Author | Lightnews

Dan K @zdp189.bsky.social · 6h

I have never seen a Big Rose. They are old and fairly rare. How did you decide to buy one of them?

Dan K @zdp189.bsky.social · 15h

Anyone spoken to @camerakote.co.uk recently?

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Dan K @zdp189.bsky.social · 18h

I may jave a childish sense of humour but I'm not alone.

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Dan K @zdp189.bsky.social · 20h

Each to their own, but here's an idea: what I did in Cuba with BW in XPAN was to frame and compose cinematically. I wasn't shooting panoramas, but scenes with an implied story. You have subjects and a context and a meaning.

Another idea is a single shot diptich or triptych. Multiple concepts/ frame

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Dan K @zdp189.bsky.social · 21h

Then you get your high-horology pieces with hand finished multicomplication in-house movements. Let's not even go there. It's not for our kind of people. Money is not a factor here.

If value for money is key buy Tudor, Longines, Tissot, Oris, low end Omega etc. and the Chinese ofc.

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Dan K @zdp189.bsky.social · 21h

Rolex & Tudor have a high dealer cost, but dealers do add value. Rolex is sadly an overpriced wealth flex, but Tudor offer good value and honestly they give me a chubby.

Once repriced to the grey market, they hold value well and are almost like international commodities.

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Dan K @zdp189.bsky.social · 21h

Western (and to a lesser extent Asian ex-PRC) micro brands mostly trade on hyping heavily China-sourced watches for 10x the cost, but they do add originalish design, better finish and QC. Their main advantage is anti-China consumer bias.

The problem is thin second hand demand/ kerb tax.

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Dan K @zdp189.bsky.social · 21h

All watches over about £200 are hype-priced.

LVMH group brands (Hublot etc) and fashion brands like Chanel, Richard Mille are influencer driven Veblen goods. MVMT are expensive trash.

GS and The Citizen at least try to offer good specs, uprated movements and top notch finishing.

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Dan K @zdp189.bsky.social · 21h

Casio's new mechanical has the same NH-35 movement by TMI (same group as Seiko and Epson) that's in most of the Chinese watches including this no-brand £35 Rolex homage.

Sorry for what looks like dust, it's still got the protective plastic on the glass as I'll probably gift it on.

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Dan K @zdp189.bsky.social · 21h

Phones all but killed digital and quartz watches and the Chinese make better watches in the low end market.

That drove the Japanese into the mid market, hence Casio selling mechanicals, Seiko divers at £1,000, Grand Seiko at £3,000. This is Citizen's attempt at the Grand Seiko market segment.

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Dan K @zdp189.bsky.social · 21h

For context, this was almost directly opposite the Leica store.

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Dan K @zdp189.bsky.social · 21h

No photography!

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Dan K @zdp189.bsky.social · 21h

The leaves were barely turning.

It made me miss Seoul but not London, cities of a similar latitude where I used to live.

Trees here in HK can't be bothered.

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Dan K @zdp189.bsky.social · 21h

Kinkaku-ji. The golden Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto.

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Dan K @zdp189.bsky.social · 22h

A pair of lost baby socks in a Kyoto back alley.

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Dan K @zdp189.bsky.social · 22h

In Japan you can't just smoke on the street. You have to find a designated smoking spot. These include some of the most beautiful and most dreary places.

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Dan K @zdp189.bsky.social · 22h

I'm obsessed with Japanese architectural textures.

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Dan K @zdp189.bsky.social · 22h

Even in a Japanese major city, it was hard to find The Citizen.

This is the AQ4091-56M Eco-Drive watch with an indigo-dyed washi paper dial and "Super Titanium" case and bracelet, the nicest varient on display.

$3,000 for a chintzy mall watch?

I'm biased because I have had 3 of their early titanium Eco-Drive watches fail, lasting only a few months each. But these prices don't make sense, even if they are now reliable.

"The watch includes a perpetual calendar, a power reserve indicator, and "Perfex" technology, which protects the watch hands from shifting due to shock or magnetism." yeah but still three grand.

Supposedly the coated/treated Super Titanium is more durable. And they did manage a nice polish, but I don't expect it to last like Stainless Steel and the clasp has no adjustment.

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Dan K @zdp189.bsky.social · 22h

Watch (window) shopping in Shinsaibashi, Osaka.

There's no such thing as a tatty second hand watch on display. They must all be lightly worn or polished.

I sell the same stuff for a lot less, so wasn't tempted.

Pretty much sums up domestic mainstream brands in Japan. The names, the store display style.

The first time I ever saw Grand Seiko on sale new.

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Dan K @zdp189.bsky.social · 22h

Osaka. Efficiency, density, managed chaos.

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Dan K @zdp189.bsky.social · 22h

Film in a department store in Osaka. But it's mostly single use and instant cameras.

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Dan K @zdp189.bsky.social · 22h

I love this scene of the canal in Osaka and the crowded shopping streets.

It's consumerism and the rat race taken to extremes, but fun to visit.

Exhausting too.

I'm back in HK, sipping tea alone by the pool in dry 26°C weather with a renewed sense of appreciation for what I have.

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Dan K @zdp189.bsky.social · 22h

Sadly, I missed the Shutter Alliance show, but I only found out when I was in Kyoto. www.lomography.hk/magazine/356...

Lomography - 【Analogue In Town】第四屆《十四鐵漢》香港街頭攝影展

《十四鐵漢》再次回歸！繼 2024 年成功舉辦第三屆《十四鐵漢》香港街頭攝影展後，今年我們將迎來全新篇章 ── 以《瞬間剎那》為題的第四屆《十四鐵漢》香港街頭攝影展。Lomography HK 亦會在展覽期間與街頭攝影達人一起舉辦 Photowalk 呢！

www.lomography.hk

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Dan K @zdp189.bsky.social · 22h

That's a great look. Somehow more XPAN than XPAN.

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Dan K @zdp189.bsky.social · 22h

Yesterday was the grand opening of a photo book store, a floor below in the same building where my darkroom is located. The open house is running most of this month.

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