Switchbacks
Andrew making his way down one of the crazy mountains we climbed.
Click for full size image
The Ultimate Adventure Travel Camera??
Well, the wait is over and Sony has made the progression from the APS-C NEX line through the fixed lens RX1r series to the much awaited A7 & A7R Full Frame mirrorless cameras. For those of us seeking the ultimate compromise between size and IQ, this could be the holy grail. Much is being written about the camera now that everyones NDA's have expired. I think the following video is perhaps the best hands on review that I have seen and is definitely worth checking out. Note the entire video was shot on the new 24mp A7. Between this and the images from Brian Smith, I think this could be a real winner.
Inspiration and the power of a bike to heal
I watch this every week because it helps me to put everything into perspective. His journey and battle with Cancer has been one of the most moving real life stories I have ever experienced.
The Lost Coast - Day 1, images not words
A couple of images to tell the story of that memorable first day. Lots more to come, and even on Day 1, these few images don't do it justice....Wow, all I can say is WOW.
Beer, Bikes, Friends
As with all good tours, and bike rides, good beer and good friends make for a spectacular adventure. Here we have a couple pics from the recent Lost Coast Tour that cast a bit of light on both. I will have an entire gallery dedicated to the food we ate, the beer, wine and whiskey we drank, and the people we met. To me, those things culminated in one of the most awesome Adventures I have ever had!! Cheers guys and gal, it was a great ride and I look forward to Part II.
The Simplicity of Tarps
Just back from another spectacular bikepacking trip on my Salsa Mukluk, I can honestly say that for 90% of my trip needs, a Tarp is the perfect shelter. For the last 5 years I have experimented with tents, bivies, and a number of different Tarps, so I believe that for me, I have acquired a fair bit of experience through a multitude of conditions.
With the exception of some very specific situations and scenarios, the Tarp has ruled the roost. With a bike, I can string a tarp anywhere I want, including the middle of nowhere. Using my technigue for anchoring the bike with line and stakes, it serves as the perfect highpoint for one end of the tarp. The other end can be anchored to some other fixed object, or with the aid of your helmet or stick, stood on end, you have enough lift to comfortably sleep without and contact between your bag and the tarp.
Add in an UL bivy, like one from MLD, and you have bug and splash protection at your disposal. Thus carrying a Cuben tarp, a set of UL stakes and a UL bivy, you are set to string up protection no matter where you travel. With some larger fixed structures to anchor to, you can easily create a very comfortable living space that protects you, your bag and your gear from the elements.
My current Tarp of choice is the Cuben Fiber tarp made by Hyperlite Mountain Gear. I have been traveling with this tarp for almost two years now and it has proven itself as completely reliable. The attention to detail is amazing and the Cuben Fiber is not only light but absolutely waterproof. One very nice feature of Cuben is that it does not wet out. What this means is that after a night of rain, simply shake the tarp and the vast majority of the moisture is displaced, thus keeping your UL tarp in a UL state. I have found that Silnylon has a tendency to wet out and thus your super light tarp is no longer super light and you are stuck packing an item that is soaked through and through.
For those that are serious about traveling light, the combination of a Cuben Tarp, UL Bivy, a Neo Air pad, and a set of UL stakes is the ultimate combination for light weight, flexible shelter. Simple to setup; flexible in how you use it; and a multitude of useable configurations with very few things that can break!
HMG Cuben strung over rock
Creative use of endpoints, a helmet and bike lashed to table
Camp full of Tarps, all off of the table
Using the bike as an endpoint
Getting to the Top
We worked incredibly hard to climb this hill, an old road with a grade that would not pass code these days. Andrew made it to the top first, with Erik and his Vaya coming in shortly behind. Me, and my trusty Muk, with huge 4" tires were dragging up the rear.
The Lost Coast
Andrew - Exploring, day 1 Crescent City
Like all great and epic trips, the process of coming back into 'normal' life is chaotic and often fraught with angst. The loss of the peaceful rythms of travel and life on the road can be a challenge to the soul. I returned yesterday from an amazing adventure with new Life Long friends. The process of finding a way to share the story, the sights, the sounds now begins. It was, without a doubt, one of the hardest trips of my adventuring life.
This image, captured on our first day in Crescent City of Andrew climbing a rock, speaks volumes to the the excitement and awe that each of us felt as we embarked on our trip down the lost coast. More images, words, and thoughts will follow in the days to come.
Base Weight - 10.8 pounds
Base weight comes in at 10.8 pounds not counting my camera/electronic gear. The hammock cost me almost 650g, pushing me over the 10 pound mark. I will double check, but there is really nothing else I can eliminate for this trip. Oh well, pretty darn close to my goal of 10 pounds.
Mirrorless updates - Going Light, final bits
It has been a while since I totally dedicated myself to traveling with just a mirrorless camera on a trip that I knew would have a great deal of photographic opportunity. For the upcoming Lost Coast trip, in an effort to go lighter and to do a more realistic evaluation I have chosen to fore-go the big Nikon/Zeiss gear and instead travel with a set of small cameras. The Fuji X100s, the Fuji XE-1 and my small fun&gun Nikon V1.
It will no doubt be interesting to see if this collection of cameras and lenses can provide me with the coverage and IQ that I typically require or even demand. There has been much written in the blogo-sphere about people making the switch from DSLRs to Mirrorless cameras. Well, I can say for a fact, as of right now, there is NO way I would make that a permanent switch -- It would require giving up way to much IQ for my purposes (The Nikon D800/Zeiss combo is simply incredible). Instead, I choose to view these cameras as tools. Each having a utility and a purpose along with pros and cons. Weight and bulk typically versus IQ and focus speed/accuracy.
I wanted to go light on this trip and yet I still want a range of focal lengths. I want something small, quick and relatively disposable (the Nikon V1) for my 'grab' camera and I want something with more meat, more flexibility, and yes, better IQ -- the X100s and the XE-1 paired with the 35 and 60. I have always preferred the concept of two cameras with different focal lengths paired together over switching out lenses in the field. Traveling in lightweight mode, it is simply not possible to carry two D800's, which is surely another great benefit to these small little cameras.
It will be a real life experiment with real life images and a real test to see how this all works out. From a bulk standpoint they are collectively almost the size of my D800 with Zeiss lens. From a risk standpoint, they are a fraction of the cost of that kit, which, having destroyed a few D3's on trips, is a relief.
I have also added a few other bits to the kit, just to try and sort out a few answers for myself. The RRS L plate for the X100s gives me a nice grip and a quality L plate all in one modular kit. I have also added the Gorrilla Pod Focus unit mated to a RRS UL ball head. New SanDisk memory cards and a manual cable release fill out the remaining parts.
On a bike note, the Fargo has not arrived, so it will be the Ti Mukluk configured as lightweight as I could set it up. My riding partners are going skinny and I am going Fat -- we will see how this all works out at the end.
Two days and counting so follow along, it is going to be a beautiful ride!!
Random thoughts
I spent the weekend trying to sort gear, pack, test the Fuji X100s, and get some miles into my tired legs. Tired not because of riding, but the summer grind. I got 30 miles in through the rolling hills and coastal flats and oh the pain. Here are some random thoughts on bikes and cameras, just to get them out of my head:
- Love the size and organic nature of the X100s
- No, to all those that ask, it is not a film camera
- Escalator tires are not good on the road or gravel. Just too big. Looking forward to the Husker Dus that I pick up this week.
- The metering on the X100s is somewhat off. Any 'outdoor' scenes definitely require 2/3 to 1 full stop exposure increase, especially if you believe in exposing to the right
- The X100s battery seems quite good, one charge and I am still going
- The frame lines in the Optical Viewfinder are not correct. I don't know if there is a problem with mine or if this is typical of others. They are off by enough that it is frustrating to me
- I am on the fence about the Gilles Berthoud. After a couple of rides I am struggling to get it set up right. I do so love the feel of leather compared to synthetic saddles, so that is a good thing.
- I am definitely liking what I see out of the X100s, but it is so tough to compare IQ when you are used to the D800 and Zeiss lenses. There is just not much else that compares. With that said, all in all, I see some potential in the Fuji stuff.
- Fuji XE-1 with the 35 and 60 arrives today courtesy of Lens Rentals.com.
- I was unable to sort out a 'box' for the trip, so I will put my faith in the Airlines to not destroy my bike, once again. I have a few tricks up my sleeves for the TSA guys in hopes that they will do a better job of re-taping the bike box and allowing it to navigate AIRLINE HELL!!
Ok, that is it, I feel like it was a bit of a rant, but oh well, either way, it is good to just get it out of the system.
The Lost Coast trip is really going to be beautiful. The route winds down from Crescent City to San Fransisco via the old road and trail system found along the coast. This should offer up an amazing feast for the camera and the senses, and my need to just get away for a bit. More bits to come on gear selection for all of you fellow gear junkies.
Straight From the Journal
I am starting a new series of posts that are direct entries from my journals. They are unedited, full of typos, grammar mistakes, shorthand spelling -- representing my raw thoughts not only on the trail but off. One of my winter projects will be to digitize a good number of my journal entries from the past four years in the hopes of sharing what life has been like, from a very personal perspective, as I have moved from one phase of my life to the next.
Macro Mode
This first post is from this morning as I continue to play with the little Fuji X100s. Images are from a brief walkabout through the early morning fog. Edited in Lightroom 5 from raw files:
Fuji X100s arrived two days ago. Having decided to make the plunge, I was pretty anxious for the little beast to arrive. This is probably one of the first cameras or even electronic gadgets, that I have purchased sight unseen. Such was the hype and testimonials of this camera that I felt safe in that purchasing decision.
Nearly impossible to find, I did a google search for Maine camera stores, picked up the phone and called. Low and behold, a brand new unit sat on the back shelf and yes, I could buy it over the phone. Karma, man, you gotta believe. Two days later the camera arrived.
Like a kid a Xmas, I waited until bed time to open the box. Nice packaging is the first thing that hit me. Next, pulling out the camera, I was instantly struck by how this thing felt. My biggest beef with any of the other small cameras that I have tried is that they don't feel like a camera. They always feel like a piece of cheap plastic. Well, this is certainly not the case with the Fuji.
The weight is nice and the metal construction even nicer. Love the assortment of dials that are actually dials. They have indents that make them work like dials should work. Yep. No accidentally hitting the record button or flipping the camera into some random mode simply because you bumped a dial. Yes, instantly I knew I was going to like this little guy. Who knows what kind of pictures it would take, but it certainly passed the 'how does it feel' test.
The next step was to see if I could shoot the camera without reading the manual. The next morning, battery fully charged, I set about setting things up. While the exterior of the x100 is certainly retro, the inside is modern day digital. I had heard much about Fujisawa menus I clouding their Q button, so it was relatively easy for me to get things set up the way I like them.
I selected A mode on the top dial; put the camera into Raw+ JPeg mode; set the file sizes and changed the color space. With those items set I knew I could go about shooting and figure out the rest as time allowed. After all, I have a week before the Lost Coast Bikepacking trip which means plenty of time to sort it all out.
My first shooting experience was the rising sun over the harbor. I shot a couple of pics in Velvia (yes, that would be Fujisawa digital version of their much loved Velvia film). Figuring out how to switch film modes was a breeze and before I knew it I was bouncing between Velvia and B&W. starting with the little Nikon V1, I have been experimenting with shooting B&W straight out of the camera in an attempt to minimize computer time.
Sorting this out on the Fuji was a breeze and I was instantly having a blast. The first real thing that struck me was the camera was not in my way. I was simply shooting, focusing through the optical VF and taking pictures. Yes, their are lots of bells and whistles and tons of different ways to configure the camera. Yes it will take me time to sort out how to move about quickly within the menus, but by and large, I was up and running in a matter of moments. I absolutely love when that happens.
The mosquito hatch was huge and thus the shooting came to a rapid close. I dumped the images and was very impressed with what I saw. My very initial thought – all of the buzz surrounding this little camera might actually be true.
X100s Sample Images
Here are a couple of snaps from today showing a raw file and then a raw file converted to B&W in Silver Effex Pro2. I gotta say, this lens is incredibly sharp. Look at the separation between the tire and the metal gate. Zooming in reveals a tremendous amount of detail...
The Barn is for Jason since he seems to get innundated with Barn pics, I thought I would join the fun!!
More pics up at my Flickr page tomorrow.
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.
V1 at Dusk
Still strait out of the camera using the B&W profile. I am very, very impressed with the little files coming out of this camera and I have not even begun to play with the Raw files. There is some very nice tonality to the images, great detail (look at the fabric and the reflection) and definitely a bit of 'grit' that gives a very film like appearance.
My inital thoughts are they look a bit like my TMAX scans. It will be fun to see what can be done with the Raw files and NIK to produce my B&W's, which is my normal way of processing images.
This camera, with a couple of primes or even one of the zooms, is going to make a very nice SUL bikepacking setup.