I went to Tokyo to take the second part of the Eiken Grade 1 or the uppermost level of an English proficiency interview test on November 10 of last year. (I PASSED it!)
Since I rarely get to go to Tokyo, I took my Sony a6000 and mom's Canon PowerShot G7X Mark II with me so I could enjoy photography in the metropolis.
As I walked around the big city taking a bunch of photos, I found out how awesome the G7X Mark II is for street photography. It works great especially in cities like Tokyo with skyscrapers and modern buildings.
I did not expect that this camera would work so nicely when I was taking photos in my hometown, where there are not many tall buildings.
In this post, I am going to write about what makes PowerShot G7X Mark II a good camera.
ーSmooth gradation
ーGood optical performance without distortion
ーPractical digital zooming
ーGreat portability
▶︎Food
▶︎Tokyo Tower
▶︎Tokyo Station and surrounding area
▶︎Conclusion
▶Equipment
▶Related posts
Aperture: ƒ/2.5, Focal Length: 8.8mm, Exposure Time: 1/640, ISO: 125
In Yotsuya. It was sunny and really warm for November, and it was hot when I was walking. The camera depicted the blue sky nicely.
Aperture: ƒ/2.2, Focal Length: 8.8mm, Exposure Time: 1/320, ISO: 125
I looked up at the sky in the shade of trees. Athough the contrast was strong, the camera instantly decided the right exposure.
Aperture: ƒ/2.2, Focal Length: 8.8mm, Exposure Time: 1/400, ISO: 125
It was the day of the emperor's enthronement parade, so the flags like this were hanging on street light posts.
▶Back to INDEX
Aperture: ƒ/7.1, Focal Length: 8.8mm, Exposure Time: 1/500, ISO: 125
The corners of the image can easily be darkened and/or distorted, so I am cropping one corner of the image above to show you how accurate the details are.
Here is the cropped portion. As you can see, the letters are legible and there is not too much distortion.
Aperture: ƒ/5, Focal Length: 21.7mm, Exposure Time: 1/800, ISO: 125
With the G7X MarkII.
Aperture: ƒ/5.6, Focal Length: 33mm, Exposure Time: 1/500, ISO: 100
I took this photo with my a6000. I cannot compare this image to the above because the composition and focal length are a bit different. However, it's safe to say that both images have precise details.
▶Back to INDEX
The G7X Mark II did a better job than I expected. I got nice pictures.
Aperture: ƒ/2.8, Focal Length: 36.8mm, Exposure Time: 1/1600, ISO: 125
A kingfisher. I zoomed in to the maximum focal length, 36.8mm.
Aperture: ƒ/2.8, Focal Length: 36.8mm, Exposure Time: 1/200, ISO: 400
I zoomed in further with digital zooming. You can get pretty much the same image by taking photos in more pixels and trim them on your computer afterward, but this in-camera zooming works brilliantly.
Aperture: ƒ5.6, Focal Length: 50mm, Exposure Time: 1/160, ISO: 160
This is the best I can get from my a6000 with its digital zoom. I took this photo in 12 megapixels but the resolution looks lower and details are a bit dull.
▶Back to INDEX
I like the fact that a small camera is less likely to make people or animals camera-conscious.
Aperture: ƒ/6.3, Focal Length: 24.8mm, Exposure Time: 1/50, ISO: 125
I saw a police officer on his bike was approaching a hamburger shop, so I held up the camera and pressed the shutter button.
Police officers were found everywhere on the streets due to the parade. However, the atmosphere was somewhat festive and relaxing.
I was able to capture such a moment as well as the peaceful atmosphere, so this photo is one of my most favorite photos of 2019.
Aperture: ƒ/5, Focal Length: 8.8mm, Exposure Time: 1/400, ISO: 125
A cool street.
Aperture: ƒ/5, Focal Length: 31.6mm, Exposure Time: 1/1000, ISO: 125, Cropped
I thought it was a Japanese tit, judging from how it chirped and moved, but it turned out to be different when I came home and checked the image on my computer. Is this bird a nuthatch or varied tit?
Aperture: ƒ/5, Focal Length: 8.8mm, Exposure Time: 1/100, ISO: 125
At Shimizudani-kouen Park. I like this park because there was a shallow pond at the center and it was covered with tree leaves overhead. On top of that, a kingfisher was hunting right in front of me.
It was quite surprising because wild birds, not to mention kingfishers, in Ibaraki are always wary and hard to be seen. They fly away the moment they sense the presence of human. Tokyo is the perfect place for a bird watching.
Aperture: ƒ/4, Focal Length: 8.8mm, Exposure Time: 1/60, ISO: 200
I would love to go there to see kingfishers again.
Aperture: ƒ/5, Focal Length: 15.4mm, Exposure Time: 1/80, ISO: 125
It is also amazing to be able to see the Ferrari F2005 at the corner of a street.
Aperture: ƒ/2.8, Focal Length: 8.8mm, Exposure Time: 1/320, ISO: 125
Aperture: ƒ/2.8, Focal Length: 8.8mm, Exposure Time: 1/320, ISO: 125
The high performance lens can make geometric patterns a good work of art.
▶Back to INDEX
Aperture: ƒ/1.8, Focal Length: 8.8mm, Exposure Time: 1/50, ISO: 125
The G7X Mark II has a lens with the f1.8 maximum aperture, so you can separate the subject from the background easily.
If you are shooting something from 30cm away, the camera has a difficult time getting it in focus. At this distance, I still don't know whether Macro mode or normal focus range mode works better. I need to work on close-up shots a bit more until I get used to it.
▶Back to INDEX
Aperture: ƒ/5, Focal Length: 8.8mm, Exposure Time: 1/1000, ISO: 125
I went to Tokyo Tower for the second time after nine years, and it was the first time to see it during the daytime.
I went there to try out the lens performance of the G7X Mark II, so it was awesome to find out that the lens works better than my expectations.
Aperture: ƒ/11, Focal Length: 8.8mm, Exposure Time: 1/200, ISO: 125
At the minimum aperture value of 11, I was able to get the top of the tower in focus with sharp details.
Aperture: ƒ/11, Focal Length: 8.8mm, Exposure Time: 1/13, ISO: 125
Christmas mood.
Aperture: ƒ/3.5, Focal Length: 8.8mm, Exposure Time: 1/1250, ISO: 125
Tokyo Tower is so tall that it is difficult to put it in one frame.
Aperture: ƒ/8, Focal Length: 8.8mm, Exposure Time: 1/160, ISO: 125
Aperture: ƒ/8, Focal Length: 8.8mm, Exposure Time: 1/250, ISO: 125
▶Back to INDEX
Aperture: ƒ/7.1, Focal Length: 8.8mm, Exposure Time: 1/160, ISO: 125
Buildings right in front of the Marunouchi exit of Tokyo Station.
Aperture: ƒ/11, Focal Length: 13.3mm, Exposure Time: 1/40, ISO: 125, Cropped
I took this image at the minimum aperture, f11. I like the way the sunlight comes into the camera with colors of rainbow. The shape of the light is different from a6000 with the kit lens.
Aperture: ƒ/8, Focal Length: 8.8mm, Exposure Time: 1/50, ISO: 125
The south exit of the Marunouchi building of Tokyo station.
Aperture: ƒ/5, Focal Length: 8.8mm, Exposure Time: 1/8, ISO: 125
The ceiling of the Marunouchi exit.
▶Back to INDEX
I like the great portability, sharp details and natural colors that it offers. With the fast auto focus and low-light capability, I believe it is an excellent camera for street photography.
I also love wild bird photography, so it would be a perfect combination if I carry it around along with my a6000.
I would like to try taking photos of flowers and blossoms in spring.
▶Back to INDEX
SONY α6000
Kit lens
▶Back to INDEX
Read other photography articles>>HERE
Read other articles featuring the Sony α6000>>HERE
スポンサーリンク
Since I rarely get to go to Tokyo, I took my Sony a6000 and mom's Canon PowerShot G7X Mark II with me so I could enjoy photography in the metropolis.
As I walked around the big city taking a bunch of photos, I found out how awesome the G7X Mark II is for street photography. It works great especially in cities like Tokyo with skyscrapers and modern buildings.
I did not expect that this camera would work so nicely when I was taking photos in my hometown, where there are not many tall buildings.
In this post, I am going to write about what makes PowerShot G7X Mark II a good camera.
INDEX
▶Advantages that the G7X Mark II has for street photographyーSmooth gradation
ーGood optical performance without distortion
ーPractical digital zooming
ーGreat portability
▶︎Food
▶︎Tokyo Tower
▶︎Tokyo Station and surrounding area
▶︎Conclusion
▶Equipment
▶Related posts
Advantages that the G7X Mark II has for street photography
Smooth gradation
Aperture: ƒ/2.5, Focal Length: 8.8mm, Exposure Time: 1/640, ISO: 125
In Yotsuya. It was sunny and really warm for November, and it was hot when I was walking. The camera depicted the blue sky nicely.
Aperture: ƒ/2.2, Focal Length: 8.8mm, Exposure Time: 1/320, ISO: 125
I looked up at the sky in the shade of trees. Athough the contrast was strong, the camera instantly decided the right exposure.
Aperture: ƒ/2.2, Focal Length: 8.8mm, Exposure Time: 1/400, ISO: 125
It was the day of the emperor's enthronement parade, so the flags like this were hanging on street light posts.
▶Back to INDEX
Good optical performance without distortion
Aperture: ƒ/7.1, Focal Length: 8.8mm, Exposure Time: 1/500, ISO: 125
The corners of the image can easily be darkened and/or distorted, so I am cropping one corner of the image above to show you how accurate the details are.
Here is the cropped portion. As you can see, the letters are legible and there is not too much distortion.
Aperture: ƒ/5, Focal Length: 21.7mm, Exposure Time: 1/800, ISO: 125
With the G7X MarkII.
Aperture: ƒ/5.6, Focal Length: 33mm, Exposure Time: 1/500, ISO: 100
I took this photo with my a6000. I cannot compare this image to the above because the composition and focal length are a bit different. However, it's safe to say that both images have precise details.
▶Back to INDEX
Practical digital zooming
Many cameras offer a digital zoom, which enables you to shoot subjects you cannot get near to. It cuts away the outer frame of the picture and enlarges the pixels in the zoomed area, so it reduces the image resolution and quality.The G7X Mark II did a better job than I expected. I got nice pictures.
Aperture: ƒ/2.8, Focal Length: 36.8mm, Exposure Time: 1/1600, ISO: 125
A kingfisher. I zoomed in to the maximum focal length, 36.8mm.
Aperture: ƒ/2.8, Focal Length: 36.8mm, Exposure Time: 1/200, ISO: 400
I zoomed in further with digital zooming. You can get pretty much the same image by taking photos in more pixels and trim them on your computer afterward, but this in-camera zooming works brilliantly.
Aperture: ƒ5.6, Focal Length: 50mm, Exposure Time: 1/160, ISO: 160
This is the best I can get from my a6000 with its digital zoom. I took this photo in 12 megapixels but the resolution looks lower and details are a bit dull.
▶Back to INDEX
Great portability
The G7X Mark II weighs only 319 grams, including the battery and SD card. It's easy to carry around in my hand, and it fits in my jacket or coat pocket nicely.I like the fact that a small camera is less likely to make people or animals camera-conscious.
Aperture: ƒ/6.3, Focal Length: 24.8mm, Exposure Time: 1/50, ISO: 125
I saw a police officer on his bike was approaching a hamburger shop, so I held up the camera and pressed the shutter button.
Police officers were found everywhere on the streets due to the parade. However, the atmosphere was somewhat festive and relaxing.
I was able to capture such a moment as well as the peaceful atmosphere, so this photo is one of my most favorite photos of 2019.
Aperture: ƒ/5, Focal Length: 8.8mm, Exposure Time: 1/400, ISO: 125
A cool street.
Aperture: ƒ/5, Focal Length: 31.6mm, Exposure Time: 1/1000, ISO: 125, Cropped
I thought it was a Japanese tit, judging from how it chirped and moved, but it turned out to be different when I came home and checked the image on my computer. Is this bird a nuthatch or varied tit?
Aperture: ƒ/5, Focal Length: 8.8mm, Exposure Time: 1/100, ISO: 125
At Shimizudani-kouen Park. I like this park because there was a shallow pond at the center and it was covered with tree leaves overhead. On top of that, a kingfisher was hunting right in front of me.
It was quite surprising because wild birds, not to mention kingfishers, in Ibaraki are always wary and hard to be seen. They fly away the moment they sense the presence of human. Tokyo is the perfect place for a bird watching.
Aperture: ƒ/4, Focal Length: 8.8mm, Exposure Time: 1/60, ISO: 200
I would love to go there to see kingfishers again.
Aperture: ƒ/5, Focal Length: 15.4mm, Exposure Time: 1/80, ISO: 125
It is also amazing to be able to see the Ferrari F2005 at the corner of a street.
Aperture: ƒ/2.8, Focal Length: 8.8mm, Exposure Time: 1/320, ISO: 125
Aperture: ƒ/2.8, Focal Length: 8.8mm, Exposure Time: 1/320, ISO: 125
The high performance lens can make geometric patterns a good work of art.
▶Back to INDEX
Food
Aperture: ƒ/1.8, Focal Length: 8.8mm, Exposure Time: 1/50, ISO: 125
The G7X Mark II has a lens with the f1.8 maximum aperture, so you can separate the subject from the background easily.
If you are shooting something from 30cm away, the camera has a difficult time getting it in focus. At this distance, I still don't know whether Macro mode or normal focus range mode works better. I need to work on close-up shots a bit more until I get used to it.
▶Back to INDEX
Tokyo Tower
Aperture: ƒ/5, Focal Length: 8.8mm, Exposure Time: 1/1000, ISO: 125
I went to Tokyo Tower for the second time after nine years, and it was the first time to see it during the daytime.
I went there to try out the lens performance of the G7X Mark II, so it was awesome to find out that the lens works better than my expectations.
Aperture: ƒ/11, Focal Length: 8.8mm, Exposure Time: 1/200, ISO: 125
At the minimum aperture value of 11, I was able to get the top of the tower in focus with sharp details.
Aperture: ƒ/11, Focal Length: 8.8mm, Exposure Time: 1/13, ISO: 125
Christmas mood.
Aperture: ƒ/3.5, Focal Length: 8.8mm, Exposure Time: 1/1250, ISO: 125
Tokyo Tower is so tall that it is difficult to put it in one frame.
Aperture: ƒ/8, Focal Length: 8.8mm, Exposure Time: 1/160, ISO: 125
Aperture: ƒ/8, Focal Length: 8.8mm, Exposure Time: 1/250, ISO: 125
▶Back to INDEX
Tokyo Station and surrounding area
Aperture: ƒ/7.1, Focal Length: 8.8mm, Exposure Time: 1/160, ISO: 125
Buildings right in front of the Marunouchi exit of Tokyo Station.
Aperture: ƒ/11, Focal Length: 13.3mm, Exposure Time: 1/40, ISO: 125, Cropped
I took this image at the minimum aperture, f11. I like the way the sunlight comes into the camera with colors of rainbow. The shape of the light is different from a6000 with the kit lens.
Aperture: ƒ/8, Focal Length: 8.8mm, Exposure Time: 1/50, ISO: 125
The south exit of the Marunouchi building of Tokyo station.
Aperture: ƒ/5, Focal Length: 8.8mm, Exposure Time: 1/8, ISO: 125
The ceiling of the Marunouchi exit.
▶Back to INDEX
Conclusion
I carried around the G7X Mark II all day in Tokyo and the camera worked better than my expectations.I like the great portability, sharp details and natural colors that it offers. With the fast auto focus and low-light capability, I believe it is an excellent camera for street photography.
I also love wild bird photography, so it would be a perfect combination if I carry it around along with my a6000.
I would like to try taking photos of flowers and blossoms in spring.
▶Back to INDEX
Equipment
CANON PowerShot G7X MarkII
SONY α6000
Kit lens
▶Back to INDEX
Related posts
Read the Japanese version of this article>>街中スナップで大活躍【CANON PowerShot G7X MarkII】で撮影した東京写真Read other photography articles>>HERE
Read other articles featuring the Sony α6000>>HERE
コメント