DR KOH KHO KING

I just found that there is a cheaper ticket hidden under Grab a Deal at MAS website.

http://www.malaysiaairlines.com/my/en/dest/get-the-deal/signup.aspx

I also learned one thing. Do not use FireFox to making the booking if you planned to pay using Maybank2u or CIMBClicks. The payment page requires a pop up window, but FireFox will not show it and you will be just waiting and hanging there forever. If you refreshed, it will then show an error page.

Use IE and you will be fine.

Setup:

• Nikon D200 with Nikon SB-900 mounted on the camera hotshoe
• Tetra Transmitter connect to SB-900 PC Sync Port via sync cable (included)
• Nikon SB-800 on Tetra Receiver
• Transmitter and Receiver set to the same channel

Setup shot:

Now, I grabbed the camera and fired. Take note that SB-800 that connects to the receiver fired as well.

If there are multiple flashes, one can connect to more receiver and get CLS easily without breaking the bank!

Using DSLR auto white balance control will not deliver the correct white balance under tricky lighting condition (or even a simple lighting condition).

A simple test below under Philips warm light tube (yellowish light at the corridor of my house). This is how the corridor ceiling looks like (yes, yellowish. I love warm colour as compared to bluish white at home.)

As a test subject, I use a Photo Clam ballhead packaging box, which has black, gold, blue and red on it. There is also a white sticker on the box with the word “Sample” written. To check if a white balance is correct or not, the first thing to look out for is that WHITE SHOULD BE WHITE.

Test Results

Nikon D200 Auto White Balance:

(Yellow cast. Will be of some headache to correct it in photoshop later.)

Nikon D200 Pre-Set White Balance calibrated using Phottix White Balance Cap (77mm):

(Perfect white balance as if shot at daylight condition. White balance correction is not needed.)

How to Pre-Set in Camera?

The difference is obvious. WB Pre-set is easy, can be done within a few seconds. Below is the steps on WB pre-set on Nikon D200.

1. Set the camera to Manual Focus mode.
2. Press the WB button on Nikon D200.
3. Turn the back back wheel on the right to select WB to PRE (means Preset).
4. Press the WB button again for 3 seconds, word PrE is blinking now.
5. Put Phottix WB Cap to the front lens of your camera. Point the camera / lens to the subject you want to shoot.
6. Take a shot. D200 will show if the WB preset shot is Good or no Gd. If Good, then it will be used as the new Pre-set WB setting. If no Gd, repeat step 4 and 5 again.
7. Done and enjoy the perfect WB shots under the same lighting condition!

Phottix White Balance Cap

At only RM25.00 (US$7.94), you get the perfect white balance! Don’t judge the product by its price…it does the job, it is just a plastic cap.

http://shashinki.com/shop/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=phottix+white+balance

Showcase of Maha products by one of our dealer – Elite Photo (Penang).

Elite Photo
255C, Penang Road, 10000 Pulau Pinang.
Tel: 04-2508080, 04-2508088 Fax: 04-2508086

Maha PowerEx has been the professional choice of battery and charger solutions for photographers around the world for many years. Joe Mcnally, a reknown professional photographer is USA is using Maha PowerEx batteries as well, and his is well known for creative lighting techniques by using lots of Nikon speedlights in creating the light he wants.

Maha PowerEx products can also be bought online directly from ShaShinKi at:

http://shashinki.com/shop/maha-powerex-m-13.html

DCM March 2010 issue got a nice freebie…Free 65 Pages Booklet of Canon 20 Essential EF Lenses for Better Photography. Still same price at RM9.00 per issue. Going to be very hot selling and fast sold out I guess…

The Cover…

The Free Gift…

Yes, you can find ShaShinKi’s advertisement inside the magazine too!

There is an interesting write-up on Maha charger in the NewGear section!

I found one…then I found a bunch! I found Photo Clam, then a series of professional ballhead!

Photo Clam – A name not to be forgotten in the photography industry. They create ballheads, GREAT ballheads! They are new, started in year 2007, but quickly gained their good name and reputation in the internet due to their product quality.

Know the Naming System

Photo Clam use ball diameter as the model naming / number of their ballhead. Photo Clam PC-33NS means that it has 33mm diameter ball, PC-36NS means it has 36mm diameter ball, PC-54NS means that it has 54mm diameter ball. I find this naming system to be very easy to remember and easy to differentiate the size and capability of each ballhead, since Photo Clam has quite a wide range. Some ballhead has same load capacity, but if the ball is bigger than the other, then it will have smoother operation when a same load is being carried.

N or NS?

You might notice that some Photo Clam ballheads have N ending at the model name, while some have NS ending at the model name. The difference / meaning is simple. The NS means with spirit level built in, while N has no spirit level built in. ShaShinKi imports all Photo Clam ballheads with spirit level built in (except PC-33N which there is only one offering without spirit level by Photo Clam).

Arca Swiss Quick Release System

All Photo Clam ballheads use Arca Swiss Quick Release System in the ballheads design. This is the professional preferred system due to the security it offers. All Photo Clam ballheads have safety pin on the Arca Swiss QR system, to prevent the quick release (QR) plate from being fall off accidentally. The safety pin can catch and stop the plate from sliding out in both direction.

In the picture above, I have actually loosen up the knob of the clamp, and the plate stop sliding forward and caught by the safety pin.

Below below shows an QR plate attached to the bottom of a camera.

This is a general purpose plate, Photo Clam PC-52-UP2, which can be used for camera or lenses. The good thing about the design of Photo Clam plate is that the screw has a coin accessible thread, which can be used to lock and unlock the plate easily! The plate attached firmly to the camera once locked.

There are two dovetails on Photo Clam plates, which can be used as hole for hand strap to tie over it. Handy!

Photo Clam PC-52-UP2 has 4 pieces of rubber on the plate, making sure that the plate does not rotate once tighten.

Photo Clam PC-36NS

I took a Photo Clam PC-36NS ballhead for reviewing. It is the middle size in Photo Clam ballhead series (smallest ballhead is PC30N, biggest is PC-74NS), which is a very popular model.

the Size?

A ballhead that is able to withstand 30kg load…Let’s see the size of the PC-36NS sitting next to a Canon EOS 40D camera.

Smaller than the size of my palm.

Using it?

I am not sure if there is a black and white manual telling one how to use a ballhead. Not that I have read any, but below is how I prefer to put my ballhead as.

Plate knob underneath the camera on the right, while ballhead lock / unlock knob on the left. Pan lock knob pointing towards the photographer. With this orientation, I can have my right hand on the camera, composing the camera and finger ready to press the shutter release, while my left hand on the lock / unlocking knob.

Some might prefer the following orientation, no right or wrong I guess, just your own preference.

Friction Control

Notice a little tiny screw on the big locking knob in the ballhead (photo below)? That is friction control Friction control on Photo Clam PC-36NS ballhead allows adjustment of the “tightness” of the ball even when the locking knob of the ballhead is set to loose (Zero on the red marking). Photo Clam use a highly visible red labeling for their friction control marking, which is definitely a thoughtful design. What’s the marking for you may asked. Personally I find it handy as if I knew that I can lock my Canon EOS 40D with 18-55mm lens at turning till 5 marking, then I don’t have to turn till 7 every time. If I knew that an EOS 40D with 70-200mm F2.8 lens would need to turn to 8 to lock it tight, then I won’t turn till 5 and stop there. Different practice for different people, some might not even look at the numbers…but I think it is good to have rather than missing it.

When a heavier load is being carried, friction control will allow precise adjustment to ensure that the ball does not loose up too much (dropped) or too tight.

Panning Base

There is a separate screw that is being used to lock / unlock the panning base of Photo Clam ballhead. Photo Clam call it Panning-fix knob.

Once locked, the base will not move. It locks securely and firmly. This is extremely useful especially when you lock your equipment onto the ballhead and carry the whole system on tripod over your shoulder. You would not want the panning base to loosen up and turn, causing your equipment to hit something. Kudos to Photo Clam for creating a secure panning base.

Spirit Level

I have seen many ballhead makers put a spirit level on the top of the quick release system, which I find inconvenient to use. Once your camera or lens is on the QR system, you can’t see the spirit level anymore. Again another thoughtful design of Photo Clam to put the spirit levels (yes, s because it is plural with 2 spirit levels) at the side of the Arca Swiss Quick Release System.

The Ball?!

This should be one of the most important part in a ballhead. The BALL!

There is NO OIL on Photo Clam ball. Yes, oil free and no greasy thingy on your fingers when you accidentally touched it. I didn’t get the technical data of Photo Clam technology, but I believe they use Teflon coating on the ball or / and the housing to ensure smooth while still oil free operation. You won’t believe how smooth it is until you have tried one.

See the ball above! Matted colour ball with no oil, not a single drop. (Warning: Do not outsmart and drop oil onto the ball!)

Conclusions

There are similar quality products in the market, but is either too expensive or / and with some weakness. Photo Clam, being the latest professional ballhead in the market, founder who is a photographer himself, created Photo Clam to offer professional quality ballhead to the general consumer to be able to enjoy the fun of tripod + ballhead photography without breaking the bank!

If you have not tried one, loan one from your friend! If you have not owned one…what are you waiting for?!

Where to buy?

Where else? Your online camera shop! ShaShinKi is the distributor of Photo Clam in Malaysia, bringing Photo Clam directly to you at an affordable price!

http://shashinki.com/shop/photo-clam-korea-m-154.html

Just to show how much difference it is from 16mm to 35mm, taken on a Canon EOS 40D camera, handheld, no flash.

@ 16mm

@ 35mm

Tested using an used unit lens that I just bought.

http://shashinki.com/shop/used-canon-1635mm-f28l-autofocus-zoom-super-wide-angle-lens-excellent-condition-p-5377.html

Some family photos taken at my house during Chinese New Year 2010. My sister’s family came to visit us and celebrate CNY with us this year in my new house. My mum is here with us too!

There is a very nice wall (blank) in my house. So we use it as a backdrop for family “studio like” photos.

My family…

My elder sister’s family

My mum on the second left.

Some other photos…