[ Pro lighting with a simple light source ]
[ Sony A7R with Leica Lenses ]
[ The truth about the "clear sky" billboard in Hong Kong ]
[ Voigtlander Test Shots ]
A few test shots of the Voigtlander 50mm f/1.5 ASPH
19-JUN-2013
Ed Snowden banner in Hong Kong
[ June 4th 2013 ]
A few images of June 4th, 2013, in Hong Kong.
[ Canon 1DX noise test ]
This is truly an amazing high ISO performance.
Notes: JPG straight out of camera. No additional post processing done.
The ISO 51200 images are still very usable if kept at relatively smaller size.
[ NEX3 vs IXUS 300HS (PowerShot SD4000 IS) Color Test ]
As I was taking taking a snap shot of my headphones with my Canon point and shoot, I realized the Lakers purple keeps turning out to be royal blue! I tried shooting with the flash on and off, in AWB, and the results are the same. It is not a real color shift on the entire spectrum as the rest of the colors are quite close to the colors as seen by the naked eye.
At first I thought it might be a color profile (similar to picture style), and/or a white balance setting. I turned off color profiling, it was still showing purple as blue! Then I played with different white balances, the only way I could get it looked like purple again was "fluorescent H", which was a wrong white balance, as shown in the third picture. The light source was a halogen lamp.
Is the Canon p&s purple blind?
[ Tie Collection ]
Why bow ties? Yes, a tie is more socially acceptable at the work place than a bow tie. I just think that it is a matter of what people used to see and more importantly what people can/cannot pull off.
Although I do not wear a bow tie on a daily basis, I find bow ties do have some merits.
- Bow ties last longer and are less prone to food stain
- While in a car, the seat belt would get in the way and grind on a neck tie, messing up the surface in time. Not anymore with a bow tie.
- Given the same brand same style, a bow tie is always cheaper than a tie
- Bow ties are easier to store
- During the hot weather and should you decide to take off you tie/bow tie, a bow tie can be conveniently fit inside a shirt pocket.
- Old dead ties can be recycled into a bow tie!
- Last but not least. This is sort of a personal experience. I know how to tie a nice knot on a neck tie but sometimes it drives me nuts for not able to get the two end in similar length. I am not a perfectionist but it is not uncommon for me to have to tie it for a second time because the thin end being too long or too short. With a bow tie, once the length is adjusted for the first time it is always the same end result, and with a some room for fine adjustment if desired.
15-JUN-2011
CBL White Balance Test
This is a test of adjusting WB under the extreme colors of fog lights.
The first image from the left is custom adjusted and produced quite a nice result. The strong yellow/orange cast created by the fog lights are so strong, even dialing down the color temperature to 2500K won't do the job completely.
[ A Peaceful Demonstration of the Manila Massacre ]
Where: Hong Kong
Participants: 30,000(police figure) - 80,000 (organizer's figure)
This was a peaceful demonstration to show support of the victims and their families. The crowd remained silent during their walk from Victoria Park to Central. Most people were dressed in black or white.
[ Sony 135 Testing and Myth debunked ]
The Sony 135 STF some tests and myth debunked
This is one of the most unique consumer lenses available. The design philosophy of this lens is to create the most pleasing bokeh, while having whatever that is in focus still being sharp. This is very different from a soft focus lens or a lens that performs very well in the center area but goes very soft at the corners.
There are many articles on the net talking about the design of this lens already, but few touches on how the lens works. I have also read quite a few misconceptions about this lens as well. Since I finally own one, I have decided to post a few test shots and want to debunk a few urban legends about this lens!
Myth the double aperture rings creates the smooth bokeh.
If you take the lens off the camera and turn the T stop / STF ring towards T6.7 you can see the lens is stopped down with 2 aperture rings, one on top of the other. However, this is not how it operates in shooting conditions. You can only use just one of the two aperture rings when shooting.
T stop ring is set to A - The lens is wide open just like a regular modern SLR lens. The aperture can now be controlled via the input dial on the camera, going from f4.5 to f32. There is no f2.8 even the lens measured as an f2.8 max f stop lens. Apparently the Apodisation Element inside the lens also acts a ND filter, reducing the amount of light going through the lens, but not in an even manner. The effective T4.5 will be displayed as f4.5 on the camera instead. The photographer can now stop down the lens as he/she please just like a regular Alpha lens. When this lens is shot wide open the bokeh is just the same is shooting the lens at T4.5 (on the T stop setting).
When the T stop ring is set to anything other than A, this lens will now be at full manual mode, meaning the aperture can no longer be controlled via the camera. In fact, nothing will happen when the control dial is turned even if you are in aperture priority mode. The T stop ring is a step-less aperture ring with a circular opening, a 10-blade design that resembles classic lenses (usually RF lenses) with a full manual aperture. There are no springs to keep the lens at wide open at all times while stopping down to the preset f no. as the shutter fires. The minimum setting on the T stop is T6.7. There is no stopping down to f32 like the first aperture ring.
So what is the STF magic about? Go to the first image and read on.
[ The Joker ]
Amazing Joker DX figure from the movie The Dark Knight by Hot Toys.
Thanks to Live View, focusing the Leica lens is easy as 123.
[ Tube amp ]
My re-discovered love for music listening is making a big come back this year. Between the beginning of 2005 and Jan 2009 all I got is an ipod (purchased in 2006). Although I enjoy it, it is not nearly close to anything I had before.
Since I am in Hong Kong all the time it is a good opportunity for me to explore the "affordable" hi-fi components that are made in China. If you are rolling you eye as you are reading, you are probably a) comparing something that costs a few times (or even 10 times) more, b) you haven't really check them out yet.
I have always wanted to own a tube amp. There is always a mystique to it. And if it is so very obsolete why are people still buying them? After a few demo session I am a true believer.
And most importantly I didn't break the bank to do it. I know I will have years of enjoyment with it. By the way, did I mention it is such an eye candy to look at? :)
[ Getting ready for the JB Classic Tennis shoot ]
31-DEC-2007
Getting ready for the JB Classic Tennis shoot
Getting ready for the tennis shoot. Here's the 400D fitted with the Tamron 500mm mirror lens. It's a very "stealth" combo and yet I can get 800mm eq. fov from it. The downside of this set up is obviously the manual focus and no IS (so I've thought). On the field my biggest problem was actually the lack of lighting. I was sitting pretty far away from the court. Even though the 800mm FOV is enough I need to shoot at 1/800 to keep things in check. At ISO 1600, 1/800, and f/8 (fixed for this lens) I was under by at least 3 stops or so. But the first rule in sports shooting is better noisy than blurry. I had to keep it at that.
The noise level is pretty bad, considering it's not the 400D's strength. Next time I would consider bringing my 5D, although I may have to crop a bit on the final image. FPS-wise they both are not great but acceptable for tennis. The best camera for the job? Probably anything but these two here :) I can image the 40D or D300 would do a very good job and the 1D Mark 3 or D3 would make this even easier. Oh, and I have to get better seats next time!
[ Leica lenses on the EOS ]
The EF mount is probably one of the most versatile mount out there. With an adaptor you can enjoy SLR lenses from Contax, Leica, and even Nikon to name a few. I was extremely happy to find out that the Contax and Leica lenses would make a come back in the digital world. For one Contax is already discontinued and the Leica R digital back costs an arm and a leg for a somewhat dated sensor.
[ Olympus Designer Cameras ]
O-product
This camera is *Not For Sale*. If you see these pictures else where on line they are stolen from here!
Death Note
A merchandise item from the "Death Note" comic book series. I actually have some real notes in there.
I thought it'd be fun to have this image as my wallpaper.
