Hachiko still standing outside of Shibuya Station, now helping those meeting up with friends to find each other, also helping the Labor Standards Office with their Workers Insurance campaign
Hachiko is working it hard at the moment to support the Labor Insurance month campaign. Go Hachiko! It is strange that nobody has taken off his sash whilst people were not looking.
Whilst I was out, I wanted to test a new lens I had picked up, a Nikkor 60mm F2.8 macro and also a Sigma 50mm F1.4. They are not direct comparison lenses, but I wanted to see what could be done with each one on the street.
Entrance to the subway for Hanzomon and Ginza line. You go down at the scramble crossing into ShibuChika (Shibuya underground shopping mall) and then work your way to the Hanzomon line below or through Shibuya Station and upstairs to the Ginza Line. The platform is not underground at Shibuya Station. (taken with the Nikkor 60mm)A grate covering the entrance to the subway. Not much to see here, but wanted to see the definition the macro angle on this lens could picky up. Good? Bad? Actually I am not sure how to tell with this ^^. (also Nikkor 60mm)Tried to capture some of the Autumn colors here next to Hachiko. I find it a bit hard to stare at this picture for too long. My eyes start to go blurry. How do you find it? (Nikkor 60mm)A look down the street over scramble crossing with the Nikkor 60mm.Heading into Bic Camera to look at some other digital cameras. Saw these free 2010 Japan map calendars out and decided to try a shot of them with a reflection of the crowd. Not quite what I was looking for, but interesting nonetheless (Nikkor 60mm)This camera I would like to take on the streets and see what it can do. I tried a few shots in store and the lens really seemed to operate well in the artificial light. It stopped down low and seemed to give a good depth of field. If Panasonic are ready to support a couple of episodes of 'Shibuya Streets' with the GF1, then I am ready to start shooting. Lets roll ^^. (taken with sigma 50mm)The Sigma 50mm did a good job of capturing the GF1 upclose, although the focus looks a little off, and softening the background on the far side. Looking good there GF1 ^_^The G1 Lumix looks like it could also be an interesting camera to take outdoors.I tried a Nikkor 50mm lens directly against the Sigma 50mm lens in BIC Camera. The darker image (left) was with the Nikkor 50mm while the lighter one (right) was the Sigma 50mm.Met up with my golfing friend and bought some Beard Papa at Shibuya Station. Tried out the Sigma lens here (Sigma 50mm, manually set at F1.4). Little short on light?It's crowded boarding the Yamanote Line around 6pm. A little dark in this shot. Not sure what I was trying to achieve here. Maybe that is why it came out a bit strange ^^. (taken with Sigma 50mm)This shot didn't really capture what I was looking for. I think the station sign at the top of the picture with more room for the people to be shown underneath would have been a better frame (Sigma 50mm)
Comments are closed. These are from readers when the post was first published.
Renechong
Nice pictures! I especially like the picture of the crowd. I don't think it looks strange ^^
I agree that the autumn picture was kinda hard to look at. the background makes my eyes blur
zonjineko
Great shots as always. I don't think the one of your mate is short on light - it's almost spot on. Maybe a 1/3 more light but any more and the people working in the white on the right would get blown out. Very hard shot to get right.
I have a Canon 50mm f1.2 so can sympathise with the 1.4 focus issues - at that f/stop the DOF is as bee's you-know-what (^_^).
My favourite is the Autumn leaves with that nice bokeh.
Gakuranman
You missed out the E-P1! That's also another micro 4/3 camera that is wonderfully sized and produces DSLR equivalent images ;)
shibuya246
yes, the Olympus PEN is a great camera. It looks stylish as well. I think the Panasonic GF1 would be my first choice, but it is so hard to tell just shooting in store. I would like to try a few of these cameras out on the street and then really decide what to buy. :)
shibuya246
It took me a while to reply because my eyes were still locked up ;)
shibuya246
Thanks. Appreciate your comment about the light. Looking back again this is one of my favorites of the day. I can't imagine trying to manual focus that f1.2 but sure would like to see what bokeh it could produce on a light day.
I saw a shot someone had taken of a mother lying on couch ill wrapped in a blanket with baby son in center of frame and dog directly in front of camera. The boy was so clear and the other objects just the right amount out of focus. Great work with 2 of the 3 subject matter unpredictable moving objects. I think they used a 35mm. Would love to produce similar results.
Today's shots with these different lenses taught me a lot about my camera I didn't know. Had to go back and read the manual to figure out how to change a few settings :)
Azriel
Take out the last ")" from the link n_n" ....My bad...
And BTW, im sorry for using your images for my example, i didn't have any to use in that moment
shibuya246
Thanks. Very useful tip. I fixed up the link so others could see as well. You can use the photos anytime :)
I was trying to also see what the difference lighting settings for spot, matrix and full would make as well. Cant work out whether I could direct the spot focus for lighting at a different point to the spot focus for picture?
Azriel
Yeah it can work out, but of course it depends on the distance between You the two of them, light spot and picture spot. Well, that its not a big deal anyway, cuz having a proper distance u are able to expand the focus to infinite. I wonder if its that what u asked for. :S
shibuya246
ok, sounds good. I like your first idea of changing the focus spot. I'll try that first. Thanks
whipcracker
Now I know what Beard Papa is it's cream puffs yum yum. :)
shibuya246
Thanks for your detailed reply, particularly about the meterage. This is fantastic info. Just what I was trying to find on the net but was having difficulty searching for. Your info really hits the spot :)
I fell into the trap of trying to shoot only at f1.4 just like you said. I need to take a look at the difference in results when stepping back up towards f2.8 etc. Ill also keep an eye on the Sigma and see whether it is ok. I did find it hard to focus but thought I was just not used to it.
Re: choice of the 60mm Macro. This was a mistake purchase. I should have chosen, I think it was the 105mm, but I didnt. Afterwards, I realized but toooooooooo late!
I am really happy with the D700. Wish it could shoot some video as well, but I am sure the next model will.
Hope to keep testing out the camera and lenses and look forward to hearing more from you as to getting better performance out of the equipment.
Much appreciate your feedback and guidance. Thanks :)
lithiumangel
Oh no problem, I find those examples to be helpfull to most people.
Yup 105mm Macro lens sounds about right ! Too bad you got the wrong one. It is still a very good lens tough !
If you want HD video on a Nikon the D300S is a beautifull camera for both video & photography.
But, it does not have a full-frame sensor like the D700. I am having a difficult choice between D300S (for video) and D700.
I will probably get a D700 because I do alot of concert shooting for a Dutch music magazine so it will help me alot.
But ahh .. not an easy choice haha !
13 comments
Comments are closed. These are from readers when the post was first published.
Renechong
Nice pictures! I especially like the picture of the crowd. I don't think it looks strange ^^ I agree that the autumn picture was kinda hard to look at. the background makes my eyes blur
zonjineko
Great shots as always. I don't think the one of your mate is short on light - it's almost spot on. Maybe a 1/3 more light but any more and the people working in the white on the right would get blown out. Very hard shot to get right. I have a Canon 50mm f1.2 so can sympathise with the 1.4 focus issues - at that f/stop the DOF is as bee's you-know-what (^_^). My favourite is the Autumn leaves with that nice bokeh.
Gakuranman
You missed out the E-P1! That's also another micro 4/3 camera that is wonderfully sized and produces DSLR equivalent images ;)
shibuya246
yes, the Olympus PEN is a great camera. It looks stylish as well. I think the Panasonic GF1 would be my first choice, but it is so hard to tell just shooting in store. I would like to try a few of these cameras out on the street and then really decide what to buy. :)
shibuya246
It took me a while to reply because my eyes were still locked up ;)
shibuya246
Thanks. Appreciate your comment about the light. Looking back again this is one of my favorites of the day. I can't imagine trying to manual focus that f1.2 but sure would like to see what bokeh it could produce on a light day. I saw a shot someone had taken of a mother lying on couch ill wrapped in a blanket with baby son in center of frame and dog directly in front of camera. The boy was so clear and the other objects just the right amount out of focus. Great work with 2 of the 3 subject matter unpredictable moving objects. I think they used a 35mm. Would love to produce similar results. Today's shots with these different lenses taught me a lot about my camera I didn't know. Had to go back and read the manual to figure out how to change a few settings :)
Azriel
Take out the last ")" from the link n_n" ....My bad... And BTW, im sorry for using your images for my example, i didn't have any to use in that moment
shibuya246
Thanks. Very useful tip. I fixed up the link so others could see as well. You can use the photos anytime :) I was trying to also see what the difference lighting settings for spot, matrix and full would make as well. Cant work out whether I could direct the spot focus for lighting at a different point to the spot focus for picture?
Azriel
Yeah it can work out, but of course it depends on the distance between You the two of them, light spot and picture spot. Well, that its not a big deal anyway, cuz having a proper distance u are able to expand the focus to infinite. I wonder if its that what u asked for. :S
shibuya246
ok, sounds good. I like your first idea of changing the focus spot. I'll try that first. Thanks
whipcracker
Now I know what Beard Papa is it's cream puffs yum yum. :)
shibuya246
Thanks for your detailed reply, particularly about the meterage. This is fantastic info. Just what I was trying to find on the net but was having difficulty searching for. Your info really hits the spot :) I fell into the trap of trying to shoot only at f1.4 just like you said. I need to take a look at the difference in results when stepping back up towards f2.8 etc. Ill also keep an eye on the Sigma and see whether it is ok. I did find it hard to focus but thought I was just not used to it. Re: choice of the 60mm Macro. This was a mistake purchase. I should have chosen, I think it was the 105mm, but I didnt. Afterwards, I realized but toooooooooo late! I am really happy with the D700. Wish it could shoot some video as well, but I am sure the next model will. Hope to keep testing out the camera and lenses and look forward to hearing more from you as to getting better performance out of the equipment. Much appreciate your feedback and guidance. Thanks :)
lithiumangel
Oh no problem, I find those examples to be helpfull to most people. Yup 105mm Macro lens sounds about right ! Too bad you got the wrong one. It is still a very good lens tough ! If you want HD video on a Nikon the D300S is a beautifull camera for both video & photography. But, it does not have a full-frame sensor like the D700. I am having a difficult choice between D300S (for video) and D700. I will probably get a D700 because I do alot of concert shooting for a Dutch music magazine so it will help me alot. But ahh .. not an easy choice haha !