FINALLY~~
It's done!
totalling up 2493 words
refering 12 cases
and only one book heheheh!!

But one more to go.. Land assignment

ASSignment ah........

Long time never update...
What happened?

assignment... still another half to go..

Dilemma ~~

VS

Both was almost the same price, both was useful, both was what I want, but I could only choose

one.. How? how? how.....? Maybe I should just consider the pros n cons of these two stuffs.

Olympus FL-50R: To those who didn't know what is this, this is a flash light, or to some, would address

as flashgun. So what's the use of it? Its pretty simple, just to flash. As simple as that, flash.. to fill in

more lights to the subject you wanted to capture. To enable you to play along lights.

Reason I wanted it? Simply it's so damn cool when it was attached to my DSLR. That's my real intention.

My second reason was, to be able to use focal plane flash. My built-in flash light only enable me to x-sync

at maximum shutter speed of 1/180th second as opposed to this flash light which can go 1/8000th second.

What's the use of this? So i can use aperture-wide open under bright sun when taking portraits or macro

shots.

Now the Garmin Nuvi 205W: It's a on-road use GPS. GPS stands for Global Positioning System. What's

the use of it? To guide you in the road that you had never ever dare to explore.

Why I wanted it? I'm a little pissed of the question of "how to go there ah?" then "what road?? jalan what?"

with that device, I'm a road warrior in just a few poke on the screen away.

The thing is this: Do i really need this? I know how to go to my college, I know how to go to Mid Valley,

KLCC, Time Square. Basically, that's where i only goes. Plus, the more I go out, the more money i use.

But then, isn't google maps enough? maybe yes, maybe no. But money is what i do not have enough..

So? how? Flash-light? or GPS?

Then another thing come.. I wan to buy a Gucci...

Anti-Prejudice T-Shirt!!

Hey guys, I've got something to promote here. It's a T-Shirt project which was waiting to be reality in Digital Camera Magazine Malaysia forum. I'm playing a part in the project too.

In order for this project to be successful, a minimum order of 50 t-shirts orders must be placed. The best thing is this, it is going to be a very limited edition T-Shirt in Malaysia.

Here's what you have to do if you are interested;

1: Sign-up an account in www.my-dcm.com/forums so the project manager can contact you easily.

2: go to this thread click here.

3: tell the user clementgan that you wanted to                                                       place an order.

ps: he accept only cash bank-in via Maybank. 

the price of the shirt is only RM29, he's not taking any profit, and add RM10 for poslaju if you intended the t-shirt to be sent to you.

*click on the picture to see the T-Shirt design, we had opt for FONT A for the front of the T-Shirt. :D

Macro Photography~

Macro photography, the type of photography I am interested even before I had my DSLR.

I remembered how I used to shoot macros using those compact point and shoot by simply press the macro button, or the button with a lily/flower icon. I recalled how fascinating macro focusing was! It enable the camera to focus closer than it normally does, but the most amazing thing about macro in PNS camera is how it is able to blur out the background while having your subject in focus which will not be the case of normal shooting mode in PNS due to very high depth of field as a characteristic for PNS's small sensor as opposed to DSLRs.

At that time, I never cared too much about composition, the background and everything else. For me, a simple photograph shot with macro mode was already satisfying. I did not possessed any photography skills at that time. Or to put it with better words, I shoot totally based on my instinct. Not only that, I wasn't orientated in learning more, as a matter of fact,  I never thought searching it online.

But this had changed, this year alone, I have had been focused more on Macro photography, I learnt the meaning of Macro, what is macro lenses, the technique, and how to criticize another's macro works. But I have not yet master it. I've recently learnt that there is something called a Garden Photographer. I was fascinated of their works. As compared to mine, I'm way behind.

But this is the thing, without certain commitment, there would be no good result and I am ready to put some effort. But sometime, after a period of fruitless efforts. The morale of photography in me was very, very discouraging. But then, who would never fail right? Time will tell, I'm still young as compared to the experts. Well all the best to myself in my effort part.

Efforts aside, what have I learnt along was some technical points. I realize some of the lens brand does market label their lens as Macro lens while it can't do a real 1:1 magnification ratio. These are usually implemented to super-telephoto-lenses which has a closer focus length. So as a little advise, do your research before deciding on your purchase.

Well, yes it is a good point on buying such lenses, you can have a telephoto lens as well as a macro lens. I can't tell you what is the real deal here. But thing are made for a reason. You wan macro, buy macro lens. A macro lens, have a long barrel for close focusing. 

manufacturers call it a micro, which might actually be scientifically more precise, but can be confusing, since it goes against the established convention. A macro lens might be optimized to provide its best performance at a magnification of 1:1.

Olympus E-30 finally

Olympus E-30

The Olympus E-30. The latest body from Olympus Imaging corp. Due to release around mid 2009. No price yet, but the features are all out. Set at the level between E-520 and Olympus's flagship E-3. The Olympus E-30 is design for beginner, amature as well as professionals in heart.

The image sensor uses a newly developed High-Speed Live MOS Sensor featuring 12.3 megapixels. In combination with the high optical performance provided by Four Thirds lenses, this sensor captures high-resolution images that accurately reproduce your composition with exquisite detail, rich gradations, and natural colours.

New Image Processing Engine, TruePicIII+

The TruePicIII image processing engine is the powerhouse that enables the 12.3-megapixel Live MOS Sensor and high-resolution lenses to manifest their full performance. This image processing engine is now complemented by the new Art Filter function, combining to create the TruePicIII+ image processing engine for enhanced image quality and enhanced creativity that takes you beyond the limitations of conventional photography.

Outstanding subject detection, tracking performance and processing speed
11-Points-Full Twin Cross Sensor

Each cross sensor element at each of the 11 distance-measuring points of the AF system is composed of 2 horizontal and 2 vertical lines, for a total of 44 distance-measuring points. Thanks to the incorporation of a dedicated AF engine employing the latest distance-measuring algorithm and capable of simultaneously computing all distance- measuring data, accurate distance measurement is possible throughout the luminance range, assuring high AF accuracy with any Four Thirds lens. All this is done at incredibly high speed, making the E-30's AF just as fast as the super-fast AF of the E-3.

5-fps, sequential shooting

Working together, the High-Speed Live MOS Sensor with increased readout speed, TruePic III image processing engine with increased processing speed, and high-precision mirror mechanism enables high-speed sequential shooting at 5 frames per second.

Freedom to work with your expression and objective.
MULTI-ASPECT

The E-30 provides nine aspect ratios including the standard 4:3, as well as 16:9 for impressive, cinematic-style images, and 6:6, which is available with medium-format cameras. With Live View, you can select the aspect ratio before shooting and check it on the LCD monitor during shooting.

Multiple Exposure functionality that can be previewed with Live View.

Multiple exposure is possible with both Live View shooting and viewfinder shooting. In Live View shooting, previously shot data*2 is used as the base for a multiple exposure, and the final image can be modified right on the LCD by overlaying a new image.

HyperCrystal II, Swiveling LCD

The LCD monitor uses a 2.7-inch HyperCrystal II LCD featuring a wide viewing angle of 176° in any of the four directions and high visibility even under sunlight. Dual-axis construction allows it to swivel in both the horizontal and vertical directions so you can shoot pictures at any angle from low to high.

Face Detection & Shadow Adjustment

During Live View shooting, the camera detects up to 8 faces and focuses on them automatically. If the faces are silhouetted against back light, the gradation auto function is activated to capture both the faces and the background clearly. Face detection is also available in picture playback. The desired face can be selected and magnified instantly to allow easy review.

Auto Focus Live View

The E-30 is equipped with an 11-point multi-area high-speed imager AF*1 for fast, accurate autofocusing, as well as the ability to detect and focus on the subject's face automatically. Together with AF Live View, which lets you focus and shoot while viewing the subject on the LCD, these features make the E-30 as easy to use as a compact camera.

6 types of ART FILTERS

The E-30 comes with six Art Filter functions that you can apply to your pictures. Before you take the picture, you can preview the filter effect right on the LCD in Live View mode. Aperture and shutter speed can also be set to achieve exactly the shot you want. Thanks to this high-speed creative filtering process, you'll be able to enjoy fun, hassle-free creative photography.

POP ART

This effect enhances colours, making them stronger and more vivid, creating high-impact pictures with a pop art feeling.

SOFT FOCUS

The soft tone creates an ethereal, otherworldly atmosphere for beautiful images with a fantasy-like feel.

PALE & LIGHT COLOUR

Utilizes muted colour tonalities to create a gentle light. The subject floats serenely in its own world, like a misty memory or the landscape of a dream.

LIGHT TONE

Subdues highlights and shadows to reflect the ambience of a perfectly illuminated scene. Both the shade and highlight areas are rendered softly to provide a sophisticated feel.

GRAINY FILM

This effect recreates the rich, grainy look and tonality evoked by monochrome pictures, giving images a dramatic feel.

PIN HOLE

This unique colour tone reproduces the peripheral vignetting and unique colour tone of photos taken with a toy camera.

My friend's in YouTube!!

Hey readers, Hope you can spread this around! so my friend there will be heard by the world! hehe he's a good singer eh?

Sunflower sneak peek!!

One of the many shots I'd taken last few days. Oh, in case you didn't know, its a macro shots of sunflower. Oh my, kua chi coming out ehhehe!!!

By the way, this is my 1st time seeing a real sunflower. I have had a funny story about sunflower though. It happen in my house back in KK. I'm not sure who planted some sunflower under the place where my mom dry her laundries, so then one day my sister was drying up her laundries too, then she find there's some wild plant had over grown and touches her laundry and without a second though, she cut them all off. Okay when my father came back from work, he realize his sunflower has gone!! well the rest, i think you could have guessed what had happen. All the hard work and patience, was cut off as if wild plants.. poor dad, heart broken..

Here's the LensPen

My next purchase after the bag in KLPF was this Lenspen! I'd placed my eye on this long time ago but because of no free shipping if just buy the lenspen, I've decided to forego this. But i saw it in KLPF! Great! no need to ship to me, I can just buy now!

How much is it? Surprisingly cheap! RM30! Even thought you could get them at RM27 in yamiya.com.my but like I said, no free shipping for purchases below RM100, hence, RM27 may be more expensive than what i'd paid for in KLPF.

But, bear in mind, LensPen is not intended for permanent usage. According to its manufacture's claim, you could use it for only 500 times. Which i think, is worth for RM30!

But you might ask, aren't micro-fiber cleaning cloth good enough? Well, the answer is yes, but to a certain extend only. Indeed, that micro-fiber cloth does a good job in cleaning lenses, but its durability is not as long as you might think. After some prolonged usage, such cloth tends to trap too much foreign matters such as dust or dirt, when it couldn't hold, the cloth tends not to trap such matters anymore unless, you wash it.

Whereas, Lenspen does not only trap dust like micro-fiber cloth does, but it replenish its performance with just half a twist of the cap. The secret lies inside the cap. I'm unsure what is it inside, but i assume its some sort of sponge like material covered with carbon. Like newspapers, carbon could clean oily finger prints and that's how lenspen works!

Not only Lenspen does a better cleaning job, but it does it really fast! Once I used Lenspen,my lenses is what I would call, cleanest of all time!! Oh, it does comes with a brush too!!

Here are the pictures!

Just a light push, the brush will come out. I'm not very sure if this is an anti static brush, but its rather soft to my opinion. According to the instruction, you must use this brush to sweep off dirts before using the other end to clean the lens. Make sense, there would be a risk of scratches if in any event, hard dirts got tray under the cleaning head.

This is the heart of the lenspen. I assume its made out of suede leather material, as I find similarity to suede. I dare not touch it, as it make affect its performance. Behind there, it is the cap. After using the lenspen, you should place the cap back and give it half a twist to replenish it.

Clean, clear, oil free lens in just few simple step! Highly recommended!

This is where my money has gone!!~

As you may know I've been to KLPF!! How can a person who likes photography so much not buy anything for there?! Well, as for me, I've bought my 1st real photography purpose bag! It is a Lowepro Inverse 200 AW. And I'd like to share how good it is and why I bought it! Oh besides, I've bought a Lenspen too!

 Before that, I'd like to take this opportunity to explain why I did not update my blog as often as it used to be. But first, a million apology to those, if any (optimistically), who are keen on my updates. I've been shooting sunflowers lately. Yeap, finally something to shoot at! Since I considered it as some sort of project for myself, hence I shoot RAW. For those who are not familiar with it, I also dunno how to tell you, cuz i don't know what RAW stands for, but its good cuz you could adjust the exposures n WB later on. But the drawback was you have got to process each and every picture you took. Well that would explaint why I did not update for so long already. But I'll try my best to!

        So, here's the bag!

The front of the bag. Oh, in case you didn't know, it is a waist bag instead of a conventional design of back pack. As you can see here, like every other Lowepro bags, you can find the rubber Lowepro badge in front. I was surprised that Lowepro made the effort to coloured the wording in Gray instead of white which its original logo was. I guess the reason behind this was to endure some stain at a certain level. Great job on small details.

A tag describing its model. If you don't like it, i guess you could easily cut it. Otherwise, its best to leave it alone.

The left side view of the bag. Note the strap, it's one of the reason why I had chosen this rather than other brand's offering. So, what's the wonder of this strap? For those who uses a waistbag or belt pack, or waist pouch, or whatever you call it, when it became heavy, the weight would tend to tilt the bag towards bottom as a result of lack of support. With this strap, this problem was cleverly overcomed. Its a perfect fit! Tighten it, and it would tilt down!

The right side of the bag. Note the larger pocket, reason for it being larger than the one on the left side is, it's for you to place your water bottle. Yeah, Lowepro read my mind!! At last, a special, easily accessible compartment for water bottle. Quenching your thirst after a hot day photo outing!

The back side of the bag, I found it very well padded not only to protect your costly equipment but also for your comfort. Compared to other brands, this was a better option. But I'm a little concern of the pad's durability even thought such a bag comes with a limited life time warranty.

Lowepro even went further to offer a second choice of carrying the bag. Instead of being a waistbag, it can be a sling bag too! So the call in yours as the strap comes as standard!

In the front of the bag, you can find two pockets, one with zip and another does not. It was sufficient enough to place your manuals etc, while the non-zip pocket was larger, but I did not have much confident in unzipped pockets! be safe than sorry! 

This is the cool part! At the bottom of the bag, you could find two strap. Its for your tripod!! I personally suggest tripods no longer than 30cm would be just fine. Longer than that could destroy the aesthetics of the bag!

This is the inside of the bag! Well padded! Ample space for mid-size DSLR with standard zoom lens, and there is enough space for a flash gun and an additional telephoto lens! Small you may think, but don't forget, I still have a back for a backpack! For frequent used gears, I could put in this bag, while others, can be in my backpack! I believe in this setting, I could bring more gears! Oh, one more thing, the separators are fully customizable. Lowepro calls it Slip-Lock.

Even the inner side of the cover was made used of media storage. The pockets are made of Tricot fabric, no worries of scratches done to your equipments!

For those who didn't know, you should look for this red seal to make sure this is a genuine Lowepro bag. Otherwise, check its importer, its Technical Photo System in Jalan Segambut.

Now, most of the photography specific bags features an all weather cover, ie, water-proof cover. Please don't take it wrong, its not water-proof to the extend that you could dive with it. So I decide to do a little test on how water-proof it is!

First, this bag was, claimed by Lowepro, made with water-resistant fabric. How water resistant? I've drop some droplets on the surface of the bag without rain cover.

Look!! It's not soaking in!! This shown that the fabric was, at least, water repellent! It does not soak into the fabric. But I could not tell how long it could hold. Nevertheless, a light shake would easily shake off the droplets. By the way, the zip was cleverly hidden under the fabric, saving you sometime to deploy the rain cover.

This is how it looks like when the rain cover was deployed. It is actually built-in to the bag. Remember the all-weather tag picture above? It was a pocket for this cover actually. Now, how does it perform?

Not surprisingly, the water was not soaked in. Yet I'm not sure how long it could hold, but I'm confident that it could hold up to a reasonable time!

Now, how much did i paid for this? It may sound expensive for lay person, but for us, photography hobbyist, its definitely a good price. I bought it from Keat Camera Service booth for RM350. But I'm so surprised what this bag is capable of. Especially its design, of which not every bag designer could have ever thought of. I believe this is not a design simply came out from the design room, but from real outdoor experience! By the way, the boss of the shop was really friendly! very very recommended!

KLPF~

Walao!! Long time didn't update my blog already. But I really have nothing much to post lah. I've ran out of "good to post" pictures already. I'm just not very good in photography I guess. But anyway, I've been to KLPF recently, and took a little, really, a little pictures only lah.

Reason for that? walao, every photogs are like flashing their gigantic flash guns, so just kinda paiseh to shoot around hehehe. But anyway, I'm so happy to see Olympus' booth showing off a little. While Nikons even shown off their D700, Olympus didn't even thought of displaying their flagship E3. Kinda disappointed lah. But at last i saw the real "made-to-order" ZD 300mm. So cool.. you don't have to imagine, but its a real equiv. 600mm lens at a size that is shorter than your 30cm ruler that you used to play swordplay!! At that point of time, I started to realize what portability means! In case you didn't know, that 300mm lens' lenses' surface was so smooth that imagine that piece of glass was a baseball field, and none of any area has the irregularity more than a strand of hair. Oh the price? you can buy a car hahah

Getting lazy of blogging already...

Not the best shot around. But at least better than nothing to post..