Adventure in New York City with Sony Kit Lenses

We have been planning to visit New York City for at least two years.  Last year, just before our planned date of visit, there was the hurricane (or was it a tornado?) in New York City and we had to cancel it.  This year, one day before we would leave, I got sick, and had to cancel the hotel room, but I felt better later so we decided to stick to our plan.  Of course, re-booking the same room cost more!

Driving there was uneventful.  We took a 45-minute break half-way in the trip, and arrived in New York City in approximately 9 hours from Toronto, as there was some traffic jam.  I had been to New York City a couple of times, but each time it was short and for business, so didn't really have much time to explore the city.  Three words jump out of my head about New York City: Big, Busy, Chaotic.  Regardless of time of day, at least where we stayed (West 32nd st. and 6th Ave), people are everywhere.  It was even worse around Time Square.  Definitely a huge change from the relatively tame and slow Toronto.

On the phone -- NEX-5N & Sony E-16mm f2.8. Click for larger.

Hot Dog Vendor - NEX-5N & E16mm f2.8. 

I brought five lenses with me: E-16mm f2.8, E-18-55mm Kit lens, OM 24mm f2.8, OM 35mm f2, and Voigtlander Nokton 40mm f1.4.  I ended up using only the two Sony auto focus lenses, but mostly just the 18-55mm kit lens.

I find the 16mm f2.8 lens more enjoyable to use, especially in low light (night time).  It's perfect for street shooting, though it's slightly too wide for this purpose.  To me, the optical quality is quite acceptable as a travel lens.  On the other hand, I am less happy with the 18-55mm kit zoom lens.

Tiles for America - NEX-5N & 18-55mm Kit lens. Click for larger.

The distortion at the wide end on the kit zoom lens is horrendous, if you shoot RAW and don't have the lens profile (correction) turned on.  The wide end, unfortunately, is the most used focal length in travel.  When I first looked at the pictures I shot, I couldn't below how bad they are.  Fortunately, Lightroom has a lens profile for this lens and it corrects the distortion quite easily.

Lower Manhattan - NEX-5N & 18-55mm kit lens. click for larger.

At the long end, the distortion is not as objectionable.  The lens is actually quite sharp, but the distortion really destroys it.  Even with lens correction, it's not perfect.  There are other good qualities this lens has: small, light, and has image stabilization.  It's a good choice for travel, but I think (or hope) the 18-200mm ultra zoom is better for travel and should be optically better, at least (hopefully) better at distortion control.

Statue of Liberty - NEX-5N & 18-55mm kit lens.

Ground Zero Revisited

I last visited New York city two months ago in June.  That was not my first time in New York, but was the first time that I actually visited with free some free time.  I went back last week for a few days for some more training sessions.  Stayed at the same hotel which has part of the view of Ground Zero.  As before, construction was going on feverishly from 6AM until 11PM each day.  They are trying to finish the 911 Memorial in time for the 10th anniversary of the 911 attack.

Looking at the construction site, it's hard to imagine the horror and destruction of the towers, unless you have seen what it was like.  Peace is not without its prices.

Construction -- NEX-5 & 18-55mm kit lens. Click for larger.

Construction II -- NEX-5 & Canon FD 55mm f1.2 SSC.

On Guard

On Guard -- NEX-5 & Minolta MC Rokkor-pf 55mm f1.7

Around the financial district in New York City, there are police everywhere, and sniffing dogs and security personnels checking every vehicle going through some of the streets.  Security is very tight, especially near the 10th anniversary of 911.

The (Taxi) Rides of My Life

 

Long Island -- NEX-5 & Minolta MC W.Rokkor-SI 28mm f2.5. Click for larger picture.

I have heard, and read that New York City taxi drivers are crazy, and I had the fortune to experience it today, twice.  Ian and I took a taxi to Time Square.  On the way there, the taxi driver zipped through traffic, like the Auto Car drawn by Cursor (if you are old enough to remember the show "Automan", you will know what Cursor is).  It was scary, but I managed to snap some pictures along the way.

On our way back, it was only worse.  This driver was even more crazy the previous one.  I swear he was driving at 70 or 80 miles per hour on city streets.  The funny thing is, he had the radio set to play nice, soft, classical music, which totally clashed with his driving.  New York City, is a city of extremes.