Zeiss Loxia 21 Testing

I continue to thoroughly enjoy shooting with the little Loxia 21.  It is as close to a 'Leica' glass feel as I have experienced with the Sony A7rii.  I have a running set of images on my stories site with sample images so please jump over there for more imagery from the A7rii/Loxia 21 combination.

In a few words or less, this is a simply stunning lens.  The build quality is spectacular.  The aperture ring and focus ring are buttery smooth, which makes manual operation a dream.  Paired with the A7Rii peaking and zoom capability, focus is easy, quick and very precise.  

If I had one nit about the lens, it would be what others have already stated.  The mount is just a bit small for removing the lens.  If it were a tad bigger, with more separation from the aperture ring, removal of the lens would be just like any other lens.  However, due to its small size, removal is a tad difficult.  All in all, I would say that is purely a minor complaint and one that is easily overcome with practice.

I will continue to update my story site over the next several days with images and then I move on to testing out the Zeiss 25 Batis; the Sony-Zeiss 35/1.4 and the Sony 35/2.8.  

The quest for a complete strap system

I think most photographers have serious gear issues -- not only with regards to Cameras and Lenses but also with accessories.  Specifically bags and straps.  While I won't even begin to go into my bag issues, I am now looking to sort out my strap system.

For too long I have wanted a quick and easy way to switch out straps across my cameras.  There are times when I love having a wrist strap, but then want to switch out to a sling.  Some times I have a super light setup going and don't need a big strap, but then at other times, I have a heavier setup and want to switch to an appropriate strap.

So, in my quest to solve my issues, I am making an investment into the Peak Designs systems.  I love the idea of the quick connectors along with their diverse set of straps/slings and wrist straps.  I will have a running dialogue on what I find and how this works, but for now I have made the investment to put quick connects on my bodies and L plates and have acquired the Slide; the Slide Lite; and the Clutch.  So far my impressions are very, very positive. 

Below is a comparison of the Slide and the Slide Lite, with the latter attached to the Leica Q.  I think for that small mirrorless body both the Lite and the Clutch will be absolutely perfect.

Next is an image of the A7Rii with the Zeiss 55/1.8 attached using the Slide strap.  With this lens combination I think it is right on the edge of being too much.  However, with the 90 Macro or even the 55 plus the battery grip, the heavier strap just feels more comfortable than the Lite version.  I will update this post with more information as I get to spend time with each of the combinations.  For now, I am definitely very pleased.

Motion

As with time, motion is all around us.  Sometimes, we just have to sit in stillness to see that which moves.

X100s - It Arrives

It is no secret that I have been patiently waiting on the sidelines watching and waiting to see what Fuji does and doesn't do.  I shot with the Sony NEX series as my travel cameras for the last 2 years but finally tired of their consumer electronics mindset v. a photographic one.  So,... after all this time, I have jumped in and purchased one of the little Fuji X100s cameras.   

Totally unavailable, but the gods smiled down on me and with one random phone call to a totally random camera store, I found one and had it delivered in two days.  Yes, I know, this is all on top of the little V1 arrival, but that camera is for a very specific purpose.  With the Fuji's, I am looking for something that will allow me to travel in peace without taking my Nikon and Zeiss kit.  I am spoiled with the IQ and usability of the Nikon/Zeiss combo, but the reality is that it is expensive to travel with (on a bike) and very, very heavy, when trying to travel light. 

Therefore I decided to jump in to the Fuji world and see what it is all about.  I personally believe that XE-1 and XPro-1 camera replacements are right on the horizon so I thought it best to start with the X100s and simply rent the XE-1.  For my upcoming Lost Coast bikepacking trip, I have the XE-1 coming courtesy of LensRentals.com.  Along with the body, I have the 35 and the 60 to test.  Between the 100s and the 35/60 combo, I cover the focal length that I normally travel with. 

There are a ton of detailed reviews out their on all of this kit, so for me, I am simply focused on sharing usability and IQ as it relates to travel photography, especially adventure based travel photography.   As I delve into the gear I will post sample images and random thoughts and opinions.  With the update to Face Book terms of service, I will no longer post images there, instead relying on this site and  my Flickr account, so follow along as the shooting begins.

Fist Thoughts: 

Ok, so this thing actually looks, feels and acts like a camera versus a consumer electronics device.  While it has its share of buttons and displays, I can say without hesitation that I love the way it feels.  Metal construction and a heft that feels good in your hands.  The viewfinder is awesome with its dual personality and the aperture ring is very sweet.  Not so sure I like the way it does 1/3 increments, but I am sure I will get used to it. 

I took the camera out of the box this AM, shot some Jpegs in color and B&W and then a few in Raw.  My goal was simply to play and get acquainted with the way things worked.  A couple of neat features stood out.  There is a 'Film Mode' bracket feature which lets you define up to 3 different film modes and then for each shot, the images are processed for each of the 3 modes.  Set it up for Velvia, B&W and B&W with a Filter, shooting Raw + Jpeg, and you have the ability to select from 3 different images to post WITHOUT having to edit them on a tablet on computer.  Man, I am super stoked about this feature. 

More to come, but here are three images shot this AM.  Two JPEGs and one Raw processed.

Metaphors

Metaphors for life are all around us if we look hard enough.  This image, captured during my paddle up the Inside Passage, is a study in patience. Not only is the bear deeply entrenched in waiting for the absolutely perfect salmon to swim by, but I am also executing a great deal of patience.  I watched this bear for quite a while as he would stand in the stream, paw on the rock, patiently waiting.  When the perfect salmon would come by he would dip his large snout into the water and retrieve a huge, and quite animated salmon.  ​Only a short stroll away was the shoreline where the bear would take the fish, consume everything but the bones, and then return back to the exact same spot in the creak and repeat the process all over.  I watched him do this for an hour, in which time he repeated the process more than 4 times.

Not only did I have to be patient in waiting for what I felt was the right moment, but from a technical perspective, I had already composed the image in my head, I knew what I wanted to capture.  It was bright outside and I wanted the water to be flowing, which meant I had to shoot at F10 in order to get a slow enough shutter speed to slow the water down.  I was hand holding the camera which required its own element of patience in order to get a sharp image. ​

So the lesson is that we need to slow down, look around us, see what is out there and pay attention to the metaphors of life.  Of course the safety of a blind when shooting grizzly bears in the wild from 20 feet away also helps!​

Last Night Before the Storm

I love shooting at dusk and into the evening, especially these types of water scenes.  Here is Mulholland Light, located on Campobello Island, all dressed up for the winter holidays.

View fullsize

Mulholland Light House all decorated for the holidays

Meandering

After a great presentation at the NY Canal Conference, I am on a meandering road trip, looking for beautiful sites to photograph.  Here is one of my favorite images from yesterday in Stowe VT.​

View fullsize

Random Moments

I was crossing the Irish Sea on the ferry as I traveled to Ireland from Wales for a week long bike trip around the SW coast.  The ferry was just pulling into the Dublin harbor when the weather broke, the skies began to clear, and people moved out onto the deck. I grabbed my camera, went up the steps and as I stepped outside into the cool air, I captured this image. 

It has become one of my favorite images because you can't quite tell where I am or what the people are doing, but there is something about the scene and the lines that draws the viewer in.  Often an image that provides no sense of place can be a bit unnerving, but I think this one really works.​ 

The Ultimate Point & Shoot?

Could it be that Sony has created the finest point and shoot ever?  Well the reviews are in on the Sony RX100 and they are simply outstanding.  The small compact is loaded with features including an awesome Zeiss lens that is 1.8 on the wide end enabling you to get a bit of that creamy brokeh that Zeiss lenses are known for.   The camera won't replace your high end DSLR but if you are looking for a carry around camera that will produce stunning imagery then this could be the one for you.  ​

If you decide to make the leap and purchase the RX100, please be sure and use my Amazon Link.  It does not cost you anything to do so and helps me to keep this site running.  Currently the RX100 is the hottest camera on Amazon so get your order in quickly while supplies last.  This looks to be one amazing new camera.​

Technical Artistry

If you have been following this weeks posts, they have been all about ways to improve your travel photography.  My last post of the week is focused on using your camera to improve your image making abilities.  I know that when show my images, one of the first things most people ask is 'What camera do you use".  The implication is clear, they believe it is the camera that produces the great images and not the photographer.​

In the year of 2012, nothing could be farther from the truth.  Cell phones represent the largest single source of images on the internet.  Now, I am not saying that a cell phone is capable of producing what we would call 'Fine Art' images, but none the less, technology has made image capture much easier than it used to be.  The problem here is that because technology has advanced so rapidly, almost anyone can stick there camera or cell phone on 'P' (program) mode and fire away.  The resulting images will most likely be properly exposed images with a reasonable level of quality.  This is especially true when looking the cameras being offered in the low to mid tier by Canon, Nikon, Sony, Olypus, Fuji, etc.  ​

The fact of the matter is these cameras all produce nice images.  However, it is still the photographer that must make the image and it is still the photographer that must have a vision.  Earlier this week I talked about seeing and angles, but lets look briefly at the camera and how you can use this amazing piece of technology to help make your images stand out from the masses.​

I believe that the single biggest change that the average person can make to their photography is learning how to shoot in 'A' - Aperture Priority mode instead of P mode.  In making this switch, it is critical that you take the time to learn  what an aperture is and how changes in aperture affect your image making skills.  The best way to do this is to go take a workshop that immerses you in shooting and reviewing your images.  While their are great resources online that can help you out, nothing beats hands on instruction in the field.​

The use of high quality lenses, especially those found in the fast growing m 4/3's community, the Fuji community, and even the more limited Sony E mount community, coupled with  an understanding of A mode​ can help you to create images that isolate your subject and create a level of uniqueness that is missing from the vast array of images shot in P mode.

View fullsize

This image was taken in early morning light, something that I have not yet talked about, and with a high quality lens at a very large aperture.  The resulting shallow depth of field takes what is nothing more than an ordinary beer coaster and creates  a more dynamic image that helps to tell a story.  If you were traveling through Ireland and Guinness was a big part of your trip, you could take pictures of beer glasses full of Guinness like everyone else, or you could use some vision, a change of angle, and a larger aperture and create something unique to help differentiate your story.

Different Angles

Since the theme of this week is photography, I thought I would continue to add another image to the discussion.  While traveling and documenting a location, I feel it is critical to capture both the subtle and the not so subtle elements that visually define that location. After all, most places that we visit have key elements that must be included in any visual story.  Since these are key elements in a location, they will have been photographed quite extensively by the see of humanity that now has a camera in tow.​

The challenge then becomes how do we capture the essence of a location, see it in a different way, and put our own unique style stamp on the resulting image.  I think that this is where the two previous posts all come into play.  First, finding beauty in what might not otherwise be considered beautiful.  Second, learning to see in a way that is not readily apparent to the masses.  Third, looking for angles that are unique, thus blending the first two into an image that has your own personal style written all over it.​

For me, I know that I prefer to shoot a good number of my images from a perspective that is not often seen by others.  I do this in two unique ways.  First is by putting myself physically into different locations, e.g., climbing up things or crawling over things, both give me a perspective not often seen by others.  The other way that I change angle is through the use of wide angle lenses.  I love shooting wide because when done correctly it can take an average subject and give you something very special.

View fullsize

Combining all three elements will help you not only document a scene in a completely new and unique way, but also will help you to expand and grow your own personal style.​  This particular image is of a channel marker that sits at the end of a well worn and oft photographed jetty.  I personally have tons of images that show this marker as a distant object when photographed from land, the perspective that most people shoot from.  In this case I walked out on the jetty, and using a 21mm lens, was able to get right up and close to the marker, making it the dominant portion of my image frame. 

As I took several shots, I noticed that the gulls were disturbed by my presence and they began circling overhead.  Carefully framing and waiting, I was able to grab a capture of an object that in and of itself is not very exciting and yet the resulting image is dynamic and dramatic.

The use of a wide angle lens not only added drama, but done correctly, I was able to bring in multiple elements into a single image.  In this case, the international border marker, the international bridge, the local wildlife, and a bit of the town, all come into a single image that works.

This image is definitely one for the books and a great keeper as I continue to document life in Down East Maine and the Canadian Maritimes.

London Adventure Show

I have a small image gallery of cool bikes and bike gear over on my Flickr page that I saw at the London Adventure Show this past week.  There were some amazing bikes, like the Salsa Mukluk; cool lighting systems, like those from Exposure; innovative folding bikes from Pacific; and beautiful eye candy from Chris King; and more carbon bikes than I care to think about.

I have had the luxury of using the Exposure lights and can tell you they are amazing.  I will be adding more of these to my kit for the upcoming winter bike expeditions and will be doing an entire write up on how amazing this kit is.  If you look at the picture of the Exposure Six Pack mounted on the Salsa Mukluk you will see they make a perfect match for one another.

Lastly, cameras, cameras, cameras... This is such a crazy time for photographers, especially those who travel and travel light.  I have been using my NEX-5 for the past year and it has really served me well.  To remember what life was like behind a DSLR, I borrowed a Nikon D300s and mounted a vintage Nikon 50 1.8, MF lens and shot away. 

Two things really hit me.  First was just how much I prefer looking through a viewfinder.  It is a way of seeing that just connects my brain to my eye and then to the camera.  I really do miss that connection.  Second, well one word, Brokeh.  Boy do I love shooting shallow depth of field and seeing what comes out.  It is amazing how the character of a lens, shot at shallow depth of field with interesting light, can create art out of nothing.  The tire shot is a great example, with both the foreground and background deeply blurred, leaving nothing but some of the tread in focus. 

Wow, now I have a real problem and I pity my friend who may have a hard time getting his D300s back. I have been patiently waiting to see if the NEX-7 solves this problem for me, but the delays in distribution have made me really second guess my desire to stick with the NEX line.  Great camera but there are other options.  I think in a perfect world I would switch to the Nikon V1 for my portable setup, and augment that with a used D700 or even a used D3s.  This would provide me an ultra-light alternative capable of capturing stills, video, and some action -- and a more robust solution for landscape and heavy duty sports/wildlife imagery. 

Time will tell how this all plays out, for now, off to buy a lottery ticket and see what happens.

Test Driving the new Nikon V1

I have seen the future and it lies somewhere within the new Nikon V1.  This is a very exciting time in the world of photography as we are seeing rapid advances in image processing combined with the reduction of camera sizes.  The new ILC (Interchangeable Lens Cameras), from Nikon (V1/J1), Sony (NEX Series), Olympus (Pen), ... are rapidly changing the face of photography.  We are seeing a movement up from typical point and shoots with regards to capabilities and IQ and a down sizing in form factor from the giant SLRs of old.

As many of you know, I switched a year ago from my Nikon D2X bodies and gigantic lenses to a Sony NEX-5 setup with two small kit lenses.  I made this move partly out of necessity and partly because I saw the impracticality of carrying big bodies and big lenses as I travelled by kayak and bike.  After more than 13,000 images shot with my little NEX system, I don't ever see going back to large bodies other than for very specific situations.  That is not to say that these systems don't have issues, which they do, running the gamut from a lack of high quality lenses to no view-finders and a minimal amount of on camera customization and smaller sensors, something that we can argue all day about without coming to a consensus.

That was however a year ago, and not today.  In the span of a year, we have seen a huge amount of growth in the ILC camera market.  Sony has replaced the NEX-5 with the NEX-5N and the soon to be delivered NEX-7, all with the addition of an EVF and more flexibility in how the systems can be customized, not to mention the move to a 16 and 24 megapixel sensor.  The release of the Fuji X100 and the new X10 along with leaked pictures of the next Fuji have shown that innovation is continuing at a rapid pace.  Both Olympus and Panasonic are moving forward with Canon still sitting on the sidelines.  Which all brings us to the new Nikon 1 system offerings.

When announced months ago, the system was largely trashed by the media and the blogging world for a lack of innovation and a horribly small sensor compared to the direction in which the M 4/3's camp, Sony, and Fuji were moving.  All of these companies were trying to get a larger sensor in a smaller body, a direction that pleased enthusiasts all over, especially those convinced that the only way a camera could produce a good image was if it had a 'Full Frame' sensor.  Well, Nikon chose a different path, and now that these cameras are in the stores and in the hands of real users, the feedback is rapidly starting to change.  Perhaps these little cameras with their little sensors, have a place in the hands of photographers after all?

I first became really intrigued by the V1 system after reading Rob Gailbraith's review of the unit.  I have been a longtime follower of Rob's and trust his opinion greatly.  He is a pro interested in the tools that allow him to do his trade.  Like all professionals, rarely is there one tool that does everything well, thus we all usually have multiple tools, and for him, the V1 fit a certain niche.  Then came the review by Kirk Tuck, not only a great review, but a blog that I absolutely love reading each and every day.  Kirk started by posting his thoughts and his images that were simply blowing me away.  The final straw came after Steve Huff posted his review, titled "The Camera I Expected to Hate", which again had mostly great things to say about this new system offering from Nikon.

The combination of these three reviews had me very much intrigued about the 1 system and what Nikon had been up to for the last 4 years, the amount of time they claim to have spent developing the new line of 1 cameras.  As a long time Nikon pro user, it pained me to get rid of my Nikon gear, so the thought of being able to migrate back to the world of Nikon really excited me.  Nikon never does anything fast, and it was clear with the 1 system that they had taken their time and really attempted to create something new and innovative.  They were clearly looking to create an ILC ecosystem that had all of the parts and pieces needed by the enthusiast to put together a complete kit that could cover their needs.

The cornerstone of the system is the Nikon V1 body with 4 lenses and a series of accessories.  For a full review you should check out Steve Huff's site as he really spent a good deal of time with the body and lenses.  I have not had the chance to spend more than an hour with the system, but I am very impressed by this little unit.  The first thing you notice when you pick up the camera is the heft and build of the V1.  This is in stark contrast to the plastic and lightweight feel of my Sony NEX.  This camera feels solid and built to last, almost as if it were built from a solid block of metal.  The feel and balance in your hands is really something to hold and very organic in nature.  In a word, it really has a sublime feel to it.

Next up is the quality of the 4 lenses, the 10mm, 10-30mm, and the 30-110 and the video optimized 10-100.  The lenses all feel solid and well built with a minimum of play when zoomed out.  I love that each of them has a retract lock, making for safe storage of the lenses when the camera is turned off.  The V1, with the professionally built 10-100 mounted is definitely a hefty combination.  This lens has been optimized for video and uses a rocker switch on the end of the lens to zoom in and out.  The feel of this lens was really amazing.  I spent over an hour playing with the camera and all 4 lenses.  They were all well built and mounted very nicely to the V1 I was testing.

The really amazing part for me was the speed with wich this little camera worked.  Using the beautiful EVF, a first for me, was like finding nirvana in the small camera world.  My biggest issue with my Sony NEX has been the need to shoot at arms length using the rear LCD.  While there are times when I love shooting that way, most noticeably from a low angle, the rest of the time I despise it.  I feel that it keeps me completely disconnected from the image that I am trying to capture.  Somehow, looking through a view finder creates an intimate connection between my eye and the scene at large, making it much easier for me to capture what my 'brain' is seeing.  With the V1 I was suddenly able to look through a stunning electronic viewfinder and not only see what I was shooting, but I could also see all of the controls that I might want to manipulate. 

The bright and very responsive EVF allowed me to see my shutter speed or aperture adjustments along with any type of EV compensation or other camera adjustment I might be making.  One of the dings on the 1 series is the lack of professional adjustment buttons that you might find on larger SLR's or on the new Sony NEX-7 camera.  I have to say this is true, but.... I found that within the hour, I was able to keep my eye on the EVF and manipulate everything that I wanted without looking away.  This included changing basic settings; moving the focus point around; adjusting EV compensation; switching from an electronic shutter to a manual shutter; etc.  I am sure that there are adjustments that I could not get to without looking away, but for the most part, I was amazed at what I could do and with the overal ergonomics of the system.

Lastly, the speed of auto focus and shooting was nothing other than mind blowing.  I was inside, set the ISO to 3200 so I could get some reasonable shutter speed and just fired.  This thing just kept shooting, with no lag at all, and I was shooting RAW!!  For someone trying to shoot rapidly moving objects like pets or kids, and I would imagine some sports (not the pro type but family sports), this is an amazing little camera.  I can tell you that with my NEX-5 the buffer fills up so quickly that rapid shooting is all but impossible.  I know that with the NEX-5n Sony has fixed some of this, but I have not yet had the opportunity to really test out a 5n. 

The speed of shooting and the rapid auto focus is what makes this camera a real game changer. Combine that with what reviewers are saying about the metering, which is to say it is almost always spot on, and you have a small compact camera, with a bright EVF, that can shoot RAW files at amazing rates and never slow down.  It is really a great day for people looking to just take great pictures without having to lug around a 2 pound DSLR and 5 pounds of lenses.  Needless to say I am quite excited about what Nikon has created and what this means for the future of Nikon's pro line of cameras.

With any system, it is never all good, and that is true of the V1.  While I loved much about the camera, there are a few things that I was disappointed in.  Some of these I am sure Nikon can fix with firmware updates, while others will have to wait for the next iteration of the camera.  The things that I did not like are:

• No articulating rear screen.  A year ago I would never have believed that this could be any type of issue for me, but a year of shooting my NEX with it's beautiful little hinged screen has changed my shooting habits.  For ME, I shoot a lot from very low angles and this is where a articulating screen really comes in handy.  I have heard people say that the V1 screen is so nice that it can be seen from all angles, which may be true, but when you are shooting at ground level, it is nice to not have to lie on the ground.  This is an issue that may or may not be fixed in future models
• The EVF has a slight delay when the camera is brought up to the eye.  Funny enough but the new Sony A77 had the same issue when it first came out and the problem was largely resolved through a firmware update so I am optimistic that this will become a non-issue in the near future.
• The camera wants to always replay the last image shot through the EVF.  This is not an issue as long as you are holding down the shutter, but as soon as you let up on the shutter, you are forced to endure a period where you are looking at the last image shot and not the scene in front of you.  This became quickly annoying as I would shoot a frame or two and go to recompose only to find that I had to wait for the EVF to come back alive.  I am optimistic that this will be fixed in a firmware update.
• It would be nice to add flexibility in how the buttons on the back of the camera are used.  Specifically the rocker switch located on the upper right side of the camera.  If this switch can simply become user customizable then a big step will have been taken to making the camera more user customizeable.
• I wish that the movement of the focus indicator was separate from the back rocker switch.  I would have personally preferred a dedicated rocker for movement of the focus indicator, but I also recognize that there is no real-estate to make this change, so this is something I just have to live with.

My list of negatives is not long, but for me they may be enough to keep me from switching over.  The lack of the articulating screen is really the one that I have to think long and hard about, as that capability has really helped me out with a very specific style of shooting that I perform.  Other than that, everything else can be fixed.  The fact that Nikon has created an entire new system,  one that will have additional primes and accessories added in the near future, makes it a very appealing to me.  Nikon has always known photography, and they have always known photographers.  While they are never the fastest to market, when they do arrive, it is generally a well thought out product, at least in the line of professional bodies.

So this brings us to the final point, who is this camera for?  It is clearly not a professional body, but then again, it is not a typical P&S either.  Is it for the enthusiast or advanced amateur, or possibly the pro looking for the perfect small camera system to supplement their larger DSLR's?  I don't know the answer, but what I do know is a year with the NEX system combined with the ever changing world of photography has told me that the day of needing a large DSLR with large lenses to capture stunning and USEABLE images is over. 

Having the ability to carry a small camera with a small group of lenses as I travel the world is what interests me.  I want to use my tools to tell stories and for me that means having a camera on me at all times, taking pictures and sharing them with others.  The new series of ILC cameras is incredibly exciting and offers up a world of promise for both professional and amateur photographers alike.  Kudos to Nikon for taking the time to create a system that matches their vision of this new breed of photography.  Time will tell if the 1 system is successful as there is stiff competition from the likes of Sony, Olympus, and Fuji.  With that said, I am personally very excited about this camera and look forward to spending some more time with it evaluating the IQ and the overall usability. 

You can help me support my site and my adventure travels by using my Amazon links to purchase your camera gear.  These links cost you nothing while helping to make it possible for me to share my travels and images with you.  Thanks for reading and for your support.

Nikon 1 V1 10.1 MP HD Digital Camera System with 10-30mm VR 1 NIKKOR Lens

Low Tide

Low tide takes it's toll

New Images Online

I updated the Bike Around America image gallery with my latest set of images from western Texas, I hope you enjoy.  I also added a new gallery of selected images from the Atlantic Odyssey trip, which can be found here.