Two New Lenses from Nikon?
Together with the D700 rumors, there are two new lenses in the leaked brochure…
Wait…I think the PC-E 24mm and 45mm are not new news…I have blogged about it before:
http://shashinki.com/blog/2008/01/29/nikon-new-range-of-tilt-shift-lens/
Still…good to see the lenses coming soon… 
There has been rumors in the internet on Nikon D700. The most recent (not so recent…already been a month) is some handphone snap photos of D700 brochures by a printer (will he lost his job for this courtesy?). Below are some of the handphone photos from this kind heart person… 
The prism seems quite low…Nikon D3 prism is very high. Full frame for D700 with low prism?
Large, bright viewfinder! Read More
Leica is discontinuing their legendary 50mm F/1.0 lens. There will be a limited final 100 units production before ending the production life of this lens…here are some of the limited edition pictures:
This is sure a luxury and keeper for those who can afford it…available in July 2008. 
Saw this rumor in the net at http://www.thaidphoto.com website…looks quite real…
Specifications
I installed FireFox 3 few days ago.
Yeah, it is the latest and currently hottest internet browser in the world. Over 8 millions download during the launch day, Mozilla has applied to have it included in Gunesse World Record for the most download software in a day. They were targetting 5 million downloads, but exceed to 8 millions! They must have a super powerful (or many) server in order to serve that much request in a day. Read More
Megumi’s daddy bought her a baby christian CD from Taiwan. We are listening to it everyday, really nice. I like all the songs and the lyrics in the album.
Here is one of them: Luther’s Morning Prayer (By Joel A. Brondos) . And this becomes my morning prayer too!
We give thanks to You dear Father,
Through Jesus Your Only Son,
That You have kept us through the night
From harm and the evil one;
And we pray that You would keep us this day
From danger and harm, from going astray.
Let all our deeds be pleasing to You.
And stay with us all through the day.
Your angels protecting the way;
For in Your name we pray.
Amen.
I think this flash looks really cool! Didn’t know there can still be such improvement to a flash…
SAN DIEGO, Jun. 19, 2008 – Sony is expanding its a (alpha) system of accessories to include the new HVL-F58AM flash unit with exceptional features for versatile and flexible external lighting control.
Quick Shift Bounce and Expanded Versatility
This new flash features a new and innovative Quick Shift Bounce system. It offers more creative ways to achieve lighting, flash and bounce angles you may not have been able to experience before.
The flash head can pivot 90 degrees left and right on a horizontal axis in addition to the conventional up and down vertical adjustment. With this system, the camera and flash unit can keep the same orientation regardless of portrait or landscape shooting. This gives a higher degree of flexibility when arranging the direction of light.
For example, you can take full advantage of the flash unit’s built-in bounce card even during portrait shots since the flash head can maintain the same orientation as it would in the landscape position.
Enhanced Operability and Ease-of-Use
A powerful performer, the HVL-F58AM flash unit features a maximum guide number of 58 at 105mm and ISO 100. It recycles (or recharges) in as little as five seconds, approximately 55% faster than the predecessor HVL-F56AM model, so you are ready to capture the next shot. And because it features a quiet recycle charge, there’s no whine to distract you from your subject.
It also has a large, easy-to-read LCD screen that is about 13% larger than its predecessor’s. Its intuitive control layout makes it easy to control flash functions and configure the settings based on your shooting needs.
Wireless Auto Flash Control
This new flash has wireless auto flash control so you can remove the flash unit from the camera and easily light subjects from different angles. Photographers can create soft shadows to add depth to their images and avoid the strong shadows and hot spots that can occur with front lighting. The HVL-F58AM flash unit can also control the ratio of lighting from several off-camera flash units.
Up to three groups of flashes can be set up for optimal, complete control of lighting via a wireless connection. Flash output ratios can be adjusted automatically without having to do tedious exposure calculations. Additionally, you can fire a modeling flash to preview flash effects before taking the picture. Even with multiple units, the modeling flash fires according to the flash ratio you have set.
Advanced Features for Optimal DSLR Performance
One of the flash’s most advanced features is its sophisticated zoom control that automatically optimizes illumination angles that are suitable for either APS-C size or 35mm full frame sensors. This control reduces light “fall-off” at the periphery of images.
It also has an advanced white balance compensation system that gathers color temperature information, complimenting the white balance information reading of the camera. This achieves more accurate results when the main unit is in auto white balance mode.
Other features include: high-speed synchronization at shutter speeds of up to 1/4000 of a second, ADI flash metering, manual flash and zoom (six levels), multiple-flash, and a supplied mini-stand for greater wireless freedom.
Price and Availability
The HVL-F58AM flash unit will ship in September for about US$500 (RM1650) at sonystyle.com, Sony Style® retail stores (www.sonystyle.com/retail), military base exchanges, and authorized dealers nationwide. Pre-orders begin online on Jun. 20 at www.sonystyle.com.
My Logicool MX Revolution wireless laser mouse has been acting weirdly in the last few months. Having multi-clicks automatically, which is very irritating.
My mouse is bought in Japan, has 3 years Logicool Japan warranty. I bought the mouse on 19th Dec 2006, which I have blogged about it at:
http://shashinki.com/blog/2007/11/18/my-cool-mouse/
The benefit of blogging, so that you can keep record of all your history, easy to check and search back.
I sent an email to Logicool with descriptions of my mouse problem. After a month (or many weeks later, can’t remember), they finally replied. I guess the late reply is due to me writing in English (few Japanese can read or understand English). After getting their reply and product return number, I was too lazy to pack and return the mouse, so waited for another 2 months plus until Logicool emailed me again the status of my mouse.
Just two weeks ago I finally posted the mouse to them. On last week, I got a brand new in box Logicool MX Revolution mouse from them. Yes, brand new in box.
This is a really nice mouse. Wireless mouse is great! Very convenient to use. You must try one if you haven’t. You will be hooked! 
Nikon Malaysia Promotions @ ShaShinKi.com!
16th June ~ 15th July 2008 or while stock last only!
Visit http://shashinki.com/shop/ for more info!
Visit http://shashinki.com/shop/ for more info!
My wife cook this dinner for me last night…very yummy…have to take photo…
Thank you, dear!
Since I am getting Mozart…my wife must get something too…a red wine…not sure how it tastes yet…not yet opened, might try in a week time.
Here is the photo…just for remembrance.
Around JPY800 per bottle.
Went shopping with my wife today. Saw this very tempting chocolate cream on the rack…this is actually the 2nd time I saw this cream…so…cannot let go anymore…just have to taste it…
I am not very lover of alcohol drink, but I like those chocolate/sweet taste cream. My first and favorite is Balley Irish Cream, which taste very nice. This Mozart Chocolate Cream is just next to Balley, and I must say that Mozart is more tempted than the Balley…with the very eye catching gold wrap and cute round bottle. Of course, price is higher than Balley as well, but since I am buying just small bottle (350ml), it doesn’t really cost one arm or leg (JPY1500).
So, how does it taste? Tried one small cup just now…quite strong alcohol and the chocolate favor is very strong as well. Thick and strong chocolate flowing out. I think it should be best served with ice, but I don’t have any ready (already in the making in the fridge now). It doesn’t have the milk smell from Balley, which I quite like (the Balley). I would give it 80% mark for the time-being, might be higher when serves with ice tomorrow.
Another photo with better background (I think)…
If you love Balley, you should try Mozart too!
Eat also no mood…nevermind…
…
Thank God for everything, in Jesus name, Amen.
Dear老公, we miss you too… Please take care too, all the best to your presentation tomorrow.
Waiting for you to come home.
Love,
Foong & Megumi
Dear, take care…have good rest always…miss you and Megumi…love, King.
My wife wake up early in the morning to go to “pasar” and bought some food to cook for the BIG DAY!
With her super cooking skill, below are done in an hour time…
(The cake was from a nearby cake shop, one of the famous! I went to buy the cake together with Megumi, while her mother was busy cooking at home. JPY2625 for the cake. Very yummy! )
Thank God for the protection all the way…Megumi is One Year Old Today!
Busy day…my wife cook a lot…and we bought a very beautiful birthday cake for Megumi (or us) today!
Photos later…have to go eating now…
My first paper, entitled “Maneuvering simulations of pusher-barge systems“, has been published, in JMST (Journal of Marine Science and Technology).
http://www.springerlink.com/content/m5h87873212u1r33/
The paper can be downloaded in PDF format in the link above, or click the link below to download directly.
maneuvering-simulations-of-pusher-barge-systems-jmst.pdf
My 2nd paper should be out in a few months time…
This only applies to Canon L (Luxury) lenses. Consumer type of Canon lenses (non-L) does not have these codes. Take note that this code is NOT the serial number of the lens, it is the production code printed at the rear mount of Canon L lenses.
Eg. FK0582
First alphabet “F” shows the production plant:
U = Utsunomiya, Japan
F = Fukushima, Japan
O = Oita, Japan
Second Alphabet “K” tells the year of manufacturing. In this case, the K is referring to production year of either 1996 or 1970 or 2022.
The next two digit codes tell month of manufacturing. 05 means manufactured in May.
The last two digits should represent the production count. Unsure at the moment.
So, in summary, FK0582 means that the lens was manufactured in Fukushima plant in May 1996 (most likely).
Last Saturday (07 June 2008), we went to Okayama, to the very famous rose garden there. It took about 1 1/2 hour drive from our house (Saijyo, Higashi Hiroshima), but the journey was very nice.
Entrance fee is JPY600 (RM20) for adult, Megumi is free. There are a lot of roses there…I can’t remember how many…but sure nice. My wife loves roses.
Here are some photos from the trip… Read More
Last week I noticed a problem with my macbook battery. My macbook shut down immediately and suddenly when I accidentally hit on the power supply loose. Yeah…it can be tripped OFF so easily. Then only I realize my battery is not working at all. When the power was plugged off, the macbook shut down immediately (power off). After some checking, confirmed no power from the battery.
With the convenience of internet, no panic, just do a search (google of course) for “macbook battery problem”. Within seconds, I found the answer.
There was a design problem with macbook battery (macbook pro also). You can read more at:
http://www.apple.com/support/macbook_macbookpro/batteryupdate/
Identifying an affected battery
Affected batteries will have one or more of the following symptoms:
- Battery is not recognized causing an “X” to appear in the battery icon in the Finder menu bar.
- Battery will not charge when computer is plugged into AC power.
- Battery exhibits low charge capacity/runtime when using a fully charged battery with a battery cycle count (as shown in System Profiler) of less than 300.
- Battery pack is visibly deformed.
I did the battery update and still can’t get my battery detected or charged. So, the next step would be to call up Apple support in Japan. Since it was late at night, so I made a phone call the following day. I think it was on Friday morning that I made the phone call.
Going through the phone call assistance, assuring the supporter person that I have done all the necessary steps to check my battery, gave them my apple serial number and battery serial number, done. By the way, there is an English phone support from Apple Japan, in case you (or I) can’t speak Japanese well. Macbook already out of warranty? No worry, Apple stated in their website that the service and exchange is valid even if your macbook is already out of warranty (my already expired the warranty period).
Today, Tuesday, I got my new replacement battery. No, I do not have to send them the faulty battery, the postman came and collect the old battery while delivering me the new battery (my wife took the delivery). Since I will be going to Taiwan next week, so the battery came right on time before my trip. I can’t imagine using a notebook without battery.
Well done, Apple Japan!
Update:
This is the battery that I received!
A very nice song…touching…really shows the true Chinese song…love the clean and clear beginning…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SoSt7B57uWQ
“New 3G iPhone, Twice as Fast, Half the Price!” – This is the advert by Apple for their new iPhone 3G.
With 3G support now, we should see it coming to Asia very very soon!
Some rumors:
My opinion is that one need to have very fast internet connection in order to utilize the features of iPhone. Malaysia internet connection speed is still very slow, not sure how fun it is using iPhone in Malaysia as compared to other countries.
Will you get one?
One word: Amazing!
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Ok…I am sure many has blogged about this by now…
the BAD news…
From 5th June 2008
From July 2008
the GOOD news…
Rebate will be made in money order when owner renewing their roadtax after 1st July.
Petrol has reached historical high price worldwide. This is not just a Malaysia problem but worldwide problem. In Japan, Petrol price has reached JPY167 (RM5.34) per litre for regular fuel. Fuel price in Singapore has also reached new high price. So, in reality our petrol price in Malaysia is still considered as cheap…though not exactly very cheap to many especially with such a great increase overnight (though already speculated for many months).
Tomorrow newspapers sure will have this Petrol increases in their front page news…soon we will see public transportation increasing their fare…courier company increasing their postage rate…food price increases (already)…
Many will say…salary no increase…yeah…
Many speculations have been flying around in the internet regarding how many count Canon DSLR camera shutter can last. Instead of just guessing around, I have decided to refer to Canon Japan themselves. Yes, need words from Canon Japan themselves in black and white (or colour) instead of just verbal talk.
Here’s what I found in Canon official camera brochures:
Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III – 300k shutter duration test
Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III – Did not mention in the brochure, other than just “Accurate Highly Durable Shutter”. However the shutter picture is same as the 1Ds Mark III picture, so I would guess it to have the same 300k shutter duration test as in 1Ds Mark III. Read More
