Small Prosumer Camera's Advantage

There are just times when you want to remain inconspicuous when shooting, may it be in a museum or some sites where carrying a DSLR would only invite security personnel to approach you.

And that's when a smaller competent camera would fit ideally. But being one who has grown accustomed to the quality of shots produced by DSLR, its something I would have to live with, if such a camera is in my possession. Some say they only do decent shots with ISO 400 and below, and the amount of chroma noise just stays there even in an uncompressed RAW shot.

This evening was such a setting where I simply do not wish to carry the Nikon D90 into a dinner location filled with thousands of people to celebrate the National Day rally. O well, I lost a few good shots with the featured fifty limited edition Harley Davidson bikes tonight that I thought could be featured on this blog.

Maybe, I should just go get one...and am seriously waiting for a Nikon P7000.

What Constitutes Fun Lenses?

On my radar, there's only two categories of lenses that can be considered fun to me - Fisheye and Tilt shift. All others are serious fun, and no way close to light fun.

Firstly, our Nikon D90 already has a fisheye retouch function built-in and can practically turn any normal image to a fisheyed image. So, that's already half the fun there. So, unless you find fun in exaggerated perspective, fisheye lens will be fun in her own ways.

Now, don't think for a moment I can afford the Nikkor PC tilt shift lenses! They practically can cost my right arm and left leg to bring home...ouch! I am talking about a cheaper alternative, something in the zone I can call fun...

Nikon Has Created A Monster!

It was a breed that the world was caught by surprise in 2008, one that rewrites history as the first DSLR that captures HD videos, together with crispy still shots. The Nikon D90, in my observation, was that "Area-51" secret project that got out of the cat's bag.

This specific Nikon design team for the Nikon D90 was reputedly known to consist of the best Nikon can afford, with their work legacy still unsurmountable today in her class. The surgically placed price point, capability, flexibility and value still seats solid in defiance of greater/lesser cameras like the Nikon D5000, Nikon D300s, Canon 50D, Canon 500D, Pentax K-7.

It will take Nikon years to project a new breed of DSLR to bring the insatiable Nikon D90 down, an undertaking not recommended in this current weak, fragile economy.

Next Stop - Nikon D700 and Above?

So, what's next, you say? My verdict - Full frame territory. Or just wait for the Nikon D400 to break the current DX mould. It's just not worth the effort to start the engine on the Nikon D300 series...it's too old school, too dated, in my opinion. Too predictable.

Well, I am almost set to go the Nikon D3000 road instead of the full frame road for a simple reason. I don't need killer low-light performance. I have both my Nikon SB-900/SB-400 speedlight to guide me through that death valley...I am cool. Besides, the 1.5x crop factor is beginning to show her tail of advantage, when I need just that extra reach. However, for those pro readers out there, yes, it may well be the only road for you.

The DX land is my home now, or until we see a new format on the Nikon horizon. From the consumer point of view, its still anybody's game concurrently. Nikon is good. Nikon D90 is better. Wisdom to appropriate knowledge is best.

Perhaps, the Nikon D700x will change all this all over again...let's all wait for Fall 2009.

Strength of Owning A Complete Range of Nikkor Lens

Just across the last one month, I have utilized four of my six lens to tackle the various sites I visited, and am finally seeing some benefits of owning the basic six lens. In total, since December (when I began using my Nikon D90), I have up the monthly shoot pace of approximately a thousand shots to approximately 1200 per averaged month, clocking at 50 shots shy of 9000 on my Nikon D90 today. There are just shots I took that will not be possible without using another lens.

I think this beast is finally being warmed up at 10,000 actuation, together with the owner to do more shoot! I am now simply toying with the idea of either using my budget to cover the remaining optical range I lack - 10mm to 18mm and 400mm and beyond or go get the soon-to-be-launched Nikon D300s. Or simply grab the Nikon D3000 together with a wide Nikkor 10-24mm and call it a day.

Its a tough decision, but somebody has to do it!

Corrosive Power of NaCl

We would imagine that the ocean breeze is both welcoming to our lungs and state of mind, while totally unaware of her potential power to also damage our electronic equipment if they are exposed for a long period of time amidst the corrosive salt air.

Hence, it's my usual routine to vent the camera system after a visit to the coast, in an air-conditioned room before storing them into the electric dry cabinet. Just look at how the coastal air has corroded even the aluminum railings of the coastal park and you would know what I would like to convey here.

Nikkor 35mm F/1.8G half facing the beautiful sunset glow of a beautiful, sunny day.

Mercedes No Longer Make the Car That Used to

For the last thirty odd years, I have the privilege of both siting and driving a Mercedes Benz since I was three years old, and I must say the brand, for the last twenty years, has far superseded the quality of make. And this legacy of unreliable electronics and nagging sophistication has continued this day onto the latest iteration of the new S-class sedan model.

Dashboard blank-out, power window failure, wing-mirror malfunction seems to plague the driver throughout her first year of use, not to mention continuous nagging of loss of 0.1 PSI on the front right wheel, service type B in the next 100 km. The list is as long as the price tag in cents.

But still, many swear by this car maker, all because there's no other better brand? Shot with the Nikkor 35mm F/1.8G.

Driving Force Behind Nikon D90 Lab

Some of you may want to know what drives this blog and the editor to babble on for almost fore-ever on the Nikon D90. Did Nikon pay me a single dime to write about it? How I hope so! Is Nikon D90 lab funded by some blokes with a deep pocket? How can it be so, with such unprofessional content and layout!

Well, its driven by my passion to excel and continuously improve with photography. Nothing else. And with the whole bags of IT gadgets I own, I can practically blog while in a country club, in a hotel room anyway in the world or just waiting for my late clients to turn up 24/7. So, its like having a snack, to write to all. It's fun! So fun that its indescribable! Its a fusion of my passion, my work, hobby, life into one seamless fabric every second!

But, of course, at least, theses articles are what comes from the deep recess of my thought pattern about the ground-breaking Nikon D90. And hope has helped every readers towards achieving something out of this so called hobby.

This Week is Crazy!

Either its really an unusual week to begin with or all our clients have just collaborated to reach us all on the last two days! We are just swamped with new project charters, requirements, new contracts that I could hardly breathe these last few days, save sleeping.

The trip to India has been thankfully moved to second week of August and another trip has been planned to the bomb-blasted Indonesia thereafter. I guess there's a season for everything. These two upcoming trips will be made with my Nikon D90 of course.

Meanwhile, chill out, recap and enjoy the usual shooting sessions we all need once in a while, and hopefully, we have more to share to all very soon.

Use of Long 500mm Optical Reach

So what if we own the Sigma 150-500mm lens today? What could you possibly shoot in that range realistically? So far as far as I can see, its more for

• Wildlife
• Sports events
• Motorsports events
• Spy shots (so cool!)
  
• Long-distant monuments
• Moon face

Anything in between is probably fine too...

Savers Tips #2 - Camera Body Depreciates Like Automobiles

A solemn fact that most of you need to be clear about - Good glass retains her value while camera bodies depreciates as like a liability. The moment you take the first photo on a camera you purchased new, the value of the camera instantly plummets (with exception to some cameras like the Leica). Furthermore, camera technology advances very, very quickly, and the next model of your new camera will be released within the next couple years. When this happens, your camera instantly depreciates even more.

The moral of the story is, buy camera bodies used and from a couple generations back (since depreciation will be much slower). Also, “upgrade” often (you’ll want to anyway, right?). This allows you to constantly move up in camera technology without paying extra money.

Savers Tips #1 - Guide to Buying Used DSLR Gear

Now that the Nikon D90 has been in the market for over eight months, chances are that you can now probably get one used. But beware, if what you are eyeing for is truly a genuine deal. And to assist you, I found an excellent article covering the most essentials to buying one used [here].

Check it out. Digest it. And good hunting...

500th Post Already? Sure!

This is nothing compared to some of you who has thousands of post under their belt. O well, it's slowly getting a bit more meaningful now, since taking on a few real assignments for folks who recommended me.

Again, I am way off from being any close to be a professional photographer. Just having fun and spreading it to all my dear readers!

Thanks for reading!

Haze Sets In from Indonesia...Photo-taking Sets Out

Each year, we would expect our Indonesia neighbor to create some haze from their plantation burning exercise throughout the land for a couple of months, all while messing up the air of the island from July to September.

And it would be wise to tone down our shooting spree down a bit during this period, so as not to turn our lungs into the haze's air filters. So, its also a good time to consider a higher ground approach to continue shooting. One such possibility is to drive up to Malaysia highlands, where these haze seems unable to pollute.

Cameron highland is one such place I frequent during the haze seasons. And could well be the place I will escape too in July for a week at least.

The Pursuit of Digital Photography

It's quite a safe play to only acquire newer models of DSLR that is subsequently released after your camera, and avoid the pitfall of getting entangled with older technologies. And in the world of digital photography, its always about digital noise level management. And logically in this aspect, newer is usually better (with some rare exceptions).

Next on the list would naturally be resolution. Some say that film grade resolution stands at an equivalent 25 mega pixels of a digital sensor approximately. So, if you are holding something less than that digitally, you are not anywhere close to film resolution yet. The list of pros and cons is readily available on the Internet to add to this header.

But the point still boils down to what we perceive to be important. I have friends who buy discontinued, used digital DSLR camera so that they can look professional in front of the public. And I have friends who shoot so well with films and never bothered with the digital realm till today. Its all about personal priority I guess, some of which can be more amusing than the other.

Nice to think about this sometimes...and re-calibrate our priority.

Maybe a Nikon D3000 Will be Nice

Inexpensive, inherited pedigree from the Nikon D90, minus the bells and whistles of her senior. Sounds like music to my ear if this one really comes through in August! I was contemplating, at one moment, the hard-to-get Nikon D40 but if Nikon would to replace that with the D3000, whose complaining?

Good to go for this one! As a backup that is...

What Leaked Nikon Roadmap Means to Me - A Soliloque

Possibly, its a real cat that left the Nikon bag today.

Nikon D300s ey? Reaaally? Then I think I will pass. Still, from what has been stated thus far about this one, I am unmoved with an up-sized D300 proposition, especially if it will not offer any ground-breaking capabilities. Now, for the record, the Nikon D90 is to me, ground breaking. But again, it appears that the Nikon D300s may be the last DX train to come by for a long while before a D400 .

Or maybe, it may well be a well-designed conspiracy theory of Nikon marketers to ushers Nikon D90 owners to the soon-to-be-cheaper D700! Aaarh! The imperialists are such a bully that you just have to deal with them very seriously!

Guess What? I am OFF Today!

How cool is that? Today is my break for the week, a stop gap to breathe. But still, I am stuck in the office desk clearing up non-profit generating administration work. Well, at least I get to blog in the comfort of my desk without any of my partners bothering me...they know I am recently quite into photography!

I used to do the same for roller-blading and became an instructor to kids and teenagers soon after. But then, I got bored. So, here I am, into photography and it seems to have a much deeper depth than I first anticipated. Good! I won't get bored that quickly.

Yes. On the subject of macro photography still. Diamonds. Yes, Jewelry! Why didn't I think of that? Its so obvious isn't it? Here's a few shots I took on what my hands can get hold of these transparent stones, some of which, I was told, is worth enough to even buy the Nikon D3x!

Its All About the Girth?

So if you, like me, has began a lens acquisition streak for the last six months, we should share a similar common goal. I am pretty sure its also a well calculated decision each time you buy and not some mindless stunts you pull to satisfy your ego. In fact, for my approach, its primarily about the breadth of subjects you can now intercept...confidently.

With a budget of slightly over two grand for lenses, I can now shoot on the following scenario:

Landscape (18-105mm F/3.5-5.6 or 18-200mm F/3.5-5.6)

Portraits (50mm F/1.8D or 60mm F/2.8D)

Wildlife/Nature (18-200mm F/3.5-5.6 or 70-300mm F/4-5.6)

Macro (60mm F/2.8D)

Urban/Indoor (35mm F/1.8G)

Low Light (35mm F/1.8G or 50mm F/1.8D)

In Nikon's terminology, I now own five of the eight available categories of their lenses, giving me the very basic coverage for shooting flexibility. This sure beat getting one Nikkor 17-55mm F/2.8G and one Nikkor 70-300 F/4.5-5.6G for the above budget?

Hmm...maybe? Maybe not?

A Small Dream Come True

As a routine to-do every quarter, I will visit the Nikon service center to have a chat with the engineer there while trying out new lenses and body functions. And this time round, I thought I would do a small favor to a dear friend of mine, knowing that his Nikon D200 is experiencing intermittent sensor failure lately.

Apparently, his PCB board is failing (Its a more than 3 years old machine). The SB strobe unit is suspected to have failed too and the diagnostic tool also revealed a problem with the sensor grid itself. Bad news for him...

So while waiting for him, I was suddenly approach by a Nikon Engineer who invited me to do what I also wanted - to try the Nikon D3x camera. I was rather excited to finally have a chance to get a feel of the camera the world has been drooling about. Yes, a Nikkor 24-70mm F/2.8 lens was used with the hands-on. Well, first, the shutter sound (key reason why I bought the Nikon DSLR instead). Unlike the snappy sound made by lesser camera like the Nikon D700, the Nikon D3x shutter sound can be described like a swift wave of gigantic wing flapping to a thunderous click at the end of each shutter cycle, decisively informing the user of her completed task in a very authoritative manner. No monkeys, no bulls. All work.

The rest are what the brochure attempts to describe. Its a super computer under the hood of this beast, begging to be tamed only by the best of the best. Man, I am blown away, ten fold! A beast for your taking at a whopping eight Gs!

A trip most rewarding thus far...