Spring trip to Japan

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dal6730360

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David A Lee
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I'm a moderately experienced enthusiast that will be going on a cruise to Japan in spring 2026 with my fabulous but not overly patient wife. Stopping in the usual cities/towns. I figure it'll mostly be street photography with temples, shrines, gardens, forts and the other famous sites, all crowded. Probably on and off buses with lots of shorter stops. I'm limiting myself to the lightest, smallest, minimal kit I can carry and still get the shots I want. I have a Sony kit but it's too big for this trip. I'm trying to chose my camera(s) & lenses only from my Olympus MFT kit. Here's my initial plan and my full kit. Let me know if I'm on the right path. All advice appreciated.

My plan:
OM Systems OM-5 Mark ii
9-18mm f4-5.6 (MFT) 18-36mm FF
14-150mm f/4-5.6 (MFT) 28-300mm FF

OM-D PEN P7
20mm f/1.4 (MFT) 40mm FF
14-42mm f/4-5.6 Pancake (MFT) 28-84mm FF

My full Olympus kit:
OM Systems OM-5 Mark ii
OM-D E-M1
OM-D E-M5 mark ii
OM-D PEN P7
OM-D PEN -E-PL9
OM-D PEN E-MP2

9-18mm f4-5.6 (MFT) 18-36mm FF
12-45mm f/4 (MFT) 24-90mm FF
14-42mm f/4-5.6 Pancake (MFT) 28-84mm FF
40-150mm f/4-5.6 (MFT) 80-300mm FF
14-150mm f/4-5.6 (MFT) 28-300mm FF
12-200mm f/4-5.6 (MFT) 24-400mm FF

17mm f/1.8 (MFT) 34mm FF
20mm f/1.4 (MFT) 40mm FF
25mm f/1.8 (MFT) 50mm FF
45mm f/1.8 (MFT) 85mm FF
 
From that list, MY choice would be 2 of the bodies (one either as a spare or for super fast changes of lens) with the 9-18 and 12-200 OR, if space and weight is very limited, one body and the 12-200. IF there's space for one of the faster primes, (again) MY choice would be the 20mm.

Enjoy the trip.
 
my wife and went to Japan a couple of years back. I am not going to say what to see or not, that is part of the excitement. What I will say is the cultural shock.
Everything in Japan has to be exact, miss a meal time buy a minute and your too late- bullet train arrive exactly on time and stop at the exact right spot for the platform doors to open.
bowing to everyone is the norm, after a couple of weeks there you will find yourself doing the same What may not be so well known to us is the 3 ways to bow. Slight bow to a stranger, deeper bow to say a business partner and a full bow to usually to older relatives.

note how your told to wait in a certain spot on the platform.Typical of exactness of the Japanese


I could put up more videos but that might spoil your trip

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KanGgqyv10M

By the way, once you get to understand Japanese culture you soon realise why their cars are so well made.
 
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Nod said:
From that list, MY choice would be 2 of the bodies (one either as a spare or for super fast changes of lens) with the 9-18 and 12-200 OR, if space and weight is very limited, one body and the 12-200. IF there's space for one of the faster primes, (again) MY choice would be the 20mm.

Enjoy the trip.
Click to expand...
Nod:
Thanks for the feedback. Here's my revised plan so far (2 bodies & 4 lenses):

OM Systems OM-5 Mark ii camera
9-18mm f4-5.6 (MFT) 18-36mm FF
12-45mm f/4 (MFT) 24-90mm FF

OM-D PEN P7 camera
20mm f/1.4 (MFT) 40mm FF
14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 Pancake (MFT) 28-84mm FF

I'm really excited!
 
realspeed said:
my wife and went to Japan a couple of years back. I am not going to say what to see or not, that is part of the excitement. What I will say is the cultural shock.
Everything in Japan has to be exact, miss a meal time buy a minute and your too late- bullet train arrive exactly on time and stop at the exact right spot for the platform doors to open.
bowing to everyone is the norm, after a couple of weeks there you will find yourself doing the same What may not be so well known to us is the 3 ways to bow. Slight bow to a stranger, deeper bow to say a business partner and a full bow to usually to older relatives.

note how your told to wait in a certain spot on the platform.Typical of exactness of the Japanese


I could put up more videos but that might spoil your trip

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KanGgqyv10M

By the way, once you get to understand Japanese culture you soon realise why their cars are so well made.
Click to expand...
RS:
I am really excited about visiting Japan. I really appreciate their precision in everything they do. It's also a very aesthetic culture so the photography should be wonderful. Thanks for the tips! Maybe I won't stand out as a silly American tourist as much ;-)
 
dal6730360 said:
Nod:
Thanks for the feedback. Here's my revised plan so far (2 bodies & 4 lenses):

OM Systems OM-5 Mark ii camera
9-18mm f4-5.6 (MFT) 18-36mm FF
12-45mm f/4 (MFT) 24-90mm FF

OM-D PEN P7 camera
20mm f/1.4 (MFT) 40mm FF
14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 Pancake (MFT) 28-84mm FF

I'm really excited!
Click to expand...


PERSONALLY, I'd avoid the duplication between the 12-45 and the 14-42 and just take the least bulky (guessing the 14-42 Pancake). Since you have 3 telephoto zooms in your system, you probably have a reasonable interest in shots at longer lengths so I'd take one of those instead of the second wider angle zoom.
 
I just got back from Japan and I brought the following (broad sketches since actual bodies don’t matter):

2x Bodies, a 28mm and a 50mm on each
1x Medium Format TLR (6x6), 75mm lens which works out as about 40mm
~50 rolls of film for the above
An iPhone 17 Pro for video and for tele work.

I actually found that I used the tele (~100mm) on the iPhone quite a lot and the film bodies covered everything else.

From your kit I’d pick your two best bodies and then the 17/25/45 primes, or get your absolute fav body and just bring the 12-45 since you want to be as light as possible. That would cover almost everything I photographed. For reference I could have just brought my iPhone and I’d come back pretty satisfied, I basically stayed in the 24-100mm range. There was one instance where I used the 8x (200mm) for the compression but I don’t think I ever used the ultrawide (13mm) for anything serious.
 
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One other thought occurs to me - the availability of kit near where you'll be. Might be possible to simply purchase anything you need and haven't taken if/when that need arises.
 
We all have our preferences.if I were doing the trip (and Japan is on my bucket list) then I would take my Sony A7III plus 24-105 as a walkabout lens, 50 f1.2GM for low light & creative photography, 18mm f2.8 for low weight to shoot interiors, or possibly 12-24 if I didn't mind a 3rd heavy lens.

Looking through your kit, there's no outstanding quality zooms, so I'd probably choose the best performing of the superzooms plus the 9-18 and the 20 f1.4. Body-wise your OM-5 plus possibly the best performing of your rangefinder types, to which I'd fit the 20mm lens. My feeling is that in the towns and cities you may well find the 9-18 most useful, but in the countryside the superzoom will be better. Are there any lenses that produce outstanding images from your collection?
 
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FruitFlakes said:
I just got back from Japan and I brought the following (broad sketches since actual bodies don’t matter):

2x Bodies, a 28mm and a 50mm on each
1x Medium Format TLR (6x6), 75mm lens which works out as about 40mm
~50 rolls of film for the above
An iPhone 17 Pro for video and for tele work.

I actually found that I used the tele (~100mm) on the iPhone quite a lot and the film bodies covered everything else.

From your kit I’d pick your two best bodies and then the 17/25/45 primes, or get your absolute fav body and just bring the 12-45 since you want to be as light as possible. That would cover almost everything I photographed. For reference I could have just brought my iPhone and I’d come back pretty satisfied, I basically stayed in the 24-100mm range. There was one instance where I used the 8x (200mm) for the compression but I don’t think I ever used the ultrawide (13mm) for anything serious.
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FF:
Thanks for the feedback. I'm surprised about you not using the UWA. I thought I'd use it a lot. Food for thought. I will have my Pixel 9 Pro XL but I feel more tourist than photographer when I use it.
 
ancient_mariner said:
We all have our preferences.if I were doing the trip (and Japan is on my bucket list) then I would take my Sony A7III plus 24-105 as a walkabout lens, 50 f1.2GM for low light & creative photography, 18mm f2.8 for low weight to shoot interiors, or possibly 12-24 if I didn't mind a 3rd heavy lens.

Looking through your kit, there's no outstanding quality zooms, so I'd probably choose the best performing of the superzooms plus the 9-18 and the 20 f1.4. Body-wise your OM-5 plus possibly the best performing of your rangefinder types, to which I'd fit the 20mm lens. My feeling is that in the towns and cities you may well find the 9-18 most useful, but in the countryside the superzoom will be better. Are there any lenses that produce outstanding images from your collection?
Click to expand...
AM:
We seem to think alike. So far, my plan seems to match up well with your perspective:

OM Systems OM-5 Mark ii
9-18mm f4-5.6 (MFT) 18-36mm FF
12-45mm f/4 (MFT) 24-90mm FF

OM-D PEN P7
20mm f/1.4 (MFT) 40mm FF
14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 Pancake (MFT) 28-84mm FF

Hoping this will be a reasonably lite carry, fewer lens changes with 2 bodies, and relatively discreet.

Thanks!
 
Nod said:
One other thought occurs to me - the availability of kit near where you'll be. Might be possible to simply purchase anything you need and haven't taken if/when that need arises.
Click to expand...
That's a HUGE problem. I have terrible self control regarding gear. Tokyo is famous for many massive used camera stores. I'm afraid I'll return home a pauper and probably divorced. ;-)
 
Nod said:
PERSONALLY, I'd avoid the duplication between the 12-45 and the 14-42 and just take the least bulky (guessing the 14-42 Pancake). Since you have 3 telephoto zooms in your system, you probably have a reasonable interest in shots at longer lengths so I'd take one of those instead of the second wider angle zoom.
Click to expand...
My thinking in bringing both 12-45 (best IQ) & 14-42 (tiny) is to keep lens changes to a minimum by using 2 bodies. The P7 with the 20mm for busy city stuff & the 14-42 if we go up for a view. The OM-5ii for shots from the ship, landscapes and any countryside we visit. Make sense?
 
dal6730360 said:
FF:
Thanks for the feedback. I'm surprised about you not using the UWA. I thought I'd use it a lot. Food for thought. I will have my Pixel 9 Pro XL but I feel more tourist than photographer when I use it.
Click to expand...
Honestly I was as surprised as you are. I'd probably use the UWA more if I was focusing more on architecture but for general street/travel stuff I find that 24mm is the widest I like to go. The only time I recall actually switching to the UWA on my iPhone was to film how hilariously small my first hotel room was.

Having said all that, I'll probably bring my Hasselblad SWC (90 degree FoV along both axes) along the next time I'm in Japan.
 
I cannot give any advice with the Olympus system as I am a Canon user but from my experience going to Tokyo in 2023 all I can say is especially in the cities it's a special place. The people are kind, friendly and very helpful. In terms of photography it can be overwhelming. The choices and opportunities are limitless for street/ architecture shooting and I especially liked the narrow hidden alleyways in places like Shinkuju and Ginza they are really cool to photograph.

One very fantastic place when in Tokyo to photograph is Asakusa Underground Street which is connected to the metro station. It may not be the easiest place to find but in my opinion is worth a visit.

Have an incredible time.
 
dal6730360 said:
That's a HUGE problem. I have terrible self control regarding gear. Tokyo is famous for many massive used camera stores. I'm afraid I'll return home a pauper and probably divorced. ;-)
Click to expand...

I have a similar problem so I avoid the bay and rarely visit camera shops!

Maybe discuss with Mrs dal and agree on a limit for YOUR spending as long as the same can be applied to HERS! More seriously, restrict yourself to NEEDS rather than WANTS - maybe take a list of potential needs to help your self discipline...

dal6730360 said:
My thinking in bringing both 12-45 (best IQ) & 14-42 (tiny) is to keep lens changes to a minimum by using 2 bodies. The P7 with the 20mm for busy city stuff & the 14-42 if we go up for a view. The OM-5ii for shots from the ship, landscapes and any countryside we visit. Make sense?
Click to expand...

Sort of but I would only take the 12-45 - firstly, it's the better of the 2 choices (IYO) and secondly, it has a slightly wider range of focal lengths - you can crop the 42 end of the pancake slightly to mimic the 45 but it's harder to get a wider view without taking a couple of shots and merging them; at the wide end, a couple of mm is a fair gap, hence the existence of 24 and 28mm primes in the FF world.
 
1dmouse said:
I cannot give any advice with the Olympus system as I am a Canon user but from my experience going to Tokyo in 2023 all I can say is especially in the cities it's a special place. The people are kind, friendly and very helpful. In terms of photography it can be overwhelming. The choices and opportunities are limitless for street/ architecture shooting and I especially liked the narrow hidden alleyways in places like Shinkuju and Ginza they are really cool to photograph.

One very fantastic place when in Tokyo to photograph is Asakusa Underground Street which is connected to the metro station. It may not be the easiest place to find but in my opinion is worth a visit.

Have an incredible time.
Click to expand...
I'm really excited! Thanks for the advice. Most appreciated.
 
Nod said:
I have a similar problem so I avoid the bay and rarely visit camera shops!

Maybe discuss with Mrs dal and agree on a limit for YOUR spending as long as the same can be applied to HERS! More seriously, restrict yourself to NEEDS rather than WANTS - maybe take a list of potential needs to help your self discipline...



Sort of but I would only take the 12-45 - firstly, it's the better of the 2 choices (IYO) and secondly, it has a slightly wider range of focal lengths - you can crop the 42 end of the pancake slightly to mimic the 45 but it's harder to get a wider view without taking a couple of shots and merging them; at the wide end, a couple of mm is a fair gap, hence the existence of 24 and 28mm primes in the FF world.
Click to expand...
Nod: You know there are different spending rules for husband and wives. Mine is zero, hers is usually higher than I anticipate. ;-) My needs are already met, it's the wants that kill me. :-)

OK, what do you think about taking a 40-150 instead of the 14-42. I didn't think there would be many opportunities for the long end but it would give full coverage just in case. Thanks again for your help.
 
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I went on a cruise in Japan last year, took my Nikon Z7ii, 24-200, 14-30 and a 26mm prime. Also took a Sony RX100 and my iPhone (14 I think?).

The 24-200 was on the camera 99.9% of the time, I barely used the 14-30 and 26mm, to the point that if I was going back I’d just take the 24-200. The RX100 got some use but I used the iPhone more.

Don’t over complicate things, you’ll end up with paralysis by analysis and carrying more gear round on your shoulder than you need.
 
dal6730360 said:
Nod: You know there are different spending rules for husband and wives. Mine is zero, hers is usually higher than I anticipate. ;-) My needs are already met, it's the wants that kill me. :)

OK, what do you think about taking a 40-150 instead of the 14-42. I didn't think there would be many opportunities for the long end but it would give full coverage just in case. Thanks again for your help.
Click to expand...


Personally, I'm a liker of walkaround lenses that offer a decent range, as long as image quality doesn't suffer too much BUT, if you like wider angles, I reckon you'd miss the 14-42 or the 12-45.
(My usual walkaround is an 18-135 on an APS crop body [27-200 or so in FF terms] with a 10-24 [15-36] as the wide alternative. However, these days, I usually take a Sony RX-10 with its superzoom range and an RX-100 as a pocketable option.)
 
Nod said:
Personally, I'm a liker of walkaround lenses that offer a decent range, as long as image quality doesn't suffer too much BUT, if you like wider angles, I reckon you'd miss the 14-42 or the 12-45.
(My usual walkaround is an 18-135 on an APS crop body [27-200 or so in FF terms] with a 10-24 [15-36] as the wide alternative. However, these days, I usually take a Sony RX-10 with its superzoom range and an RX-100 as a pocketable option.)
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Funny you should say that. My APS-C kit is an A6600 with the 18-135 (love it!) and the 11-20 f2.8. I thought that would be bigger and heavier compared to the m43 kit for crowded Japan and I don't have a 2nd more pocketable body (some day I'd like to find a good used NEX-5T).

I've finalized my kit for Japan. We'll see how it goes.

OM Systems OM-5 Mark ii
9-18mm f4-5.6
12-45mm f/4 PRO

OM-D PEN P7
20mm f/1.4

Thanks for all the help. My next trip in 2026 is Alaska (2nd cruise) and I'm planning on bringing the APS-C kit.
 
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