Random Jupiter 37A Bokeh Test

Do you still remember the time when you bought your first camera? I remember when I was still a student and I saved up to purchase a Russian mechanical camera that was a Zenit in the M42 mount. It provided affordable bokeh that I loved and could not achieve with the compact cameras that were more widely used then. I decided to use the M42 lens that I still keep on the Olympus E-450 because unfortunately Nikon cameras cannot accept M42 mount unless I use an adapter with a correction lens to allow the camera to focus to infinity. The lens I used today for this casual walk about is the Jupiter 37A, a russian 135mm F3.5 lens that brings back fond memories of my early years in photography. I remember the time of film where I had to wind the shuttle release after every shot, metering the exposure manually and setting focus, aperture and shuttle speed myself. Then there is the anticipation of waiting to see the prints after the film is being developed. Things that most people cannot wait to do these day when everyone tends to look for instant gratification. But I feel one certainly feels more involved in the picture taking process when you do all the things yourself, more pride of ownership, I guess. Holding that compact piece of solid metal lens barrel in my hands, and manually focussing seems to transfer me back to memory lane. I took a stroll along Clark Quay during the Mid Autumn Festival, taking some pictures of the colourful lanterns along the way. Holding a 135mm lens which becomes a 270mm on the Olympus 4/3 system, and taking night shot picture handheld in a very crowded environment, what was I thinking?! I must have been crazy, haha! Here are some random pictures anyway! First impressions are great, nice colours and sharpness wide open, with nice circular bokeh.

Random Picture

Recently I had a stye on my eyelid and its preventing me from trying to take pictures. Oh well... In the meantime, just to share one of my random picture from some time ago. A backlit shot with the Nikon 50mm prime again. This was actually a candid! Cheers!

Olympus E450 DSLR first impressions

Olympus? I know, most of you would be surprised to find me using an Olympus 4/3 system DSLR. But let me explain. I was looking for a compact camera for casual and holiday use when I came across an offer for a very compact DSLR, the Olympus E-450, going for the amazing price of SGD$480! That is roughly only about the price of a higher priced compact cameras! It was a no brainer and I got that camera to use for snap shot duties. But it turns out the 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 kit lens is no slouch! It is one marvellous kit lens that I am quite impressed with. The whole package gave me a very compact package with most of the dslr flexibility and performance. The only downside currenly I feel is that of the 4/3 system, due to the smaller sensor, has noisier pictures in settings higher than iso400. Its depth of field for the 4/3 format is also deeper than most APS and full-frame sensors of course, which can be a plus or minus depending on the type of picture you want. Its shallower than compact or prosumer cameras but not as shallow as APS or Full frame sensors. Another thing I gained through this system is my ability to reuse my Old M42 lens collection! I know Nikon systems can also use an adapter too but the problem lies with focussing at infinity. Nikon lens adapter require an additional lens correction element to allow M42 mounted lens to focus to inifinity, which somehow I feel would degrade the image quality. Did I also mention its weight? It is almost non-existant! What a joy it is to bring it along the whole day without suffering shoulder and backaches like when I carry my D700 gears! For sure the D700 is a vastly superior camera, but for its price and purpose, the Olympus has nothing to be embarrased and will definitely have a place in my camera bag, haha! Here are some of my first casual snapshots with the Olympus E-450. All the pictures were taken with the Kit lens except for the last 2 pictures which were taken with the Meyer Optik Gorlitz 50mm F2.8 M42 lens with M42 to Olympus 4/3 system adapter. Its good to revive back some of my cheaply gotten M42 lens, especially the Old European lenses which somehow have this creamy pastel and paintily effect that is often missing in modern optics.

It's Prime Time!

I remember a friend of mine asking me why would anyone have the need for such high shutter speed in my camera, other than to freeze high speed subject, which I rarely do. Using me trusty Nikon 85mm F1.8 AFD lens this morning for a spin once again, this is another chance to show him why! If I want to shoot outdoors in very bright light conditions, and yet achieve a shallow Depth of Field by using a bigger aperture without the use of clumbersome Neutral Density filters, high speed shutter speed is my only option!

Anyway, another friend and I decided to scout for any new interesting locations for photoshoots. We arrived at the this new location a little later then we would like to and the weather was starting to be quite unbearably hot! This area, called the Helix Bridge, should look quite spectacular in the evening light. Here is just a sneak preview, more to come in the future...

Fancy a Fancy Cake?

I went out with a friend to Ang Siang Hill where we tried out some cakes at Kki. She learnt about the cake cafe through blogs, where it seems to be growing in popularity. The cakes are rather pricey at $8.50 but you get what you pay for because you can see that these pieces of edible art are not just a piece of cake! They are baked with a lot of passion and tastes wonderful too, at least for the ones that I tried. "Little Red Riding Hood" is Sinfully coated in Thick Dark Chocolate and filled with Tangy Raspberry Jam and a Juicy Red Plump Raspberry on Top. The other great tasting cake that is also worth recommending is the delightfully sculptured, water chestnut flavoured Mont Blanc. Whatever it is, I can say you have to give them all a try, and perhaps, like me, you would want to go visit them again! In the meantime, there are many interesting shops around the perimeter selling Old Skool memorabilia, that is sure to invoke rose-tinted nolstagia of yesteryears in Singapore.

New Bloom!

One of my succulents, a Huernia species, has bloomed this morning! I took a hurried snapshot with my Sigma 70-300mm before rushing to work! It's the first time that any of my Succulent plants that I currently have has bloomed. Time to buy the lottery perhaps? Haha! I am unable to identify this so is anyone able to identify this species of Succulent?

Subsequently, more blooms followed, but I was rather busy with work, so I only have this other snapshot to show.

Adenium Socotranum x Adenium Arabicum Dwarf Hybrid

Guess what? I have rekindled another hobby and believe it or not, its indoor gardening and I am back with a vengence! Haha! In fact I have always liked flora and fauna but I was afraid I did not have the time to care for them. Luckily I realised that some plants require little attention and are very rewarding indeed. Here are a few casual shots with my Sigma 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 APO taken indoors at home. I got this little cute stubby fellow, an Adenium Socotranum and Adenium Arabicum Hybrid and other than bright sunny disposition, it should be quite a low maintainance and hardy plant. Sunny (and sometimes Scorching) tropical weater here should see it thrive indeed! What with all the Global warming, Political and Financial crisis, we all need a little Green Therapy indeed! Thumbs up for Indoor Garden Therapy! Anyway the last 2 pictures were taken while having a stroll in the Chinese Garden Bonsai Garden. I saw a couple of Adenium Species grown Bonsai Style. They look simply gorgeous with their ancient beauty and oriental porcelain pots!

Down with the Flu

Hi people, it's been quite awhile and I haven't been posting, due to a persistant flu that I caught last week! I am still recovering but thank goodness I am better now. As a result I haven't been doing much photography recently but I will do so when I can asap! Guess you will would be surprised at how I got the flu in the first place. It's all thanks to my mini excursions to some plant nurseries/farms under the blazing mid-day sun, and then retreating to an air-conditioned shopping mall, twice! Till the next time, keep taking great pictures!

Recent Nikon 50mm F1.4 AFD shots...

I cannot imagine not having my bread and butter lens, the Nikon 50mm F1.4 AFD. It was my first lens I used when I started out in photography, and I am loving it, especially with my full frame revivial from 35mm film format to FX DSLR! Cheers!

"It's a Crime to Ignore!"
A candid shot just for the fun of it!


"Dangerous Curves Ahead"


"Under The Bridge"


"High Key Leopard Print"

Loaded the Nikon D700 v1.02 firmware update!

I was slow to know about the latest D700 firmware update v1.02 that was released last month! It claims to fix quite a few bugs and even enable the camera to use GPS timing with the right accessories but the most important update to me would be the improved Auto White Balance. The D700 is a marvellous camera except for the Auto White Balance that could be improved, and I am hoping this latest update would leave me a very happy man indeed. I loaded that latest firmware update today and initial casual testing reveals that the overly yellowish cast sometimes seen in AWB is much reduced! When time permits, its time for me to do some test runs! Prepare for Glory! Ok ok, I am getting overly besides myself now, till the next post, happy photo shooting!

Chinatown 2010 from Dawn to Dusk

Today is the first day of the Lunar New Year, and I wish everyone a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous Year of the Tiger! Strangely that reminds me of the character "King" that I play in the arcade game Tekken. The character in the game is a Mexican Professional Wrestler who dons a Jaguar Mask by default. Maybe I would be able to play the character better this year? Haha! Anyway I recently went for a walk in chinatown to soak in the festive atmosphere, and its a refreshing change from the daily routine of my day job. I decided to share some of my casual pictures of chinatown from dusk to dawn, with my trusty Tamron 17-35mm F2.8-4.

Dawn

To Be Continued with Dusk...

My plate of "Hokkien Mee" for dinner before I continue with the evening shoot.

Happy Lunar New Year 2010

I would like to wish everybody a Happy Lunar New Year 2010 in the Year of the Tiger! I have not been updating my blog lately but I promise there would be more to come soon... Cheers!

Happy New Year!

Its the New Year 2010 and I really hope its a better year for all of us! What's your New Year Resolution? Whatever is important to you in life, I wish all of you the best!

My little nephew, Baby Brandon during X'mas, coming to 2 months old.

Tokina 28-80mm F2.8 ATX-Pro

Guess what? I just bought a 2nd hand Tokina 28-80mm F2.8 ATX-Pro after selling my 2nd hand Nikon 28-105mm F3.5-4.5 zoom lens! The reason was I got it at a great price and I felt that I still needed the F2.8 in a standard zoom. Reviews of that lens has been rather mixed, but I decided to bite the bullet and just get it because of the attractive price. Initial testing seems to show a lens that isn't too shabby! Comparisons with its newer and very popular 3rd party lens competitor, the Tamron 28-75mm F2.8 would surely abound. I happened to own that lens before and I feel that the Tokina has a vastly better built and feel, it balances great on my D700, and the AF collar doesnt rotate when focussing. Sharpness wise, the Tokina loses out a bit to the Tamron, especially at the 80mm end, but not by a lot. The Tokina is definitely sharp enough for me even at wide open. Both have nice bokeh, but the Tokina seems to have higher contrast and saturation then the Tamron. It also focuses a bit faster than the Tamron. All in all a very decent walk around lens that I can finally put to use in my next event shoot! I went to the Chinese Garden for a trial run this morning so stay tuned for the uploads in a few days time!

A tree can symbolise Life on Earth. Here I try to showcase textures, perspectives and Bokeh.


A Portrait of this Handsome Young Man, taken indoors where the wide aperture helps. The AF was fast enough to capture kids who tend to be in constant motion!

Congratulations to Ben and Qinpei!

I would like to congratulate my cousin Ben and his wife Qinpei on the safe delivery of their baby boy Brandon today! I am very happy for them and that makes me officially an uncle now! Haha! These pictures are especially poignant as they were taken almost exactly a month before the delivery!

Nikon 35mm F2 AFD


Nikon 50mm F1.4 AFD