Hachiko for Labor Insurance

November 26, 2009
16 Comments
4 Min Read
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 ^^.
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 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.
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 ^^.
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)
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.
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)
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', then I am ready to start shooting. Lets roll ^^.
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 and softening the background on the far side. Looking good there GF1 ^_^
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.
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 was with the Nikkor 50mm while the lighter one was the Sigma 50mm.
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?
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 F14 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)
Its 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 didnt 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
This shot didnt 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
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  • 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

    Reply

  • 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.

    Reply

    • 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 🙂

      Reply

  • You missed out the E-P1! That’s also another micro 4/3 camera that is wonderfully sized and produces DSLR equivalent images 😉

    Reply

    • 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. 🙂

      Reply

  • If you let me say something I have a tip to get the shot you want. Just DON’T focus directly on the shot itself (like this http://yfrog.com/3mshibuyaj ), but instead make sure you catch both, background and central light (again, like this http://yfrog.com/3mshibuya1j ) So the camera would be able to calculate properly. Sometimes u can directly focus on the background but will result on the station sign to be lighten up too much…

    I worked a lot with 35mm film cameras so its basically the same principle. Hope to be helpful ^^;

    Reply

    • 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

      Reply

      • 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?

      • 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

  • RT @Shibuya246: Hachiko for Labor Insurance, Japan Single Photo | Shibuya246 http://bt.io/BBAw The ever loyal Hachiko.
    1st of all Happy Thanksgiving Boku no Tomodachi. 🙂 And everyone else that follows Shibuya246. Not having a camera, per say, all I can comment on is my visual talents, if that’s what you call it. Any thing about Hachiko is always heart warming to hear. 🙂 All of your phots can tell a story no matter what the subject is. What is beard papa any ways? never heard of that. The photo of the autumn leaves would tend to make you stare at it for awhile, looks like colored rain drops to me.
    The Panasonic Lumix has always been the camera of choice by Danny Choo. All in all another great article. 🙂

    Reply

  • Hrmm. The Sigma 50/1.4 is a great choice, due to it’s ED (extra-low dispersion) element it outclasses Nikon’s own 50/1.4
    But be wary of Sigma’s bad quality control, 1/3 of their lenses always have annoying back-focusing issues etc.
    Test Sigma lenses in store more intensivly than Nikon. I’ve seen many friends who went Sigma and had to return their lenses 🙁

    Tough I’m a bit puzzled by your 60mm Macro lens 🙂 It’s really close to the 50/1.4 in terms of focal length, personally I think Macro lenses are better in the 90mm and up focal range so that you don’t have to squish your lens as close to your subject.
    Again, this depends on what you wanna shoot macro on offcourse; a figure wouldn’t mind the close-ness, but an insect would 😛

    So your a bit confused on the various metering modes ? No worry, all you need are some simple examples to help you along.

    Matrix mode : Use in everyday situations (9/10) Disects the “Scene” into various bits, gathers lighting and color information all-round to determine final exposure.

    Spot-Metering mode: Measures the ABSOLUTE CENTER of your center focus point for light (so the metering is *alot* tighter than you imagine it is- be wary of this) therefor it is tricky for starters to use.
    When to use this ? In scenes with alot of contrast. I.E somebody with alot of light behind him (the sun) a building with the sun behind it etc. To get correct exposure. If you shoot the aforementioned examples on Matrix; than you will get the Apple silhouette effect on the subject. This can also be helpfull in concerts; with some venues (annoyingly) having the lighting all focused towards the crowd from the back of the band/idol. Matrix will screw up and get you silhouette type shots. Use spot.

    Center-Weighted mode: You will rarely use this. Use this in a scene with alot of the same color. (i.e the sea, a street white cause it’s covered in snow)

    That should help you determine which metering mode to use. As you can see. It’s mostly matrix.

    And here is the final tip that alot of people go wrong with when they buy a lens with a wide aperture such as F/2.8 or better.
    Just that you *CAN* shoot at F/1.4 doesn’t mean you HAVE to shoot at F/1.

    Most lenses do not reach their critical sharpness at their best apperture, they are usually too soft even on the focus point itself. (unless your talking about specialist lenses such as Leica *Cough* 1400+ euro for one focal length)
    There are so called MTF charts you can consult to see how sharp a lens is, at which apperture.
    Consult this: http://www.photozone.de/Reviews/nikon–nikkor-aps-c-lens-tests for example.
    I shoot my 35 1.8 on 2.8 most of the times even tough I can go as low as 1.8.

    With your D700, you have incredible ISO to noise ratio performance, you can crank it up to 3200 without your picture turning bad.
    So don’t be afraid to up the apperture to say 2.8 (for more subject sharpness) but in return having to crank the ISO up as well.
    I’m buying the D700 very soon just for this reason, and skipping the D300S which is great cause it has 2 AF systems (1 for pictures and 1 for video) Shooting video with a DSLR and high-grade lenses in HD resolution is VERY TEMPTING.

    Reply

    • 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 🙂

      Reply

  • 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 !

    Reply

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