Friday, August 27, 2010

Still "Full Moon"

Hoping to get either 55 - 300mm or 70 - 300 mm soon.
Anyway, i shot this just now using my old 28 - 210 mm fungus infected lens (during negative era), that is why the photo not so clear. But in dSLR world, i got 305 mm distance in 35mm format. So if i use 300mm then i shall obtain 450mm in 35mm format. hhmmm.....

photo has to crop in order to get "this" BIG

Friday, August 20, 2010

AF-S DX Nikkor 55-300 mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR

My next TARGET!!! How much ler?

  • A 5.5x super-telephoto zoom lens with a focal length of 55-300 mm
  • The first interchangeable lens to utilise a high refractive index (HRI) lens element, which allows for a more compact and lightweight size, as well as offering pleasing rendering performance
With a refractive index of 2.0 or higher, the use of a single HRI lens element provides the same benefits as multiple elements made of standard optical glass. In addition, as this single lens element also compensates for focal plane curvature and spherical aberration, the lens itself could be made smaller and lighter yet still offer 5.5x magnification and support for super-telephoto shooting at up to 300 mm. It exhibits excellent contrast and sharp rendering throughout the entire frame even at maximum aperture.
  • Built-in vibration reduction (VR II) offering camera shake compensation equivalent to a shutter speed increase of approximately four steps
The benefits of vibration reduction are best demonstrated with super-telephoto shooting. This feature stabilises the view through the viewfinder for simpler focusing.

  • Two ED lens elements used for superior chromatic aberration compensation 
  • Equipped with a Silent Wave Motor (SWM) for extremely quiet autofocusing

New Nikon dSLR - D3100

1) A new DX-format CMOS image sensor and image-processing engine, EXPEED 2, both developed by Nikon enable capture of high-definition images with superior image quality


The D3100 is equipped with a new Nikon DX-format CMOS image sensor and a new image-processing engine, EXPEED 2, both developed by Nikon. The CMOS image sensor offers an effective pixel count of 14.2-million pixels (D3000: CCD image sensor with 10.2-million effective pixels) and enables capture of high-definition images exhibiting superior image quality with extremely detailed rendering and rich tones. The camera also makes the most of its standard sensitivity settings up to ISO 3200 (D3000: ISO 100–1600) and additional increases up to Hi 2 (ISO 12800 equivalent), with shooting under dim lighting, such as in the evening or indoors, as well as with sports scenes of rapidly moving subjects.

EXPEED 2 is Nikon's new image-processing engine, developed by refining the concepts, know-how and technologies regarding digital images that Nikon has spent years cultivating. It maximises the performance of the CMOS image sensor to suppress noise in still images and movies and produces images that faithfully reproduce vivid colors.


2) A refined Guide mode that is even easier to useGuide mode has been refined to make most camera operations even easier, from shooting to image playback and editing to the application of camera settings, regardless of the user's skill level.

Assist images

The D3100 displays "assist images" that show the effect of various camera settings, giving users an idea of the results they can expect with specified settings. For example, when "Soften backgrounds" is selected and an aperture value is specified, the assist image displayed in the monitor changes to show the effect that aperture setting will have on images. This allows users to confirm that images will appear as they intended prior to shooting and reduces the number of unsuccessful shots.

Other new functions built into Guide mode:

Selection from 3 shooting techniques: "Use the viewfinder," "Use live view," "Shoot movies"

"Bring more into focus" and "Show water flowing" options have been added to the "Advanced operation" menu for shooting

"Movie settings," "HDMI," "Flicker reduction" and "Eye-Fi upload"* options have been added to the "Set Up" menu for applying basic camera settings

* Only available when compatible Eye-Fi memory card is inserted


3) Live view mode that allows users to use the camera monitor to easily frame still image or movies

By simply rotating the live view switch, the view through the lens is displayed in the monitor, enabling immediate live view recording. This makes shooting feel more like shooting with a compact digital camera, easing the transition to digital-SLR for beginners. In addition, various information such as the shooting mode, time remaining (movie mode) and battery indicator, can be shown in the live view display.

4) D-Movie for recording and editing full-HD movies and AF-F (full-time servo AF) focus mode for movie recording

The D3100 is equipped with the D-Movie function that enables recording of high-definition movies (with monaural sound) by simply pressing the movie-record button. Movies can be recorded with the same aperture and other settings applied in Guide mode, and movies that take full advantage of the characteristics of individual interchangeable lenses, whether wide-angle, telephoto or fisheye, can be recorded for movies that are only possible with a digital-SLR camera. In addition, the camera also offers an AF-F (full-time servo AF) focus mode for movie recording. When AF-F mode is enabled, the camera focuses continuously during movie recording without the need for holding the shutter-release button down halfway. The D3100 also offers in-camera movie editing functions that allow users to save a single frame as a still image or delete unnecessary portions from the beginning or end of movie files.


5) Scene auto selector built in

The D3100 is equipped with the scene auto selector function. When live view mode is enabled in Auto or Auto (flash off) mode, the camera automatically analyses the scene and selects the appropriate shooting mode from Portrait, Landscape, Close up or Night portrait*. This function allows users achieve the intended images while leaving all settings up to the camera.

* Scene auto selector is disabled with manual focusing.


Other functions and features new to the D3100

Equipped with a face detection function capable of detecting up to 35 human faces (D3000: up to 5 faces)

Operation has been improved with the addition of an independent movie-record button and release-mode selector. In addition, the rubber grip provides a better fit.

Equipped with a Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) bus that enables remote control playback of images and movies recorded with the camera when the camera is connected to a high-definition TV

Equipped with a new exposure compensation algorithm for greater flexibility and performance with NEF (RAW) processing

The new ViewNX 2 software is bundled with the D3100

杨顺兴:培才小学通过审核 校舍图测料月内批准

二零一零年八月二十日 凌晨十二时二十七分

(槟城19日讯)槟岛市政局一站式图测审核小组(OSC)成员杨顺兴说,“如无任何意外,峇都丁宜培才小学建校图测,预料能在1个月内获批。”

他说,该校图测成功通过各政府部门审核,包括国能、水利灌溉局、消拯局、英达利水、公共工程局等部门,有关小组也在昨日会议上针对该校图测进行审核工作。

他说,该校图测是处于“反对阶段”(Peringkat bantahan),该组也在昨日进行听证会,聆听反对代表所提出的意见。“培才学校校地旁的地主提及,希望培才小学在完成建校工程后提供完整的道路,方便当地居民进出。”

他解释,有关反对阶段是在城乡规划发展法令第21条文所赋予的权力,任何人都可以在这阶段提出反对和任何意见。同时,OSC会在一个月的时间针对有关问题作出审核。

尽管如此,他说,槟岛市政局将优先处理属于教育地段的发展,让更多学校获得更好发展。他强调,若一切进展顺利,该校建校图册预料将会在1个月内获得批准。

他透露,槟岛市政局多年来都会优先处理校舍的图测申请,其中最佳记录就是在两周内完成审核及批准菩提国民型中学的图测,而其他优先处理的校舍图测,包括浮罗山背崇德小学、日落洞培新小学、慕义总校、恒毅中学等。



方锡希:8天筹逾6万

槟州中元联合会主席方锡希说,该校在短短8天的筹款活动当中,已经为培才小学筹得逾6万令吉,并表示有信心可以在庆赞中元期间为培才小学筹得百万令吉的建校经费。他说,今年共有214个街区及120个神坛组织参与筹款活动,至今已经有超过20个街区参与筹款活动。他预料,若每场宴会的款项都可以达到3000令吉或以上,那么就可以达到筹款目标了。

Friday, August 13, 2010

Sushi King & Sunflower Rice Mill - Visit

Followed my son to Sushi King to learn making sushi and then to Sunflower rice mill to see how the rice we cook at home is prepared.

The rice use for making sushi is KOME-Chan, round and short type of rice. Khang Henn and his friend were taught to make Nigiri and Gunkan type of sushi. And for parent and teachers were taught to make Temaki (and i won the best looking Temaki, worth RM10 voucher).


 See some photos from Sushi King:

Then they went to playground and they played like mad. Scary.

Finally, we went to Sunflower rice mill, by that time, all were tired and hungry plus sleepy. We were briefed how the rice is harvest, process, polish until packing. A mini machines to demo made the children understand easily. Then parent like me and teachers started to shopping, buying varieties of rice, from Taiwan, India and locals.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Sunrise @ Bukit Belimbing

Nice sunrise today, shot some photos before went to work.
Using M mode, without tripod.

EM Mudballs - Sungai Kluang, Penang

On 08/08/2010, World EM Day, various parts of Penang were having the throwing EM Mudballs campaign, to clean up Penang - the rivers and sea.

One of the campaign was held at Sungai Kluang, near the industrial area at Bayan Lepas. This event was attended by all EM big shot from Japan and Asia countries - Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, Australia, Nepal, etc etc, and of course Malaysia as the host for this year EM Asia Forum.

See some of the mudballs throwing campaing (more photos at FB):

G Cafe @ G Hotel

Eh.... not G spot lah!!!

Ferringhi Garden - Dinner

After shooting the sunset at "Ai Cheng Tor" @ Batu Ferringhi, we had the dinner at Ferringhi Garden, Batu Ferringhi, Penang during the time i was back for EM Asia Forum on 7 Aug 2010. Actually, the plan was just having Char Koay Teow and Fried Oyster. End up, we had the dinner at Ferringhi Garden plus Char Koay Teow + Oyster.

Ordered some not-cheap-foods and red wine at the very nice atmosphere of Ferringhi Garden. Just talk about the wine glass, RM300 each, imported from Germany, only 8 glasses available in the restaurant. But that guy never told us what will happen if we break the glass? So, i treat the foods, EH treat the red wine. So, we are waiting for SY to treat us next round!!!

Some photo to share (more photo available in my FB):