Choosing a 10MP DSLR

Like what I encountered when I decided to move to the digital world of SLR, a lot of factors have been considered before I finally made my decision to go for Sony Alpha.

Unless you are a die hard fan for particular brand of Canon or Nikon which are always against each others, it's worth to have a look on this group test of the 3 entry level 10MP DSLR in the market launched last year - Canon 400D, Nikon D80 and Sony Alpha A100



I have no regret so far :)

The Prestige

Don't expect people in UK are more advanced or up-dated, the out-dated me just watched 'The Prestige' by Christopher Nolan on this website.

Story of the rivaly between two magician Robert Angier (Hugh Jackman) and Alfred Borden (Christian Bale), how they fight to dig each others secrets and outperform each others.

One of the movie that must not be missed, which I nearly did. This probably is the best answer to explain David Copperfield's transporting magic if you believe in human cloning.

Thanks to the fast moving China information technology that allows me to watch more movie, Taiwanese entertainment show and more importantly live footy!!

London Eye Revisited

Decided to go for a night shooting with tripod last saturday night.

All photos taken with the standard kit lens 18-70mm:

London Eye by River Thames
Aperture = F8.0, shutter speed = 20 secs (on tripod), ISO = 100

Millennium Bridge & St Paul Cathedral
Aperture = F9.0, shutter speed = 30 secs (on tripod), ISO = 100

To be frank, the above two are the only satisfying photos taken throughout the whole night. Lots of experimental shots trying on different exposure. Some other not-so-satisfying photos:

Big Ben - I should have had patience to wait for the light beams from the vehicles on the road but there were too many passerby disturbing the exposures to take a decent shot.
Aperture = F8.0, shutter speed = 15 secs (on tripod), ISO = 100

Aperture = F5.6, shutter speed = 1 sec (handheld), ISO = 800

Aperture = F5.6, shutter speed = 1 sec (handheld), ISO = 800

Beautiful place for dating isn't it?

Canon EOS 50 Gone

Finally sold off my once beloved Canon EOS 50 SLR on ebay - for GBP25........ I bought it for RM1,600 about 10 years ago with my hard earned money from part-time job when I was in uni and had much fun with it for some while.

I accidentally break the on/off thingy for the quick dial just before I put it on ebay hence the low bid. Anyway it's better to give it to someone who appreciates it more rather than let it lays in the drawer.

Thank you for accompanying me in the good old days.

CNY in London

The first CNY that I am not home in 30 years. Kind of mixed feelings, in life you gain something but you lose something at the same time.

Chun Seng and his wife Loo Yin just moved to London from Dublin and invited me, justin and few other Malaysian friends for a CNY eve steamboat dinner at his place. Sort of 'reunion' too for the secondary school mates.

First day of CNY, thank god it's a Sunday or else we'll have to work as there's no public holiday in UK! Went out with some friends to Chinatown for dim-sum brunch while joining the huge celebration, the crowd were really huge that I squeezed through one end of the street to the other end for half and hour to meet them. 80% of the crowd were kwai-lous who came here to join the celebration.

tang-long at Leicester Square

Chinatown packed with people

Lion dance - it was impossible to take the full body of the lion as it was surrounded by the tourist at all time. See there were no chinese in the picture.

Welcoming the lion to 'pick the green'

Happy Gold Pig Year!!

London is a real muti-cultural city indeed.

Wish for a better year

There were stage performance and some street events at Trafagal Square sponsored by London Chinatown Chinese Association.

Crowds at Trafagal Square

kwai-lou da kung-fu

rock climbing for kids - I always blame on the weather for not giving me great sunlight for brighter pictures.

Finally I got some space to shoot for a full body lion.

We waited for half an hour to see the fireworks show at Leicester Square in the evening. High expectation brought us much disappointment indeed with the 'made in China' not-great-at-all fireworks.

Finding My Home On Wikimapia

I may be a bit out dated but find it interesting to find my home on wikimapia


my home in London, near Wapping Tube Station. You can use the arrows on top left of the map or drag your mouse to see the surrounding! Go to the east by River Thames and you will see many of London's landmarks such as Tower Bridge etc. That's quite cool isn't it?


my home sweet home Choo Cheng Khay Apartments right in the center of KL city.


steph made her mark on wikimapia.

More Testing on New Gear

Some test shots on the beercan:

Focal length = 70mm, aperture F4, shutter speed = 1/30 sec, ISO = 400

Focal length = 120mm, aperture F4, shutter speed = 1/200 sec, ISO = 250

Testing Hoya +4 close-up filter on the 50mm F1.7:

minimum focus distance without close-up filter = 0.45m

with close-up +4, the minimum focus length is shorten to about 0.15m

Not powerful enough for macro photography though, should be ok for flower shooting but don't think it'll be useful on insects. Probably useful on a macro lens which I don't plan to invest on it so soon.