Sentosa

I had purchased a new 55-200mm lens. This is an entry level telephoto lens. Though it is second hand and bout more than 1 year according to its previous owner, it still in good condition. We did the dealing at Harbourfront, thus later I went up to Vivocity and find a spot facing Sentosa. I took numerous photo. All these photos were taken between 7.10pm to 7.40pm. There are either as Vivid+3 or Natural format. The photos are as below:

Vivid+3

Vivid+3

Vivid+3

Natural

Natural

Vivid+3

Vivid+3

Vivid+3 (When the sky grew darker)

Vivid+3 (When the sky grew darker)

Natural

Natural

Vivid+3 (When the sky grew darker)

Subway

Fig: Subway Melt

This is the sandwich I had last night for dinner. It is nice and I had it foot long and not 6 inches long. hahahaha.... Going to be fat fat fat!!!!

^_^ Still on New Year Mood ^_^

UV Filter

My previous post I have stated that I bought myself a new lens that comes with a UV Filter. Later on I found out that actually the UV filter that I bought is actually considered those low end type or in another word, cheap stuff.

Fig: My UV Filter brand
(I know my hand looks like old man. Just concentrate on the UL filter)

Don't believe me? Try to go and google it then. Perhaps you can prove me wrong. :)

Flash compensation

I am so dumb, now only I know that I can plus or minus the flash "strength" with this flash compensation on my D90. This is the price to pay to not reading the manual. This morning, I happened to flip the manual and saw this feature. Thus after reaching home from office, I took out my D90 and try it out.

The below 3 photos are taken at almost the same position with the same lighting. The settings at f/5.6, 1/15 shutter speed, ISO-2500, Exposure +0.7 with focal length 55mm

Fig: With flash compensation -3.0

Fig: With normal flash: Flash compensation 0.0

Fig: With flash compensation set to +1.0

Conclusion, I think next time I think if I wanna take photos that are dark a bit and I want a bit of flash, I can use this feature. I still thinking whether wanna get myself a flash or not. But I think I shall wait a while. Kinda pokkai already after purchasing this. Moreover CNY is around the corner. ^_^

Photography - Night Shot

UV filter is used mainly by photography as a form of protection for the lens. IMHO, a lot of photographers also know that if the UV filter that you use is not of high quality, the chances that you may get the 'flare factor' is high. I faced that problem in my first ever try of doing night shots. Though my shots are not great, this is just for all information. See the below images that have the so called 'flare factor'. The flare factor is marked with the bluish oval shape.

Fig: Though this photo is about the same as above, I did not what I have changed for the settings that had made the flare factor even more serious.

Fig: My first sharp sharp photo is marred by the flare factor... so $%@$

From what I read, the flare factor will happen if you zoom in at certain length with certain f stop. Below is another night shot that is not zoomed in at all, but does not present any 'flare factor'.

And now the below are the images that I re-take after I took off the UV filter off. I think I need to invest and buy a better UV filter. :)

Fig: Without UV filter but lower ISO

Fig: With higher ISO than the above photo. Which photo you like?

Fig: Or do you like this photo taken with lower ISO?

Fig: With higher ISO, do you like this photo?

All the night shots are very yellowish in my opinion. Should I called it yellowish or there is another term? ^ ^ Actually the real scene is not that "yellowish". I should say, there is a bit element of green color. The green color like missing from the photos. I still dunno how to take proper night shots. It means I have still more to learn. :)

Well, after so many months of hiatus that I have finally updated my blog, I guess now I have more motivation to update more frequently. I shall post all photos shall I have nice nice photos that I would like to share with others.

If any experts have advise to a noob like me, feel free to leave your valuable comments. ^_^

Photography - Close up shots

Below are some of my selected close up shots which I think still can be seen (见的人) in public. Anyway.... these are not selected, but are the wholesome which I have taken. hahahaha.... all those not nice I have deleted them.

Fig: The above is the only photo taken from 18-105mm lens.

Fig: The rest of the photos except the first one are taken with 18-55mm lens

A lot of my close up photos are not cleared. Blurred when zoom in. Guess my hand is not steady enough to hold the camera. Still need more practise and more understanding on different settings and fundamentals of good photographs.

Next post, I will post the night shots that I have taken. I will also show what is the 'flare factor' that most photographers talk about if the lens is installed with the UV filter (notably those cheap type).

Dinner at Bentendo - Japanese Pasta & Cafe'

Ever since I have purchased my first DSLR, I have always wanted to try to shoot the food photo. All my previous attempts using those normal compact digital camera went awry. All the photos are either not that sharp, or the quality was found wanting.

This time around, I found the chance to shoot it for the first time with a DSLR. A good friend of mine invited me to go for a dinner at Great World City. We did not know what to eat but end up dining at a restaurant called Bentendo. I ain't food expert. But what I can say is the food is okay but not astounding.

My First DSLR - Nikon D90

By now I think most of my friends know that I have purchased myself a brand new DSLR - Nikon D90. Honestly, I have been wanting to buy this camera for a very long time. As always the price tag keep on stopping me from buying it.

My wife has been very supporting to me. She kept on asking me to just buy it. Don't worry on the price tag as we still can afford it. Just treat this as a new hobby of mine. She said it is better for me to start taking interest in photography to be able to take good photos rather than letting me spending lots of time watching videos or playing computer games. Hahahahha.... ^ ^

So finally I purchased it. But fark!!! I bought at a shop near my place and later on I found out I had paid extra $150. If I had known it, I will just go to the other shop at Funan or Sim Lim. Never mind. I will take this as a lesson not to rush again in my purchase. Better check the price at the other shops by calling them.

As everybody knows, the D90 kit comes with a lens AF-S Nikkor 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G. The lens is as below. However, I went to buy a second hand of another lense AF-S Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G. The photo as the second photo.

Fig 1: AF-S Nikkor 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G

Fig 2: AF-S Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G

Well... You might see actually the range 18-55 is actually covered by my kit lens. Anyway, after I read a few review, a lot of people saying the 18-55mm lens is actually better than the 18-105mm. Plus this second hand lens was sold to me at $150 which is quite inexpensive in my opinion. Thus I went on to purchased it. Soon afterward, I tested the two lens. The results are quite evident why people likes 18-55mm. I think this can be considered everydays lens. You can use it on daily basis without much problem.

These two photos are taken as close up shot as close as I can. You will notice that the Fig 2 is smaller and not close enough while Fig 1 can be shot closely. Fig 1 is shot with 18-55mm lens while the Fig 2 is shot by 18-105mm lens. Well, at least after seeing this result, I did not regret on splurging on the new lens so fast (2 days after I bought my new camera) on a seemingly same type of lens. I love my second hand 18-55mm lens. I am thinking whether I should sell off my kit lens, 18-105mm lens or not. Hahahahaha~!!!

Disclaimer: If any experts happened to see my post on the two lens and found that actually my observation is not correct; I am more than happy to listen to the advise and clarifications.