Re: Tokyo Fish Market & 35mm Summilux

[imspl@pacific.net.sg (Tan Roland)]

Michael it was great reading your experiences at the fish market. I almost
feel like getting up and going with my Leicas right away. Thanks. Roland.




At 03:53 PM 6/15/96 -0400, you wrote:
>Last week I mentioned that I was traveling in Asia and hoped to get to the
>Tokyo wholesale fish market to do some shooting.  Finally last Thursday I
>did.  What an experience!
>
>I had with me an M6, 35mm Summilux and 90mm Elmarit-M.  This is my usual
>business travel kit -- small and light enough to fit in a briefcase, yet
>versatile.  This time though I missed not having the 50mm Summicron along.
>The 90 was just too long, so almost everything I shot was with the 35mm.
>
>Even though I mainly shoot transparencies for Ciba printing I bought and
>used Fujicolor Super 800.  I didn't know what the light conditions would be
>like so I picked up the fastest film I could find.  No regrets.  I'd never
>used this film before, but the results are more than acceptable and far
>finer grained than any transparency film of that speed would be.
>
>If anything, I should have used 400 speed film, because typical exposures at
>ISO 800 was 1/125 @ f/2.8.  With the Summilux I was able to shoot closed
>down 2 stops and this led to some very fine images.  In fact, I'd been
>seriously considering getting the 35mm ASPH, but now I'm not so sure.  Even
>the shots at f/2.0 and f/1.4 are great, and since this type of shooting
>isn't my forte, I think I'll save some $$ and stick with the regular
>Summilux.  It really is quite good.
>
>As for the market itself, if you find yourself in Tokyo, it's a must.  Every
>type of fish imaginable -- and some that aren't -- can be found.  Located
>right near the fashionable Ginza district, it's at its peak between 5am and
>6am.  By 6am the action is over so an early start is a must.  The auction at
>5:30am is a must see.
>
>Though hectic and crowded, everyone is polite and friendly.  I was able to
>walk around shooting and no one minded.  Some, such as a fellow shelling
>giant oysters with what looked like a sword, even turned around without
>prompting so that I could get a good shot of what he was doing.
>
>Afterward, if you're not up for a sushi breakfast at the market, you'll find
>the 24 hour restaurant at the Tokyu Ginza Hotel a few blocks away welcome. 
>
>Michael
>
>