I tried to squeeze a TRX workout yesterday despite having to run all over the place. I was quite happy to be able to complete the workout within 50 minutes. That was enough time for me to do all my other chores at home.
Warm up and stretches - 5 minutes
TRX hip press - 45 secs
TRX overhead back extension - 45 secs
TRX lunges - 10 per leg
TRX pike - 45 secs
Rest 1 minute then repeat, before moving on to
TRX sprinter start - 10 per leg
TRX side lunge - 45 secs
TRX hamstring runner - 45 secs
TRX body saw - 10 reps
Rest 1 minute then repeat, before moving on to
TRX kneeling roll out - 5 reps per side
TRX burpee - 5 per side
TRX deltoid fly - 45 secs
Rest 1 minute then repeat, before moving on to
50 KB swings (25 per arm)
Not doing these kind of workout in a while has caused me ab cramps during today, since most TRX workouts engages your core like none other. I will try to stick to this plan, since:-
a) Its more methodical, meaning running away from it is less likely
b) Its progressive yet ever changing, so I don't get bored with it
c) While tiring, its doesn't entirely burn you out and leave you sore immediately after
For strength training, I'll try to keep it to 1-2 times a week only, since I'd need more rest to recover.
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
My photographic journey..
My wife gets annoyed a lot because I love snapping random pictures of her.. I bet in her head she thinks "Why is does this bugger loves snapping photos all the time..?"
I guess it all started even before I was born.. My grandfather was considered well-off for a person of his time; not rich, but he managed to give a comfortable living for his family.
One item of luxury that he had was a camera. I don't know what camera he had or if it was even his, but all I know is that he loved photographing his family.
Years gone by and so my mother entered the family, and she, too loves being photographed. I guess I've seen my mother grew from a child into a mother, thanks to all of the photos she collected over the years.
Then came me, and my life, too was recorded. Same goes for my brothers and sister, where their lives where recorded and kept. We have a whole bookshelf dedicated to all those photographs we collected over the years, and you can spend a whole day just going to HALF of them.
I picked it up from my parents. They had their own camera, but I wanted something I can use myself. Therefore, at the age of 11, I was given a disposable camera to snap photos.
Since my parent's thought I was good at taking photos, they bought a second camera to be left at home, which I can use (they won't let me use their camera).
On my 17th birthday, my parents finally got me a real camera.
I used this camera a lot for 2 years. I even used it to snap photos of my cousin's wedding entirely. My parents also bought a new camera within that time frame, which I am actually using today, even after 13 years it's still going strong..
Finally, on 2003, I followed suit with the digital era. I saved up and bought my first, "crappy" digital camera.
"Crappy" in the sense of today's standard, of course. Batteries were 2 AA's, which only lasted 60-70 shots. It was also only 2 megapixels.. Back then the standard was 3.2 megapixels.
Between 2003 and 2005, I familiarised myself with lomography, which back then, was quite unknown to many. I bought myself an actionsampler and a colorsplash, which I enjoyed.
Moving on to 2005. Phones now have coloured screens and cameras on them. While convenient, I still loved a good ol' camera at hand.. So as I finished my diploma, I was given this camera:-
This cybershot stayed with me for 3 years.. During which, I started to learn a bit more about photography. I moved backwards instead of forward, obtaining old film cameras to learn the basics of photography.
Old film cameras were dirt cheap in thrift shops and antiques stores in Australia. I actually bought, repaired, used, and sold off almost all of these cameras during this period:-
And I have to admit, over the years after that, certain cameras I would buy them again, use them, and resell again, namely the Lomo LC-A, Yashica GSN and Olympus XA.
I even bought (and sold off after 6 months) this great Olympus camera during that period. It was for me to compare the exposures of the images taken by these film cameras.
Moving onto 2007. I graduated and stayed in Singapore to make a living. Time was scarce at first to snap photos, so I got myself a good zoom camera as a daily camera.
Of course this did not satisfy my thirst for good image quality and bokeh, so I soon moved onto my first DSLR...
And soon my second...
And then my last...
The Olympus E-420 would be my last DSLR.. Main reason was because I wanted to become a light traveler, so I moved onto mirror less cameras.
Finally, I settled with these two cameras..
I finally settled with a Fuji X100 mainly due to its image quality. I realised that I've accustomised myself with fixed focal length cameras (thanks tot he different camera bodies I've used) and am comfortable with a 35mm focal length.. This will also deter me from Gear Acquisition Syndrome and wo't make me want to buy newer lens, etc.
I guess it all started even before I was born.. My grandfather was considered well-off for a person of his time; not rich, but he managed to give a comfortable living for his family.
One item of luxury that he had was a camera. I don't know what camera he had or if it was even his, but all I know is that he loved photographing his family.
Years gone by and so my mother entered the family, and she, too loves being photographed. I guess I've seen my mother grew from a child into a mother, thanks to all of the photos she collected over the years.
Then came me, and my life, too was recorded. Same goes for my brothers and sister, where their lives where recorded and kept. We have a whole bookshelf dedicated to all those photographs we collected over the years, and you can spend a whole day just going to HALF of them.
I picked it up from my parents. They had their own camera, but I wanted something I can use myself. Therefore, at the age of 11, I was given a disposable camera to snap photos.
Since my parent's thought I was good at taking photos, they bought a second camera to be left at home, which I can use (they won't let me use their camera).
On my 17th birthday, my parents finally got me a real camera.
I used this camera a lot for 2 years. I even used it to snap photos of my cousin's wedding entirely. My parents also bought a new camera within that time frame, which I am actually using today, even after 13 years it's still going strong..
Finally, on 2003, I followed suit with the digital era. I saved up and bought my first, "crappy" digital camera.
"Crappy" in the sense of today's standard, of course. Batteries were 2 AA's, which only lasted 60-70 shots. It was also only 2 megapixels.. Back then the standard was 3.2 megapixels.
Between 2003 and 2005, I familiarised myself with lomography, which back then, was quite unknown to many. I bought myself an actionsampler and a colorsplash, which I enjoyed.
Moving on to 2005. Phones now have coloured screens and cameras on them. While convenient, I still loved a good ol' camera at hand.. So as I finished my diploma, I was given this camera:-
This cybershot stayed with me for 3 years.. During which, I started to learn a bit more about photography. I moved backwards instead of forward, obtaining old film cameras to learn the basics of photography.
Old film cameras were dirt cheap in thrift shops and antiques stores in Australia. I actually bought, repaired, used, and sold off almost all of these cameras during this period:-
And I have to admit, over the years after that, certain cameras I would buy them again, use them, and resell again, namely the Lomo LC-A, Yashica GSN and Olympus XA.
I even bought (and sold off after 6 months) this great Olympus camera during that period. It was for me to compare the exposures of the images taken by these film cameras.
Moving onto 2007. I graduated and stayed in Singapore to make a living. Time was scarce at first to snap photos, so I got myself a good zoom camera as a daily camera.
Of course this did not satisfy my thirst for good image quality and bokeh, so I soon moved onto my first DSLR...
And soon my second...
And then my last...
The Olympus E-420 would be my last DSLR.. Main reason was because I wanted to become a light traveler, so I moved onto mirror less cameras.
Finally, I settled with these two cameras..
I finally settled with a Fuji X100 mainly due to its image quality. I realised that I've accustomised myself with fixed focal length cameras (thanks tot he different camera bodies I've used) and am comfortable with a 35mm focal length.. This will also deter me from Gear Acquisition Syndrome and wo't make me want to buy newer lens, etc.
Monday, May 13, 2013
Film vs. Digital
I walked in today with my Fuji X100 (after repairs.. Thanks Fuji Malaysia for the excellent service!), and a colleague approached me asking on my opinion of a new camera she wanted to get. She was eying on a Sony Nex model and couldn't choose between a 3N or 5N. Price difference is around RM600-RM700. So I told her that since both had the same sensor and image quality, why not get the 3N, since it has less external controls that can confuse her.
Then she (and other colleagues) saw my X100 and got excited and wanted to play with it for a while. At first they were skeptical that I, an amateur photographer would go for a less known camera brand that doesn't have much products.
So one question popped up was, "since you like photography so much, why don't you invest in a full frame camera?"
I said,"But I have a full frame camera. I have a few of them. One is in my drawer.."
O_o confused face popped out.. Why would this guy keep a full frame camera.. In his drawer at the office?!?
And so I pulled my full frame out....
Laughter all thru the room...
"No lah.. this is not full frame.."
Excuse me... Do you even know what full frame means??
Since the early 21st century, people has forgotten how photography has evolved from one medium to another. Nowadays its all the hype of pixels and lens, creative filters and clean images in low light.
The term "full frame" is the equivalent size of a digital camera sensor to a 35mm film..
Thus, that makes my Olympus XA a full frame by definition, as it uses 35mm film as it's photographic medium.
Photography by modern day standards are much different from those barely 15 years ago. Today, a good camera body equates to better resolution, bigger sensor size, really good ISO (up to 25,600), high dynamic range and numerous good features like fast auto-focus, fast shutter speeds and frame to frame shots (10 frames per second), etc. But to get all this, people will have to spend thousands to get the best photographic experience. I've had the boss of Fish-Eye Studios come to my house (on leisure) with RM30,000 worth of gear on his shoulders (D3s with a 24-70 f2.8 lens).
Back in the heyday, It was all about the film. You can have the worse camera body imaginable, but can produce excellent photos with the right film. And here's the best part; all 35mm film are full frame.
That's why even with a crappy toy camera, you can produce good images. It may not be tack sharp, or too contrasty, or whatever, but it does have a feel that is very difficult to copy by digital.
Why digital has taken the world by storm is simple; its because of convenience. People can snap photos, review, and if they don't like it, they can snap it again and again. With film, unfortunately, you would have to finish the roll, send it in for developing, and can only review once its done.
I've followed a friend in 2002 to take photos of wildlife at a nature reserve once. There was a swarm of butterflies which he wanted to photograph. So he set up his tripod, camera, and fired away with different settings. He finished 1 roll of film on those butterflies. At the end of the day only 1 photo was to his standard, which he had to develop first.
Then it comes the issue of transferring that image. People now like to keep digital copies of their images as (again) it is more convenient. So people scan them. Of course you can get a 24 megapixel image from a film scan, but that can only be made by professional scanners which costs thousands, and takes a lot of time. I have a crappy 5 megapixel scanner to do that job, and while its not perfect, it gets the job done.
This image was taken by an Olympus Mju-ii. The only downfall of this image was my crappy scanner..
But does this mean film is dead? For me, hell no.. There is something about film that I love, the feel, the depth, the emotion, that digital cannot give. But would I give up digital? Well, no, since to become a good photographer one must practice A LOT, and that's where digital comes in.
Although once in a while I do enjoy taking photo with film. I have more film cameras than I do digital with me currently. I have This old Pentax body with an array of lenses, an Olympus XA, a Minox 35, an Olympus Mju-ii, and even soviet era cameras like the Lubitel 166 and Kiev 4. Film lets you approach photography in a calm, patient way, as you will have to choose the correct setting, compose, then shoot. While photography is about capturing the moment, you must also learn how to enjoy the moment when you peer down that viewfinder to take the shot as well.
Then she (and other colleagues) saw my X100 and got excited and wanted to play with it for a while. At first they were skeptical that I, an amateur photographer would go for a less known camera brand that doesn't have much products.
So one question popped up was, "since you like photography so much, why don't you invest in a full frame camera?"
I said,"But I have a full frame camera. I have a few of them. One is in my drawer.."
O_o confused face popped out.. Why would this guy keep a full frame camera.. In his drawer at the office?!?
And so I pulled my full frame out....
Laughter all thru the room...
"No lah.. this is not full frame.."
Excuse me... Do you even know what full frame means??
Since the early 21st century, people has forgotten how photography has evolved from one medium to another. Nowadays its all the hype of pixels and lens, creative filters and clean images in low light.
The term "full frame" is the equivalent size of a digital camera sensor to a 35mm film..
Thus, that makes my Olympus XA a full frame by definition, as it uses 35mm film as it's photographic medium.
Photography by modern day standards are much different from those barely 15 years ago. Today, a good camera body equates to better resolution, bigger sensor size, really good ISO (up to 25,600), high dynamic range and numerous good features like fast auto-focus, fast shutter speeds and frame to frame shots (10 frames per second), etc. But to get all this, people will have to spend thousands to get the best photographic experience. I've had the boss of Fish-Eye Studios come to my house (on leisure) with RM30,000 worth of gear on his shoulders (D3s with a 24-70 f2.8 lens).
Back in the heyday, It was all about the film. You can have the worse camera body imaginable, but can produce excellent photos with the right film. And here's the best part; all 35mm film are full frame.
That's why even with a crappy toy camera, you can produce good images. It may not be tack sharp, or too contrasty, or whatever, but it does have a feel that is very difficult to copy by digital.
Why digital has taken the world by storm is simple; its because of convenience. People can snap photos, review, and if they don't like it, they can snap it again and again. With film, unfortunately, you would have to finish the roll, send it in for developing, and can only review once its done.
I've followed a friend in 2002 to take photos of wildlife at a nature reserve once. There was a swarm of butterflies which he wanted to photograph. So he set up his tripod, camera, and fired away with different settings. He finished 1 roll of film on those butterflies. At the end of the day only 1 photo was to his standard, which he had to develop first.
Then it comes the issue of transferring that image. People now like to keep digital copies of their images as (again) it is more convenient. So people scan them. Of course you can get a 24 megapixel image from a film scan, but that can only be made by professional scanners which costs thousands, and takes a lot of time. I have a crappy 5 megapixel scanner to do that job, and while its not perfect, it gets the job done.
This image was taken by an Olympus Mju-ii. The only downfall of this image was my crappy scanner..
But does this mean film is dead? For me, hell no.. There is something about film that I love, the feel, the depth, the emotion, that digital cannot give. But would I give up digital? Well, no, since to become a good photographer one must practice A LOT, and that's where digital comes in.
Although once in a while I do enjoy taking photo with film. I have more film cameras than I do digital with me currently. I have This old Pentax body with an array of lenses, an Olympus XA, a Minox 35, an Olympus Mju-ii, and even soviet era cameras like the Lubitel 166 and Kiev 4. Film lets you approach photography in a calm, patient way, as you will have to choose the correct setting, compose, then shoot. While photography is about capturing the moment, you must also learn how to enjoy the moment when you peer down that viewfinder to take the shot as well.
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Workouts continued..
My schedule over the past few month has been erratic, so much that I cannot keep to a decent workout schedule. I'm not complaining though, it's all about adapting to a new lifestyle and environment (which unfortunately till now I am struggling to adapt to). The sun sets earlier here (compared to Singapore) and it's not safe to jog at night. Also, dinner is promptly between 8-9pm, depending where it's taken (at home of outside).
I still try to keep to a decent exercise regime, as well as a decent diet. The last one is hard, as food eaten at home are mostly carb rich, and most food at home are those to be taken with rice.
Still, it doesn't stop me from trying. I still try to keep on intermittent fasting on weekdays and control my intakes on weekends. Unfortunately, food is one of my major vices and my comfort when things don't go my way (which is a lot nowadays).
My training? Well, I have body weight training tools (TRX and Jungle Gym XT), a sandbag (loaded at around 40kg) and a kettlebell. I try to stick on Mahler's 2-times-a-week strength training and do whatever to sweat during the rest of the week (KB swings, snatches, HIT training or just jog 5km). Does it work? I dunno, but for now, its better than doing nothing.
I still try to keep to a decent exercise regime, as well as a decent diet. The last one is hard, as food eaten at home are mostly carb rich, and most food at home are those to be taken with rice.
Still, it doesn't stop me from trying. I still try to keep on intermittent fasting on weekdays and control my intakes on weekends. Unfortunately, food is one of my major vices and my comfort when things don't go my way (which is a lot nowadays).
My training? Well, I have body weight training tools (TRX and Jungle Gym XT), a sandbag (loaded at around 40kg) and a kettlebell. I try to stick on Mahler's 2-times-a-week strength training and do whatever to sweat during the rest of the week (KB swings, snatches, HIT training or just jog 5km). Does it work? I dunno, but for now, its better than doing nothing.
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Oppss.. I did it again..
Ok so I've been bitten by the "Gear Acquisition Syndrome".. I got myself another camera (2nd hand, and shamefully on installment) which is the Fuji X100.
Yes, I know Fuji X100s came out a few months ago.. But with the high price tag (RM3,500) I just can't make that purchase.
As such, I settled with the predecessor, the Fuji X100.
I spent my Labor Day at a camera shop and playing with the X100 and X100s. While the X100s is a beauty with lovely improvements over the X100, I thought to myself, "can live with the X100 shortcomings". And thus, a local shop was selling the X100 with installment, and so I got myself one.
But wait.. There was a problem with it. That camera was plagued with the Sticky Aperture Syndrome (or SAB as the internet calls it) and wouldn't step down (i.e. go to smaller apertures) when it was required to. I was devastated. Sure the shop was willing to refund but I really like the camera and for the bargain price, I decided to send it over to my friends at Fuji.
I have made several friends in Fuji due to the problem my X10 was experiencing previously. They helped sort it out and I was sure they could've helped me on the X100. Sure enough, despite the warranty period being over, they would repair the camera for me. All I had to do was wait for a week.
I'm amazed at their effort to keep their customers. Fuji isn't one of the big giants in the photographic world, since they don't have a huge array of products on their shelves. However, I've always loved the feel of their cameras and the image quality it produces, and decided to become a loyal customer to them. This has proven to be fruitful as their customer support is bar none.
Anyways the camera is coming next week, so I can't wait to play with the "new" old toy.
Anyways just to show how good the image quality can get:-
a photo from an Olympus E-PM1 (belongs to office). F4 @ ISO 2500. See how grainy it is with all the noise..
a photo from the Fuji X100 at f4 @ ISO 2500, with full crop... Where's the *&^*#&%#*% noise??
Besides from sensor size playing a huge factor (m4/3 is 40% smaller than an APS-C sensor), the Fuji X100, like the X10, uses a different sensor than other sensors in the market. That means it interprets light different and handles noise differently. The image from the X100 is grainy, but noise is hardly present and the grain is like film grain.
That being said.. I know I did the right thing to let go of all my m4/3 lens and body to get a fixed focal camera. Will it be limiting? Yes, but only to a certain extent. It will ensure I approach photography in a different manner, like those during my days of film cameras.
Just waiting patiently for the camera to come back!
Yes, I know Fuji X100s came out a few months ago.. But with the high price tag (RM3,500) I just can't make that purchase.
As such, I settled with the predecessor, the Fuji X100.
I spent my Labor Day at a camera shop and playing with the X100 and X100s. While the X100s is a beauty with lovely improvements over the X100, I thought to myself, "can live with the X100 shortcomings". And thus, a local shop was selling the X100 with installment, and so I got myself one.
But wait.. There was a problem with it. That camera was plagued with the Sticky Aperture Syndrome (or SAB as the internet calls it) and wouldn't step down (i.e. go to smaller apertures) when it was required to. I was devastated. Sure the shop was willing to refund but I really like the camera and for the bargain price, I decided to send it over to my friends at Fuji.
I have made several friends in Fuji due to the problem my X10 was experiencing previously. They helped sort it out and I was sure they could've helped me on the X100. Sure enough, despite the warranty period being over, they would repair the camera for me. All I had to do was wait for a week.
I'm amazed at their effort to keep their customers. Fuji isn't one of the big giants in the photographic world, since they don't have a huge array of products on their shelves. However, I've always loved the feel of their cameras and the image quality it produces, and decided to become a loyal customer to them. This has proven to be fruitful as their customer support is bar none.
Anyways the camera is coming next week, so I can't wait to play with the "new" old toy.
Anyways just to show how good the image quality can get:-
a photo from an Olympus E-PM1 (belongs to office). F4 @ ISO 2500. See how grainy it is with all the noise..
a photo from the Fuji X100 at f4 @ ISO 2500, with full crop... Where's the *&^*#&%#*% noise??
Besides from sensor size playing a huge factor (m4/3 is 40% smaller than an APS-C sensor), the Fuji X100, like the X10, uses a different sensor than other sensors in the market. That means it interprets light different and handles noise differently. The image from the X100 is grainy, but noise is hardly present and the grain is like film grain.
That being said.. I know I did the right thing to let go of all my m4/3 lens and body to get a fixed focal camera. Will it be limiting? Yes, but only to a certain extent. It will ensure I approach photography in a different manner, like those during my days of film cameras.
Just waiting patiently for the camera to come back!
Friday, April 26, 2013
Its been a while..
Gosh, I almost forgot I have a blog..
Life's been busy over the past few months, work has picked up it's pace, life has been busy at home, with my wife due in the next 4 weeks. I haven't got much time to workout or read, let alone writing in this blog..
What has happened in the few months? Lets see...
a) I got a kettlebell. I wanted two, but finances don't really agree with me.. And it's a 20kg KB, not a 24kg KB that I'm used to back in Singapore.. However, as I haven't got time to workout, it will suffice for now.. Also it feels heavier than I remembered (I used to carry 2 20kg KB's around with no prob), so maybe that shows how much my strength has been slipping..
b) Got a new car. A Malaysian made Perodua Alza, a small minivan.. Since we have a kid on the way, I guessed a more practical car is important. Its a 7-seater, so its good during the family outings and whatnot. Being 1.5 valve, the engine capacity will suffice for now, and it doesn't eat up too much fuel (which is important for the wife since he workplace is far away). So I get to use her problematic Proton Perdana, but since my workplace is nearby, it isn't much of a prob (note that with RM30 or 15.8 litres of fuel, it can last me slightly over 8 days).
c) Been busy with baby stuff. Had a detailed scan; it's a boy! Also the scan back in January showed that the baby is perfectly healthy (Alhamdulillah). It also showed that it has my features (my nose), much to my wife's delight. Been buying, reading, and buying more baby stuff.
Wife is having a bit of a prob, though.. Her sugar levels during her pregnancy is slightly high, and I keep telling her its attributed to several factors, namely (i) her lifestyle, where she doesn't move around much (ii) her eating habits are too 'asian', where she eats namely high carb food like rice, snacks, etc. and (iii) she's stubborn as a mule when I tell her to change her diet! I know its slightly inconvenient but I wouldn't mind putting in the extra effort to prepare her meals, just that she's too picky on the food! I will be preparing what in Singapore we called 'cat food'; the basic food stuff that my friend was eating everyday to reduce her size (and it works!). Her menu? Mainly roasted/grileld chicken with steamed/stir fried broccoli and carrots.
d) I've restarted my passion of photography once more.. I've taken out all my old cameras from the drybox and started shooting. I also managed to get an old camera our family used to use 10 years ago (and still works perfectly) for snapshots. Its an Olympus MJUii.
I also got other small camera like the Minox EL and Olympus XA, which unfortunately I haven't finished my roll of film in them yet....
Sure, film is noisier than current high end digital cameras, but (i) the cameras are cheap, and (ii) there's a feel to film photos that cannot be simulated by most entry to midlevel cameras. A small compact film camera can give you that depth of field that only a full framed, RM5,000, big-assed camera can give.
However, for convenience, I still use digital.. A LOT.. Its for me to practice my composition, lighting, etc.
One thing though.. I sold off my Olympus E-PM1, which btw is a GREAT camera for it's function, to a Fuji X10. Why the downgrade? Several factors came into play:-
a) E-PM1 give great pictures when you know EXACTLY how. There are limitations to this camera due to the sensor and function. Images are great up to ISO800, usable to ISO1600. However, it requires a lot of tweaking to get great images, during and after the photo taking.
b) The sensor size, although smaller than an APS-C sensor, still gives you great DOF variations. Its good for creative works, from portraits to wide angle shots. However, I've found that it works great mainly with prime lens, which unfortunately I'm not capable of getting much of them (I only have a 20mm Panasonic prime lens, and various K-mount lens used with an adapter). Sure, there are some great zoom lenses on the market, but I have to fork out as much as what I did to get the camera.
Having a kid on the way means that I need a camera that is fast, and takes great photos with a small margin of error. The E-PM1 cannot do that unfortunately. Not that its not great, but for its intended use, maybe not. I needed a camera that my wife can just pick up, snap a photo, and be pleased about it.
The E-PM1 is mainly for seasoned photographers who just needs a spare m4/3 body, or a small camera to take around daily, or those who wants to learn how to take great photos using a simple yet professional body. While it ticks all my boxes of a great camera for me, it doesn't tick the boxes for US (me+my wife).
That being said, I reverted back to a great camera that I've previously used before the E-PM1. The only reason I changed to the E-PM1 in the first place was that I wanted to get a real shallow DOF which the X10 cannot exactly give.
Enter the X10. Fuji is known for their different approaches when it comes to their cameras. They opt for classic designs and propriety sensors (which are GREAT), which works!
What makes the X10 so special is its 2/3" EXR sensor. I won't say anything much about it, except that works great for a sensor that small. Its slightly larger than normal compact sensors (Canon S and older G series uses a 1/1.7" sensor) but still smaller than the Nikon V or J series (1" sensor) or even a m4/3 sensor.
In digital photography, we use the relative cropping equivalent to compare sensor size. Meaning to say, the higher the number, the smaller the sensor compared to a full frame 35mm film size or sensor size. So here it goes:-
Full frame (35mm film, Nikon D3, D3s, D3x, etc) = 1
APS-C (Nikon D90, Canon 1000D, Fuji X100, X100s, XE-1, etc) = 1.6
m4/3 = 2
Nikon V series (1") = 2.7
Fuji X10 (2/3") = 4
1/1.7" sensors (Panasonic LX series, Canon S and older G series, etc) = 5
normal compact camera (1/2.5") = 5.7-6
The X10 2/3" sensor approaches image production differently than normal sensors, which results in great noise control, high dynamic range and a very film-like feel to the picture. While not perfect and bulky for a sensor it's size, I feel its the perfect camera for daily photos that can be used by my wife with ease.
The IQ on this pictures is nice, with all details tack sharp. While a DSLR will be able to capture more details, this camera manages to generate the photo comparable to DSLRs. For comparison sake, let me show two photos; one using the E-PM1 and another by the X10.
E-PM1, f/3.2, 1/60 sec. ISO640 (EV +0.7), 12MP, Low noise reduction
X10, f/2, 1/60 sec. ISO2000 (EV -0.7) 6MP, Pro Lowlight Mode
The X10 manages to control noise levels better, although the the noise reduction is somewhat slightly aggressive to my taste. I had to reduce the EV levels to give it a nightshot feels. The X10's exposure levels are spot on, but it also tends to clip highlights easily (making anything bright blown off). Olympus cameras have the tendency to underexpose pictures to preserve details, but with unpleasant way they handle noises, I'm more than happy to bump up the EV level.
That being said, thanks to the smaller sensor and high quality lens, most pictures can come out sharp all round. Of course it limits the creativity sense of a bigger sensor (shallow DOF), but then it will teach me how to use composition and angles much better than just relying on shallow DOF to make the pictures interesting.
I've enjoyed this camera before, and I know I'll continue to enjoy it with the years to come. Although there's the newer X20 in the market now with better features that are very seducing, I really enjoy using this EXR camera (which the X20 is not however). Plus, to me, the IQ of this camera is spot on for my kind of usage, which makes me more than happy to hang on to this camera for a couple more years.
Life's been busy over the past few months, work has picked up it's pace, life has been busy at home, with my wife due in the next 4 weeks. I haven't got much time to workout or read, let alone writing in this blog..
What has happened in the few months? Lets see...
a) I got a kettlebell. I wanted two, but finances don't really agree with me.. And it's a 20kg KB, not a 24kg KB that I'm used to back in Singapore.. However, as I haven't got time to workout, it will suffice for now.. Also it feels heavier than I remembered (I used to carry 2 20kg KB's around with no prob), so maybe that shows how much my strength has been slipping..
b) Got a new car. A Malaysian made Perodua Alza, a small minivan.. Since we have a kid on the way, I guessed a more practical car is important. Its a 7-seater, so its good during the family outings and whatnot. Being 1.5 valve, the engine capacity will suffice for now, and it doesn't eat up too much fuel (which is important for the wife since he workplace is far away). So I get to use her problematic Proton Perdana, but since my workplace is nearby, it isn't much of a prob (note that with RM30 or 15.8 litres of fuel, it can last me slightly over 8 days).
c) Been busy with baby stuff. Had a detailed scan; it's a boy! Also the scan back in January showed that the baby is perfectly healthy (Alhamdulillah). It also showed that it has my features (my nose), much to my wife's delight. Been buying, reading, and buying more baby stuff.
Wife is having a bit of a prob, though.. Her sugar levels during her pregnancy is slightly high, and I keep telling her its attributed to several factors, namely (i) her lifestyle, where she doesn't move around much (ii) her eating habits are too 'asian', where she eats namely high carb food like rice, snacks, etc. and (iii) she's stubborn as a mule when I tell her to change her diet! I know its slightly inconvenient but I wouldn't mind putting in the extra effort to prepare her meals, just that she's too picky on the food! I will be preparing what in Singapore we called 'cat food'; the basic food stuff that my friend was eating everyday to reduce her size (and it works!). Her menu? Mainly roasted/grileld chicken with steamed/stir fried broccoli and carrots.
d) I've restarted my passion of photography once more.. I've taken out all my old cameras from the drybox and started shooting. I also managed to get an old camera our family used to use 10 years ago (and still works perfectly) for snapshots. Its an Olympus MJUii.
I also got other small camera like the Minox EL and Olympus XA, which unfortunately I haven't finished my roll of film in them yet....
Sure, film is noisier than current high end digital cameras, but (i) the cameras are cheap, and (ii) there's a feel to film photos that cannot be simulated by most entry to midlevel cameras. A small compact film camera can give you that depth of field that only a full framed, RM5,000, big-assed camera can give.
However, for convenience, I still use digital.. A LOT.. Its for me to practice my composition, lighting, etc.
One thing though.. I sold off my Olympus E-PM1, which btw is a GREAT camera for it's function, to a Fuji X10. Why the downgrade? Several factors came into play:-
a) E-PM1 give great pictures when you know EXACTLY how. There are limitations to this camera due to the sensor and function. Images are great up to ISO800, usable to ISO1600. However, it requires a lot of tweaking to get great images, during and after the photo taking.
b) The sensor size, although smaller than an APS-C sensor, still gives you great DOF variations. Its good for creative works, from portraits to wide angle shots. However, I've found that it works great mainly with prime lens, which unfortunately I'm not capable of getting much of them (I only have a 20mm Panasonic prime lens, and various K-mount lens used with an adapter). Sure, there are some great zoom lenses on the market, but I have to fork out as much as what I did to get the camera.
Having a kid on the way means that I need a camera that is fast, and takes great photos with a small margin of error. The E-PM1 cannot do that unfortunately. Not that its not great, but for its intended use, maybe not. I needed a camera that my wife can just pick up, snap a photo, and be pleased about it.
The E-PM1 is mainly for seasoned photographers who just needs a spare m4/3 body, or a small camera to take around daily, or those who wants to learn how to take great photos using a simple yet professional body. While it ticks all my boxes of a great camera for me, it doesn't tick the boxes for US (me+my wife).
That being said, I reverted back to a great camera that I've previously used before the E-PM1. The only reason I changed to the E-PM1 in the first place was that I wanted to get a real shallow DOF which the X10 cannot exactly give.
Enter the X10. Fuji is known for their different approaches when it comes to their cameras. They opt for classic designs and propriety sensors (which are GREAT), which works!
What makes the X10 so special is its 2/3" EXR sensor. I won't say anything much about it, except that works great for a sensor that small. Its slightly larger than normal compact sensors (Canon S and older G series uses a 1/1.7" sensor) but still smaller than the Nikon V or J series (1" sensor) or even a m4/3 sensor.
In digital photography, we use the relative cropping equivalent to compare sensor size. Meaning to say, the higher the number, the smaller the sensor compared to a full frame 35mm film size or sensor size. So here it goes:-
Full frame (35mm film, Nikon D3, D3s, D3x, etc) = 1
APS-C (Nikon D90, Canon 1000D, Fuji X100, X100s, XE-1, etc) = 1.6
m4/3 = 2
Nikon V series (1") = 2.7
Fuji X10 (2/3") = 4
1/1.7" sensors (Panasonic LX series, Canon S and older G series, etc) = 5
normal compact camera (1/2.5") = 5.7-6
The X10 2/3" sensor approaches image production differently than normal sensors, which results in great noise control, high dynamic range and a very film-like feel to the picture. While not perfect and bulky for a sensor it's size, I feel its the perfect camera for daily photos that can be used by my wife with ease.
The IQ on this pictures is nice, with all details tack sharp. While a DSLR will be able to capture more details, this camera manages to generate the photo comparable to DSLRs. For comparison sake, let me show two photos; one using the E-PM1 and another by the X10.
E-PM1, f/3.2, 1/60 sec. ISO640 (EV +0.7), 12MP, Low noise reduction
X10, f/2, 1/60 sec. ISO2000 (EV -0.7) 6MP, Pro Lowlight Mode
The X10 manages to control noise levels better, although the the noise reduction is somewhat slightly aggressive to my taste. I had to reduce the EV levels to give it a nightshot feels. The X10's exposure levels are spot on, but it also tends to clip highlights easily (making anything bright blown off). Olympus cameras have the tendency to underexpose pictures to preserve details, but with unpleasant way they handle noises, I'm more than happy to bump up the EV level.
That being said, thanks to the smaller sensor and high quality lens, most pictures can come out sharp all round. Of course it limits the creativity sense of a bigger sensor (shallow DOF), but then it will teach me how to use composition and angles much better than just relying on shallow DOF to make the pictures interesting.
I've enjoyed this camera before, and I know I'll continue to enjoy it with the years to come. Although there's the newer X20 in the market now with better features that are very seducing, I really enjoy using this EXR camera (which the X20 is not however). Plus, to me, the IQ of this camera is spot on for my kind of usage, which makes me more than happy to hang on to this camera for a couple more years.
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
12/12/12 came and went...
My second week of December is uneventful, with just the normal routines of work and home. We had a short blackout yesterday evening and while I liked the candle filled house, it wasn't bright enough. So I whipped out my flashlights, and lo and behold, the whole house was bright.
Being an active scouts back in the day (from early primary school to end of high school), certain principles stick on to you throughout your life. Always be helpful, think of others before yourself, and always be prepared for the unexpected.
The last one is what my training and flashlights have in common. My training evolves the idea of being physically fit to do daily chore, while still having energy to do other things. The idea is also to ensure that I am capable of doing physical feats at unexpected situations, be it holding on a bulky item from falling from an overhead storage, or pulling a door of a car wreckage, or even fighting off and surviving a zombie apocalypse.
Same thing for my every day carry items (EDC) and flashlights. I carry with me at all times a pocket knife and a small Fenix Flashlight to prepare myself should the need arises to use them. Being a QS requires me to open packages and documents on a weekly basis, thus the knife is handy. The flashlight is a must in Kuching; the place isn't as bright as Singapore so there's a lot of dark corners, inside and out of the house.
Anyways my training over the past few days hasn't been impressive. I find myself lacking the energy to complete my workouts in it's intended level, but I guess its mainly due to the fact I performed them at 10pm at night, due to the increased level of activities at home.
Workouts were based on classic 5x5 routines. What I wasn't impressed was the weight I utilised, but it was already forewarned that using sandbags is totally different from traditional weights, and therefore you will drop the level of weight you are used to.
10/12/12
Pull ups - 5x5
Shouldering - 6x4
Push jerks - 5x5
Zercher Squats - 5x5
Weight - 36kg
12/12/12
Bear hug Squats - 5x5
Extended dips - 5x5
Shouldering - 5x5
Weights - 56kg for first 2 rounds, then dropped to 36kg.
It was my first time trying a 56kg sandbag, which is the max the sandbag can handle, and more than I can personally handle. That's good to know, since it means it will take quite some time before I will need to utilise a larger sandbag.
Owh, as predicted, I got smaller sandbag for these workouts. Although big blue 300lbs sandbag is nice to have, it'll take a while before I can utilise it's full potential (for that size of a bag, it should only be filled with a minimum of 40kg, or else the extra space in the sandbag makes it unusable). I was given a Brute Force sandbag by my brother as a thank you gift (since I got him a heat rate monitor and a TRX kit previously).
4 words, I love this bag! The handles are nice to have (while I mainly use 4 of them), and it can handle quite a fair bit of weight. The dimensions are perfect for all kind of exercises, from shouldering to rotating high-pulls.
Its a lot larger than expected, but I still like it since it can handle up to 58~68kg of sand (depends how you pack it). I just hope the seams of the bag can handle the abuse I'm gonna trash onto the bag.
Being an active scouts back in the day (from early primary school to end of high school), certain principles stick on to you throughout your life. Always be helpful, think of others before yourself, and always be prepared for the unexpected.
The last one is what my training and flashlights have in common. My training evolves the idea of being physically fit to do daily chore, while still having energy to do other things. The idea is also to ensure that I am capable of doing physical feats at unexpected situations, be it holding on a bulky item from falling from an overhead storage, or pulling a door of a car wreckage, or even fighting off and surviving a zombie apocalypse.
Same thing for my every day carry items (EDC) and flashlights. I carry with me at all times a pocket knife and a small Fenix Flashlight to prepare myself should the need arises to use them. Being a QS requires me to open packages and documents on a weekly basis, thus the knife is handy. The flashlight is a must in Kuching; the place isn't as bright as Singapore so there's a lot of dark corners, inside and out of the house.
Anyways my training over the past few days hasn't been impressive. I find myself lacking the energy to complete my workouts in it's intended level, but I guess its mainly due to the fact I performed them at 10pm at night, due to the increased level of activities at home.
Workouts were based on classic 5x5 routines. What I wasn't impressed was the weight I utilised, but it was already forewarned that using sandbags is totally different from traditional weights, and therefore you will drop the level of weight you are used to.
10/12/12
Pull ups - 5x5
Shouldering - 6x4
Push jerks - 5x5
Zercher Squats - 5x5
Weight - 36kg
12/12/12
Bear hug Squats - 5x5
Extended dips - 5x5
Shouldering - 5x5
Weights - 56kg for first 2 rounds, then dropped to 36kg.
It was my first time trying a 56kg sandbag, which is the max the sandbag can handle, and more than I can personally handle. That's good to know, since it means it will take quite some time before I will need to utilise a larger sandbag.
Owh, as predicted, I got smaller sandbag for these workouts. Although big blue 300lbs sandbag is nice to have, it'll take a while before I can utilise it's full potential (for that size of a bag, it should only be filled with a minimum of 40kg, or else the extra space in the sandbag makes it unusable). I was given a Brute Force sandbag by my brother as a thank you gift (since I got him a heat rate monitor and a TRX kit previously).
4 words, I love this bag! The handles are nice to have (while I mainly use 4 of them), and it can handle quite a fair bit of weight. The dimensions are perfect for all kind of exercises, from shouldering to rotating high-pulls.
Its a lot larger than expected, but I still like it since it can handle up to 58~68kg of sand (depends how you pack it). I just hope the seams of the bag can handle the abuse I'm gonna trash onto the bag.
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