Thursday, May 24, 2012

I promised to stop at TWO


It was going to be just the 12-50mm kit lens and then a 20mm f1.7 Panasonic Lumix prime lens (from Adorama btw). I promised to myself.

Then Amazon had a major discount on the 45-200mm telephoto. So I got to have it.

Can't resist the wonderful 25mm f1.4 Panasonic Leica DG Summilux and took the plunge. Ordered from BHphoto and arrived today.



So much cheaper than buying locally in Singapore.

Now I end up having 4 lens. So much for keeping to my word. I think I've stopped believing in myself.

But damn do I love these lenses. Especially the 25mm. Don't tell the others. :)

Here are a few shots taken with the 25mm for your enjoyment:








Seeya!

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

The World in A Day - 15th May 2012


Capturing life around the world in a single day... on May 15th 2012 - aday.org

I took over a thousand photos in that one day. Not on purpose for this project.

Rather, it's because of two significant events on that day.

It's the first time I tried sports photography. My colleagues were playing basketball and armed with my spanking new system camera, why not?

Most photos turned out terrible. Haha... But here are my submissions to aday.org


The first time I've tried sports photography and it's a rooftop basket session with my colleagues. I've just bought a new Olympus OM-D E-M5 so... why not? :)


Then I was off to the Diablo 3 launch at Funan Centre. These photos were sent to aday.org as well.


A small part of the 6000+ maddening crowd who turned up at the Diablo 3 launch event in Funan Centre, Singapore.


Sion Touhig, award-winning professional photojournalist shows us that it is not necessarily the best camera that makes a photo, it's the photographer with what he has. Thus, leaving the DSLR in the bag and taken pictures with a mobile phone in hand.

Well, at least that's my interpretation...


Hey look! It's Kenny!

It has been years since I watched South Park. Whoever killed Kenny and made him a cap... YOU BASTARD!!


The precious 2 pre-order cards to claim 2 box copies of the game Diablo 3.

A lady demon hunter appeared in the midst of the Singapore Diablo 3 launch event.

I submitted a total of 10 photos. So here are the remaining 2.


Typical scene on a Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Train in Singapore.



These are the guys perched on top of my monitor bobbing their heads away. They are the mentors I report to at work everyday.

That about wraps it up.

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Diablo 3 Launch Event in Funan IT Mall Singapore

[UPDATE] I've gotten over it. Lvl 9 Wizard btw. Add me if you like. dereth#1136. :) Will have the photos up today!

I have no photos to post. I'm feeling very hurt right now.


At the Diablo launch in Singapore, I was humiliated. I know I'm fat and an overweight pig.


The emcee could obviously tell I'm twice the weight and twice the age of that other guy on stage. Yet, we're required to do push-ups to win?


It's super obvious who will win right? I'm into my late 30s, overweight (OK fine it's my fucking fault OK?) and the other guys is... 18? And a slim guy no doubt.


I really regret going up the stage to be laughed at like this. I did not see any other contestants needing to do push-ups. At most rush, a for the mic. I almost even fell off the stage getting up.


I was there to take photos and blog about the incident. Right after the embarrassment on stage I just stopped doing so.


Why are you guys doing this to me?! I'm so angry and hurt now I'm not even trying to play the game anymore.


Does it feel really good to attack someone like this? You had your fun now?!

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Custom SLR Glide Strap with C-Loop



Cam-In Calf Leather Wrist Strap - S$22
Custom SLR Glide Strap with C-Loop - S$88

The amazing glide strap lets me use the camera in a "gunshot" style. I can just slip out of the wrist strap and leave the camera hanging at my side. 

When I need to use it, merely glide it up to my torso easily and take the shot.

One thing about using this on the OM-D E-M5 as oppose to using a traditional leather neck strap... the lugs on the camera does not get in the way of pressing the shutter.

This just hits the sweet spot. Highly recommended.

Photos taken with the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Art Filter











Wednesday, February 01, 2012

The BlackBerry Bold Touch 9900 (Part 1)

Edit: This post was completed and supposed to be published on 2nd Sep 2011. Somehow it's been sitting in draft and I cleanly forgot about it. I'll have a quick Part 2 soon and share my thoughts on the 3 months that transpired since.

The BlackBerry Bold Touch 9900.






Most good remarks can be retrieved off the numerous reviews from the net, such as speed and web-surfing improvements in OS7. I'm here to share my cons after a day of bonding with the 9900...

1. The camera really suck balls - No autofocus and everything look damn grainy even in bright light. Really loses to the 9780 and even 9700's autofocus. It's not something they can correct with a firmware update I suppose. The camera button is not even a half-press key. EDoF is just overrated and terrible.

2. Lack of a Left Side Convenience Key - It's really is well... inconvenient. I'm too used to having it as my LOCK key.

3. Touch screen not very accurate - Sometimes I can't hit the smaller links on a webpage. Could be due to the depth of the digitizer?

4. Battery blocking SD card - Yes I'm used to taking the SD card out occasionally to transfer photos. Now I have to either remove the battery or use a USB camera to transfer. Then again... why should I bother even taking photos with the failed piece of shit camera?

5. For a device this wide, the profile is too slim - I don't care who the *beep* comes out with the smallest paper-thin phone/tablet/toilet. This is ergonomics. It's not as comfortable to hold the phone in both hands and type like it was on the Bold 9000. (The keys are wonderful on the 9900 though)

6. The back battery cover is now slippery plastic instead of svelte leather. Not the best grip I expect to have on this phone. And a fingerprint magnet for my sweaty paws.



RIM. You suck. Now you're forcing me to keep an iPhone in my other pocket just for picture taking. Or go everywhere with my Panasonic LX3 (mighty fine compact enthusiast camera btw).

I wouldn't have minded points 2, 3, 4 and 5 and would have never written something this scathing if they had not crippled the camera. Well, I love a good camera on my mobile phone. It's great for taking impromptu pictures of happenings, food and idiots. Or for scanning a document. The 9900 can't even focus on the text on a book to take a clear picture. Isn't this a step backward for a premium flagship line?

The reason I stopped using Sony Ericsson phones was because SE refused to improve the video camera quality on the C/K (Cybershot) series and chose to diversify their products lines thinking they can target different phones at different market. Think Stereo Audio on the W (Walkman) series and Video Camera on the P (PDA) series.

Hey, I have the money to buy the damn phone! You can diversify your products all you want. You can make your cheap zero-dollar phones I don't care. I just need you to give me all you have in 1 convenient package so I do not have to make a choice and sacrifice something else.

I was so tempted to embrace Nokia at that time because of their ultimate N series with everything but the kitchen sink. Maybe there was a promo that bundled an N95 with a kitchen sink. I wouldn't have mind paying a premium for it but well.. Symbian happens to be something I wouldn't touch with a ten-foot pole. ;)

Something else of note today.

My wife asked me a question over BBM which shocked me so much that I immediately called her up to clarify that it was a serious question and not a joke.

"When is the iPhone 5 coming out?"

She was, well, you can say a little anti-Apple when she acquired her Bold 9700 2 years ago. I was merely telling her that she is now eligible to re-contract her mobile line, expecting her to ask about the newest BB.

RIM, you're in serious trouble.

A Long Awaited Picture of Olympus' New OM-D E-M1 Camera!

Found by accident at clubSNAP forums while deciding between a Panasonic GX-1 or Sony NEX-7.

A full picture of the new OM-D E-M1 mirrorless camera by Olympus.




Update: Additional information on this camera can be found here.

Update 2: Camera name is E-M5 instead.