function much appreciated- as i'm still testing out the camera- at the moment I use single focus mode and assigned the eye-af function to the AEL button- which is a very very useful function although in some more complex situations it was unable to pick up the eye of the person. Is there a way of manually selecting from the 399 focus points (is either a firmwire on the horizon or did i misplace it and it is hidden in the menu system?)

i've use af-c on focus mode dial often for candid photos and portraits. i only use af-s on focus mode dial for landscape or things doesn't move. if i am not in rush then i would use af/mf control hold for back-button focus in mf mode.

to answer your question of 399 focus points, no. i believe it is hybrid of both pdaf and cdaf. i read the complete guide to sony's rx1rii camera book by gary frieman and ross warner that phase detection autofocus (pdaf) requires f/9 or larger like f/2. if f/22 to f/9 would default to ccontrast-detection autofocus (cdaf).

Maybe the shot with the man in the rubber plantation (previous photo series)- as he was wearing a hat and "pullover" (to shield from the sun) maybe this was a little bit of a complex shot to use this worthwhile function- as i did try on multiple shots (continuous shooting drive mode) to try and nail the shot.

you seemed did right thing on multiple shots what i would have done with continuous shooting drive mode. but continuous autofocus (ad-c) on focus mode dial would help me with. i think you did a good job on man wear hat & "pullover". i was speaking of a soldier to hold the gun that i notice his eyes were little out of focus. eye-af would nail to focus his eyes sharply and quickly.

Ideally i would have either got him to remove the clothes covering his face (although this is what he normally wears- so for authenticity i didn't want to deviate from his daily life/or if i had more time i would have changed to DMF or MF focusing modes) - but as it was quite a dangerous location- we only had a limited window to document and shoot a video at the same time!!!

i understood and respect your purpose of having authenticity. that is why i admire candid photos too.

Another project I wanted to share that i'm also currently working on is in northern Thailand focusing on the elderly and the population aging time bomb her in Thailand. Thailand has one of the highest aging societies in the region and is likely to cause deep social and economic issues in the foreseeable future. In this "sneak peek" photo montage i've included 2 of the local elderly one who is already 82 yrs old and still going strong and even attends to a vegetable patch and lives independently in the community... she really demonstrates amazing resilience... hmmm I dunno if i would be the same if the shoe was on the other foot....













One aspect i think is essential when photographing is to build up a relationship with the person/issue we are focusing on- sometimes i might not be fluent in their local language but having a camera with the ability to show them their photo can open the door to then take further photos much closer to them and that's where the "real shot is" so to speak. At the same time being ethnically aware and respectful of the people we are seeking to highlight their voice and lives are essential.

Maybe its too soon to judge and don't get me wrong I do really appreciate the Sony rx1rii camera- but just thinking outloud for future incarnations in maybe the next 2 years time of the Sony rx1r series aka Sony rx1riii on the wish list for me as a photo journalist - if possible would be:

• To see a larger maximum battery (although i have 3 batteries but trying to change them if doing video mid interview is less than ideal)
• Improved heat dissipation allowing for longer and multiple videos to be shot in a short period of time (for key informant interviews)
• A higher maximum shutter speed for f2 (although i can use a filter during the day to help) but would be great to have 1/4000 of a second at f2/
• Headphone socket to monitor sound when doing interviews
• Higher buffer- I think if sony have for example 64 gb of memory built in (some for pics) but say 8gb for a buffer that would be great)
• Live feed during and immediately after shooting (similar to what we are seeing with the new 6300 Sony model)
• Weather proof (living in South East Asia) monsoon period is not good for us!
• Touch screen back would be helpful for video
• Image stabilizing increased (for 3-5 axis) although wouldnt want this to add to the bulk

sound like you would be happy with a7rii or a7sii comes with image stabilizing (3-5 axis) and long battery.

At the moment i'm using another camera for video and also audio recorded to a "zoom" external recorder- and this maybe the route as maybe i am in the minority ideally wanting to try and minimize gear and use just one cam to shoot stills, video and audio but with technology advancing and media convergence i can but hope;-)

ok sorry for such a long message (got carried away a bit)

Min Kin Tun

it seemed like you know what to do with rx1rii's capacity limit. you did good job to focus on her eyes sharply. well done.

thanks for sharing.

------------------
cuong aka buzz
------------------
carl zeiss lenses do matter to me
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zeissfolio.viewbook.com