Natsumi Miura | Markins Ball Head
Theme
Shoot from sea level to 2000 meters above sea level
Photographer
Natsumi Miura
Date
January-March 2022
Location
Hokkaido
Device
Markins
Sony
α7R III
FE 14mm F1.8 GM
FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS
FE 24-105mm F4 G OSS
FE 14mm F1.8 GM
FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS
FE 24-105mm F4 G OSS
Vanguard
VEO 3T 235CBP
Review
Natsumi Miura
instagram： onatsu_photos
Born in Kitami City, Hokkaido. Began taking photos with a red compact digital camera to capture images of children and flowers in the garden. As the children grew, subjects expanded to include the sea and mountains, gradually drawing deeper into the world of photography. Before long, driving out every weekend became routine, completely absorbed in photography from Friday night until Sunday night.
Currently, while working at a printing company, serves as a weekend photographer, capturing landscapes, animals, and people, primarily in the eastern Hokkaido region.
Currently, while working at a printing company, serves as a weekend photographer, capturing landscapes, animals, and people, primarily in the eastern Hokkaido region.
- Photo Exhibitions -
2021
"The unseen blue pond for you" (Biei Roadside Station Shirokane Birke)
2021
"Cherry Blossoms Fall, Snow Blooms" (Sapporo Odori Building N1)
2022
"Walking through the mountains and forests" (Sapporo Shugakuso Shiraishi branch)
2022
instagram： onatsu_photos
The reason I decided to get Markins was because an acquaintance recommended it to me, saying, "The red head seems to be popular."
Any photographer would probably be concerned about the ease of use, the weight, and how well it handles sub-zero temperatures, but I'm ashamed to say that in my case, the main reason was, "Red looks cool!"
It was at the end of December last year that I got my hands on this Markins ball head and plate, and I've put together a summary of how I've used it over the past few months.
Any photographer would probably be concerned about the ease of use, the weight, and how well it handles sub-zero temperatures, but I'm ashamed to say that in my case, the main reason was, "Red looks cool!"
It was at the end of December last year that I got my hands on this Markins ball head and plate, and I've put together a summary of how I've used it over the past few months.
First, let me tell you a little about myself.
I work for a printing company in Hokkaido, but taking photos is the most fun thing I do, so on weekends I drive to the sea or the mountains. Perhaps because I have a dream of becoming a successful photographer, I feel like I'm possessed by something and want to go out and take photos.
I plan my shoots on weekdays, take a two-hour nap when I get home from work on Friday evening, then head to the shooting location, and take photos of the starry sky, the snow-covered mountains bathed in the morning sun, and the sunset until Sunday night, and I just keep taking pictures.
I often climb mountains carrying a 27kg backpack packed with a tent and sleeping bag, and when the green season is over, I even go on night hikes to snow-covered mountains.
Of course, I feel cold, heavy, and tired at the time, but when the picture I have in mind is captured in the viewfinder, I forget all of those hardships and hardships.
But one time, I got so absorbed in taking pictures that I continued taking them until my feet got frostbitten. Someone once asked me why I went to such lengths to take pictures, but the only answer I could find was, "Because taking pictures makes me happy."
For me, the happiness I get from taking pictures is something that can't be replaced by anything else, and that's why I'm particular about a lot of things.
I work for a printing company in Hokkaido, but taking photos is the most fun thing I do, so on weekends I drive to the sea or the mountains. Perhaps because I have a dream of becoming a successful photographer, I feel like I'm possessed by something and want to go out and take photos.
I plan my shoots on weekdays, take a two-hour nap when I get home from work on Friday evening, then head to the shooting location, and take photos of the starry sky, the snow-covered mountains bathed in the morning sun, and the sunset until Sunday night, and I just keep taking pictures.
I often climb mountains carrying a 27kg backpack packed with a tent and sleeping bag, and when the green season is over, I even go on night hikes to snow-covered mountains.
Of course, I feel cold, heavy, and tired at the time, but when the picture I have in mind is captured in the viewfinder, I forget all of those hardships and hardships.
But one time, I got so absorbed in taking pictures that I continued taking them until my feet got frostbitten. Someone once asked me why I went to such lengths to take pictures, but the only answer I could find was, "Because taking pictures makes me happy."
For me, the happiness I get from taking pictures is something that can't be replaced by anything else, and that's why I'm particular about a lot of things.
Well, at the end of the year, it is normal for the temperature in Hokkaido to be below freezing, and it is common for it to drop to double digits below zero when shooting in the mountains or on the coast.
When shooting landscapes in such extreme cold, any time lost in setting up equipment means missing a momentary opportunity, but in this respect, the Markins ball head allows for simple and quick setup.
Once the composition is decided, you can fix the head by twisting your wrist about half a turn.
With a head that does not have a fixing force, you have to turn the knob many times while wearing extremely thick gloves that make it difficult to operate, but with Markins, it can be fixed with one action. "This red thing is better than I thought!" I couldn't help but feel this way at the scene, and at that moment, I felt like I had found a good partner.
And the plate attached to the camera can be fixed firmly and is very smart. When shooting in extreme cold, the camera freezes, so I often take it in and out of a bag that only holds one camera to keep it warm.
If I use a bulky L-plate, it can get caught when I try to take it out of the camera bag I wear around my neck, which can be stressful, but the Markins are smart and I was able to take them in and out very smoothly, so I didn't feel any stress.
Speaking of smart, lightweight luggage is always a challenge, and it's an important point to save energy for shooting, so it's very helpful that the equipment is compact and excellent.
However, if I only shoot handheld, the weight will be reduced, but raising the ISO will increase noise, the focus will be blurred, and it may ruin the magnificent view that I worked so hard to reach.
To shoot sunrises and sunsets in the mountains or at a location where I have to go trekking, I need equipment that can be firmly fixed and compact, and the Markins ball head and plate were also very excellent in this respect.
I'm looking forward to using it during the upcoming green season.
Once the composition is decided, you can fix the head by twisting your wrist about half a turn.
With a head that does not have a fixing force, you have to turn the knob many times while wearing extremely thick gloves that make it difficult to operate, but with Markins, it can be fixed with one action. "This red thing is better than I thought!" I couldn't help but feel this way at the scene, and at that moment, I felt like I had found a good partner.
And the plate attached to the camera can be fixed firmly and is very smart. When shooting in extreme cold, the camera freezes, so I often take it in and out of a bag that only holds one camera to keep it warm.
If I use a bulky L-plate, it can get caught when I try to take it out of the camera bag I wear around my neck, which can be stressful, but the Markins are smart and I was able to take them in and out very smoothly, so I didn't feel any stress.
Speaking of smart, lightweight luggage is always a challenge, and it's an important point to save energy for shooting, so it's very helpful that the equipment is compact and excellent.
However, if I only shoot handheld, the weight will be reduced, but raising the ISO will increase noise, the focus will be blurred, and it may ruin the magnificent view that I worked so hard to reach.
To shoot sunrises and sunsets in the mountains or at a location where I have to go trekking, I need equipment that can be firmly fixed and compact, and the Markins ball head and plate were also very excellent in this respect.
I'm looking forward to using it during the upcoming green season.
■ Toyokoro Harunire
SONY α7R III / FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSSF11 1/20s ISO-100
■ Lake Nukabira
SONY α7R III / FE 14mm F1.8 GMF1.8 15s ISO-6400
■ Akan Fuji seen from Mt. Meakan
SONY α7R III / FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSSF14 1/40s ISO-250
■ The jewel of Tokachi
SONY α7R III / FE 14mm F1.8 GMF16 1/13s ISO-100
■ Abashiri drift ice sunrise
SONY α7R III / FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSSF9 1/30s ISO-640
Reviewed Products
