Go to Odaigahara in search of hoarfrost
November 29, 2019
Photographer / Yoshinori Takahashi
The autumn foliage season is an exciting season for landscape photographers. I am also drawn to the change of seasons as the peak of autumn passes and winter approaches. My main shooting field, Nara Prefecture, has mountainous areas over 1,500 meters above sea level, so even in November, I sometimes encounter landscapes that look like mid-winter. In late November, when a cold front was forecast to flow in, I visited Odakigahara in Kamikitayama Village, Nara Prefecture, one of Japan's 100 famous mountains, and found a world of snow! Markins supported me as I shot in temperatures of minus 7 degrees and strong winds.
It's been exactly one year since I started using the Markins Ballhead Q10i-BK, a 3-way head devotee. Now, with the exception of a few architectural scenes, I use a ballhead for most of my photography. Its appeal is the speed with which you can decide on the composition. Being able to turn the camera in all directions with a single knob means it's great for taking chances.
In this season when the temperature drops, the large knob feels good to operate even with gloves on, and it has no sharp edges so it doesn't get caught on branches or other objects when carrying it around.
The reason I was able to switch to a ballhead after being accustomed to a 3-way head for a long time was largely because I no longer felt uncomfortable using it. Previously, my impression of ball heads was that they were unstable, and as soon as I loosened the release screw, the camera would tilt, making it difficult to decide on the composition, but that was dispelled by the Markins, which stayed firmly in place even in a semi-fixed state and allowed for fine adjustments.
My main camera is the Sony α7R IV, which was released in September 2019. The body shape has changed from the α7R III I had been using until then, and I was eagerly waiting for the release of an L-plate for the α7R IV, when the dedicated plates PS-A92 and LS-A92 were released in late November. It was possible to use them for the α7R III, but the specially designed ones, which were made to fit the body shape, were comfortable without any misalignment. Even after changing the plate, there were no problems when using a cable release, and even when shooting in a vertical position, the release and the head do not interfere with each other if the center of the plate is slightly shifted. I also like the fact that the Markins plate is thin and light, yet highly rigid.
To digress, in fact, when shooting in early autumn, I once knocked the tripod over in the mud without the camera on it. I wiped it off immediately on the spot, but after that, it lost its smoothness and felt like it was getting stuck. I think sand got caught in the ball part. I thought about sending it in for maintenance, but when I got home, I followed the instructions for the head, wiped the ball part and applied the specified lubricant, WD-40. I then tried wiping it dry, and it was beautifully smooth again! No matter how excellent a tool is, it is meaningless if it is too delicate and difficult to maintain. This made me realize how easy it is to maintain, and I came to like Markins even more.
However, just to be safe, I am thinking of sending it in for an overhaul when the time is right. I was advised that if the camera is dropped into a swamp, mud may get inside and not be able to escape, which could cause problems later on. I hope this helps.
Winter is finally upon us. It has been proven in the field that the camera works smoothly even in low temperatures.
I'm looking forward to traveling with Markins through my favorite season of the year.
In this season when the temperature drops, the large knob feels good to operate even with gloves on, and it has no sharp edges so it doesn't get caught on branches or other objects when carrying it around.
The reason I was able to switch to a ballhead after being accustomed to a 3-way head for a long time was largely because I no longer felt uncomfortable using it. Previously, my impression of ball heads was that they were unstable, and as soon as I loosened the release screw, the camera would tilt, making it difficult to decide on the composition, but that was dispelled by the Markins, which stayed firmly in place even in a semi-fixed state and allowed for fine adjustments.
My main camera is the Sony α7R IV, which was released in September 2019. The body shape has changed from the α7R III I had been using until then, and I was eagerly waiting for the release of an L-plate for the α7R IV, when the dedicated plates PS-A92 and LS-A92 were released in late November. It was possible to use them for the α7R III, but the specially designed ones, which were made to fit the body shape, were comfortable without any misalignment. Even after changing the plate, there were no problems when using a cable release, and even when shooting in a vertical position, the release and the head do not interfere with each other if the center of the plate is slightly shifted. I also like the fact that the Markins plate is thin and light, yet highly rigid.
To digress, in fact, when shooting in early autumn, I once knocked the tripod over in the mud without the camera on it. I wiped it off immediately on the spot, but after that, it lost its smoothness and felt like it was getting stuck. I think sand got caught in the ball part. I thought about sending it in for maintenance, but when I got home, I followed the instructions for the head, wiped the ball part and applied the specified lubricant, WD-40. I then tried wiping it dry, and it was beautifully smooth again! No matter how excellent a tool is, it is meaningless if it is too delicate and difficult to maintain. This made me realize how easy it is to maintain, and I came to like Markins even more.
However, just to be safe, I am thinking of sending it in for an overhaul when the time is right. I was advised that if the camera is dropped into a swamp, mud may get inside and not be able to escape, which could cause problems later on. I hope this helps.
Winter is finally upon us. It has been proven in the field that the camera works smoothly even in low temperatures.
I'm looking forward to traveling with Markins through my favorite season of the year.
Yoshinori Takahashi
Born in Nara Prefecture in 1970, Lives in Nara Prefecture. Aspired to be a photographer since high school and moved to Tokyo after graduation. Left Nara for a while, but by living in Tokyo, Once again noticed the charm of Nara. With the desire to "leave the Nara where I was born and raised in photographs and let many people know about its charm," Returned to hometown of Nara after graduating from the Junior College of Tokyo Polytechnic University in 1991, and worked at a photo library in Osaka while devoting himself to photography.
Became a freelance photographer in 2000 and established the photography studio "Photo Kasuga." Provides works, mainly landscape photographs, for pamphlets, calendars, tourist posters, etc. Provides photographs and writes articles for photography magazines and publications. In parallel with photography in Nara Prefecture, continues to take photographs around the country on the theme of the melody woven by nature.
Became a freelance photographer in 2000 and established the photography studio "Photo Kasuga." Provides works, mainly landscape photographs, for pamphlets, calendars, tourist posters, etc. Provides photographs and writes articles for photography magazines and publications. In parallel with photography in Nara Prefecture, continues to take photographs around the country on the theme of the melody woven by nature.
Member of the Japan Professional Photographers Society (JPS)
Member of the Japan Landscape Photographers Association
Member of the Nara Prefecture Artists Association
Reviewed Products
