Bicycle on Nanikore

Shonan Sunset with a 7Artisans 'Macro' lens?

Sat, 06 Jan 2024 05:47:46 +0000

In 2023 I’d bought a cheap ‘macro’ lens, it’s a 60mm f2.8 from Chinese company 7Artisans. It received some good reviews and so I thought it’d be a good introduction for me into macro photography, and it really has been. However, it’s also a normal lens so I decided to take it out one day and get some photos down by the beach at sunset.

I haven’t done hatsuhinode(seeing the first sunrise of the new year) for a few years, so instead I went to watch the first sunset of the new year as a bit of a change and take the 7Artisans 60mm with me.

It’s a manual focus lens, no stabilisation or anything like that, so I decided to take the tripod out, which is another rarity for me. I got there a little before dusk, to give me time to cycle down the track next to the beach, but there was a lot of walking as a windy couple of weeks had left huge sand drifts in quite a few places.

I got set up in a few different places, and managed to get a few shots. I’m not great with manual lenses and all manual mode, though I did learn a lot on my Tokyo photo walk last year, so I was trying to practice some of those things again.

Overall I’m fairly happy with what I got - yes, not great in the world of photography, but for me at my level I was pleased and the 60mm was fantastic for normal photos for sure.

I took a couple of photos with the smartphone (Pixel 6a) for scale as well.

Leaving was fun - pushing my cycle over some sand dunes in the dark, using the cycle light and my headlamp, so not too bad. Had a nice flask of tea out there too. It was windy, and not too cold, but I was glad I had my loose snowboarding jacket on. It’s actually something I should do more often.

Just for reference, here’s a macro shot I took of the motorbike.

tracer-macro-2.jpg" alt=“Macro tracer (X-T200 w/ 60mm macro)” caption=“Macro tracer (X-T200 w/ 60mm macro)”

2022-11 Random Images

Mon, 02 Jan 2023 16:39:54 +0000

Another month, and a few random images, but this will be the last for a while - honestly it feels a little lazy!

So what did we have in November 2022? Well, I was in Tokyo Disneyland for a day, cycled down along the beach, was up near Okutama having a look around some of the smaller dams, and finding nice small roads to ride down. Very nice.

My only other comment for what is essentially a photo post is to say that the .DNG RAW files from my Pixel 5a look very soft, and needed quite a lot of work. I only used them as I find some of the phone .JPGs to be over sharpened, but I see why they do it. Either way, JPGs and RAF RAW files from my Fujifilm always look nicer.

The best camera is the one you have with you for sure.

2022 November Random Images

Time for a Tyre Change

Sat, 25 Jul 2009 15:23:34 +0000

I’ve been the fairly proud owner of a basic GT Aggressor 2 ‘mountain’ bike for about seven years, and it’s provided me with plenty of hassle free and cheap transportation. I like two wheels. I also don’t mind getting my hands dirty doing work on it, but surprisingly, I’ve never had need to do any tyre work on it. Until now. Recently, it’s been obvious those seven year old tyres just aren’t what they used to be. They’re by a company called Cheng Shin Rubber and honestly, the tyres and the inner tubes have been great - but normal wear on the tread has left it a bit soft and thin, so it’s well past time for a tyre change.

Although they’ve been great tyres - never succumbing to a puncture even - they were slightly more suitable for off road than on, so in the wet, when cornering on tarmac I was always a little cautious - mainly as I came off once for being a bit overly ambitious on a very smooth cycle track in a typhoon.

I finally decided this week to get some new tyres on the bike, some new inner tubes and move over to slicker, more commuter type tyres. After asking around, I plumped for the Maxxis Detonator. Now, I don’t know who does marketing for Maxxis, but really, a name from the same general area as ’explosion’ for something which is to be filled with air?

Naming aside, it’s a great tyre - simple to fit and in the brief piece of testing I gave it it was a complete change from the rumble of the CSTs - basically because it’s a real road tyre. Cornering, breaking and everything feels much better now, so all in all I’m very happy with them.

For the record, I also picked up some Schwalbe inner tubes.

Bicycle light

Tue, 03 Aug 2004 04:27:22 +0000

Last week I left the front light on my bicycle, and overnight it went ‘missing’ (OK, it was stolen), so as I spend a fait bit of time cycling at night, I decided to get a new one - I stuck with the same manufacturer though, and bought a new 5-LED Cat Eye model. I have to say, it’s like having a searchlight on the front of the bike. Excellent.

Tomorrow I’m also taking my bicycle in for a long overdue service - mainly for the brakes which need recabling. I usually look after my bike myself, making adjustments as required, degreasing/oiling and all that, but after nearly 4 years, I thought I’d get it serviced at the local bike otaku place, called ‘Guava Jelly’. No idea where they got the name, but it’s a pretty good shop. I’m also looking into getting a little computer which calulates speed, distance etc.. More news as I get it!

Original Comments

Comments from the original WordPress blog post.

neal — 2004-08-03

Somehow I now have two bikes both of which need some urgent care and attention. Will need to sort at least one of them out so I can make the most of the British summer…. ah when it gets here! So much for the regular exercise! Might do the same and treat myself to a service at the bike shop and then I’ll have no excuses.

Cycle Bits

Sat, 01 May 2004 02:23:38 +0000

One thing I like to do whenever I get chance is to go out on my mountain bike, pounding the streets and parks of Tokyo. I ride an aging GT Aggressor 2, and this week I’ve replaced a couple of minor bits - I got a new front light - a Cat Eye, and a new lock. The light was simply because my old one (also a CatEye) had pretty much fallen to pieces. The new lock was due to the old key lock getting a bit worn, and I was getting worried about coming back to my bike and not being able to unlock it! All I need to now is to take it into the shops to get my brakes tightened up a bit.