Anybody living in Japan?

the stabilization is very usefull, but on this range it is not at all critical. I think you will benefit more of putting that money in another lens.

I would recommend to buy either tamron nonVC or sigma nonOS, key point being 2.8, take the cheapest of both that you can find - they are both good (in japan the tamron is very very cheap, see kakaku.com)

now you have a very good walk around lens !

then, put some money in another speicalised lens ... don't go for the big zoom, try something with a lot of DOF control, something you will have fun with !

good idea depending on what you like might be a 10-22, a 14 2.8 samyang, a 85 1.8/1.4, a 100 (IS) macro, a 50-135 2.8 tokina, a 135 2.0, a MP-E, a TS-E ... you already have a 50mm 1.8 so you can learn from that !

enjoy, those will give you a lot of fun !

alain

DONE!!!
I went for the 60D and the Tamron 17-50 2.8 Non VC....
Can't wait to get my hands on these and have some fun!
Thanks for the advice on this Alain, maybe we'll have a chance to shoot together.
By the way, your images are really impacting and and unique - excellent.
Thanks. Camilo

Well....Tokyo Furusato Festival returns to the Tokyo Dome on 8 January. You can see my photos at http://kamogawa.smugmu​g.com/ from last year. I'll go again this year - the food is amazing! If you Google on 'Tokyo Furusato Festival' it will link you to some Youtube videos to give you ther idea of the scope of this event. Yes, it is crowded! A big lens is recommended. I'll shoot this year with the 100-400L in the bag. Lighting is not too bad. There is paid seating to see the many shows, but basically you can shoot from most anywhere. I had fun last year, particularly sampling the many local dishes.
Cheers,
John

I remember an excellent apple juice from last year !

We will be headed to Kyoto the last two weeks of May 2011 so I can attend an IEEE meeting. What are the recommended places for photography in and around Kyoto, Nara, and Osaka?

Greetings - As fot Kyoto and Nara, the places for photography are endless. I think that Kyoto has sixteen world Heritage sites, so that might be a good place to look. Nara is similarly fantastic and May weather should be really great. The Gold Pavillion, Nijo Castle, Heian Jingu, Sanjusangendo, Kiyomizu are among the well known places in Kyoto, but there are countless other places that are photo worthy. Since you have time, getting a Kyoto/Nara guide book is a good idea. As for Osaka, it is a large modern city and I am not so familiar with it in terms of what might be good to photography other than Osaka Castle.
cheers,
John

Arigato John-san!

Yes Kyoto has a lot to offer, in less than a month you will not see half of it ;_

I recommend daily trip to Kibune and Ohara, and night stay at Koyasan. Osaka aquarium is great.

Enjoy !

Another revival of this thread. I just made it to Tokyo last night and will be here till the 7th. Anyone interested in getting together for a few shots, and maybe a drink or 7?

Any new year plans going on?

Arrrggghhhh! Just got to this thread and you are gone! Sorry I missed you this time.
Today I went to the BIG indoor omatsuri in the Tokyo Dome:

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Seems awesome! Must have a lot of out-of-town specialties to look at.

alainphoto wrote in post #11449588
Yes Kyoto has a lot to offer, in less than a month you will not see half of it ;_

I recommend daily trip to Kibune and Ohara, and night stay at Koyasan. Osaka aquarium is great.

Enjoy !

I sometimes wonder if I am the only one who thought the Osaka aquarium was only "meh"

But indeed...Kyoto is amazing with endless photo ops...but if you go, don't go with kids as it will dramtically decrease your photo taking time and ability Also be forewarned some places don't allow tripods!

Anyway, I'm up in Northern Japan (Iwate) and have been up here for....a little more than 7 years now..

on a side note, is there a program similar to the Canon CPS program here in Japan? I've looked all over and can't seem to find much about it

Greetings All -
I have had little experience with portraits, but a very good friend, who had seen some of my other photos, asked me if I would shoot his 20 year old daughter in a kimono for 'Coming of Age' day in which those turning 20 years of age celebrate a rite of passage into adulthood. I nervously said yes. The set can be seen at: http://kamogawa.smugmu​g.com/ in the first gallery.
Although I had access to lighting as well as flash, ALL were taken in natural light. Most were taken with the 85L and a few with the 24-70L. She was a beautiful young lady and was so easy to photograph, that 80% were keepers and I had a hard time putting a limited portfolio together for her. Yodobashi (and BIC) have great and inexpensive albums and I mounted many of them for her to make her look great. Appreciate it if you take a look and comment. The 85L is such a spectacular portrait lens and I was stunned by its clarity and color. If you want to see an absolutely flawless Japanese beauty, look no further.
Many cheers,
John

May be this is a stupid question, but what are some of the ways people there celebrate "Hatachi" (20 years old) in Japan?

Good Morning -
Currently, Adult's Day is celebrated on the second Monday in January and is a national holiday. Girls wear kimono usually, and boys wear the equivalent or a dark suit. Local government offices have ceremonies to honor young aduts with speeches by mayors and officials about the responsibilities of adulthood. Families often attend. Visits to shrines and temples occur to pray for safe passage into aduthood and many photos are usually taken. Dining out with family of friends is common on this day. Companies which have new adult employees recongnize them with a gift to commemorate the occasion usually the next day. Almost all have studio photos taken mostly prior to that day and since 95% of young Japanese cannot don a kimono by themselves, beauty shops are crowded with young ladies getting their hair done and having their kimono put on properly. Some kimono are rentals and some are heirlooms. Evening parties with friends or classmates are common. I think it is a pretty cool occasion where responsible behavior in society is stressed regarding alcohol and tobacco use and being a good role model for children.
Cheers,
John