Archive for the ‘DSLR’ Category
Monday, July 1st, 2013
White nights, midnight sun and paying a social visit to Santa Claus at his hometown at the Arctic Circle.
Uspenski Cathedral in Helsinki. The clear blue skies was a relief from the haze back in South East Asia. Taken with Nikon D600 with 24-120mm lens.
It all started back in 1991 with the liberation of the Baltic States from the Soviet Union which was subsequently followed by the collapse and breakup of the Soviet bloc.
The old town square in Tallinn teems with tourists and artisans celebrating the city’s history and traditional crafts. Photo taken with Nikon D600 with 24-120mm lens.
Since then, my wife and I have always wondered about what these three brave Baltic States were like – Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
As students then, we’d heard so little about these three newly-minted (then) countries.
So it was that – two decades after those tumultuous times – we decided to visit Estonia’s capital Tallinn during the children’s school holidays this year.
The easiest approach was via Helsinki.
We flew direct to the capital of Finland via Finnair and then made a day trip via a 2-hour ferry across the Gulf of Finland.
(more…)
Tags:Arctic, Estonia, Europe, Finland, Finland 2013, Helsinki, holiday, midnight sun, Porvoo, Rovaniemi, Russia, Santa Claus, St Petersburg, Tallinn, travel, vacation
Posted in Cameras, DSLR, Events, Finland 2013, Gadgets, Holiday, Lens, MIL, NIKKOR, Nikon, Photography, Photos, Samsung | 4 Comments »
Thursday, May 16th, 2013
The EF200-400mm F4L IS USM Extender 1.4X is a top-tiered high-performance lens for the advanced needs of professionals. Available end May at S$16,599.
Canon EF200-400MM F4L IS USM Extender 1.4X lens will be available end May at S$16,599.
The EF200-400MM F4L IS USM Extender 1.4X is a new type of lens that combines the convenience of a zoom lens with the high performance of a fixed focal length lens.
It boast super long reach with high quality, records better moving images, and is designed for operability and durability.
Below is the press release from Canon.
Canon Releases the World’s First Telephoto Zoom Lens Equipped with an Internal Extender
(more…)
Tags:Canon, DSLR, lens, photography, Singapore
Posted in Announce, Canon, DSLR, Gadgets, Photography, Prices, Specifications | No Comments »
Wednesday, April 3rd, 2013
Canon formally launched the new cameras and lens at Chye Seng Huat Hardware cafe. Half the cameras had already hit the shelves earlier while the new models will debut towards end-April and early-May, with prices yet-to-be announced.
The highlights today include the PowerShot N, EOS 100D and EOS 700D.
Andrew Koh – Senior Director and GM of Consumer Imaging and Information Products Group, Canon Singapore – kicking off the launch in Singapore.
The Canon PowerShot N has a squarish form factor (78.6 x 69.3 x 29.2 mm) and is so compact it can fit in the palm and be operated with one hand.
Canon PowerShot N
It has Wi-Fi connectivity and comes with pre-programmed creative Instagram-style filters.
The 12.1-megapixel PowerShot N has 8x optical zoom, swivel screen and ISO to 6,400.
The EOS 100D has an 18-megapixel APS-C sized CMOS sensor and and full DSLR functionalities.
This is despite its compactness – Canon boasts that the 370g EOS 100D is the world’s smallest (116.8 x 90.7 x 69.4 mm) and lightest DSLR.
Canon EOS 100D
The EOS 700D has the same sensor and DIGIC 5 imaging processor, and comes with a fully articulated LCD panel.
Both DSLRs can be paired with the new EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM EF-S lens for quieter and smoother AF operation while shooting video.
All the above models will be available in Singapore by end-April. Prices will be announced later.
The other cameras that were launched are the IXUS 255 HS, IXUS 140, IXUS 135, IXUS 132, PowerShot A2600, PowerShot A2500, as well as the newest PowerShot SX280 HS and PowerShot SX270 HS.
Canon EOS 700D has 18 megapixels and DIGIC 5 imaging processor.
All the cameras and lens that were launched today are listed below.
(more…)
Tags:cameras, Canon, compact, DSLR, EOS, Singapore
Posted in Cameras, Canon, Compact camera, DSLR, EOS, Events, Gadgets, IXUS, Launch, Lens, Photography, PowerShot, Prices, Specifications | No Comments »
Wednesday, February 20th, 2013
Sony launched today a range of digital imaging products – 5 cameras, 3 lenses and 2 accessories. Available in Asia Pacific in March/April 2013. Prices TBA.
From top to bottom, left to right: 1. 70-400mm F4-5.6 G SSM II telephoto zoom lens 2. RM-VPR1 wired remote 3. DT 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 SAM II zoom lens 4. Carl Zeiss Planar T* 50mm F1.4 ZA SSM lens 5. HVL-F20M flash 6. Alpha 58 DSLR 7. NEX-3N mirrorless interchangeable lens camera 8. Cyber-shot WX-300 compact camera 9. Cyber-shot HX-300 compact camera 10. Cyber-shot TX-30 compact camera
The five cameras announced today include the Alpha 58 DSLR, NEX-3N MIL, and three compacts: Cyber-shot WX300, Cyber-shot HX300, and Cyber-shot TX30.
(more…)
Tags:accessories, Alpha, cameras, compact, Cyber-shot, digital imaging, DSLR, lens, lenses, NEX, Sony
Posted in Accessories, Alpha, Announce, camera flash, Cameras, Compact camera, Cyber-shot, DSLR, Gadgets, Launch, Lens, NEX, Photography, Sony | No Comments »
Thursday, February 14th, 2013
It’s Valentine’s Day today. Here’s wishing all lovers a most romantic day/night.
Just in case you haven’t bought that Valentine’s Day card yet, here’s one you can use as a gift tag. Just print it out 🙂
I took this photo in a pottery workshop in this little Japanese shire called Takamori （高森）, nestled in the caldera of Mount Aso （阿蘇山） in Kyushu （九州）.
Loved the pottery pieces in the workshop. Knew at once it would go into the February 14th post for 2013.
* Taken with a Nikon D800 DSLR with an AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED lens.
Tags:Japan, Japan 2012, Kyushu, NIKKOR, Nikon, photographs, photos, Valentine's Day
Posted in Cameras, DSLR, Events, Gadgets, Holiday, Lens, NIKKOR, Nikon, Photos | No Comments »
Tuesday, January 1st, 2013
Justin wishes one and all a Happy New Year for 2013!
Don’t ask me where Justin got that pose from. He just slid into it when I asked him to say cheese.
As we stride into 2013, let’s hope everybody gets a fruitful year ahead. Best wishes!
Tags:2013, holiday, Justin
Posted in DSLR, Holiday, Lens, NIKKOR, Nikon, Photos | No Comments »
Wednesday, December 26th, 2012
Is your kid a fan of fast cars? Bake him his very own garage of Formula One machines for his birthday!
Bake your own garage of Formula One speed demons.
All you need is a set of cake molds which a friend gifted us.
Who says F1 drivers have to be all boys?
Add on the child’s favourite candies and lego figurines. And voila – his very own Grand Prix collection.
Sponsored by the rainbow connection.
* All photos in this post were taken with a Nikon D800 DSLR and AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED lens. The shallow depth of field was amazing.
The top three heading for the podium.
I had to dial the aperture down to f/22 to get most of the scene in focus for the overview. Otherwise, the shallow depth of field effect for the other close-ups was exactly what I love.
Tags:cameras, DSLRs, lens, Nikon, photography, photos
Posted in Cameras, DSLR, Gadgets, Lens, NIKKOR, Nikon, Party, Photography, Photos | No Comments »
Sunday, December 9th, 2012
Takamori is a small town located at the Southeastern corner of the Aso caldera. We chose to stay there because it was between Takachiho and the Nakadake peak of Mount Aso, and so served as a good base from which to visit both.
I don’t know how the kids stay so pristine white all the time.
We chose this “country-house” style hotel in Takamori, partly because of the beautiful goat that it showed in a photo on its website.
The other kid peering out from its goat shed.
When we arrived, we found that, in addition to that teenage goat, there were another nanny complete with horns and a beard – and two really cute kids.
This was what we saw when we looked out the window on the third morning of our stay. It had snowed lightly overnight and everything was coated with a thin layer of newly fallen snow. You can see the goat shed to the left.
They were really lovable and the kids (mine) were over the moon over them.
Two cold kids huddled up inside the goat shed.
The hotel probably sees the most guests during summer as a sort of summer camp location, where you can enjoy outdoor games and attend pottery lessons at the hotel’s workshop.
Eventually, the kids ventured out into the snow. After all, they’re donning Pure New Wool. Can you spot the kid against the white snow?
There was another large Japanese family staying on our second night and their children and ours had a whale of a snow fight after it snowed overnight.
“Who – me?” A figurine in the hotel’s pottery workshop.
It was a wonderful stayover indeed.
* All photos in this post were taken with a Nikon D800 DSLR with an AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED and an AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II lens.
Tags:goat, holiday, Japan, Japan 2012, kid, Kumamoto, Kyushu, Takachiho, travel, vacation
Posted in Cameras, DSLR, Holiday, Japan 2012, Lens, NIKKOR, Nikon, Travel | No Comments »
Saturday, December 8th, 2012
Steeped in ancient Japanese creation mythology, Takachiho gorge is touted as one of the most mystical places in Japan.
View of the waterfall at Takachiho from a row boat in the gorge.
The view of the beautiful waterfall from the other side of the cascade.
The family had a great day out at Takachiho, where we rowed, we hiked and we gorged ourselves silly with the beef and other local delicacies.
The 17-metre high Manai-no-taki Falls, with the clouds of water spray, is the highlight of many a picturesque photograph of the gorge. Here you can see the bridge above straddling the gorge.
Takachiho is supposedly the place where the Japanese Shinto Sun-goddess Amaterasu hid in a cave from her mischievous brother – plunging the world into darkness – until the other gods and goddesses came to coax her to return.
Close-up view of the Manai-no-taki. The wife relived her college rowing days by hogging all the rowing, accompanied by much yelling by the cox-cum-photographer to avoid the cascading sprays of water.
The view from afar from up on high standing on the bridge above the gorge. Up to three people are allowed on each boat – I would highly recommend it if you have an hour and a half to spare.
The more well-known story is that Takachiho was where the god Ninigi no Mikoto (grandson of Amaterasu) landed when he descended from heaven to establish the lineage of Japanese emperors.
Commercial break? Nothing like a hot can of Georgia coffee to beat the cold after all the excitement in the row boat. Disclaimer: Justin drinks coffee like once a year so he’s no regular coffee junkie.
This honour, however, is contested by Mount Takachiho-no-mine in the Kirishima National Park, further south in Kyushu.
Something cheerful at the entrance of the car park at Takachiho Gorge.
It’s easy to see why the location is associated with such lofty happenings.
The gorge was formed by the Gokase river eroding its way through the volcanic rock, sculpting the steep banks on either side of the serene river that now winds through it.
Rowing a boat on the water and looking up the sheer straight and smooth stone cliffs on either side reminds one of the awesome powers of nature that shaped this gorge.
We first visited Takachiho more than a decade back and a snapshot of the gorge from a bridge straddling it still hangs in the corridor at home.
This time round, we had more time and hired a boat to row in the gorge itself. coming up close with the waterfall that empties into it.
Nothing much to do with the gorge apart from the replica of the bridge, but something pleasant to thank visitors.
You can also hike along the side of the gorge to the cave where Amaterasu allegedly took refuge from her brother’s incessant pranks.
Absolutely delicious marbled Takachiho beef that you can cook yourself on a hotplate.
There are also temples in Takachiho town and in the evening on Saturdays, traditional Yokagura dances are performed to reenact the story associated with the place.
Although it may not look it, this local salt-grilled fish is the most tasty fish we had in Japan. And it takes 15 minutes waiting time for it to be served.
We had a taste of Takachiho beef, as well as the local salt-grilled freshwater fish.
“在古老神秘日本，哪个地点是最充满神奇气氛的呢？那一定是位于九州宫崎县的高千惠峡谷。这是传说中神明降临的地方，自然景色让人叹为观止。” – 科技点心（微薄）
It was an excellent day trip for the family, well-worth the drive through the winding mountain roads to get to the gorge.
* All photos in this post were taken with a Nikon D800 DSLR and AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED lens.
Tags:waterfall
Posted in Cameras, DSLR, Holiday, Japan 2012, Lens, NIKKOR, Nikon, Photography, Photos, Travel | No Comments »
Friday, December 7th, 2012
After the hustle and bustle of the city, we drove into the mountains to spend a night at a ryokan in a quaint onsen village nestled in the valley of the Kurokawa river.
The streets wind through old houses along both sides of the river.
The last time we holidayed in Kyushu we had followed a package tour booked from Tokyo.
Colourful maize hung out to dry under the eaves of some of the houses.
The coach had stopped by this quaint village in the evening and we had strolled through the peaceful streets of the dimly-lit hamlet – charmed by the local craft shops and serene ryokans lining the cobbled streets.
Stroll leisurely through the peaceful streets of Kurokawa. The face on the lantern is stylised from the Japanese hiragana character for “Fuji”.
The short stroll was really inadequate to soak in the atmosphere and we resolved then to come back one day to stay in one of those ryokans.
Hotels and ryokans are built along both sides of the river.
15 years later, we’re back – to the sleepy town with a river that runs through it.
A study of different textures, from the crackled paint to the stone and wood textures. This is the “banner” for a pottery shop.
It’s actually a popular destination for the Japanese themselves, either as a day trip or stopover.
“Used” bath tags hung outside a local temple for blessing.
For those intent on bath-hopping, you can purchase a bath tag that lets you visit the onsen baths of participating ryokans freely.
Lemonade, cider and local beer chilled naturally in water frozen from the cold temperature.
The temperature when we were there was slightly above zero, so it would have been gratifying checking out the differently landscaped onsen baths offered by the ryokans.
Shed for firewood outside one of many hot spring baths along the river.
The outdoor spa at our ryokan overlooked the river so you could sip wine at a chair after you’ve been suitably warmed up by the hot spring water.
Peaceful steps leading up to one of the houses along the street.
After that, you can partake a full Japanese kaiseki dinner served in the comfort of your room.
Two local cats watching the world go by.
* All photos in this post were taken with a Nikon D800 DSLR and AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED lens.
Tags:baths, Food, holiday, hot spring, Japan, Japan 2012, Kumamoto, Kurokawa, Kyushu, mountains, onsen, river, spa, travel, vacation, valley
Posted in Cameras, DSLR, Events, Gadgets, Holiday, Japan 2012, Lens, NIKKOR, Nikon, Photography, Photos, Travel | No Comments »
