Leica Store – Kyoto, Japan
This may look like a regular, traditional Japanese building, but it’s actually something special. It’s the Leica Store in Kyoto, Japan. Located in the Gion district, it sits within an entire neighborhood of well-preserved Japanese structures. Many are tea houses and restaurants.
Ever since I saw the opening of the Leica Store in Kyoto, on YouTube, I wanted to visit. I’ve been to the San Francisco Leica Store, which is entirely different, of course. San Francisco’s is industrial with exposed brick and wood beams. Kyoto’s is distinctly Japanese, which I’ll feature in a future post.
I stood there for several minutes, trying to capture a well framed picture, without the clutter of tourists, which frequent the area. The one up top is with the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II and the 14-150mm lens, which I’ve used a lot, on recent posts. The simple street side photo looks almost model-like with a twinge of antiseptic perfection.
In contrast, I shot the photo below with the Olympus PEN-F with the 9-18mm, at a slightly wider 20mm equivalent. It certainly has more character with the contrasty black and white, which looks vaguely Henri Cartier-Bresson like, though perhaps only in my dreams. I think the historic looking black and white is keeping with Leica, which is especially famous for street photography, of which Henri was a pioneer and a Leica user.
Note the blurred bicycle rider, which I was anticipating when creating this image. While I used my usual in-camera PEN-F monochrome mode, I opted for this RAW converted version so that I can better emphasize the bicycle rider.
Which do I like better? I don’t know. They both have their appeal. What do you think?
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I like the b&w.
Thanks, Brett.
I like the b&w the sign adds a nice touch. Btw how’s the Olympus 9-18mm? Been wanting a wider lens and that was an option.
It’s a great lens as long as your OK with the corners not being super-sharp and contrasty.
Thank for you feedback, Jacksonbart.
thanks for the feedback Jackson! are there any other alternatives around $500-$700? I initially was gonna get the 12-40mm f2.8 and just use that as my all around lens but the price… probably save up for it
Thank you, Danny.
I like the 9-18mm because it’s small and light. Optically, I’m sure it’s not as good as the 7-14mm pro, but it’s a lot less expensive and easy to carry and it satisfies me, photographically.
Here’s all the photos that I’ve used the 9-18mm.
https://blog.atmtxphoto.com/tag/olympus-9-18mm-f4-5-6/
awesome! thanks I’ll check the images out! And yeah the 7-14mm is nice but expensive.. so was looking into cheaper alternatives.
Did you peek inside? Not tempted at all?
The Leica Typ 109 is an excellent travel camera, and quite affordable.
Yes, I did go inside. And those photos are coming in a future post.
I was once looking at the Typ 109 once, though if I do get one, it would probably by the Panasonic version. However, I do prefer the Leica design and styling.
The Leica store in New York City is dismal by comparison. Leica really needs to up its game in NYC.
As I recall, the NYC store was one of the earlier ones? I’ve never been there but I would like to go and, of course, spend a bunch of time shooting the city.
Well done to Leica for opening the store at a traditional building, their stores are always worth the visit š
Yes, and this one is quite unique.