Swedish Tungsten

The other day I had the pleasure of hanging out with my Swedish fellow camera geek and amazing photographer (yes maybe you have guessed it..) Mattias. The whole day was devoted to full blown geekness so armed with my LC-A+ and my Canon 30D I went to Nakano to meet up with him at our first of many stops, one of my favorite camera shops. They have 4 different departments spread out across from each other like 4 different shops...it might even be, who knows..anyway one has all the digital cameras and lenses new AND used in super condition to the best price I have found in Japan.
On top of that there is all the cool old school and analog cameras. We go there to browse and see how cool some of these old machines are.
Across the street there is a bag and tripod shop and the last shop is just random old crap that you might need for your camera like a lenscap (i actually needed one) and release cables (also needed one of those) and stuff like that.

We decided that lunch was in order before the next stop on the agenda. Mattias knew this great Thai buffet that not only was good but also cheap and who doesn't like a good cheap meal. Here we discused the world situation and philosophied on worldly matters. Good times!

LC-A+, Fuji 400

Next stop was two camera stores in Sjinjuku. One of them is if not THE biggest camera store in the world then close. One of the really great things about this store is that you can get to test all the amazing fancy cameras and that goes for all the different lenses too. There is a bunch of lenses lined up with a few cameras to test them on depening on what brand you are shooting with. This is really awesome so you can try out a lens before spending a whole bunch of money on it and also try out different models a brands that you might not would have gotten too if they weren't there for your pleasure. We also got to play abit with the mighty Canon D1 mark III. We decided that they must have put in a little gedget that makes that speciel sound a feeling when you shoot with it. What a feeling!!!! I do realise that this is a camera that I will never get or need since this is the über camera that my skills will never match. The 5D mark II however is deffinetly on my shopping list and as soon as they get it used in my little camera heaven in Nakano it might be mine. The used cameras is soo cheap and most times only taken out of the box and put on a shelf with a "used" label on it..well almost. We both agreed that this camera must be the best you can get...well next after the D1 obviously. Mmmm...5D....you will be mine!! Ohhh yes, You will be mine!!!!
Since I need a new camerabag we went to the department for that and played around with a few different models to see what I needed. Mattias was trying to trick me into buying a biiiig bag so I could have ALL my equipment with me but what I need is a bag that will hold a camera and an extra lens without turning into a new bagpack. Roomy but tourist-friendly. A few candidates was found and inspired by my wifes visual shopping list I took a picture to remember it so I could think about it and come back later if I decide to get it.
On this stop on our tour de camera we alse checked out a bit of lighting and flash equipment. I found out that I wanna try the softbox that you can use with your normal flashgun. I won't really need the big fancy flash kits with tons of light and stuff but a nice softbox or two with the flashguns that I already have will be nice.

LC-A+, Fuji 400

LC-A+, Fuji 400

After a great amount of drueling we met with Amalie who was out in Sjinjuku for a bit of shopping. We had coffe at what used to be Standard Burger, a place we many times had looked at because of the great name but never been to.

LC-A+, Fuji 400

Since it was getting a bit late we decided to skip one stop on the tour and go straight to Harajuku where Mattias had to drop off some flyers at a bike shop. Here more eye shopping was done. This time my eye fell on a Crome bike messenger bag. It is now added to the shopping list.

LC-A+, Fuji 400

From Harajuku we walked to Shibuya where we found a few great Lomo freindly shops. Mattias who loves sharp bright pictures have had a hard time with the thought of these toylike plastic thingies that I call a camera but since seeing some of the shots taken with the LC-A+ I think he is warming up to it a bit.

LC-A+, Fuji 400

The grandparents.
LC-A+, Fuji 400

The colored brothers and sisters.
LC-A+, Fuji 400

This has been one of our many topics as well. Fancy vs toy. Digital vs film. Big vs small. I have found out that I can't really shoot touristy pictures with my digital camera at least not as easy as with the little handy LC-A+ that I just wave and shoot. It somehow gives me more freedom to shoot as I see where as with the Canon I might use too much thought on how to shoot things and what setting and should I adjust this and would it be a great effect if I do th....LC-A+ you need to remember what your distance is and then shoot. Nice. But anyway...we found a few Lomographic shops where we met some of my little Russian babys family. We saw and talked about what there is too choose from. Good fun.

LC-A+, Fuji 400

Last stop on the tour was Tower Records that has a pretty good sellection of photo books. The 7th floor is a great bookshop with a bunch of english books and magazines wich is rare in Japan. Here we got to the subjekt of different favorite photographers and different styles. In the way out I picked up a few new cd among them the new Mastodon...mmmmmmmmm!!! Soooo good!!

LC-A+, Fuji 400

By this time it was getting late and time to go home. It was a great day of geekness and I hope we will get time to do that again before I will have to go back to Denmark.


Mattias shot some great shots doing the day and some of the can be seen here.
I mostly shot with the Lomo as a contrast to Mattias with his 5d but I had to shoot a few digital since I had brought it. Inspired from Mattias and his way of spotting thing that I couldn't see right away, I gave that a shot. I wouldn't normally try to take this kind of pictures...but when in Rome...

Canon 30D

Canon 30D

Canon 30D