Imogen Heap in Hong Kong
Posted by SpikeFeb 14
Imogen Heap is coming to Hong Kong, playing April 2nd at Grappa’s. After missing Andrew Bird’s show last month, I’m not taking anything for granted and have already bought my tickets. Door price is $520, advance order is $450 and “early bird” (through March 12th) is $380 – including one drink. (Hit that link if you wanna order tix now.)
Since I don’t pick up any of the local entertainment magazines on a regular basis, how did I find out about the show? Twitter. In between all the crap, there is actually a lot of useful information flowing my way on a daily basis via Twitter. It’s all a matter of who you follow. And I hope you’ll follow me on Twitter. Much like my blog, I do post a certain amount of crap but I also try to put some useful stuff up there daily, and that includes links to interesting bits and pieces I’ve found from all over the place, some stuff that never makes it to the blog.
Oh, it also looks as if I’m 98% set with tix for one day at the 7′s. Once that’s confirmed, I gotta start to think about picking up a longer lens for my camera – I think it’ll be worth it.
And while I’m still here – Happy New Year and Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!
9 comments
Comment by Heathcliff on February 14, 2010 at 9:00 am
Not sure if there’s anyhere in HK you can hire big glass (maybe someone at PASM would know), but a quick look on Flickr reveals that most of the decent action shot were shot with 300mm or longer lenses – you’d be in the range that makes your recently purchased 24-70mm look “cheap”.
Even the route of the new 70-200mm VRII and the TC20E III (which is receiving good reviews) is not too shy of $25k – even with VR you’re gonna need a monpod as well….and the list goes on.
Comment by Spike on February 14, 2010 at 12:33 pm
I do know one place that has a small selection of lenses for rent, not the full spectrum but decent enough daily prices. I don’t think I’m going to need those HK$40,000 lenses that Nikon has for my purposes – I’m looking to capture people in the stands more than the sports stuff, so I expect I can get decent results with, for example the 300mm f4 and possibly a tc14 teleconverter, maybe the 70-300 or 80-400, both f4.5-5.6 and within my budget, and I already have a decent monopod. Good thing is I have a month to ask around, try stuff out, learn how to use whatever I decide to get, etc.
Comment by davethevet on February 14, 2010 at 8:27 pm
You still got your gf1? 45-200 is pretty good in daylight.
Comment by Joyce Lau on February 14, 2010 at 8:37 pm
I’m hoping I can get the evening off, though I’m not holding my breath, bc it’s Good Friday, which means most of our Paris office might be off, which means I might have to work. Complicated.
But I already bought tickets. Sometimes I do this, because I never know my schedule very far in advance, and good live shows in HK are so far and few in between.
My usual tactic is buy first, schedule later. And if I can’t make it, I can always give the tickets to someone else.
I, too, missed Andrew Bird.
Comment by Spike on February 15, 2010 at 10:47 am
I do still have it but am giving serious consideration to selling it.
Comment by davethevet on February 15, 2010 at 12:06 pm
I had 80-400 on a d300 and really liked it but it was tough getting good results at the long end, even mirror lock up and big tripod. Swapped it for vr1 and ,tc 1.4. I really liked that combination and still really liked it on the D3. Ive got a panasonic g1 and I find the 45-200 really good for landscapes and its just too expensive to get that long on a D3(s). (Er, I did get the D3s). I liked the 70-300 and I really liked the 55-200 nikons. How much is a vr1 now?
Comment by Spike on February 15, 2010 at 12:27 pm
When you say VR1, which lens are you referring to? 300mm? I see Nikon 300mm f/2.8g ED VR2 is HK$47,000 and and 300mm f/2.8G IF-ED VR1 is $42,500. Both clearly out of my price range. 300mm f/4 (no VR) is $9,000. 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 VR is about $5,000; 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR is $12,000; 200-400mm f/4 VR is $53,000. Nikon HK’s page listing all the currently available lenses and HK list price is here.
Comment by davethevet on February 15, 2010 at 7:16 pm
Sorry Spike 70-200, most people referring to the old one as `the vr1` when comparing with the vr2. There have been a couple of times when I have been really moved by a piece of equipment, first time was when I got the 70-200 vr1, the difference in quality was a real step forward at that stage in my photography. Second time was going full frame from d300 to d3, I truly think its like the difference between 35mm and medium format film, really smooth files and lovely transition from focus to out of focus areas. I personally think its a great idea to get a d700, full frame really did make that much difference for me. Last epiphany was getting the 200 f2, the view finder and live view are miles ahead on the d700 cf the d300 and a lot of the lenses I use are pretty cheap, eg one of my favourite band lenses is the 105 ais, and my mid zoom is now 70-180 micro. Good luck with your choice. A[ologies for the typing, ive got a cat on my lap
Comment by Spike on February 15, 2010 at 7:20 pm
Oh man, comments like this are dangerous! Makes me want to run out tomorrow and buy both the D700 and the 70-200. Well, I suppose I could go to one of the larger chain shops in Mong Kok and buy ‘em on the 24 month no interest installment plan.
Thing is, I look at the results I get with my 24-70mm f/2.8 and I know they’re a quantum leap beyond what I was taking in the past. The thought that going to the D700 could mean another quantum leap is quite seductive.