Why stop at 5?

The subject refers to a very general British recommendation to eat five "pieces" of fruits or vegetables per day. Living in London I can understand why these types of advice exist. Unpalatable fruit or vegetables aren't exactly very enticing.

The general quality of these in Japan (and in many warmer climates) is much higher. Last night I bought a pear and a hybrid (pair/apple). Both were much larger than their Northern European equivalents and were delicious. I wasn't expecting to finish both in one evening...but it happened!

Ok so the photo is actually from Tokyo (near Shibuya) but I did really have the fruit. I uploaded these today as I finally managed to both take out and use my dSLR and had nothing exciting taken on my phone that I could upload.

I say "both" because on another occasion I took the D700 with me for the day only for me to lack the right opportunities to use it.

Why couldn't I transfer anything from my Nikon? We're back to the old square peg and round hole. Compact Flash cards are quick and (in my opinion) reliable and robust but they aren't as compatible with smartphones and tablets as (say) SD cards.

In defence of the Nikon, my D700 is from a generation ago where "pro" or "serious amateur" models used CF.

These days I believe most high end SLRs accept a combination of the two form factors with a tendency to favour SD.

Looking forward, companies like Sony and Olympus (maybe others) are featuring WiFi in most of their upcoming models as well as the use of SD cards.

Back to today, I got some nice shots on my D700 (and 24-70 f/2.8 combo) but could have done with a *flip LCD and a **faster lens. It gets murky by around 17.30 and dark by around 18.30. A third of the weight and bulk would have been pretty welcome too!

* If I'm not mistaken, the new A7/A7R both allow WiFi tethering to smartphones and tablets. I think the Olympus EM-1 does too.

** I missed having my 24mm f/1.4 and 85mm f/1.4 but the 24-70mm is a good compromise, despite being slower. The main trade off is speed at the gain of not fumbling around having to change lenses when time is short.

All in the small print

I've read that tachi-yomi is often frowned upon by bookshops and magazine stores. The Japanese in particular seem to have a powerful urge to read whilst standing.

http://1000thingsaboutjapan.blogspot.jp/2010/09/will-miss-231-tachiyomi.html?m=1

Here I caught a few in the act at the book section at Yodobashi Camera (which sells a whole lot more than cameras) in Akihabara.

Ginza and Sony

Yesterday (Saturday) I visited Ginza and amongst other places, visited the Sony Building.

A few years ago I would have headed straight for Nikon or Ricoh.

I still have huge respect for what Ricoh (and Pentax) are doing but I don't feel right visiting them when I don't have a strong urge to buy the GR at the moment. To tell the truth I would like a GR but don't think I can justify it given that I'm veering quite strongly towards another camera.

As for Nikon, I think they make great cameras for pros (where money, backup equipment, accessories and assistants are plentiful) but as an enthusiast I've realised that I need a different camera. One where the equipment is still top rate but where I make some compromises.

To date the A7/A7R seems to be the best compromise digital camera.

So I arrived at the Sony Building and made a beeline for the A7/A7R space. Due to the successful marketing it had its own "room" staffed by at least 4 people.

I borrowed the A7R with 35mm f/2.8 first, focusing, taking a few shots, trying out different menu options, etc.

I then briefly borrowed the A7.

Both cameras feel significantly larger than the RX1 due to the integrated EVF and grip, but they were comfortable to hold and to shoot.

The EVF was (as reported) large and clear and the AF was fast on both cameras. Based on the short time spent with them I couldn't make out any differences in focus performance or accuracy. It could be that these manifest themselves in lower lighting conditions.

I also appreciated the flip LCD, build quality and the promised weather-proofing, which should mean that I can take either camera with me almost anywhere.

My current preference tends towards the A7R, now that my concerns for focus performance have been alleviated.

Based on expectations both cameras are groundbreaking and could be every photographer's dream camera.

My only reservation is that although the A7/A7R are tiny for full frame digital cameras, they are not pocketable and the new protrusions are likely to make them snag in bags or coat pockets.

As one of my primary criteria is "portability" this does concern me a little, but what little I lose in convenience is offset by the thought of having a D800E in a package that is maybe a third of the size and weight.

Here are some hurried photos taken on my iPhone. The first one has been processed using a fantastic iOS app called Leonardo (using a little masking, drop shadow and layers).

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/leonardo-photo-editor-layer/id656090065?mt=8

Here is the original:

One of the back:

Finally, a poor quality shot of the EVF:

All about liquids

One of the first things I saw was the "jidou hambai ki" or the vending machine. The most common types sell drinks but you get ones selling pre-packaged foods, alcohol and cigarettes, not to mention even stranger items (which I haven't seen and won't mention here).

It's been quite a confusing day due to the drastic change in sleeping pattern and our sudden emergence in a relatively alien world.

It has also been a very wet day, with two typhoons threatening Tokyo as well as other areas.

We brought our sturdy Teutonic umbrella with us but even the cheaper Japanese ones look like they cope with the winds better. They're more domed with struts supporting the main ribs at a deeper angle. It looks like even umbrellas have different DNA.

Tokyo cyclists are also multi-taskers, riding whilst holding their umbrellas. I don't know if the roads and paint markings here are any less slick but it's not something I would do at home.

A splash of colour

...on a wet day...

Although a bit basic and (as pointed out by Björn) a little unresponsive, the iPhone's doing well so far.

A few years ago I would never (ever) have considered even attempting a night time shot on a phone camera.

Now that the X100s is on eBay I'm paging through the menu wondering which camera next.

The Nikon dSLR is a bit rich and heavy so I may well send that back to the kitchen. The recently announced Sony A7/A7R uses some nice ingredients and won't be super expensive.

I might wait to see what the people on the table next to me order...

I could have left it alone but I wanted a slight watercolour effect on a wet evening. Tastes may vary...

Before...

Caught in a reflection

I finally went to get my hair cut this morning after avoiding the barber/hairdresser for a long time.

While I was out there (near Shoreditch), I happened across this dark grey building with equally dark windows. On the other side of the road was a strip of bright graffiti. The darkened windows actually helped to reflect the colours and the grey wall provided an interesting contrast.

Walking alone

I've taken quite a hiatus from photography for a while.

I've been digging deep, wondering whether I still have "what it takes" and being frustrated by either missed opportunities or lack of inspiration.

Seeing as "day-to-day" photography is my main stay, it also means that I haven't been motivated to do any fashion or anything else.

So for a period I've decided only to use my smartphone and see whether simplicity will help me.

I've also taken a decision on my Fuji but more on that next time.