Why I opted for Canon 7D

Features-wise for Canon 7D can be referred here:

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/E7D/E7DA.HTM

I have been using Sony system for more than a year. I never felt Sony does not perform to its expectation. I never decide to change to a different system because I am following my friends, nor being influenced by them.

What I missed about Sony Alpha is its capability to produce wonderful images on .jpeg format and its camera’s body built-in, Super Steady Shot. These are two factors that are important in producing good photos. No doubt, lenses also play as vital role in image IQ. So the Carl Zeiss optics is surely to be missed.

Sony Alpha has taught me to use a camera as a tool, with the most difficult part of composition, and using limited resources to take good photographs. I am not saying my photos are excellent. Its just that, with the limited 9 points focusing and high isos, I have learned how to manipulate that limitations to so far, the best image reproduction I can get. For that, I thank Alpha ranges, for the learning curve.

The turning point for me to have an open mind about other systems, and not being a fanboy of Alpha, was when I bought a compact camera recently, Panasonic Lumix LX-3. I was amazed what a small midget can actually produced an image quality somewhat at par with my A550. That was the start.

I first saw Canon 7D when I watched the advertisement of Ken Watanabe (The Last Samurai, Iwo Jima to name a few) playing the role as the man behind the camera. That made me felt curious to find out more about what Canon EOS 7D can do.

I have been in and out of forums, camera websites, photography magazines in search of information of EOS 5D Mark II and 7D. I do like the functions of 1D ranges especially the Mark IV, but I need a DSLR that is lightweight for travelling.

The next question was, do I really need a full frame (35mm format). I have been using A900, and I know what is its advantages and disadvantages. But do I really need a full frame as an amateur photographer? Photographing as a hobby? I listed down all the pros and cons, and it is time to buy. To make a choice. What area of photography I do most and getting the output that I wanted.

I chose EOS 7D from 5D Mark II, simply because of its features, and my photography style.

Test runs photos:

Category 1 : Weather sealed. This photo taken in the rain, without covering the camera (and myself). Petronas Pit Pulse.

Safety Car

Category 2 : Indoor, natural light, auto white balance (on purpose not change to K values), ISO3200.

Faiz

Fitri

Category 3 : 8 fps with intelligent continuous focusing (AI Servo)

F1 Practice Session

Jump Shot with ISO1600

Category 4 : Nature, Landscapes and Macro

Close Up

Semi Macro (Close Up)

Macro 101

Macro 101 (2nd paper)

Slow shutter

Slow Shutter (Horizontal Leveling)

I will not discuss the technical of getting the above photos, however, what I can say is that, I used less time and was doing right the first time for each photos I shot above, without difficulty. With that I have to admit the difference 7D can do.

This saturday I am heading to Jakarta for my Alpha gears sales. Goodbye my beloved A900, and my reliable lenses. Thank you for the good photography year of 2009.

The Many Faces of Fitri

Just sharing a few shots taken of my youngest son, Fitri – aggressive, mischievous, cheeky and sensitive.

What Next

Pimp My Ride

Brothers in Arms

Small Boss

My World

Hold Still

Shutdown without warning

Why?

KLCC compose

Once, I have spoken with a few photography sifoos, you know what they say. Technical aside, compose your photo as best as possible and people will look at it without seeing the technicality behind it. It’s an art…

This shot taken straight from camera, just resize and adjusted the colour level.

SAL2875 F2.8 SAM

28mm ISO200, F2.8 (aperture wide open)

1/10secs, night shot creative style

KLCC by me; 1 Jan 2010

Goodbye 2009

Today is the last day of  the year 2009. Just about 2 weeks ago we celebrated the new year of Hijr 1431.

Be it new year for Christians or Muslims, the full year had passed, leaving us with memories and invaluable experiences. I would like to end it with 12 of my most memorable landscape photos for this year.

Hoping that the year ahead will be for a better life, spiritual, health and wealth, and a better year in photography…

Auld Lang Syne!!!

Broga Hill

KLCC

Taiping Golf Resort

Kuala Gula

Bukit Jalil Golf Resort

Prambanan Temple

Langkawi

Kuala Lumpur

Oriental Village

Kintamani Volcano

Uluwatu Temple

Tanah Lot

Macro and Nature

It has been 2 months since my last posting. A long gap for a blogger to stay inactive.

Been busy with daily work in the office and activity-loaded weekends with family and Alpha photokakis. It’s quite hard to divide time between spending with loved ones and doing what you love to do.

As for the photo hobbyists, we even now formed a society for KL and Selangor Alpha enthusiasts, called Central Alpha Legion, which I possibly will mention again  in future posts.

For this entry, just sharing some shots I got during a couple of outings on macro photography and nature.

Nature first:

The Mini Waterfall

A bigger waterfall..

A river

Ray of Light between trees

Afternoon is coming

Flaring

Yusler in action

Kamarulamir in action

And now, the bugs and their friends….

A damselfly

A butterfly

A bee

Another bee

A Flying Hopper

An angry spider

A lizard

An ant

Another bug...NOTICED A FLY taking a joyride on its back!

A moth

A fly with red eyes

Will upload more in the future… Thanks for viewing my collections.

Salam Aidil Fitri dari Jamal Al-Surur

Ramadhan is coming to an end soon. At the end of the road before turning to a new junction of life, shall we step back and stop for a while? Just an act as Muhasabah..i.e. judge by weighing what we have done, did we really utilise the month of Barokah as instructed by the Al-Mighty? What have we achieved in this Ramadhan? Are we sure the next Ramadhan we still live to experience it again?

Take this opportunity to rationalise whether we have accomplish our duties as the khalifah of earth in this temporary part of our life.

I would like to take this opportunity to extend my apologies to anybody who browsed through my humble blog and found anything that maybe offending. Anything that is imperfect is from me, as a humble servant of Allah the Almighty.

Salam Aidil Fitri, Minal ‘Aidil Wal Faa izin.

The last trip before Ramadhan 1430 Hijri

I still remembered the old days, where Mak and Abah used to work. I was about Faiz’s age then, a fiver.. and lived in the goverment quarters in Johor Bahru. Whilst Mak and Abah were out working, I lived with my Aunt, which I called, Mak Long. She stayed with us since in Batu Pahat until we moved to Johor Bahru in the early 70s.

Most of the time, I will spent my days playing around and Mak Long looked after me during the day. When Mak Long moved to Kuantan with her daughter I seldom see her. I did visit her in Kuantan a few times and things kinda get drifted apart with my own family matters and I have never seen her then. We have our lives and chores to continue.

Before Ramadhan started, I thought of paying her a visit. The memories of her taking care of me when I was a kid lived in mind. Mak Long now resided in Perak with her daughter and son-in-law. Gathering some information on how to go to the kampung, on the weekend of 15-16 August 2009, I droved to Bagan Serai with my wife and kids. We stayed at Kamunting for a night and visited the long lost family member the day after.

Kinda liked Perak mainly due to its mixed urban and rural landscapes and interesting places to visit. My family and I did dropped by at Kuala Sepetang before we checked in at Taiping Country and Golf Resort in Bukit Jana, Kamunting. The famous mee udang was quite ok to my taste..then again it was raining after we had our late afternoon meal. I was planning to capture some sunset shots at the jetty of Kuala Sepetang, but Allah forbidded this. Anything that happened, has its own reasons, and I do believe there were good reasons not to be able to enjoy the evening sunset.

Photos throughout our visit at Taiping Golf Resort, Kg Telok Medan and Kuala Gula, all within driving distance.

Mee Udang Kuala Sepetang

Early morning at Fish Pond, Taiping Golf Resort

There was a fishing competition being held at 8.30am that morning, but we were rushing to Bagan Serai..

The Clubhouse, Taiping Golf Resort

HDR - Golf Course, Taiping Golf Resort

Another view of the Golf Course, Taiping Golf Resort - HDR treated

The remaining of Suboh time before the sunrise, Taiping Golf Resort

The Paddy Field in front of Mak Long's house at Kg Telok Medan

The paddy was just cleared a week before leaving an empty green grass all the way

The main water gate and stream for watering the paddy field

Fatin, Danish and Faiz at the Paddy Field

Family Ties - KLians vs Kg Telok Medanites

Mak Long and Kak Azi - in the kitchen..

Mak Long as I remembered her, from my younger days..

Kuala Gula, 20km from Kg Telok Medan, a sleepy fishing village

The fishing boats at the river of Kuala Guala

HDR - Kuala Gula; we bought some fresh garoupas here. Nice..

Clouds of Ramadhan

It’s been awhile since my last entry.  Ramadhan is half way thru. Today marks the 15th day of fasting.

Just wanted to share some photos taken during the 2nd day of Ramadhan.. as below:

Photo #1

Photo #2

Photo #3

Praise to Allah, the Most Merciful. Barikillahumalana fii syahrir RAMADHAN.. Aamin..

This is the moon shot taken yesterday night on the eve of  “Nisfu Ramadhan” marking the 15th of the Islamic calendar..

Full moon of Ramadhan

TT at SkatePark Shah Alam with Alphanatics

Today is the first day of Ramadhan. But I will not publish a post about Ramadhan this time around. Maybe later.

8 Aug 2009 – The last outing we had before Puasa starts. It was a 2 weeks planned outing (again). After the date was fixed, finally we met again at SkatePark Shah Alam, Section 13.  Officially opened in January 2009, the skatepark boasts as a concreted real-time skateboarding and bmx freestylers haven for the extremers. Other facilities available, rock climbing, futsal and other amenities like toilets, changing rooms etc. It even open at night until 12.30am. Fast food outlets are near walking distance. Good place to hang out for the teenagers.

Managed to get some good action photos there. Utilised the 70300G SSM for all the shots. Here are the photos:

Really pro la this guy... did all the bmx stunts.. whoa!

Got a flipped action by him but not so nice photo

Skater - 1

Skater - 2

Skater - 3

These boys were really having fun

Skater 2 - in action

Skater 1 - more actions

Skater 3 - almost night time

The outinh finally finished around 7.30pm. Had a TT with the guys after that at a Mamak shop a few roads away, and finally went back around 8.45pm. Nice photography shoots for a change..!

Floria at Putrajaya

There is no better way to shoot close ups of flowers at an event like Floria. Official site excerpts :

Organised by Perbadanan Putrajaya and Ministry of Federal Territories, this year’s theme ‘Celebration of Colours’ reflects the exciting and vibrant colours of flowers and plants. Arranged and landscaped in various settings with dedicated locations for photo opportunities, the intertwining flowers and foliage will create a magnificent medley of colours aimed to enthrall visitors. It is hoped that the festival shall inculcate in visitors a respect for nature, love for colours, flowers, plants and gardening.

Covering an area of 15 acres, there will be so much to see and do. There will be many programmes and activities for visitors to choose from. At night all the attractions will be lit up with lights that give a spectacular view of the flowers and gardens which blend well with the lights from the buildings, structures and bridges of Putrajaya. Some of the attractions at FLORIA 2009: Floria Showcase Gardens School and University Show Gardens NGO’s Gardens Corporate Gardens Kiddy Floral Garden Floral Pavilion Special Orchids Highlight Garden Bazaar Hort Mart

Despite the H1N1 and the haze, a lot of people still flocks the event. I missed the opening weekend and I was down with flu on Tuesday. Therefore there is no other better day to go on this day, rather than sitting and watch TV at home.

Close ups of photos taken. I have chosen to bring 3 different lenses to shoot the flowers :

50mm lens - photo 1

50mm lens - Photo 2

50mm lens - Photo 3

50mm lens - Photo 4

…and some more photos using 100mm prime macro lens:

Whitey white

the pollen donor

Yellow attraction

…and last thru the UWA lens:

Yellow hibiscus

the red hibiscus

flowers as a whole