Hitomi Komatsu | Markins Ball Head
Theme
Landscape Photography
Photographer
Hitomi Komatsu
Date
April-June 2019
Location
Akita Prefecture
Device
Markins
Q10i-RD Ballhead
PV-80 + LV-170 Universal L-Plate SET
PV-100 + LV-170 Universal L-Plate SET
PL-55 Lens Plate
PL-75 Lens Plate
PV-80 + LV-170 Universal L-Plate SET
PV-100 + LV-170 Universal L-Plate SET
PL-55 Lens Plate
PL-75 Lens Plate
FUJIFILM
X-T3
X-H1
XF10-24mmF4 R OIS
XF18-55mmF2.8-4 R LM OIS
XF50-140mmF2.8 R LM OIS WR
XF100-400mmF4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR
X-H1
XF10-24mmF4 R OIS
XF18-55mmF2.8-4 R LM OIS
XF50-140mmF2.8 R LM OIS WR
XF100-400mmF4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR
Manfrotto
055CXPR03
Review
Hitomo Komatsu
Born in 1956 in Senboku City (formerly Kakunodate Town), Akita Prefecture. After graduating from Kakunodate Minami High School, joined the basketball team at Unitika Co., Ltd., where worked as a player, coach, and manager. Began studying under Katsusuke Chiba in 1983.
In 1999, went independent and established Hitomi Komatsu Photography Studio. Work is published in various magazines and calendars, focusing mainly on landscape photography. Main focus is on the seasons and flowers of northern Tohoku, but also focuses on the people, artisans, hot springs, and local cuisine that live there. From 2008 to 2013, work was exhibited at the Pukapukan.
In 1999, went independent and established Hitomi Komatsu Photography Studio. Work is published in various magazines and calendars, focusing mainly on landscape photography. Main focus is on the seasons and flowers of northern Tohoku, but also focuses on the people, artisans, hot springs, and local cuisine that live there. From 2008 to 2013, work was exhibited at the Pukapukan.
Member of the Japan Professional Photographers Society (JPS)
Guiding member of the Japan Landscape Photography Association (JNP)
Member of the Japan Copyright Society
- Photo collection -
- 1995 "Glow" (Kappanplan)
- 2017 "Colorful Tales of Michinoku" (Cleo)
- Photo collection -
- 2010 "Sakura Rendezvous" (traveling exhibition) Sendai
- 2011 "Sakura Rendezvous" (traveling exhibition) Tokyo, Sapporo, Akita, Nagano
- 2017 "Sakura Rendezvous" "The Colors of Michinoku" Hirafuku Memorial Museum (Akita Prefecture)
- 2017 "Michinoku Color Story" (traveling exhibition) Osaka, Nagoya, Sapporo, Sendai
- 2018 "Michinoku Color Story" (traveling exhibition) Fukuoka
About the subject of the photo
After being a former basketball player, I spent 17 years as an apprentice photographer and 20 years as a professional photographer in rural Akita.
When I tell people this story for the first time, they are always surprised, but I have mainly photographed landscapes, but I have also looked at genres such as artisans, hot springs and local cuisine. In particular, I feel that food and climate are closely related to the landscape, and so I have chosen to photograph them.
When I tell people this story for the first time, they are always surprised, but I have mainly photographed landscapes, but I have also looked at genres such as artisans, hot springs and local cuisine. In particular, I feel that food and climate are closely related to the landscape, and so I have chosen to photograph them.
About Markins
I've been interested in Markins' ball heads and camera plates for a while, so I've been trying them out since the cherry blossom season this year.
For many years, I've been using other companies' large and heavy ball heads, but since switching to Fuji's mirrorless X series cameras, I've been stuck with a slightly larger head. Still, I thought it would be difficult to use telephoto lenses without a certain size and weight, so I continued to use them, but as an older woman photographer whose physical strength and grip strength have been declining year by year, I wanted a lighter and more compact head that would still stop firmly when in use, which may seem a bit selfish. So I decided to try Markins, which has been talked about in the landscape photography world recently. The recommendations of my trusted photography friends, Yoshiteru Takahashi and Hisashi Sato, also helped me introduce Markins.
The model I chose is the RED Q10i. Among the majority of my equipment, which is black or silver, the red head made me excited from the day I got it, and I wanted to show it off.
For me, who is not skilled enough to carry a camera with me anywhere and at any time, various camera equipment and goods when I start shooting are a great way to get excited and help me concentrate... but if they are not practical, it's all for nothing.
I immediately attached the camera to the ball head. The quick shoe is so easy to use. And I was surprised at how smoothly it can be operated with just a little force. In addition, the smoothness of the ball head, which follows the subtle movements up and down and left and right when you are working on the composition, and the ease of operation, which stops exactly where you want it, were better than I expected. The ball head I used before became a little loose after a while even after maintenance, and sometimes I would accidentally forget to tighten it tightly. When shooting upwards, the camera would hit me directly in the face! But the Q10i stayed put and never hit me in the face.
For many years, I've been using other companies' large and heavy ball heads, but since switching to Fuji's mirrorless X series cameras, I've been stuck with a slightly larger head. Still, I thought it would be difficult to use telephoto lenses without a certain size and weight, so I continued to use them, but as an older woman photographer whose physical strength and grip strength have been declining year by year, I wanted a lighter and more compact head that would still stop firmly when in use, which may seem a bit selfish. So I decided to try Markins, which has been talked about in the landscape photography world recently. The recommendations of my trusted photography friends, Yoshiteru Takahashi and Hisashi Sato, also helped me introduce Markins.
The model I chose is the RED Q10i. Among the majority of my equipment, which is black or silver, the red head made me excited from the day I got it, and I wanted to show it off.
For me, who is not skilled enough to carry a camera with me anywhere and at any time, various camera equipment and goods when I start shooting are a great way to get excited and help me concentrate... but if they are not practical, it's all for nothing.
I immediately attached the camera to the ball head. The quick shoe is so easy to use. And I was surprised at how smoothly it can be operated with just a little force. In addition, the smoothness of the ball head, which follows the subtle movements up and down and left and right when you are working on the composition, and the ease of operation, which stops exactly where you want it, were better than I expected. The ball head I used before became a little loose after a while even after maintenance, and sometimes I would accidentally forget to tighten it tightly. When shooting upwards, the camera would hit me directly in the face! But the Q10i stayed put and never hit me in the face.
The L-shaped plate is also easy to use. I am often called to the scenery, and there were many moments when I was able to immerse myself in shooting smoothly without interrupting the rhythm, as if responding to such a momentary scene. I think the comfortable and quick vertical position switching made me feel that way.
My first impression was that the plate for the telephoto lens looked small and I wondered if it would be okay, but I was surprised at how stable it was because it could be firmly fixed to the lens. In particular, with the FUJIFILM X-T3 + 100-400mm, I was able to rhythmically follow the moon when shooting on a full moon night, and the good balance did not change even when using the XF1.4 teleconverter.
I often use the 100-400mm lens to shoot flowers, etc. The combination of the tripod head and plate was good even in scenes that required a more delicate composition than landscapes, and the smooth operation meant that I never missed an opportunity.
Before I knew it, I no longer had a chance to use the other heavy tripod heads that I had, which I had several of. Now Markins has become my trusty companion and we run around the fields and mountains together.
My first impression was that the plate for the telephoto lens looked small and I wondered if it would be okay, but I was surprised at how stable it was because it could be firmly fixed to the lens. In particular, with the FUJIFILM X-T3 + 100-400mm, I was able to rhythmically follow the moon when shooting on a full moon night, and the good balance did not change even when using the XF1.4 teleconverter.
I often use the 100-400mm lens to shoot flowers, etc. The combination of the tripod head and plate was good even in scenes that required a more delicate composition than landscapes, and the smooth operation meant that I never missed an opportunity.
Before I knew it, I no longer had a chance to use the other heavy tripod heads that I had, which I had several of. Now Markins has become my trusty companion and we run around the fields and mountains together.
■ Cherry blossom buds
FUJIFILM X-T3 / XF100-400mmF4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR1/320秒 F5 -0.3補正 ISO160
■ Fugenzou
FUJIFILM X-T3 / XF50-140mmF2.8 R LM OIS WR1/52 s F8 -1EV ISO160
■ When I was in the rice fields
FUJIFILM X-T3 / XF50-140mmF2.8 R LM OIS WR1/58 s F16 -1.3EV ISO200
■ Moonlit rice fields
FUJIFILM X-T3 / XF50-140mmF2.8 R LM OIS WR3.2 s F8 -1EV ISO800
■ When the moon is full
FUJIFILM X-T3 / XF100-400mmF4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR + XF1.4X TC WR1/125 s F14 ISO160 （Multiple Exposure）
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