I have asked Futuromic to loan me a sample to test, but no news from them. Nevermind, one of my customer has requested me to test his lens, so I did some tests and share the results here. All lenses were handled with extreme care.

The Old and the New

I have the Tamron SP 17-50mm F/2.8 lens myself (First Generation, screwdriver type), so I were able to compare it to the new VC version side by side. The new VC lens is significantly larger - fatter and longer. Good solidly built, which I am quite impressed with.

The VC lens is made in Japan, which is normally an assurance of good quality control (but not all the case). At least is better feeling to owner.

Vibration Correction

How does it works? Nikon has VR (Vibration Reduction), Canon has IS (Image Stabilization), Sigma has OS (Optical Stabilizer), of course now Tamron has VC. All works similarly by having one of the lens element inside the lens moves in up and down / left and right position to correct for the shake of the lens and making sure that the image that hit the sensor is always sharp and stable. The good thing about lens optical correction as compared to sensor stabilizer is that you can see the effect immediately through the viewfinder, and the degree of shake correction is better.

I still remember the first Tamron VC lens that I have tested is the 18-270mm VC, which has an annoying TICK TICK sound whenever the VC hits in. The new VC in this Tamron 17-50mm lens does not has such sound anymore, and is actually a great improvement!

I did some test shots at 1/4 second, F/8 at 50mm focal length and found the image to be quite acceptable. Though not extremely sharp. Without the VC ON, the hand shake is obvious.

This is my test subject:

VC ON

VC OFF

Ok, VC does helped but at 1/4s, it is kind of a bit extreme…

Sharpness?

The Tamron 17-50VC is a very sharp lens, which I am quite impressed with.

Test Subject

100% crop

Another full view

100% crop

As compared to the first generation version that I have, I found that mine is slightly sharper…not a scientific test so don’t take it as a definite answer. When you turn the VC OFF, I find the photo to be sharper as with VC ON.

I also notice that VC is less successful with shooting at 1/15s, which is a critical shutter speed that is very much affected by camera mirror bounce.

Auto Focus Speed?

There are 3 versions of Tamron SP 17-50mm lens for Nikon mount.  First is the screwdriver type, Second is the built in motor type, and now the Third version is the VC lens.

In terms of AF, the built in motor type is the slowest, really slow that I feel throwing the lens away and you can fee how lame the lens is in AF when you first use it. The screwdriver type is fast and the VC version is similar speed as compared to the screwdriver type. This is a great improvement in Tamron for the 17-50mm lens considered that the VC version is using built in motor as well!

How does it compared to Nikon AF-S 17-35mm? Not near and not even close. The Nikon AF-S 17-35mm is extremely fast and you can feel the difference immediately once you tried it. This can be partly due to the fact that Nikon AF-S 17-35mm is shorter in range as compared to Tamron 17-50mm. Sorry, I do not have the Nikon AF-S 17-55mm ready in hand to compare. While the Tamron 17-50mm VC has improvement in AF speed, it still can’t compare to the Silent Wave technology I believe.

Not forgetting that the S lens is extremely quiet, while the Tamron is slightly noisier (not disturbing).

Conclusion

I wonder why Nikon and Canon does not implement VC into their 17-55mm and 16-35mm or 17-35mm f/2.8 lenses, is it because it might reduce the overall sharpness of the lens or is it because it is not needed in such wide angle?

While the screwdriver version (first generation) of the Tamron SP 17-50mm f/2.8 lens is no longer available, and only the built in motor version and the VC versions are available now, I would suggest to get the VC version for the improvement in focusing speed in Nikon mount (Take note that Canon version has built in motor from day 1, and is fast like the Nikon screwdriver version.).

A recommended lens for those who do not want to spend 2-3 times the money of the Tamron for Nikon or Canon counterparts, and is definitely a nice addition to have VC to play with when you needed it.

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Just a month old,  Fotolah.com is growing steadily and we now have 7 staffs including myself.

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Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 XR DI-II VC (Vibration Compensation) LD Aspherical (IF) Zoom Lens for Nikon Digital DSLR

Did some comparison to my own Tamron SP 17-50mm (without built in motor…

and also Nikon AFS 17-35mm f/2.8.

I am really tired today…will continue tomorrow…

“Hey…I support you…I buy this from you…you give me best best price lah!”

Your friend is selling computer, doing it as a business to support his family and life. You plan to buy a computer, so you thought of him and want to “support” him.

You went to his shop, said “hey friend, I want to buy a computer for my kid, you give me best price then I support you and buy from you lah!”

THINK AGAIN!

Are you really supporting your so called FRIEND? Or are you trying to TAKE ADVANTAGE from your friend?

Your friend is making living from selling computer, and yet you are trying to squezze him and ask him to give you the lowest possible price and to SUPPORT YOU! So this is the friendship you are talking about…

A true friend won’t mind paying more to support the business of another friend, that is what I think is the true support. So next time if you want to buy something at the lowest price from your friend, don’t use the word “Support him” again instead of “Support ME!”.

I still prefer the traditional tang lung than the now battery powered type. But of course need to watch out for the candle / fire, cannot let children play by themselves and must watch out for the candles and matches.

Family photo…

Megumi loves carrying tang lung.

Mother and daughter…

Goodnight…

Parked at Pasir Gudang port from 25th September 2009 till 06 October 2009 if I am not mistaken. We took the chance to visit there yesterday. I used to work as a volunteer onboard many years ago…miss the time there and it is good to see her sailing here again. (ship is always called “her” and not “he”…)

We make a visit there yesterday (Saturday - 3rd Oct 2009).

Hmm…time for me to keep fit…can see the stomach coming out… (or should I blame that shirt?!)

Foong’s sister is with us as well. In fact, it was her idea of visiting Doulos.

Entrance into the Bookstore onboard can see many children books at reasonable or rather low price! They use unit system. 100 unit = RM8.00. This is for them to convert to different currency when they sailed to different country.

Of course, Bible is being sold online as well.

Different religion people also visited there…

and various races too!

I saw some Singaporeans making their trip across the bridge to visit as well!

Volunteers from various countries and skin colours…

There are many different souvenirs sold there…

Megumi is busy onboard scouting around…

As usual, she is curious of my camera and lens…

and her mum also busy shopping for children books…

Coming down from the ship…way home…

Took an hour to drive back…quite jam, but of course is a nice and worthy trip.

No choice, have to do a new one…as I am a “no spec can’t see” person…very high degree in far sight.

Went to a nearby spectacle shop last week to do my spectacle. Don’t want to spend much initially, but then can’t find one that I am happy with.

Test tested the Nikon frame, quite nice and is quite light (not heavy). It is a spring type, so is comfortable to wear and should be more lasting. The frame is made out of titanium (yeah…as if I am going to put it through test…). Anyhow, RM420 for the frame and I swipe my card…

The nose resting design is quite special. Simple and quite comfortable. Take a closer look at you will see Nikon wordings on it too.

The side frame has Nikon wording too and the spring design is not thick.

Together with 1.67 slim multicoated lens, it costs me RM610. Ok…way above what I have planned initially but since it is going to be my daily Nikon…no choice lah…better than any other Nikon items that I have bought but only use occasionally.

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 标题：
我们的节日！
（相关于马来西亚的节日庆典 - 中秋节， 国庆日， 华人新年， 圣诞节。。。）

重要日期
参赛截止日期：31日10月2009年
投票日：1-7日11月2009年
成绩公布： 8日11月2009年

比赛一定要有奖品。。。如下:
1. Fotolah 摄影勋章！
2. Maha Imedion AA rechargeable batteries 2100mAh (4pcs)

Fotolah 摄影比赛规则
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摄影啦！马来西亚中文摄影网站！

We have just hit over 130 registered member in less than a week after announcing the site! The site is just 8 days old from the day the domain get registered, and is currently actively participate by members in the discussion and sharing photos.

There are currently many amazing macro photos shared by Kingfisher. Do drop by and have a look if you are free…

摄影啦！马来西亚中文摄影网站！

Started a new photography website few days ago…FotoLah.com. A dedicated Chinese photography forum in Malaysia. Registered the domain on 20092009, yes 20th September 2009, then start installing the forum software and start customizing it.

Start inviting members and started the banner promotions two days ago and now has nearly a hundred registered members, which around 300-400 posts a day. Quite good for a start.

Take a look and join us if you are interested in photography.

FotoLah.com

Alvin, Janice, Fu Yong, Ammy, Lydia, Megumi and myself (Kho King).

New BBQ tray borrowed from Alvin. Simple and nice to use.

Some food as prepared by my wife. Jagung (corn) is very sweet, one of the best food among all. The front meal with white snow is sagu with coconut actually, very nice desert.

Sushi rice in tauhu skin. I love it!

Wife busy in the kitchen and I took her shot by surprised…

Bought low smoke coal (as according to the seller) at RM8.00 per pack of not sure how many kg. Definitely enough for the night lah…

Fire is ready…where is the food?!

Ok…on the way to the fire…

Man’s job for the fire / BBQ part (Fu Yong is at the back)..while lady setting up the table. Megumi was getting ready too…can you see the big cup on their baby chair already?!

Not a overly full dinner (for me lah…I drank a lot of O-cha (red tea)). I think we have a nice night…good to have gathering with friends from time to time.

Thanks, Sis!

Alvin visited me two days ago, so we have some time in the yard shooting some flowers, testing his new toy…Sigma OS HSM 18-250mm lens. Quite a nice lens! Very close focusing distance and fast focusing speed (with HSM for Nikon mount!).

Ok…here are my roses…

No matter how pretty those roses are, they still can’t compete to my precious…

I went to bought a cake after work…a happy surprise to them I hope. Though I knew they do not like to eat cake, but I think it still means a lot when blowing candle and cutting cake during birthday, as an official celebration. The night before we have actually already went out for celebration dinner, but no cake or a pandan chifon cake made by my wife, but no candle and not so official…hahaa…lots of excuses…

Anyhow…here’s some photos to share.

Megumi can’t wait…in fact she has been very curious and excited when I brought the cake home. Yeah, she is holding the chifon cake made by my wife.

Blowing candle moment…

Cutting cake moment…

Happy birthday mother in law! May God be with you, protect you, give you health and guide you always. In Jesus precious name I prayed. Amen.

Sekonic L-308 Lightmeter is able to measure flash light exposure, and give you the correct setting. A great lightmeter. The LCD has blue backlight, very beautiful!

Connection is made using PC Sync male to male cable.

When the Sekonic is pressed, the LCD backlight of the flash is lighted up as well. Take note that flash setting should be in Auto mode.

Press the button on the right of the Sekonic and it will fire the flash and measure the exposure. It will then tell you the aperture needed for the flash.

Press the button once and both LCD will light up.

Press again and you can see the flash is being fired.

Both Sekonic and SB-800 flash are working fine connected using Nikon PC Sync Male to Male cable.

Nikon SC-11 Flash Sync Cord - PC Male to PC Male with Nikon Screw Locks

RM68.00

First thing to test is of course the focus accuracy (Front / back focus), using ShaShinKi Focus Test Chart, which can be obtained for FREE from any purchase made at ShaShinKi.

See the shallow dept of field…amazing camera and amazing lens!

Another test shot…

Camera body is extremely clean. However, I find some buttons on the camera body to be a bit stiff and hard to press.

No, I still dream of a D3…with X now…

For those who are interested, I have uploaded the file below for sharing. The file size is around 7MB, copyright belongs to Leica I think…so at anytime I might have to remove it once Leica wrote to me…

leica-m9.pdf

This is the cover page of the brochure…showing M9 there…

Megumi:”My castle…yeah!”

Went to two nearby furniture stores, saw a marble one, ok look but don’t really have the feel of wanted to buy. Somehow feel the workmanship a bit rough. Not cheap either at RM3.6k.

Then my wife suggest to go to Rustica, nearby as well. Quite similar to Lorenzo, quality workmanship. Saw one simple round table and one 8 seaters rectangular table. I find the rectangular type a bit old design, not modern type and not matching my house. I kinda like the round one, but it is only 6 seaters. Talked to the sales girl, and yes can add extra table at RM290 each, so become 8 seaters. Somehow it makes the table small then (5 feet diameter table). At last, we decided not to take the extra two chairs, and make it more spacious for our dinning room, as need a space for Megumi’s personal baby chair to slot in.

So, this is our dinning table. RM4.5k original, after discount (Raya promotion?) becomes RM3k.

Megumi’s chair is on the left, and there is extra two chairs on the left if needed. Though small but in actual use it brings closer the space and relationship of those who dine together.

(Simple solid wood with glass on the table. Simple chair with light brown leather or PU or PVC, not sure.)

Photos taken before the show starts. Was extremely busy and occupied from day till night…sorry if we have not served you well during the show, and thank you for the continuous support and visit to our booth!

It is quite a successful show, with many crowds despite the H1N1 flu. Of course, some were wearing masks…

We wished to bring as many products as possible to the show, but with 4 cars traveling from Johor and Perak to KL, we can only bring maybe 10% of our total inventory and product list.

ShaShinKi is the proud distributor of Maha and Domke brands in Malaysia!

Various Maha chargers for customers and visitors to test and have a feel.

Do visit www.shashinki.com online store for over 2700 active products! Malaysia’s First & Largest Online Camera Shop!

Bought a cake, got many candles but the small cake can’t occupy all…so we put only 1 big one down.

May God saves my mum and be with all of us all the time. In Jesus name I prayed, amen.

Purposely installed it on the staircase wall for Megumi. She loves it!

Living Room (on the wall next to the door bell)

Kitchen (very similar to the wall tiles of my kitchen, match the color and design.)

Master bedroom (no wall to hang, so put it on a triangle stand temporary).

All Seiko brand, and I have confidence in Seiko brand.

I wonder what was on her mind…