Random Rent & Shoot with CRC
– Text by Melody Tan
Image: Team Ourshutterjourney at Camera Rental Centre Collecting Pre-assigned Gear
30th August 2021, Singapore – We decided to do something different and interesting for our August 2021 outing. After much thought, the Editorial Team suggested to our Chief (AL) why not do a “Random Rent & Shoot” outing. He accepted the idea citing this will be a good test of one’s ability to adapt and operate other brand’s gear and so the outing was planned for August’s official outing. Due to the foregoing restrictions on social gathering up to 5 pax, the team was split into 2 teams of 3 pax.
The concept of this outing – photographers are usually very familiar with the gear that they are using (native) and there are always fear of using another brand’s equipment – unfamiliar menus, camera/lens behavior, finding settings etc. So this outing is to get the guys to rent a camera/lens that are not familiar to them. As usual, we roped in our rental partner – Camera Rental Centre – and shared with them this idea. They requested for the attendees’ current system so that they can planned and issue a set of equipment that is NOT native to the user. (sounds like Fun!) It’s like the good old “Tik Kam” – its like a lottery.
The 2 teams went to collect the gear from Camera Rental Centre at their given time slot and they were in for a surprise!
Image: Peggy Teo collecting her “tik kam” gear from CRC.
Peggy is a known Sony user and Camera Rental Centre decided to issue her a Fujifilm XT-4 with a Fujifilm XF 8-16mm F2.8R LM WR lens.
Image: Uncle Koh a.k.a OldKingKoh collecting his “tik kam” gear from CRC.
Uncle Koh is a known Fujifilm/Nikon/Samsung user and Camera Rental Centre decided to issue him a Canon M6 Mark II with a Canon EF M18-150mm F3.5-6.3 IS STM lens.
Image: Nash collecting his “tik kam” gear from CRC.
Nash is a known Olympus user and Camera Rental Centre decided to issue him a Nikon Z6 Mark II with a Nikon Z 14-30mm F4 S lens.
Image: Serene collecting her “tik kam” gear from CRC.
Serene (Serene Digital Craft) is a known Olympus user and Camera Rental Centre decided to issue her a Canon R6 with a Canon RF 50mm F1.2L USM lens.
Image: Kennedy (KK) collecting his “tik kam” gear from CRC.
Kennedy is a known Olympus user and Camera Rental Centre decided to issue him a Nikon D4 with a Nikon AF-S 35mm F1.8 G lens.
Image: AL collecting his “tik kam” gear from CRC.
AL (our Chief Editor) is a known multi-brand user and Camera Rental Centre decided to issue him a surprise Medium Format Fujifilm GFX 50R with a Fujifilm GF 32-64mm F4 R LM WR lens. (Thanks Jason for the surprise!)
And so, after collecting their “Tik Kam” gear, the team spent about 5 mins orientating themselves with the new gear and there was so much laughter as suddenly this group of season photographers became “beginners” again. Apparently lost, everyone tried to find the usual controls for their shutter, aperture, ISO etc and in 5 mins, they are good to go.
The route selected for this outing is from CRC (CMO Building)> Clarke Quay> Clemenceau & back. Time given was 2 solid hours to use the “Tik Kam” gear and shoot whatever the attendees wants. Let’s see what they said about their “Tik Kam” gear and check out some of the images they shot during this outing.
AL LEE
Let’s start with our Chief Editor, AL. He was issued a Fujifilm GFX 50R with a Fujifilm GF 32-64mm F4 R LM WR lens. Let’s check out some of his images and his comments below.
AL: “I was surprised when I was issued the Fujifilm GFX 50R with a Fujifilm GF 32-64mm F4 R LM WR lens. Its a digital Medium Format camera. Although I have a few Fujifilm mirrorless cameras, the GFX is a monster by any standard. From a first time user, I find that everything is easy to navigate and definitely user-friendly on the GFX50R. Its quite a sizeable camera (medium format camera hallo?!?!)”
AL: “Walking through Hong Kong Street to Clarke Quay, I realised the GFX is actually quite a superb street camera – the amount of details captured is unimaginable. Apart from the size which I kinda got used to, this is a very enjoyable camera to use. To add, since the Pentax 645D, the Fujifilm GFX is another great medium format camera that one can use for street or even portraits.”
AL: “I chanced upon an interesting restaurant – WINGS Bar – the facade features a replica 1942 bomber which is a crowd-puller – then I met the service staff – super friendly when I asked about the menu and also invited them for a photo – they happily obliged. Their service uniforms are air force inspired too. They serves various types of chicken wings, beers and lots of finger food options as well as main courses! Do check them out!~ They are located at 3D, River Valley Road, #01-02, Singapore 179023 (near the centre main fountain area).”
Peggy Teo
As a native Sony user, she is known for her experimental shots and a great lover for Sun rise/ Sun set photos. She was issued a Fujifilm XT-4 with a Fujifilm XF 8-16mm F2.8R LM WR lens. Sony to Fujifilm is not (quite) easy given the menu layout is very different, so let check out Peggy’s images & her comments below!
Peggy: “Without prior information nor knowledge nor a manuel, it was indeed daunting to handle an unfamiliar camera. A quick run through the camera with the help of Mr. Koh, I did a quick check to figure out the settings/dials, to understand some quirks and hidden functions i might not otherwise be aware of in this unfamiliar camera.”
Peggy: “Went out on my rounds to gain real shooting experiences, tikam tikam to see how lighting changes, understand the characteristics of the camera/lenses, with much assistance from along the way. It was nonetheless fun to live out the challenge!”
Uncle Koh Lye Huat a.k.a OldKingKoh
One of the famous photography Uncle in Singapore, JB and some say Batam, he is an all-rounder photographer although it is noted that he loves shooting flowers & historic sites in Singapore. He is also widely known as a huge fan of Fujifilm but he also uses Samsung & Nikon often too. For this outing-challenge, Uncle Koh was issued the Canon M6 Mark II with a Canon EF M18-150mm F3.5-6.3 IS STM lens. Let’s check out his images & comments!
Koh: “The event was officially announced to be held on the 28th August 2021 – coded named “Random Rent & Shoot” and in a group of 5 fully vaccinated participants. The gear will be rented from Camera Rental Center on a totally random basis – means I won’t know what I will be getting until the collection time. Totally random & unexpected, they gave me a Canon M6 Mark II.”
Koh: “The above shot was shot from opposite the river. The 18-150mm was surprisingly good in terms of image quality and details. I had not used this camera before since whatever gear we were given, we have to use & shoot.”
Koh: “We went on a rampage around the area around Clarke Quay and blasted away. Some of us even came back with 2000+ shots, but as for me I was armed with an unfamiliar Canon M6 Mark2 with an 18-150mm lens. Honestly I did no justice with it as I came back with only 117 shots at the end of the day. But it’s quality over quantity right? Anyway the Canon M6 Mark 2 is a very manageable camera for walks like this.”
Nash Teh
An Olympus user who had tried almost every Olympus Zuiko lens ever made, he was issued the Nikon Z6 Mark II with a Nikon Z 14-30mm F4 S lens. The Z6 being a very different camera (Nikon), switching between Olympus & Nikon is by no means an easy task. The handling, the layout and menu is contrasting on a different level. Let’s check out Nash images & comments below.
Nash: “My hunch was right, I will be getting a NIKON! But I never expect to be given a Z6 mark II. I was thinking maybe I’d get some other Nikon models – comparing with my current system, the Nikon Z6 Mark II is indeed much superior in many ways. I am so happy about it.”
Nash: “The Z6 Mark II is light-weight, comes with touch screen, and a flipable screen. Best of all, it is not overly-sensitive when my face touches the camera screen. Although the Z6 is optimized for video shooting, it is very competent for still photography too. In addition, the multiple-focus points on the screen is very useful when it comes to shooting street with people.”
Nash: “As an ‘Electronics-Savvy’ person, I would say, it did not take me a lot of time to master the basic controls of this camera. It is an easy camera to use. I would really love to get my hands on this camera one day.”
Serene Ong
Widely known as “O Se Re” or “Serene from Serene Digital Crafts”, she is also our contributing Editor for gear reviews. An avid Olympus user, she was issued a Canon R6 with Canon RF 50mm F1.2L USM lens. Some say seeing Serene without an Olympus on her hand is weird, (actually) we agreed to that saying too. Let’s check out her images & comments below.
Serene: “Before the camera was issued to me, I was nervous and worried as I do not know which camera/lens I was going to be issued. Especially if its a camera that was unfamiliar to me.”
Serene: “However, After receiving the camera (Canon R6), I was able to feel less anxious as (luckily) I was once a Canon user. With Uncle Koh’s kind assistance, I was able to familiarise fast. The R6 was easy to operate and manage.”
Serene: “Overall, the experience was extremely enjoyable and exciting. This ‘Tik Kam’ outing is superb and very fun! Thanks CRC for co-organising this event and I was able to get a cheaper price for renting a camera beyond this outing as an Ourshutterjourney Card member.”
Kennedy Lim (KK)
One of the few photographers that we know who lives, eat & breathe Olympus cameras, probably the best way to “sabo” him will be to issue him a completely different camera. He was issued the mighty Nikon D4 with a Nikon AF-S 35mm F1.8 G lens.
Kennedy: “I was surprised & excited when I was issued the Nikon D4 with a 35mm prime lens. The D4 is a legend camera when it replaced the D3 and the specs are way ahead of time. Although the D4 had aged, it is still a very competent performer a definitely made for the pro users.”
Kennedy: “The FPS are crazy, just imagine, when the D4 was launch a few years ago, it was the industry’s fastest FPS DSLR with a ridiculously high dynamic range. I used it for this outing and I like the crazy speed.”
Kennedy: “While many cited that the D4 is a great sport or birding DSLR, I personally think it is also a superb Street Photography camera. I love the images that I’ve gotten from this outing. The ‘Tik Kam’ idea was damn good and creative. Else I do not think I will have a chance to use this camera.”
Well it seems that it had been a very fun outing for the group! Renting a camera randomly and learning it within minutes is definitely challenging but also fun at the same time!
Thinking to rent a camera or lens to try before purchasing? Do check out our appointed Vendor Camera Rental Centre!
THANK YOU CAMERA RENTAL CENTRE FOR MAKING THIS HAPPENED!
– from ALL of us at Ourshutterjourney.com
PS: Ourshutterjourney Card Members Enjoys Special Rental Deals!
Here’s a Parting Shot~
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Contributing Editor – Melody Tan
Loves quiet walks along beaches, has a mind of her own and decides everything in life in either black or white with nothing in between. Her priority these days revolves around her 2 lovely kids & teaching them music or photography. A lover of yoga and an avid traveler, Melody aims to visit at least 30 countries before she reach 40 years old – from what we know, she had completed 27 as of 2018.
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