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Photowalk Japan and Taiwan with Lumix S9 + Lumix S18-40

Richard Wong

Richard Wong

Well-Known Member
I went to Taiwan and Japan for a family holiday last month. Since I went to Japan and other countries a few times myself in last two years for various camera events, so this trip was really a family holiday and I didn't bring much camera gear at all. Just the S9 + Lumix S18-40 and a Sigma 45mm f/2.8 that I almost didn't use. Most of the time I was just taking photos and videos of my family.
But me being me, I just couldn't resist the temptation of going out for a quick photowalk myself in the early morning or late evening. Here are two photo walks video I did when I was in Osaka (Japan) and Taipei (Taiwan). All the photos were shot with the S9 and the Lumix S 18-40.
For the Osaka photowalk, all the photos were unedited camera JPG using real time LUT. While for the Taiwan photowalk I did grade the photos myself as I don't like the LUT I chose originally (good idea to always shoot JPG + RAW)

Osaka Photowalk, Shin Seikei. An amazing retro area that I didn't get to visit until this trip


Taipei Photowalk, which I also criticise my photos


I hope you enjoy this videos.
I also did another quick photowalk in Tokyo using the Lumix GX7 that was my son's camera for this trip. But I just got too many reviews I need to finish off Dec/Jan so that photowalk video might have to wait until after the new year.
 
Thanks for posting Richard. We’re off to Japan soon, so you’re adding to my anticipation!
 
Thanks Richard.

In the first video I loved photo #10. In the second video I liked the image outside the hotel where it was still a bit dark with the vending machines on the left-hand side (at 3:25) and also the first laundromat photo at 9:17. In both I like the contrast from the dark areas to the lit areas.
 
Thanks Richard, I really enjoyed the Taiwan photos, and especially your dialog about what you liked and didn't like about the photos. Unfortunately I've never been to Taiwan so this is a bit of a travelog for me, which I also appreciate. I have a long time friend from Taiwan, actually my tax accountant, so every year at tax season I get a complete update on the happenings in that country. This next visit I'll have your pictures in mind.
 
CharlesH said:
Thanks Richard, I really enjoyed the Taiwan photos, and especially your dialog about what you liked and didn't like about the photos. Unfortunately I've never been to Taiwan so this is a bit of a travelog for me, which I also appreciate. I have a long time friend from Taiwan, actually my tax accountant, so every year at tax season I get a complete update on the happenings in that country. This next visit I'll have your pictures in mind.
Click to expand...

Thanks Charles!
I like to do more video like this and share the thoughts (what I like and don't like) about the photos as I always love hearing other photographers talk about their photos.
I actually shot some first POV video as well using the Insta360 GO3S, but can't really figure out how to incorporate those videos nicely, as then it will be a better travel vlog video I think!
Taiwan is a very cool place. If you have a chance you should visit Taiwan :)
 
Pete_W said:
Thanks Richard.

In the first video I loved photo #10. In the second video I liked the image outside the hotel where it was still a bit dark with the vending machines on the left-hand side (at 3:25) and also the first laundromat photo at 9:17. In both I like the contrast from the dark areas to the lit areas.
Click to expand...

Thanks Pete! Yeah i love the contrast in those photos too!
 
Btw, for this trip, I was really debating if I should bring which camera with me. I have S5II, A7CR, Leica Q, XH2, Z6 or the S9 and a few other cameras sitting on my desk asking me to take them.
I want the S9 because it's compact size and the excellent video feature and it's just such a fun camera. But at the same time I was a bit concerned if I would have issues without the EVF and only an electronic shutter for photos. While it's not a photo trip, but i still want to capture some nice family photos esp for a big family holiday like this.
I know electronic shutter should not be a big issue, as when we were at the launch event back in May, we all took a lot of photos at night in Osaka, went to many indoor places during the trip and no one has real issue with that.
But lack of EVF could be a problem as I remember at the S9 launch event, a lot of us kept trying to move the camera to our face esp during a bright day and want to shoot with the EVF then realised there wasn't one. and we were laughing at each other, And this time we planned to go to a few theme parks.
But I think a few months of using the S9 have trained my brain to finally understand the camera doesn't have any EVF. So during this trip, I didn't even try to use the imaginary EVF anymore. And with the screen brightness turn to maximum, it works OK even during the brightest day too.

Do I wish the S9 have a EVF and mech shutter? Yes.
But is it a huge issue without them? Not really.
Not for me at least as I do usually shoot with LCD most of the time these days anyway. With my shooting style, electronic shutter doesn't really give me any issue even when shooting at night or indoor. So if i have another trip in the near future, i will probably still take the S9. I will have probably need to buy the 18-40 as well as I already returned it to Panasonic.
 
Richard Wong said:
Btw, for this trip, I was really debating if I should bring which camera with me. I have S5II, A7CR, Leica Q, XH2, Z6 or the S9 and a few other cameras sitting on my desk asking me to take them.
I want the S9 because it's compact size and the excellent video feature and it's just such a fun camera. But at the same time I was a bit concerned if I would have issues without the EVF and only an electronic shutter for photos. While it's not a photo trip, but i still want to capture some nice family photos esp for a big family holiday like this.
I know electronic shutter should not be a big issue, as when we were at the launch event back in May, we all took a lot of photos at night in Osaka, went to many indoor places during the trip and no one has real issue with that.
But lack of EVF could be a problem as I remember at the S9 launch event, a lot of us kept trying to move the camera to our face esp during a bright day and want to shoot with the EVF then realised there wasn't one. and we were laughing at each other, And this time we planned to go to a few theme parks.
But I think a few months of using the S9 have trained my brain to finally understand the camera doesn't have any EVF. So during this trip, I didn't even try to use the imaginary EVF anymore. And with the screen brightness turn to maximum, it works OK even during the brightest day too.

Do I wish the S9 have a EVF and mech shutter? Yes.
But is it a huge issue without them? Not really.
Not for me at least as I do usually shoot with LCD most of the time these days anyway. With my shooting style, electronic shutter doesn't really give me any issue even when shooting at night or indoor. So if i have another trip in the near future, i will probably still take the S9. I will have probably need to buy the 18-40 as well as I already returned it to Panasonic.
Click to expand...
I've been thinking hard about gear to take with me to Japan too (as per my other thread here). TBH, this is really a holiday that my wife has been looking forward to for a long time. And actually, I want it to be a relaxing holiday for us as a couple. It'll be the first real holiday just the two of us have taken since the kids starting arriving back in 2001. And I know that most of what we do will be urban experiences - and TBH, that's not my sort of photography. Photographic happiness for me is to be out in the countryside/mountains, either alone or with a similarly-minded photographer, with a backpack of gear. That would not be compatible at all with this trip.

So, I've just picked up a lightly-used EM1.3 and a PL 12-60. That combo is nice and light, packs a lot of IQ and features for its size, and it won't distract from the main purpose of the trip. If we assume FF gives us 2-stops of additional IQ over m43, the f2.8-4 of the 12-60 on the EM1.3 will be pretty close to the f4-f6.3 of the 18-40 (especially with the better IBIS on the Olympus), but with a lot more range at the long end. It's also got a nice EVF, a very nice mechanical shutter, and two dials !
 
pdk42 said:
So, I've just picked up a lightly-used EM1.3 and a PL 12-60. That combo is nice and light, packs a lot of IQ and features for its size, and it won't distract from the main purpose of the trip. If we assume FF gives us 2-stops of additional IQ over m43, the f2.8-4 of the 12-60 on the EM1.3 will be pretty close to the f4-f6.3 of the 18-40 (especially with the better IBIS on the Olympus), but with a lot more range at the long end. It's also got a nice EVF, a very nice mechanical shutter, and two dials !
Click to expand...
:eek::eek::eek: Oh no, you've gone to the dark side, Paul.

Next thing you'll be on the DPR m4/3 forum posting photos of over-sharpened birds in flight with hideous halos. Z04 Flucht
 
Richard Wong said:
Do I wish the S9 have a EVF and mech shutter? Yes.
But is it a huge issue without them? Not really.
Click to expand...

I agree Richard, it's not a huge issue for what I need either.

But I have never understood the level of negativity towards the S9. Like any camera, it should be considered within its context, i.e. what it was designed to do, rather than expect it should do everything that higher-level camera does.

No-one buys a Fujifilm X100 series or a Ricoh GR series camera with a fixed lens and then complains that they can't swap lenses or that it's poor for sports/action/wildlife photography. Both of those cameras are designed for a different context.

The S9 is more flexible than a fixed lens camera but still has its own limitations and context. Nonetheless I expect some people will probably mount a LUMIX 70-200mm f2.8 to the S9 and then complain about the balance and the grip! :D
 
Especially if you look at the Fuji XM5 and its drawbacks, the Lumix S9 looks even better now in comparison. But the media who did not understand the S9 is full of love for the XM5 now. Funny world...
 
pdk42 said:
I've been thinking hard about gear to take with me to Japan too (as per my other thread here). TBH, this is really a holiday that my wife has been looking forward to for a long time. And actually, I want it to be a relaxing holiday for us as a couple. It'll be the first real holiday just the two of us have taken since the kids starting arriving back in 2001. And I know that most of what we do will be urban experiences - and TBH, that's not my sort of photography. Photographic happiness for me is to be out in the countryside/mountains, either alone or with a similarly-minded photographer, with a backpack of gear. That would not be compatible at all with this trip.

So, I've just picked up a lightly-used EM1.3 and a PL 12-60. That combo is nice and light, packs a lot of IQ and features for its size, and it won't distract from the main purpose of the trip. If we assume FF gives us 2-stops of additional IQ over m43, the f2.8-4 of the 12-60 on the EM1.3 will be pretty close to the f4-f6.3 of the 18-40 (especially with the better IBIS on the Olympus), but with a lot more range at the long end. It's also got a nice EVF, a very nice mechanical shutter, and two dials !
Click to expand...

Enjoy your "new" EM1.3!
yes i think the advantage of micro four thirds is that you can shoot wide open most of the time because of the relatively deep depth of field.
As mentioned in my original post, we also brought a GX7 with us this trip with the 12-60, mainly for my son to shoot as it's quite a bit lighter than any of my full frame kit (and also i don't trust him with my Leica Q or A7CR :rolleyes:). my son really enjoyed shooting with it, more than the S5 mainly because it's a much lighter camera.
I also took it out for a morning photowalk when i was in Tokyo. While pretty much everything from the LCD to autofocus system to the controls all feel a bit dated, image quality also can't really match the S9 even on a bright sunny day, I still really enjoyed shooting with it, brought back some good old memories .
I think having a camera that you can enjoy is a lot more important than the image quality or features (or lack of). I could have bring the A7CR instead of the S9, as on paper it's a much better than the S9 especially for photos. But for me there is something missing form the A7CR that doesn't inspire me as much even though it can capture absolutely stunning photos.
 
Pete_W said:
I agree Richard, it's not a huge issue for what I need either.

But I have never understood the level of negativity towards the S9. Like any camera, it should be considered within its context, i.e. what it was designed to do, rather than expect it should do everything that higher-level camera does.

No-one buys a Fujifilm X100 series or a Ricoh GR series camera with a fixed lens and then complains that they can't swap lenses or that it's poor for sports/action/wildlife photography. Both of those cameras are designed for a different context.

The S9 is more flexible than a fixed lens camera but still has its own limitations and context. Nonetheless I expect some people will probably mount a LUMIX 70-200mm f2.8 to the S9 and then complain about the balance and the grip! :D
Click to expand...

Yes I don't understand as well. I'm not sure if you have watched the podcast I did with Matt Dangyou that was just published a few days ago, I said pretty much the same thing in that video.
A lot of people complaining about the S9 basically want it to be the camera it was not designed for.
Since Day 1, Panasonic was really clear that the S9 was designed for the younger content creators that shoot both videos and photos.
Because of that, they made choices like simplifying the control interface by not including a lot of buttons, and not including a few things that the target user doesn't care much like
mech shutter and EVF and second dials, more buttons.

The target users, younger generation may have only shoot with phones, so they have no idea and don't care what a mechanical shutter is, same for the EVF. Their eyes are trained to be able to see the LCD screen even under the brightest sunlight. Adding these to the camera makes no difference to them, only adding price and size.
And yes Panasonic can also add more buttons, a second dial, but once again, it would increase the complexity of the camera and not really benefit the target users.

Panasonic is obviously trying to expand/explore a different group of younger users with the S9, which has very different needs compared to us.
I'm not the target user, I personally would LOVE to have a mechanical shutter, EVF, more buttons and dials, but I also understand adding all these to the S9, the S9 would become just another A7CII. It would be a great camera for us traditional photographers, as it's just sticking to the good old formula.
But this is a camera trying to explore the younger user market who would otherwise not buy a mirrorless camera currently available. So if Panasonic build another A7CII, traditional photographers would buy it, but it can't really explore a new market.
 
Richard Wong said:
I'm not sure if you have watched the podcast I did with Matt Dangyou that was just published a few days ago, I said pretty much the same thing in that video.
Click to expand...
I haven't seen that, but thanks for the tip! I saw Matt's video with Sean from LUMIX a few weeks back which I enjoyed a lot, so I will go check this one out with you!
 
Hi Richard: Thank you very much for sharing your photos & video! I enjoyed seeing all of it, mostly because the locations look so different from where I've ever lived or visited. My favorites: In the Osaka photo walk, I especially like photos 2, 20, 36, and 41. In the Taipei photo walk, my favorite is at 13:30. Cheers!
 
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