Vintage 50mm F1.4 Sensoji Temple Photogrpahy
Street Photography With a Vintage 50mm Lens
Street photography can be challenging and one of the most rewarding genres of photography. It requires vision, passion and excellent reflexes as those decisive moments move pretty quickly. Adding the layer of difficulty that a vintage lens provides needs to be worth it in the final output. This lens definitely has that special something, a quality that is hard to put your finger on.
Although the Ai Nikkor 50mm F1.4 is by no means a collectible, it is old and has character. It is prone to flare and is center sharp with softer corners; it shows a pleasing roll-off that seems absent in new lenses. I love the sharpness of the latest Nikon Z-mount lenses and the lighter weight of the Z-mount glass, but the character must be created in post-processing. Again, I am happy to do, and more than happy, we all have those possibilities.
Using vintage glass gives each image character. Most shots required minimal editing. Having shot several days with the lens, I can now put it in situations where it will shine. The sweet spot is at f2.8, where the subject is rather sharp and the rest of the frame melts away. F2 and 1.4 are excellent, but the depth of field is razor-thin, and critical focus can be difficult. I also found that F4 and 5.6 were outlandishly sharp at the focus point, which made it an easy choice to stop down when needed.
Sensoji Temple with a 50mm lens
The temple itself is stunning, though a little touristy. I don't really mind shooting tourists, as I live in Japan and can capture locals any day. For me, it’s all about people; where they are from doesn't really enter the equation unless it helps me get a better picture. There are plenty of people, locals and tourists at Sensoji Temple. All of whom are there to admire something older and greater than any of us.
Many of the shopping arcade streets are extremely busy during the day, making it difficult for any street photographer to find a rhythm. The real magic is near the Temple itself. As visitors are about to enter, a large cauldron stands in front of the Senso-ji temple main hall: a giant earthenware incense burner known as the Jokoro. Visitors waft the smoke from this cauldron over themselves, a ritual believed to bestow good health and purification.
There are many great street photographs taken at this location. In my opinion, it is the best location to capture something magical. Some days I spend several minutes here, and sometimes I stop quickly for a couple of shots, but I always take time to shoot there. It can be hectic, and it is often quite smoky from the burning incense.
The small and light Ai Nikkor 50mm F1.4 performed exceptionally well. I did miss focus a few times, but I would attribute that to user error more than technical flaws. I choose to zone focus, switching between F4 and F2.8 and focus at around 1.5 meters. I used the zebra stripes in the camera as a guide, but once the focus was locked, I only considered filling my frame. The people and the smoke shifted constantly, making it a challenge.
I look for people placing incense, praying hands and hands that are wafting the smoke. To capture a face requires a trip in the early morning or early evening when there is less incense burning in the culdron, or a great deal of luck mixed with a dash of readiness. Anything can happen, but typically, the smoke is too thick in the mid-afternoon when the light is just right at Sensoji Temple.
Returning to Sensoji with a vintage 28 mm or 35 mm lens and an 85mm Lens
I enjoyed the Ai Nikkor 50mm F1.4 so much that I am putting together a kit of vintage manual lenses. At the moment, I have a 35 mm f2, 85mm f1.4 and a 105mm f2.5, well researched and ready to purchase, just a matter of finding quality copies in Tokyo. I do want something wider than 35 mm, ideally a 20 mm or 24 mm lens, but I haven't yet found the exact optic to fit my needs.
What I want in a lens is the vintage qualities described above, an aperture of f2, lightweight, and a smooth focus pull. The 50 mm lens I am currently shooting with only checks 2 of those boxes, well three, as I shoot it at f2 quite often. The focus is not as smooth as I would like; a little more resistance would make it ideal.
As always, I would love to hear your story in the comments below. If you feel so inclined, share a coffee with me. I am a flat white kind of guy. Happy shooting, everyone.
To book a tour, visit my photo workshop/photo tour website, or email directly jeff@tokyoforgeries.com
