DR KOH KHO KING

Samyang, an emerging company in the photography world, has made its way into many photographer’s pocket with its low price yet sturdy construction and high performance of its manual focus lenses!

There are so many online reviews showing the great performance of Samyang 14mm, 85mm and even 8mm fisheye lenses!

Samyang, a Korean company, once again creates its own way, different from the others…introducing another new lens!

Samyang announces 8mm F3.5 Fish-eye for Sony NEX-VG10

Kraków, February 28 2011 – Delta company, the sole distributor of Samyang Optics for Poland and Europe, wishes to inform about the release of the manual Samyang 8mm f/3.5 FISH-EYE CS VG10 lens. The new lens comes with the bayonet mount and has been designed especially for Sony NEX-VG10 digital camcorder.

Due to its unique construction, the bayonet mount has been adjusted to ensure possibly wide field of vision without producing the vignetting effect. Just like in other lenses manufactured for filming purposes, aperture can be easily and smoothly adjusted.

New Samyang 8mm f/3.5 FISH-EYE CS VG10 lens will be officially introduced during the forthcoming Focus on Imaging fairs held in Birmingham. Exact date of the release as well as the product’s retail price will be given later.

Samyang lenses are available @ ShaShinKi

• http://shashinki.com/shop/samyang-m-137.html

It has been a long time that I did not write any product review…or lens review.

Since it is Saturday today, and feeling quite relaxing…hence I decided to take out my Canon EF-S 18-200mm IS lens and give is a spin at my home compound (not yet a garden…).

Camera used was Canon EOS 50D. Personally I find Canon photos to be colder temperature than Nikon, which looks to me more bluish in Canon than yellowish in Nikon (warmer). No good or bad, depending on one’s preference.

Built Quality

Not exceptional, or should I just say it is ordinary plastic built. It does feel quite solid in hand though. When extending, it becomes quite long.

Image Stalizer

It works very well. When pressing the shutter release half way to auto focus on the camera, IS kicks in. If you did not AF, I believe IS is at rest, as I can see image from the viewfinder starts jumping. IS is not on continuous mode as to save battery life I believe. Anyhow, we only need IS when shooting. Below shot is taken with IS on.

Another shot, which I decided to go lower angle and shoot.

Sharpness

The lens is sharp. I am surprised by the detail it delivers with such a long superzoom. I used to have bad thought on superzoom, but this Canon EFS 18-200mm IS proves that superzoom can deliver decent photos too! Click on the photos above and you can see details of the grass well. Focus is pin sharp without front or back focus on the lens that I owned. Check out the photo below too! Focus was on the flower on the right.

Minimum Focusing Distance

I am really surprised on how CLOSE this lens can go! On specs it wrote 45cm. During the short brief test, I can go very close even at 200mm! As per shot above and below, the flowers are just right in front of me!

Bokeh

I think this is where the lens shaded…not really beautiful smooth bokeh. A bit distracting in fact.

Focusing Speed

Two words: Lightning fast!

You really need to test out the lens yourself to see how fast it focuses! When shooting the photo above, by focusing back fence (infinity) and front flower (close to minimum focusing distance of 45cm), then lens can immediately snap into focus in LIGHTNING FAST speed! No hunting! No delay! Canon is by no doubt one of (if not the KING) the fastest focusing system in the world!

Conclusion

Nikon has introduced their first superzoom (AFS 18-200mm VR) many years back, as was such a big hit in the market back then (Many sellers sell at Ebay at much higher than Nikon SRP due to shortage of the lens and too high demand!).

Canon has finally come out with a superzoom. Not very popular among photographers or Canon users, maybe not many have tried or tested it. As a superzoom from 18mm till 200mm, it is an ideal lens for traveling. Focusing is super fast, images produced are sharp. A bit lack down is on the BOKEH part.

RECOMMENDED

Yes, we have trademarked our brand:

ShaShinKi™

This is our continuously commitment to our customers to show and prove of our seriousness in the business, in building up our brand and reputation in the photographic industry.

Blog…was such a HOT word in in the first decade of twenty century.

Now? Facebook is the word everyone is talking about.

Where does blog stands? Will it continue to SURVIVE? (I won’t use the word shine now…since it is no longer being talked about…)

Personally I threat Blog as my own diary, and Personal (only me or my family can write) and Open (for everybody or those I selected to view) diary. Yes, it is a diary to me.

So is blog dying? For me no. As long as I am still writing, my blog will continue to exist. However, blogging can be lonely, as you don’t get many comments from your friends or visitors. Facebook has taken over the heat nowadays. People use facebook to share their feeling, their thought, their friends, their photos.

I still prefer blog. Why? Because it is under my own domain, my personal domain. It is something that belongs to me, I can grow with it. Facebook though is still facebook. Famous websites come and go, one day there might be no more Facebook, but my blog will still continue to be here as long as I want it to be.

Have a personal website of your, have a personal diary of yours, have a blog. Start sharing.

加 拉 太 書 5:22-26
22 聖 靈 所 結 的 果 子 ， 就 是 仁 愛 、 喜 樂 、 和 平 、 忍 耐 、 恩 慈 、 良 善 、 信 實 、
23 溫 柔 、 節 制 。 這 樣 的 事 沒 有 律 法 禁 止 。

Galatians 5:22-23 (New International Version)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

————————————
Last week listen to Rev Wan sermons, set me thinking. Below are not all from Rev Wan, so I stand to be corrected.

果子在英文是Fruit, 单数， 不是Fruits。

圣灵只结了一个果子，但果子里可比喻成有九种味道： 仁愛、喜樂、和平、忍耐、恩慈、良善、信實、溫柔和節制。

当圣灵住在我们里面时，我们就应当结出圣灵的果子。每颗果子味道或有轻重不一，但九种为到肯定在里面，因果子只有一种。有些人也许仁爱多些，有些人也许节制多些，但必须肯定及相信有这九种“味道”在其中，不可说只结了这些而没结了那些，中了撒旦的谎言。

Finally…got a new staff at ShaShinKi to assist in uploading all the latest and hottest gadgets in the photography world at no time to our online shop (www.shashinki.com)!

With daily work become busier and busier, it is hard for me alone to keep up with all the new released of cameras and accessories by manufacturers around the world. Now that we have a dedicated staff for the job, you can be sure that we will be able to offer you with more items that will excite you always!

Check out:

http://shashinki.com/shop/products_new.php

More than 5300 active products online and growing!

Some ShaShinKi products we couldn’t get the images in time, but have to upload the product immediately. Hence the temporary image below.

Finally…upgraded my wordpress to the latest version. Was at version 2.2 for a many long days…couldn’t find a theme that I like and don’t really like the image uploader feature in the new version, hence delaying the upgrade.

Need to add Facebook LIKE BOTTON to my blog, so have to upgrade my WordPress. Old version is not supported.

Upgrade was easy and straight forward. Basically just need to backup the config file and images folder. That’s it.

How’s the WordPress 3.1? I think it is definitely very nice and smooth. Interface is clean and easy to navigate. Plugin and theme installation is very easy and just within a few clicks in the WordPress admin itself (FTP username and password required). The coders of WordPress is definitely very very good! I just wished my online shop admin interface is just as smooth…

Found a quite nice theme – GIRL. Changed some colours and I think it is good to go live.

Got my gift today… Have been waiting for it since last Friday…

Megumi is excited and happy as well! She is holding the cable remote to fire the camera to capture this photo…the GIFT is inside the UPS box.

Here’s the TAG Heuer!

43mm face diameter, it is quite huge! My wrist is actually quite skinny…but anyhow…I still LOVE the watch! Can’t wait to wear it to work!

Bracelet is quite long, so will need to go to watch shop to remove a few joints. I hope to get a good watch shop that will NOT scratch my Tag…will find one soon…

I am a happy man…

Went to Popular bookstore today, was browsing some magazines to see if anything interesting.

Saw this TimeOut Malaysia magazine. The theme of the issue attracted me – Shopping & Services 2011.

Flipping through the magazine and one section caught my attention: Great online buys

Since my business – www.shashinki.com is very much to do with this title, so I was just curious what websites will they cover.

As usual…saw some familiar names being mentioned: ebay.com.my, lelong.com.my…etc. Then, to my surprised, I saw ShaShinKi.com too!

There the blow up…

Just a short exposure to ShaShinKi, but we are glad that we are being recognised and the extra publicity.

ShaShinKi November and December 2010 Photo Contest Winner Photos were published in Feb 2011 Hardware Magazine (Malaysia)!

Magazine Cover

The Contest Winner’s Photos! November 2010 and December 2010!

November 2010 – Theme (Light)
Winner: CHAN KIN SENG
Prize: Jusino Professional Tripod – LS-253 Titan Series Model + BT01 Ballhead

December 2010 – Theme (Bokeh)
Winner: Tan Hock Soon
Prize: Jusino Professional Tripod – LS-254 Titan Series Model + BT01 Ballhead

ShaShinKi Jusino Ads and Black Rapid New Products Coverage

It is good to have a dream to chase on…so that we can work harder to achieve that dream…

My dream watch…

TAG Heuer Men’s CAF101B.BA0821 Aquaracer Grande Date Chronograph Watch

There are two colours available. Black and White. Personally I like white face more than black face.

I just read that it has been discontinued…was selling at around USD1.5k…Malaysia should be of higher price…

Specifications

The Aquaracer concept is founded on providing the accuracy that all water sports demand. Based on the design and features of the timeless 2000 series, launched in 1982, TAG Heuer’s watchmakers and designers have created an original, prestigious sports watch that is water- resistant to 300 meters.

Aquaracer
Quartz Chronograph Grande Date
CAF101B.BA0821

Movement: Quartz Chronograph

Glace: Scratch-resistant sapphire crystal

Dimension: 43 mm

Dial: Black, silver, blue or yellow dial with spiral effect and 3 counters, small second at 3 o’clock, minute at 9 o’clock and a “twin-hand” semi-circular counter at 6 o’clock.

During 30 minutes, this semi-circular counter will work as a 1/10th of a second chronograph counter and then will turn into an hour chronograph counter. The red side of the hand indicates 1/10th of a second from 00 to 05 on the inner scale and the polished finished side of the hand indicates 1/10th of a second from 05 to 10 on the outer scale.

Large date window at 12 o’clock
Polished-finished hands and luminescent markers on hands and indexes for improved legibility in darkness
Hand applied indexes and TAG Heuer logo

Case in fine-brushed steel with polished edges

Screw-in case back with stamped diver decoration

Unique dual bezel composed of fixed aluminium ring (black, blue and yellow dial) / fixed polished steel ring (silver dial) and unidirectional turning bezel in fine-brushed steel with fine-brushed studs and minutes scale:
• Engraved numerals with black varnish on the turning base
• Luminescent dot at 12 o’clock

Bracelet: 3-row fine-brushed steel bracelet with solid steel clasp, diving extension system and safety push buttons
Black rubber strap with protruded TAG Heuer logo & inscriptions and steel pin buckle

Water resistance: 300m.

Just sharing my technical paper published in conference of APHYDRO 2008, Taipei. Sadly APHYDRO 2008 website created by Taipei university was no longer available, hence it is better to share my technical paper here than having it lost like that…

Click link below to download:

3rd-paper-shallow-water-effect-on-turning-motion-of-a-pusher-barge-system-aphydro-2008.pdf

Purposely underexposed the scene to capture silhouette of the crowds, and to emphasis the golden colour of the sunset scene.

Took a few shots, and found this to be of most interesting on the crowds. The sea level was kept in good horizon by the use the cross lines in my Nikon D200.

Bought some food from outside…cook some…and have the “BIG” dinner at home. Hahaha…after the blood test I have not eaten curry fish head for a long time…

Still need to continue keeping fit and healthy.

Happy Chap Goh Meh to all! May Happiness and Health be with us always!

Just read about the news of the new Samsung Galaxy S II.

Samsung has hit a home run with the Galaxy S, sold over a million unit in the USA, and they sure hope to do it again with the Galaxy S II.

Saw some video and specs of the Galaxy S II online, nice phone and specs, but I don’t think there is enough reason for existing Galaxy S users to upgrade. Samsung sucks in software update, and till now my Galaxy S is still using Android 2.1…have been waiting for Froyo forever. I hope Samsung can introduce a new firmware for the Galaxy S when they launched the Galaxy S II, else it will be real lame and put off to buy another Samsung phone.

There is a video of the new Galaxy S II at youtube:

[yt]IDNgD_yxBFY[/yt]

Slightly bigger screen and an LED flash at the back camera.

What interested me most is the software. I just hope Samsung can push out the update soon…

Lunch of Chinese New Year…

This is where all the food are being reacted together…

The end results…delicious!

Foong and my father in law…can’t wait to taste out already…

Finally, a reunion shot before start eating… (Am glad that I brought the tripod back)

The kids are having so much fun with it!

Of course…me too!

Spent nearly a week in Perak during Chinese New Year.

Went to Teluk Patik with my family. Reached there quite late…and and sun is setting. Of course that’s the magic moment or magic light in photography, but without a tripod it is tricky to shoot.

Back to the photography books that I have read, I should use slow sync…and rear curtain sync.  That should make the shot better.

My wife and Megumi. 1/2s shot.

My sister in law and her husband.

A normal flash shot would be like this…background all dark.  1/30s shot.

Rear curtain sync shot. 0.62s. Though some blurriness but at least it shows the environment, which is the purpose of going there.

Another family shot…this is my sister in law’s friends.

Where are the kids? Quite impossible to shoot…as they never stand still. I shot a few…and I think this one is acceptable. At least showing the face of all.

It is a short trip, but fun trip.

It was my birthday on 3rd Jan 2011…Megumi was very excited to light up the candles the day before already…and finally the moment came…

After blowing the candles…while blowing I forgot to take the shots…as was blowing together with her…it was my birthday mah…

I am quite please with the shots and light…using my SB-800 with Lambency diffuser, no harsh light effect.

(Simple cake without icing…need to keep my diet already…)

My Megumi dropped the iPad few days ago. Accident…got scolded and she looked innocent. She was trying to show me something and the iPad got slipped off.

Dented at the corner, but survived.

The protective case that I ordered from ebay still haven’t come. Already more than 10 days…hmm…now told Megumi can only play iPad on bed, cannot hold with one hand and bring around, not until the case come.

iPad is quite heavy even for me…definitely not very “affordable” for kid of 3 years old. Can’t blame her, but at least she learned a lesson to be more careful in future.

By the way, did I mention that Megumi can remember the password (4 digit) to unlock the iPad only after showing her ONCE? Yes, just once and she remembered it. Both my wife and I was shocked when we saw her unlocked the iPad herself! Hahaa…good memory…

Bought our 2nd swimming pool. The first one was just a round plastic pool type, no air filled to strengthen the wall. Initially was ok, but after a few swims, the wall is falling apart and leaking.

This new swimming pool is not huge, but I think is good enough. It tooks 30 mins to fill the air, and an hour to fill the water. It is like filling up a water tank!

The children waiting patiently…

MasterCard advertisement

• Swimming pool = RM129.90
• Water = RM5.00
• Fun = Priceless

Saw a broken sunglasses of my wife’s today. Decided to get her one as a Christmas present (the iPad is not really something that she wants), but then dare not to buy one immediately as for sunglasses, one must try and try to find the suitable one buying. So, brought my wife to a eyewear shop in the evening (was quite late already actually) and bought this.

I think it is quite nice, purple colour. Fit my wife’s face and shape well. The glass is not too dark, so can still be wear in door. Hopefully is good during day time as well as its main purpose is to be used during driving.

Price? Well…our initial budget was just RM200.

I was in KL last week, saw two person using iPad. Both showing me website contents when we discussed something about webpage.

Apple iPad really shines in this field. It puts my Samsung Galaxy S to shame if I were to show my website to my clients. iPad on the other hand adds value and WOW factor if you were to discuss something with your clients related to internet issue or if you just want to google something for a result.

There is an Apple store at Berjaya Times Square of where I was staying last week. I went to check out the iPad and the entry model (16GB WIFI without 3G) is RM1599 there. Quite affordable I would say. I overhead the conversation by the salesman that they sold 18 units of iPad in that day. Apple just launched the iPad in Malaysia few weeks ago, so sales and demand are hight. Apple really designed the iPad well. Very elegant feel and the glass really shines.

After thinking overnight…I have decided to get one. Not for myself (though I might be using it most of the time), but for my wife. I checked Apple Malaysia website (http://store.apple.com/my/) and I am glad to see that iPad is available there! (My friend told me Apple does not sell online in Malaysia…obviously he is wrong.)

So the decision is either to buy online or bring back and iPad from the Apple store at Berjaya Times Square. Oh, by the way…online price is RM1549. RM50 cheaper than the retail store. One important bonus about buying online is the FREE Engraving service! Yes, you can engrave messages at the back of the iPad and make it the uniquely yours! The downside is having to wait extra days to get the iPad in hand.

Since Christmas is still 1-2 weeks away, so I decided to order online. The engraving part is the key determine point.

I was surprised later to find out that Apple actually ship the iPad from ShenZhen, China and not from their local store in Malaysia! They use DHL express for shipping and guarantee no tax or whatsoever extra charge. From the day I ordered till the day I recieved the iPad, 3 days. That’s extremely fast I would say! I got the iPad yesterday morning from DHL delivery person. Well done Apple!

What did I engraved? Hahaa…(my wife asked if there is any grammatical error or not…don’t tell me if there is… )

One thing to note. You can’t use the iPad right out of the box! Yes, you heard me right. YOU CANNOT USE THE IPAD RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX! No, it is not about battery. In fact, the battery is fully charged in my iPad. You need to download iTunes from Apple website, connect your iPad to your computer (mac or windows), setup your iTunes account, register, activate…etc., then only you can start using your iPad. For those who bought it and thought of using it on the spot without having a computer around…sorry, you will need to wait till you found a PC or MAC first.

Happying iPading!

Got this as a gift from one of my customer, or should I call it a donation?

A customer asked me to help selling his Nikon AFS 28-70mm F/2.8 Lens, a rare WHITE or Grey colour version. He has not been using the lens for years, hence condition unknown.

Upon receiving his lens, I tested it myself. Sadly, some problems with the lens. The AFS motor seems to be of faulty. Focusing ring and zoom ring seems to be stuck. Still can use the lens in manual focus, but that is such a waste. After discussing with the customer, we agreed to send the lens to Nikon Malaysia for a check.

Few days later, Nikon Malaysia came back to me with a quote. AFS motor is faulty and the main circuit board is faulty as well. Those two things required full replacement. The cost of repairing the lens is as much if not more than what a black version of the lens would have worth in the used market. So I consulted my customer on that issue and he decided not to go for the repair. Taking the lens back from Nikon Malaysia we will still have to pay for the checking fee and postage, hence my customer decided to just DONATE the lens to me if I want to pursue with the repair myself. After some considerations, I decided to just go ahead and repair the lens and keep the lens for my own use after the repair. External and glass condition of the lens is actually near new or like new. It is such a pity if the lens is put to sleep or dissembled as part just like that.

Updated with some photos of my actual lens

Just a snap shot to see the focus accuracy and sharpness as well as bokeh of the lens.

It took Nikon Malaysia quite some time (1 month +) to get the lens done. Parts have to be imported from Japan so it is an expected duration. In fact, I would say the repair is quite fast already. I just received the lens back few days ago from Nikon Malaysia and after testing it on my Nikon D200 (yeah…I am still using this antic camera) the performance is really refreshing! Focusing is fast and silent! Everything works out well and picture is sharp and contrasty! I finally have a good lens myself…can now retired my faithful Tamron SP 17-50mm F2.8 lens (it has gone through snow, wind, sand, sea, mountain, farm…).

If you want to read more about this lens, please click the link below:

• http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/nikon/nikkoresources/AFNikkor/AF2870mm/index1.htm

MAHA POWEREX

2010 Christmas & New Year Sales! Free Bag or Maha Imedion 2400 (4AAI240BH) Batteries!

• C204W (Free bag)
• C401FS (Free bag)
• C9000 (Free bag) (Free 4pcs Imedion 2400 batteries! Worth RM58!)
• C801D (Free bag) (Free 4pcs Imedion 2400 batteries! Worth RM58!)
• C800S (Free bag) (Free 4pcs Imedion 2400 batteries! Worth RM58!)
• C808M (Free 2 x MH-4AAI240BH)
• C204W + 8AA of Maha PoweREx 2700 or 8AA of Imedion 2400 (Free bag) (Free 4pcs Imedion 2400 batteries! Worth RM58!)
• C401FS + 8AA of Maha PoweREx 2700 or 8AA of Imedion 2400 (Free bag) (Free 4pcs Imedion 2400 batteries! Worth RM58!)

Purchase at:

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

I reported that my Samsung Galaxy S is having problem with its camera. The center part of every photos I took is always blur.

I went to the service center (Aeon Bukit Indah, 3rd Floor) to report the problem 3 weeks ago. The salesman is friendly and helpful enough to help me order the camera part from Samsung and promised me that he will call me when the part arrives. Within a week, I received a call from the salesman and the part is ready. I need to bring my phone + warranty card when doing the repair. I told him that I need the phone back ASAP, and he estimated 1-2 hours work to change the camera.

I was really tied up with my schedule and only last weekends I have the time to go there to have my phone repaired. The process is fast, only took around 30 mins to have it done. The salesman said this is the first time he repaired the phone, and it is actually very simple to change the camera inside.

I tested some shots and the camera seems to be working perfectly now.

(I left the mini usb cable in my office, so can only try upload some photos here later)

(uploaded by transferring the image via email from my phone to my computer)

My wife bought two mushroom seeds from UK Farm last week, and grow them at home. As according to the salesman, we can harvest 5 times before the seeds run out.

This is Day 1

This is Day 4

Where we put? At our bathroom actually, as the moisture and temperature is good there for mushroom to grow.

I think need a week to grow before we harvest it. Can’t wait to try out! Self-grown normally taste better…

Went and bought some florescent lights yesterday. I have wanted to add some extra lights to my office for a long time, finally yesterday went and bought the lights. Yes, I planned to DIY myself.

I thought it was easy job (it actually is easy), but then I fixed the wire wrongly and burnt a tube and 4 starters. Got so frustrated. Google for some schematic diagram and finally able to get the light to work. Took around 2 hours for me to wire and fix the light myself. It is very bright now in my office, which I think is good. It gives better mood / feel for the staffs that work here all day, no more “cloudy” feeling.

Learnt:

• Life wire always to the ballast
• Life is brown or red
• Neutral is blue or black
• Earth is green or yellow

Total cost? RM99.70 (not inclusive of the burnt tube and starters. Need to buy again the starters, I got a new spare tube.)

I think is cute, so took a few shots.