Santa Cliff wishes one and all a Merry Christmas!
Santa Cliff taken with Olympus E-P3 with 40-150mm lens. 170mm (35 equiv), f/4.8, 1/160 sec, ISO 200.
Archive for the ‘Photography’ Category
Santa Cliff says Merry Christmas
Sunday, December 25th, 2011Travel: Marketing in Kota Kinabalu
Tuesday, November 29th, 2011There is a market for everyone in KK: Sunday market, Night Bazaar, Central market, Handicraft market (formerly known as the Pasar Filipino), fish market, fruit and vegetable market.
Dried & salted fish market in Kota Kinabalu. Taken with Olympus PEN E-P3 12mm lens using Pop Art effect with Frame filter.
Blue skies and whirlpool at Le Meridien in Kota Kinabalu.
We had missed the Sunday market because we arrived on Sunday night, but there was no stopping us from checking out the rest.
After spending the morning frolicking in the hotel’s pool, we headed out for lunch and the markets.
The lunch recommendation by the concierge turned out great.
The Chinese coffee shop – Seng Heng – at the corner behind Le Meridien served great Tom Yam noodles, Laksa, Tuaran mee and Kon Loh noodles.
The three-flavored milk tea was good too, with large dollops of gula Melaka.
Handicraft market or Pasar Filipino. Taken with Olympus PEN E-P3 with 12mm lens.
Laksa from Seng Hing restaurant
After lunch, we ventured into the markets across the road from the hotel and by the sea.
First was the dried and salted fish heaven with the attendant smells, then the handicraft market with plenty of souvenirs and sea water pearls, and finally the fruit market.
Two hours in the sweltering heat of the covered markets, and we dived headlong into the air-con comforts of Centrepoint shopping centre.
It is a shopping complex resembling Sungei Wang in Kuala Lumpur and the Holiday Inn in Johor Bahru.
Dried & fresh fruit market. Taken with Olympus PEN E-P3 with 12mm lens and Pop Art effect.
BenBen slippers at Night Bazaar
After reveling in banana-chocolate-cheese crepes, bubble strawberry icees, and cut guavas, we returned to the hotel for a breather.
Time for a full-body massage at the hotel’s spa to loosen the joints and ease the aches from the market hopping.
Anyway, after a heavy shower, we ventured to the night bazaar last evening.
No watches, no wallets, no bags or knapsacks.
Just some loose change and the hotel room key card.
Trinkets at the Handicraft market. Taken with Olympus PEN E-P3.
Seems the night bazaar is notorious for pickpockets.
The night bazaar turned out to be more of the same things as the handicraft market that we had visited earlier in the day – with an emphasis on pirated goods.
So we left after a short stroll through and left for dinner at the Warisan Center next to the Meridien.
It was then “Alamak … Toyol” time back at the hotel.
The DVD movie really brought back memories from the seventies, and other associated movies in the genre – such as Pontianak, and Orang Minyak.
SITEX 2011 promotions: Nissin Di866 Mark II flash
Tuesday, November 22nd, 2011Designed in Japan, the Di866 Mark II (S$499) is compatible with Canon, Nikon and Sony cameras. Customers buying any Nissin product at the RedDotPhoto Booth (6A18) during SITEX 2011 (24-27 November) will receive a free Lenspen LP-1.
The LP-1 is a lens cleaning pen for cleaning camera lenses, binocular lenses, spotting scopes, telescopes, eyepieces and other optical lenses.
The Nissin Di866 Mark II professional camera flash (S$499) has a powerful guide number of 60 and sub flash of 12 (ISO100, 105mm), as well as a colour display with rotation sensor.
The external service port includes a USB port for the latest firmware update, while the synchronisation contact and power pack port extend the usability of connection to different lighting and power systems.
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Key features include:Colour and Auto Rotating Display. The colour display will automatically rotate from horizontal to vertical as the flash is rotated and has a user-friendly six-icon interface that represents the operation modes – Auto, TTL, Manual/Av, Multi, Wireless TTL (Master/Remote) and Custom Setting.Digital TTL. Supports Canon ETTL / ETTL II, Nikon iTTL and Sony ADI . The flash light is automatically controlled by the camera but the flash exposure value can be compensated.Wireless TTL. Supports Canon ETTL / ETTL II, Nikon iTTL and Sony ADI. It can be used in combination with Sony original flash units as either Master or Remote (Slave). The Di866 Mark II also supports digital (pre-flash system) and analogue.
Technical specifications: – Fast recycle: 3.5 sec – Focal length coverage: 24-105 mm (35mm equiv.) – Wide angle diffuser: 18 mm (built-in) – Number of flashes: 150-1500 times (NiMH battery) – AF Assist Light Dist: 0.7-10 m – Weight: 380 g without battery |
Felicia Chin roots for Olympus XZ-1
Monday, November 14th, 2011Olympus has appointed popular local actress Felicia Chin as the brand ambassador for the Olympus XZ-1, the flagship compact digital camera from the Japanese maker.
An avid user of social media, Felicia will share the photos she takes with her Olympus XZ-1 with friends and fans via her blog.
“XZ-1 gives me exactly what I want – beautiful pictures and creations that speak volumes about the world around me,” said Felicia Chin.Felicia is currently taking a break from acting to pursue her Business Studies degree at the National University of Singapore.
She has taken an 18-month break to-date, and with another year and a half to go for her studies
Felicia recently returned to local television screens with her new Mandarin drama series, ‘Love Thy Neighbour’, which made its debut on 27 September 2011, 9.00 pm.
Felicia will partner Olympus in the year-long "Felicia & XZ-1" campaign.
The year-long “Felicia Chin & XZ-1” campaign will see Felicia rooting for the fast compact digital camera via social media as well as traditional print media.
Olympus XZ-1
The XZ-1 (10-megapixel, 4x zoom) is the flagship compact digital camera from Olympus.
It offers image quality that rivals that of entry-level DSLR cameras whilst enjoying the compact form factor of digital compacts.
The Olympus XZ-1 were presented the “Best Expert Compact Camera” at the TIPA Awards 2011 and also won the prestigious Red Dot Design award 2011.
I reviewed the camera earlier this year and was deeply impressed at the speed of the fast lens (F1.8-2.5 aperture) and the image quality.
Take a look some of the photos I snapped in the photo review that I did as part of the review.
The user interface was easy to use, yet allowed fine manual control for enthusiasts and aspiring photographers. Check out the detailed review and the main specifications I’d posted earlier.
Photo review of the Olympus XZ-1
Main specifications for Samsung NX200
Thursday, November 3rd, 2011The Samsung NX200 was first unveiled on September 1, 2011. It has just become available yesterday, with prices in Singapore set at S$1,099 (incl 7% GST and 18-55 mm kit lens).
Here are the main specifications for the Samsung NX200 mirrorless interchangeable lens digital camera:
| NX200 | Main specifications |
|---|---|
| Image Sensor | 20.3 Megapixels APS-C Size CMOS (23.5 x 15.7mm) |
| Lens | Samsung Lenses for Samsung NX Mount, bundled with Standard Kit Lens: Samsung 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 OIS i-Function lens |
| Image Stabilization | Lens Shift (depends on Lens) |
| Shutter Speed | Auto： 1/4000sec. – 30sec.
Manual: 1/4000sec. – 30sec. (1/3 EV step) |
| Exposure |
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| Focusing | Contrast AF (100ms AF Speed)
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| Shooting |
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| Drive |
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| Movie | 1080p/30fps Full HD Movie Recording with MP4 (H.264)
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| Flash | External Flash only (Bundle with SEF8A) with 28mm wide-angle
Fill-in + Red-eye reduction, 1st Curtain, 2nd Curtain, Off
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| Physical Specifications |
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| Additional features |
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New mirrorless interchangeable lens camera: Samsung NX200
Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011First announced two months ago in September, the 20.3 megapixel camera is now available worldwide. The Samsung NX200 is priced at S$1,099 (incl 7% GST and 18-55 mm kit lens) in Singapore.
Samsung NX200 with the i-Function lens system.
The NX200 promises DSLR quality combined with compactness and the ease-of-use of a digital compact point-and-shoot. This is Samsung’s fifth NX camera in its third body design. The 20.3 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor is contained in an all-metal body.
Samsung NX200 mirrorless interchangeable lens camera
For high speed capture, the NX200 achieves 100ms Advanced AF speed, fast boot and seven frames per second continuous shooting. Its ISO ranges from 100 to 12,800 (in seven stops) for low light shooting or to help freeze action shots. The NX200 records 1920×1080/30p (H.264) HD movie recording and Stereo Sound.
The NX200 is fully compatible with Samsung’s range of nine i-Function lenses, which allows toggling between shutter speed, aperture, exposure value (EV), white balance (WB), and ISO quickly and easily through the button and ring on the lens.
With the upgraded i-Function 2.0 on the NX200, it can control six different Smart Filters and the intelli-Zoom function from the lens whilst in Lens Priority Mode. New lenses for the i-Function system include 18-200mm (S$1,099), 16mm (S$499), 60mm and 85mm focal lengths.
Samsung NX200, with 20.3 megapixels, APS-C CMOS sensor, 1920x1080/30p (H.264) HD movie recording, and 3.0” VGA AMOLED display.
Images captured can be viewed on the 3.0” VGA AMOLED display of the NX200. The camera’s Smart Panel also offers intuitive control thanks to hot keys that enable users to switch to key functions without the need to scroll through confusing menus to get to the desired shot.
A new Panorama function allows users to take lengthened shots of large objects or turn the image into a 3D scene, bringing the object to life. A Sound Picture function allows a snippet of sound to be recorded together with a still snapshot.
The main specifications for the Samsung NX200 can be found here.
Get spooked with fun Halloween apps on BlackBerry devices
Monday, October 31st, 2011It’s Halloween today. Here’s a selection of ghouly apps for the occasion.
There are apps for both BlackBerry smartphones and the PlayBook. All the apps can be downloaded from BlackBerry App World. Click on the screenshots to get to the app on BlackBerry App World.
| Apps | Brief Description |
|---|---|
| Count Munchula (Free) smartphones only
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The world-famous Screen Muncher just couldn’t resist getting dressed up for Halloween as a blood-sucking vampire named Count Munchula! “Munch” your BlackBerry screen and capture it as an image to post directly to Twitter, share through email, or save for later!
Screen Muncher lets you capture anything you see on your BlackBerry screen just like a desktop “print screen” on a PC. This funny, cute and useful app includes a very special “Count Munchula” sound effect, animation and vibrates every time you Munch a screen! |
| Pumpkin Slider (US$0.99) smartphones only
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Pumpkin Slider is designed to lock your BlackBerry and prevent any unwanted key press. Even if your BlackBerry is unlocked by accident, Pumpkin Slider still locks your phone and you do not need to worry about the Send key or any unwanted key pressed. Pumpkin Slider automatically locks your BlackBerry when the screen dims.
Pumpkin Slider is fast to setup, easy to use and works with the Lock button on your BlackBerry. |
| Jack-O-Lantern (Free) smartphones only
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Ever wanted your own Jack-O-Lantern but didn’t know how to carve one? This app is a virtual Jack-O-Lantern for your BlackBerry to help you celebrate the Halloween season. You can change the Jack-O-Lantern’s face by swiping from the left or right on the eyes, nose, or mouth. You can also change the colour by clicking on the screen. Happy Halloween! |
| Halloween Photo Editor (US$1.99) smartphones only
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Halloween Photo Editor is a powerful image processing app that turns your photos into unique Halloween themed art. Very intuitive and easy to use. even beginners will quickly learn how to create impressive Halloweenish effects! Gear up for your Halloween celebration with this amazing photo app!
The app features 4 awesome Halloween filters, 16 unique Halloween themed photo frames and 11 cute clip art images. |
| Ghosty Party (US$1.99) smartphone/PlayBook
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Vaporize as many ghosts of the same color as you can to get a high score, with cute halloween theme animations, bonuses, and sound effects. The more ghosts you tap at once, the more scores you will get. The more same color ghosts combo, the more scoresmultiply.
The game features an autosave function on exit or phone call, and the PlayBook version also has global online support to post your scores on Facebook. |
| Halloween Haunt (S$1.99) PlayBook only
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Zombies, Ghosts, Mummies; oh my! Halloween Haunt is a 5 Reel Slot Machine that features up to 15 credits per line (up to 9 lines) – Changeable credit values ranging from 1¢, 2¢, 5¢, 10¢, and 25¢. Once the ‘High Roller Gauge’ is completely filled, you will gain access to even higher credit values; 50¢, $1, and $5. Slot machine symbols include ‘WILD’ and ‘SPIN & WIN’ symbols, which trigger the FREE SPIN feature. Earn your way to 50 trophies, purchase the 10 items in the gift shop, and work your way up to piles of cash like candy on Halloween! |
| Halloween Sounds (US$0.99) PlayBook only
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Wanna scare theguy in the next cube out of his wits? Look no further! With Halloween Sounds you can play endless pranks on friends and enemies alike. 15 spooky sounds and Spooky Soundtrack which plays a creepy soundtrack and adds scary sounds on top of it. The perfect soundtrack for handing out treats, or great mood music for a costume party. |
Wu Bai’s first photography exhibition in Singapore
Saturday, October 22nd, 2011The Leica store at Raffles Hotel is hosting the first photography exhibition in Singapore by Taiwanese rockstar Wu Bai (伍佰). 14 black-and-white photos taken in Taiwan are on display for the 42-day exhibition based on the theme “More Earth”.
Wu Bai launching his first photo exhibition in Singapore from Oct 22 - Dec 2.
Wu Bai (吳俊霖 Wu Jun Ling) is best known for his powerful live shows and rock ballads, Wu Bai composes and writes his own tunes, mostly inspired from his own life experiences. Some of the hits written by the multi award-winning musician include 浪人情歌 (Wanderer’s Love Song) and 挪威的森林 (Norwegian Woods).
Wu Bai says he enjoys hitting the streets of the countries he visits to get the feel of real life.
Another avenue of expression for the talented Mandarin rock artiste is his photography. He has published two photo books in 2007 and 2009.
“More Earth” will be open to the public from today until December 2, 2011. Open daily from 10 am till 8 pm, admission is free.
Wu Bai personally launched the exhibition yesterday and spoke in depth for more than half an hour about his passion for photography, despite a bad throat.
He shared that black-and-white photography is his style of choice, even though he started out with colour photography. He had discovered the sensuous touch of black-and-white photography after he viewed some photos of snow scenes that he had taken, and was taken with the almost black-and-white look of those photos.
Wu Bai shares some of the photos he took in Singapore on his iPad.
The photos for “More Earth” were selected based on his concern with how human development and construction is rapidly encroaching on nature, with greens and natural waterways superseded by concrete and steel structures, many of which were not even really necessary.
| Date | 22 Oct – 2 Dec, 2011 |
| Time | 10 am to 8 pm |
| Venue | Leica store, Raffles Hotel |
| Address | Raffles Hotel Arcade #01-18 |
The photos for the exhibition were taken using his Leica M6 and M7 with the 28mm f/2 M Summicron lens.
Plans to bring the exhibition to other countries in South East Asia are underway.
Singapore Leica store celebrates first anniversary
Friday, October 21st, 2011The Leica store at Raffles Hotel in Singapore celebrated its first anniversary today with the a new compact camera and a photo exhibition.
The Leica store at Raffles Hotel Arcade in Singapore celebrates its first anniversary.
The Leica store in the Raffles Hotel Arcade (#01-18) first opened its doors on October 10th last year.
Special edition Leica D-Lux 5 Titanium compact digital camera.
As part of its first anniversary celebrations, it has launched the Special Edition of hte Leica D-Lux 5 Titanium compact digital camera.
It also launched the first photography exhibition in Singapore by Taiwanese rock singer Wu Bai (伍佰).
The compact camera has an elegant silver-grey Titanium look, and sports a 10.1-megapixel, 1/1.63” CCD sensor that records 720 pixel HD video.
Wu Bai talks about his passion for photography.
Focal range is from 24 to 90 mm (35mm equivalent).
Priced at SS$1,595, the camera comes bundled with the full version of Photoshop Lightroom, which is worth some S$400 on its own.
The standard Leica D-Lux 5 retails at S$1,200.
Wu Bai’s exhibition of 14 black-and-white photos is themed “More Earth” and features photos of the environment that he took in Taiwan.
The exhibition will begin tomorrow and last till December 2, 2011.
It will be open daily from 10 am to 8 pm, admission free.
COMEX 2011 debut: Gami Light Photo Modifiers
Sunday, August 28th, 2011Gami Light will be introduced for the first time at Comex 2011, up till now it’s only been available online. The SPOT 2 (S$35), EVENT PRO (S$35), SQUARE 43 (S$75) and BOX 21 (S$39), will be available at the Red Dot Booth #6701 (Level 6, Suntec City).
Schmidt Marketing will be launching the full range of lightweight and affordable photo modifiers made by Gami Light Concepts from Malaysia during COMEX 2011.
Targeting both amateur and professional photographers, Gami Light offers strobists or off-camera photographers more and a choice of photo modifier kits made of lightweight, high-quality PP materials.
Designed with the ability to fold flat and snap-lock onto the camera flash. the kits first hit the market on 1 March 2011. The four photo modifiers are tabulated below:
| Photo-modifier kit | Description |
|---|---|
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SPOT 2 (S$35)
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Event Pro (S$35)
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Square 43 (S$75)
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Square 21 (S$39)
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