Mimi Takamatsu | Markins Ball Head
Theme
Landscape: Mountain Laughing
Photographer
Mimi Takamatsu
Date
May-June 2018
Location
Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Yamagata
Device
Markins
Canon
EOS 5D Mark Ⅳ
EF24-105mm F4L IS USM
EF16-35mm F4L IS USM
EF100-400mm F4.5-5.6L IS Ⅱ USM
EF24-105mm F4L IS USM
EF16-35mm F4L IS USM
EF100-400mm F4.5-5.6L IS Ⅱ USM
Gitzo
Review
Mimi Takamatsu
Inspired by my father, I began taking photos and, after graduating from photography school, started my career as an artist in earnest. I initially focused on capturing local scenery, but in recent years, I have traveled across the country to create works that reflect diverse landscapes and stories.
Member of the Japan Landscape Photographers Association
- Photo Exhibition -
Numerous solo exhibitions (Tokyo, Yokohama, Ibaraki)
As a member of the Ibaraki Photographers Association, I participates in group exhibitions every year.
"Landscapes" are always around me, and I'm always thinking about what to capture.
When I started taking pictures seriously, I had a tripod that I had been using since my student days. The head was a three-way with two pan bars, and I had to adjust the left and right, then the vertical, and repeat this process every time.
It gets tedious when you move it a little more to the right or a little more up, and the center of the subject also shifts depending on the vertical and horizontal positions.
This was frustrating, so I sometimes took pictures handheld, but when I looked at the picture on my computer monitor later, there was still a slight blur.
When I was wondering what to do, I had the opportunity to see Yoshiteru Takahashi's tripod. He showed me his Markins ball head.
You can quickly change the camera's vertical and horizontal orientation by moving the lever, and turn the ball fixing knob to make it level in an instant. And it's small.
Wow! I was impressed when I tried it out, but I couldn't move the lever as easily as Takahashi-san.
Maybe my fingers are weak? The lever felt harder to open and close than I thought, and it took quite a while to change the orientation.
Hmm, just as I was about to be disappointed that I hadn't found my fate after all, I was told that there is also a type that you turn a knob.
If you turn the knob, that might be good!
So this knob shoe ball head was my fateful encounter. You clamp the special plate and turn the knob. Once you get used to it, it takes about three seconds to switch between vertical and horizontal. To put it in perspective, it's as fast as changing a tire in an F1 race!
As I got more used to it, I was able to quickly move the horizontal knob and the ball fixing knob.
The scenery around me changes in an instant, so there are many moments I don't want to miss. By being able to decide the composition faster, I naturally took more shots than before.
Although it is small, the Q10i can withstand a load of 45 kg and can hold a 100-400 mm lens without any movement. During a shoot the other day, it withstood a pretty strong wind. Also, the ball part that is not greased will not harden even in cold regions, so I can expect to shoot as usual and am looking forward to shooting in the winter.
An important companion when using a ball head is the plate. This is like a rail that connects the head to the camera.
There are general-purpose types that can be used with various cameras and model-specific types. Both are mounted on the head, but the fit is different.
I attached a dedicated plate to my EOS 5D Mark IV, and it made the tripod, head, and camera feel more integrated.
If you attach a dedicated item to each camera, it makes changing cameras quicker and easier, so I recommend including this in your budget as well as the head.
When I go out to shoot, I often see people taking pictures handheld even in situations where a tripod would be better. It's a shame not to know about such a simple head that can maximize the camera's performance and the photographer's skill. I hope you'll experience this perfect fit.
When I started taking pictures seriously, I had a tripod that I had been using since my student days. The head was a three-way with two pan bars, and I had to adjust the left and right, then the vertical, and repeat this process every time.
It gets tedious when you move it a little more to the right or a little more up, and the center of the subject also shifts depending on the vertical and horizontal positions.
This was frustrating, so I sometimes took pictures handheld, but when I looked at the picture on my computer monitor later, there was still a slight blur.
When I was wondering what to do, I had the opportunity to see Yoshiteru Takahashi's tripod. He showed me his Markins ball head.
You can quickly change the camera's vertical and horizontal orientation by moving the lever, and turn the ball fixing knob to make it level in an instant. And it's small.
Wow! I was impressed when I tried it out, but I couldn't move the lever as easily as Takahashi-san.
Maybe my fingers are weak? The lever felt harder to open and close than I thought, and it took quite a while to change the orientation.
Hmm, just as I was about to be disappointed that I hadn't found my fate after all, I was told that there is also a type that you turn a knob.
If you turn the knob, that might be good!
So this knob shoe ball head was my fateful encounter. You clamp the special plate and turn the knob. Once you get used to it, it takes about three seconds to switch between vertical and horizontal. To put it in perspective, it's as fast as changing a tire in an F1 race!
The scenery around me changes in an instant, so there are many moments I don't want to miss. By being able to decide the composition faster, I naturally took more shots than before.
Although it is small, the Q10i can withstand a load of 45 kg and can hold a 100-400 mm lens without any movement. During a shoot the other day, it withstood a pretty strong wind. Also, the ball part that is not greased will not harden even in cold regions, so I can expect to shoot as usual and am looking forward to shooting in the winter.
An important companion when using a ball head is the plate. This is like a rail that connects the head to the camera.
There are general-purpose types that can be used with various cameras and model-specific types. Both are mounted on the head, but the fit is different.
I attached a dedicated plate to my EOS 5D Mark IV, and it made the tripod, head, and camera feel more integrated.
If you attach a dedicated item to each camera, it makes changing cameras quicker and easier, so I recommend including this in your budget as well as the head.
When I go out to shoot, I often see people taking pictures handheld even in situations where a tripod would be better. It's a shame not to know about such a simple head that can maximize the camera's performance and the photographer's skill. I hope you'll experience this perfect fit.
■ Village waiting for rice planting
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV / EF24-105mm F4L IS USM F14 1/20 s -0.3EV ISO100
■ The dyed peaks of Tsukuba
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV / EF24-105mm F4L IS USMF14 1/8 s -0.7EV ISO400
■ Blooms at dawn
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV / EF100-400mm F4.5-5.6L IS Ⅱ USMF5.6 1/40 s ISO100
■ Azalea River
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV / EF24-105mm F4L IS USMF14 0.6 s -1 1/3EV ISO100
