Hong Kong offers a feast of sights for those with camera in hand. Spending all day carrying the Nikon D7100 and an attached 55-300mm DX lens – since sold and replaced by the old 70-300mm ED VR lens – is not exactly the lightest task. As with most Nikon cameras, the D7100 is solid and conveys a sense of trust and comfort. Whilst not the best telephoto lens available, the 55-300mm is certainly one of the least heavy in this class, even though the image is prone to softness, especially at the long end below f8.

Before I purchased the D7100, I was using the Nikon D5100 – a truly capable camera with the well-reviewed sensor found in the Nikon D7000, though much cheaper. I really liked the D5100 but moving to the D7100 felt as though I was really moving on up in terms of features and ergonomics. Just the external buttons alone gave me easy access to ISO and White Balance – two dedicated buttons the D5100 didn’t have.

As much as I was tempted to sell the D7100 when buying into the Z system with the Nikon Z5, I just couldn’t bring myself to do it. I do miss the old Nikkor 50mm f1.8 D lens though, as it’s so light, small, and sharp. It’s a reliable camera and mine has a lot of life left in it.

Years of grime, torn stickers, puckered adhesive, PVC pipes, and crazy wires that lead to subterranean places adorn the walls in many parts of Hong Kong. I love the texture of the place, the hustle and bustle, and the sea of humanity. But I’m not unaware of the poverty and the cramped lives, struggling to get through each day in the wet heat. And here I am, a tourist with a big camera, framing it all up and editing in a quiet room…