ShowcaseTwo weeks in Japan with the a6700 and the 18-50, nothing else

Back from Osaka, Kyoto and a few days in the Kiso Valley, timed it for the sakura and actually got lucky for once. Took the a6700 and the Sigma 18-50 and left the 70-350 at home, which I regretted exactly once (a heron in the Kamo river doing something amazing with a fish, you'll have to take my word for it).

Best stuff was early mornings. Kyoto at 6am is a diffrent city. Philosopher's Path with nobody on it, just a bloke in a suit cycling under the blossom holding an umbrella. Fushimi Inari before 7 with the gates empty. Osaka at night is a sensory assault and the 18-50 at f/2.8 handled it heaps better than I expected, the Dotonbori reflections in the canal at ISO 3200 look fine.

The Nakasendo walk from Magome to Tsumago was the highlight. Misty, cedars, old post towns. Didn't get a single photo I love there tho, too busy walking.

Whole kit was under 800g in a sling. Reckon I'll never take a big bag on holiday again. No tripod, obviously.

ellie_v said:

just a bloke in a suit cycling under the blossom holding an umbrella

That's the shot, I can see it from here. Grand write-up. Small kit for travel every time, I did Japan in 2019 with the GX9 and the 15 and the only thing I missed was a heron as well, funnily enough. Must be a Kyoto heron thing

Kyoto at 6am is the best tip anyone will ever give for Japan! I did the same with Fushimi Inari and it's a completely different place before the tour buses. Did you shoot any of it in camera with a look, or all raw?