Shiro Hagihara | Markins Ball Head


Theme
Natural scenery
Photographer
Shiro Hagihara
Date
May-July 2017
Location
Tokyo, Tochigi
Device
Markins
:
Olympus
:
OM-D E-M1 Mark II
M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 12-100mm F4.0 IS PRO
FUJIFILM
:
X-T2
XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR
GFX 50S, MT
GF32-64mmF4 R LM WR
GF120mmF4 R LM OIS WR Macro
GF23mmF4 R LM WR
Manfrotto
:
MT055XPRO3
Review
Shiro Hagihara
I was born in Kofu, Yamanashi Prefecture, in 1959. After graduating from Nihon University, I was involved in the launch of the quarterly (now bimonthly) Landscape Photography magazine at Shin-Nihon Kikaku Co., Ltd., where I served as editor-in-chief and publisher. After leaving the company, I became a freelance landscape photographer. I currently photograph and write about natural landscapes.
Olympus Digital College instructor
Olympus Photopass "Yama Community" administrator
Camera Grand Prix selection committee member
Japan Landscape Photographers Association (JSPA) member
- Photo Exhibition -
2011
Tamron 60th Anniversary Project "Eternity at a Moment - 60 Photographers' 'Moments and Eternity'"
2012
Fujifilm sponsored the landscape photography publication project "Bloom Japan! - Sakura, Sakura, Sakura"
2013
"Absolute Landscapes" is a landscape photography publication project sponsored by Fujifilm.
2014
Fujifilm sponsored the landscape photography publication project "Amazing! Japanese Mountain Landscapes"
2015
Fujifilm Square special exhibition "Color x Emotion" held (Tokyo, Sendai, Fukuoka, Nagoya)
- Book -
  • "Seasonal Landscape Photography" series, 8 books (Nippon Camera Company)
  • "Approach to Composition Decision" (Genkosha)
  • "Landscape photography techniques for finishing from RAW files" (Genkosha)
  • "60 Golden Rules for Improving Natural Landscape Photography" (Genkosha)
  • "Understanding the Basics of Light, Shape, and Color" (Genkosha)
What is important when taking landscape photos?
When taking landscape photos, you should always be aware of not shaking the camera. To do this, you need to take various measures, one of which is using a tripod. Recently, image stabilization functions have evolved, making it easier to take handheld shots, but a tripod is still essential in situations where a professional must not shake the camera, such as when using a slow shutter speed, shooting with a high-resolution camera, taking starry skies, or using a telephoto lens. In addition, a tripod is also indispensable when perfecting the composition. However, even when using a tripod, if it takes too long to set up or take too long to switch between vertical and horizontal orientation, you may miss a great opportunity to take a photo. In that case, it's not just the tripod that's important, but also the head.

I've been using a 3-way head so far. I thought there was nothing more convenient in the sense that it can move in three directions separately. On the other hand, I knew that it lacked the ability to take quick photos, but it was difficult to change equipment that I was used to, so I just went with the flow and continued to use the 3-way head. However, this spring I had the opportunity to use a Markins ball head, and since then, my way of thinking has changed completely. It was recommended to me by a photography friend, and it's already been two months since I started using it. Now I can't take photos with anything other than a ball head (lol).
Why Markins?
There are several reasons for this. The first is the load capacity. The Q10i-BK I use has a load capacity of 45 kg. In fact, when I unpacked the package, I was surprised at how small the ball head was. The Q10i-BK ball head looks small, but it has a very high load capacity. I am currently using the Fujifilm GFX 50S, which is a medium format camera, and it weighs less than 2 kg even with the zoom lens, so it easily stops the GFX 50S. In fact, I have been using it for the past two months, and I have never once seen a blurred image on the GFX 50S. The second is that the operability suits my shooting style. This is actually very important, and no matter how easy it is to use, it is of no use if the usability does not suit you, no matter how loudly it is proclaimed on the web or in magazines. The "Q10i-BK" was designed with an Arca-Swiss compatible quick shoe, so I use it with a plate attached to the camera and lens, which provides the ultimate usability.
When fixing a camera with a Markins Plate attached to the tripod head, you can quickly attach it by simply rotating the knob on the quick shoe. Since it does not require strong force, even a woman should be able to fix it securely. This system is attractive because it can be installed on a tripod in a short time, even if you want to shoot immediately after getting out of the car. The ball fixing knob is large and easy to grip, so it is easy to decide the angle. Even while looking through the camera viewfinder, it is easy to find the large ball fixing knob by hand, so it does not interfere with framing. The ball head is also good at Point the camera directly above. When shooting forests, the lens is often facing upwards, but even in such shooting, the advantage of being able to shoot smoothly is great. With a 3-way head, the camera needs to be attached in the opposite direction, but such a troublesome task is not necessary with a ball head. In addition, the Q10i-BK is equipped with a panning base, making it easy to move the camera left and right, and you can also pan while maintaining horizontality, making it easy to change subjects.
Above all, the combination of the Q10i-BK and the plate allows you to quickly change the composition between horizontal and vertical while maintaining the optical axis, which is a great advantage when shooting constantly changing landscapes. The change in the optical axis is almost irrelevant when shooting a landscape consisting of only distant views, but it has a significant impact when using foreground bokeh to make a mid-distance subject the main subject. With a 3-way head, you change the composition from horizontal to vertical by operating the pan bar, but the optical axis of the camera inevitably changes at that time, so it takes time to correct it, and the time it takes to set the horizontal and vertical orientation again cannot be ignored. However, if you have an L-shaped plate attached to your camera, you can simply loosen the knob on the quick shoe to remove the camera and reattach the plate on the left side of the body to the quick shoe, and the optical axis and horizontal and vertical orientation will be maintained, and you can make quick changes. It may sound complicated when explained in words, but it will make sense in an instant when you try it out.
However, there are not only advantages. If the plate is designed specifically for the camera, there is no problem, but if you use a generic one, some problems may occur. I want to be honest about this. For example, there is no dedicated plate for the GFX 50S yet. Therefore, I use the generic LU-100, but when I use it, the cover for removing the battery on the left side of the body does not open. Therefore, it is necessary to take the time to remove the plate every time I charge or replace the battery, but it is worth the trouble to attach the L-shaped plate. This is because it makes it easy to switch between horizontal and vertical positions and maintains the optical axis.

The third advantage is that it is safer to carry around. For example, many people have had the experience of a branch getting caught on a bread stick while walking through the woods with a tripod with a 3-way head fixed to their backpack, but the Markins Q10i-BK has extremely small protrusions, so this is unlikely to happen. Folding the quick shoe further improves safety. It may seem like a small thing, but if you have experience walking through the fields, you will understand.
I currently use an L-type plate on my Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II, Fujifilm GFX 50S and X-T2, and it has made my reporting much more efficient than before. For me, who particularly prefers a vertical position, the combination of the Q10i-BK and an L-type plate is a dream come true.

If you can't find the best head, or you want to try a ball head but don't know which one is best, I highly recommend you try it. You will immediately see that it is a reliable product.

Green Veil

FUJIFILM GFX 50S・GF23mmF4 R LM WR
AE(F8・1/8 s) +1.0EV ISO400 WB Sun

Fragrant Green

FUJIFILM GFX 50S・GF23mmF4 R LM WR
AE(F11・1.3 s) +1.0EV ISO200 WB Sun
Misty Kegon Falls

FUJIFILM GFX 50S・GF32-64mmF4 R LM WR
AE(F11・1/45 s) +0.7EV ISO200 WB Sun
Dance of the house martin

Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II、M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 12-100mm F4.0 IS PRO
AE(F8・1/1250 s) -0.7EV ISO1600 WB Sun
A refreshing breeze blows across Lake Chuzenji

FUJIFILM X-T2・XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR
AE(F16・1/170 s) +-0.3EV ISO800 WB Sun

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