shuttered light

2012-01-21T18:52:00.003+08:00

Pearl of My Personal Audio

Decided to join dyxum's Challenge Your Creativity despite my busy schedule and I found myself shooting make-up shots :P

My subject is a very hard one: my custom IEM :P

I've been wanting to make it look less yucky and get a good view of the single driver inside the acrylic shell to no avail. It always look - as you guess - yucky and un-clear.

But today, like any other day - a lucky shot would save the day...

and here's one that I like the most so far:

2012-01-14T20:24:00.002+08:00

End-to-End

Got the chance to test the lens today in Greenbelt Park.
I mostly went for the extremes and did a wide-end and tele-end shots :P

Wide - Frog

Tele - Frog

It's just a statue :P

Wide - Turtle

Tele - Turtle

Ok - this one is for real. The turtle needs to sunbathe.

And finally, just a bokeh 'study' w/ a macro shot. Not bad :P

2012-01-13T20:45:00.002+08:00

Zoom!Zoom!Take2

April of last year when I got the chance to own the m.Zuiko 14-150.
It was VERY short lived and fortunately, I was able to return the lens to Amazon.

The m.Zuiko 14-150 is a very light and able superzoom but the primary use is for stills shooting.

I debated much on the alternative which is the Panasonic 14-140. Bigger, heavier and more expensive and the primary use would be for video shooting.

Fast forward to today and I was able to acquire the lens with a good price tag. Was actually debating if I should get the Olympus E-P3 and 14-150 but the E-P3 can't be found on body only sale.

The lens is really 'slow' at 14/4 and 140/5.8 but I am able to get decent shots with the help of MEGA O.I.S. Recalling my time with the 45-200 and I do remember getting good shots with Mode 2. Mode 1 is supposed to be for video and Mode 2 for stills.

Anyway, here are some samples indoor in our office. Already brought home my favorite subject so here's an alternative subject :P

@14mm (28mm equivalent FOV)

and @140mm (280mm FOV)
quite impressive and it should get better under daylight.

2012-01-11T13:02:00.004+08:00

VideoCamCorder Redefined

Many moons ago, I bought a mini digital video camera in the form of Panasonic NV-DA1. It can record video resolution of 720x480 and can take still images w/ OK IQ - compared to a digital camera that time. (image borrowed from http://www.calhamar-tv.blogspot.com/ - thanks!)

It was one of the early DV recorders (circa 1999) and the spec was very good:

Camcorder Type: Digital
Recording Format: Mini DV
Optical Zoom: 17x
Display Type: With LCD Panel
LCD Panel Size: 2.5 in.
Digital Zoom: 200x
Image Stabilizer: With Image Stabilizer
Low Lux: 1 Lux
Night Shot: Without Night Shot
Audio Format: ATRAC Stereo
Digital Still Shot Mode: With Still Shot Capability

It even came with FireWire port which supports 400-3200 Mbit/s transfer rate which was fairly new that time. I think the format is virtually dead by now while USB2.0 remains king.
It was also the time when Night Shot by Sony was very popular. Not sure why I chose Panasonic which doesn't even sport this feature - but I always relate portable devices with Panasonic (even my portable cassette player is a Panasonic :P) than Sony. Most of our home A/V equipments are Sony specially the TV sets.

Fast forward to this day and I now have this:
A Micro Four Thirds system based Digital Video Recorder :D Body is a Panasonic GH1 which I already hacked to GH13 and can already record 1080/24p@44mbps [I hope that's correct] movies. This particular model is discontinued already and you may want to check the GH2 which is said to better RED Epic's specs/performance.

And the lens which I just acquired today after many days of waiting - is a Panasonic Lumix 14-140 which is a 10x true blue optical! zoom :D

USD650 at Amazon

One of the best superzoom out there that even people in the industry is using - mostly with the ~USD4300 Panasonic AF-AG100 Live MOS Full HD Digital Camcorder due to mount compatibility. So far I am impressed with the wide and tele end of the lens. Will post sample shots soon.

Thinking of getting a Panasonic Plasma Display soon... :D Sorry Sony - have.no. plasma :D

2012-01-10T20:21:00.001+08:00

Price Fail

USD1699 for Fuji X-PRO 1 body only :P

Was hoping it was about ~USD1199 to compete with NEX7.

2012-01-05T20:19:00.002+08:00

Enter the Dragon!

The Fuji X-Pro 1!
image from mirrorlessrumors:

click the image to read all about it.

This could be my rangefinder cam ;D

2012-01-03T10:21:00.003+08:00

Customs in my ears

Finally got the UE sf5v2 in custom shells:
(shot with Nokia N82)

the original UE sf5v2 which I posted on 11Nov2011:

2011-12-31T19:37:00.002+08:00

Happy New Year!

2011-12-22T20:32:00.002+08:00

Very Timely

Mirrorless Roundup 2011 @ Digital Photography Review

2011-12-22T09:15:00.003+08:00

Needs Wanted|Wants Needed

New mirrorless camera bodies are coming out and most are very impressive

Sony NEX-5n is I think the best of the bunch with its high ISO performance
Available for USD599 @ Amazon
I never liked the Panasonic GF series and I have the same feeling with the NEX-5n, too small for my hands.

The Sony NEX-7 is definitely a candidate except for the price :P
Already getting rave reviews with the pre-production copies - resulting to jacked up prices in e-bay!

The Olympus E-PL3 is also an able body w/ on board image stabilization
Available for USD649 @ Amazon
Best paired with the Olympus m.Zuiko 14-150:
Available for USD499 @ Amazon

From the 'new comer' Samsung comes the new NX200
Available for USD799 @ Amazon
Impressive sample shots so far only that it doesn't come with a viewfinder :P

and there's the Panasonic GX1
Available for USD699.99 @ Amazon
Works like a GH camera in a GF body, I really like the looks and the initial impressions so far.

But it all boils down to one question:

Do I need another camera body??? :P

2011-12-19T12:00:00.001+08:00

Single to Custom

My UEsf5v2 is done...
Still have to fly over from SG to PH though :P

N82 -1stop

2011-12-04T07:23:00.001+08:00

St Peregrine w Nokia N82

2011-11-26T17:50:00.002+08:00

Lens Shake

Kept on shaking my head with disbelief while looking at the sample shots here:

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1041&message=39841711&changemode=1

These are really impressive shots!
I think I found the replacement for my Tamron 90/2.8 [A-mount] :D

2011-11-25T10:18:00.003+08:00

Contemplication

I really want to get this lens but my GAS (for photography) is unusually empty.

Olympus M. Zuiko Digital ED 45mm f/1.8
USD428 @ Amazon

Not really sure why :D

It got rave reviews like this from Steve Huff:
"Short, sweet and to the point. This lens rocks. Period."

UE's Gone

2011-11-19T11:00:00.001+08:00

2011-11-11T11:02:00.001+08:00

Going for a Custom

It's been 2 years and a couple of IEMs, I still love the midrange from the UE

2011-10-27T23:29:00.002+08:00

Today's trip from Isabela to Muntinlupa

Thanks Chief for the safe trip \m/

2011-10-20T06:23:00.000+08:00

Random Lightning

2011-10-18T08:56:00.002+08:00

The Accidental Recorder

Was looking at Sony PCM M10 to try as a recorder and another MP3 player but went for the Tascam DR-2d instead. This review at Audio Transkription was of great help with the decision.

It's proving to be just the right toy for me now :)

2011-10-06T08:33:00.002+08:00

Thanks for Pixar!

RIP

by hooks or by crocs

2011-09-17T08:52:00.000+08:00

2011-09-02T08:41:00.002+08:00

Enter Sandman

Another night of sanding... the pain is almost gone :P

2011-08-29T16:35:00.002+08:00

DIY Bug Bites

Mouse cable to EM3Pro cable :)

2011-08-27T19:11:00.001+08:00

The Sound of Mouse

Better Ear

2011-08-26T11:02:00.001+08:00