DR KOH KHO KING

Epson has just released a new firmware update for Photo Viewer P-5000/3000/4500/2500
that meant to correct the video playback and sound of Olympus E-3/E-510/E-410.

The release is in Japanese, but you can download the firmware which is same for your English operation system of Epson or Windows or Mac.

Download page （P-5000/300）

• 　 http://www.epson.jp/dl_soft/list/1839.htm

Download page （P-4500/2500）

• 　 http://www.epson.jp/dl_soft/list/1813.htm

Epson did not mention any other changes in the firmware, but it is a known fact that manufacturers often secretly update/correct the “bugs” in their system via firmware update without listing out all the details. So there can be slightly improved in speed. By all means, update the firmware and you should have nothing to loose.

I have the chance to try out a Nikon D3 yesterday. Yes, this is the currently hottest and most anticipate DSLR in the market. Stock is so limited that everybody is searching for one.

Thank God I managed to get one unit for my customer from Japan, else I would be in trouble.

The camera is so heavy…but feel good in hand. Grip can be hold firmly. LCD is big and bright, viewfinder is bright and large! All buttons are nicely laid out…I asked my wife to hold it for a second…she said dare not.

I checked the condition, took 2 frames of test shots, then put the camera back into the box. Yes, my standard procedures of checking the DSLR as requested by customers. This is to make sure that the camera received by my customer is in perfect order instead of them having to send the camera back to me only realizing it is defect upon arriving. Still, D3 as the professional DSLR from Nikon should have very high quality control and check. Made in Japan man…

After putting the D3 back to the box and packed it, I asked my wife when can I get one for myself? As a dealer of Nikon in Malaysia, I can get pretty good price of the D3 for myself. Of course not now as I still have many customers in my waiting list…guess what my wife answered?

Anytime!

I guess she is not serious at all… :’(

I have the chance to try out Olympus E-3 professional DSLR today in DEODEO electronic superstore in Japan. That was a surprised actually, as my main purpose going there wasn’t for the E-3 (didn’t expect they have one) but Nikon D300.

I spent some time checking out Nikon D300, while finding subjects to focus…I spotted the E-3. After fiddling the D300 for an extra minute, I went to take up the E-3 and ON the power.

I remember Olympus users talking about E-3 having the world’s fastest Autofocus system…I thought that was just a marketing gimmick until I tried it out myself just now.

Just how fast is it?

LIGHTNING FAST!!!

I test the E-3 by focusing to close and then to far subjects, making sure that the camera and lens have to travel some “long” distance in order to get focus. The result is just amazing! The lens snap into focus almost instantly!

I can’t remember which lens was mounted on the E-3, if I am not mistaken, it should be the “12-60mm F2.8-4.0 SWD” (confirmed the lens, just update with photo). The lens extend quite long (almost double the original length after zoom to telephoto).

Bare in mind that I was just testing the D300 with AFS 18-200mm lens before trying out the E-3. If I can explain the speed of E-3 AF better…it is like the sound of Zop while D300 is like ZOoooop. Yes, the difference is very obvious. On the viewfinder of E-3, you can see the focus change is instantly. You don’t see from blur to sharp in progress…but instantly change!

To be honest, I must say I am impressed with the E-3 AF system. Definitely deserves the title of “among the world’s fastest AF” if not already the world’s fastest!

On the side note of E-3 physical built, the camera does feel good in hand with firm grip design. It is definitely a very big size camera as compared to the E-510 or other E-DSLR. There are lots of buttons at the back of the E-3…which I am not familiar of, so I didn’t try it out. The Flippable LCD screen actually makes the E-3 looks a bit cheap…discount the professional feel of the E-3 in my humble opinion. Of course, this is just my personal feel, in terms of practical use, it is definitely better than those fixed LCD. Yeah, imagine shooting from above your head or on the ground.

That’s all from my few minutes try of the E-3. If I got the time, I will go try it out again. By the way, I notice the price of E-3 is around RM1k cheaper than Nikon D300, so it is definitely a very good competitor to the Nikon system.

I went to a local electronic shop in Japan today – DeoDeo. Main purpose is to try out the Nikon D300 system but I have found another surprised of Olympus E-3 professional DSLR.

Thanks to my wife, she helped me to take care of Megumi for nearly an hour, so I have the time to try out the D300 and pull out my D200 and insert my memory card into the D300 to test and get the photos I want.

(I find the photo below kinda cool…D300 is considered as a little brother to Nikon D3, sharing many similarities.)

Before I go to the ISO comparison shots, let’s share a bit of how I feel about the D300.

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Our friend, Misty Sargent, who we have not met her since I gave birth to Megumi on June. She has given birth to a baby girl, Joanna, on August 2007. We met them last Saturday at the Hiroshima Diamond City. Read More

Just to share with you guys the mouse that I am using (bought on 19th Dec 2006, costs me around RM350 or US$95 in Japan):

Logitech® MX™ Revolution

More info at:
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/products/details/US/EN,CRID=2135,CONTENTID=12134

My first wireless mouse. Took me quite some time to finally decided on a wireless mouse. I kinda worry of the hassle having to charge the mouse every few days…but after using a cheapo wireless mouse few months ago, I am hooked.

For me, mouse is one of the most important item in PC components, as a unresponsive mouse will make you crazy.

In Japan, they call it LOGICOOL! Yes, it is such a COOL mouse!

Traveling

One thing about wireless mouse is that it is not so convenient when traveling. Though the battery of the mouse can last for nearly 5 days (12 hours use a day), still if you went for long holiday, then you will need to bring the charging unit together. Not so convenient and normally I will just bring a small wired mouse that power directly from my notebook USB port. Read More

Today (Sunday – 11 November 2007) we have a Children Blessing Service in our church. All children of Primary 6 and below are going on stage to get blessed/prayer by the pastor. This is done after the message preaching by our Pastor with Bible verses below:

Mark 10:13-16 (King James Version)

10:13 And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.
10:14 But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
10:15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.
10:16 And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.

Here’s some photos of Megumi and Mum (Lydia) and Pastor Kato to share:

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Nikon Capture NX photo-finishing software to
be bundled with D3 and D300 digital SLRs
during special release campaign

October 29, 2007 Tokyo – Nikon Corporation has today announced that they will conduct a special promotion in conjunction with the release of the new D3 and D300 digital SLR cameras, bundling the next-generation Capture NX (ver.1.3) photo-finishing software as an accessory to be included in the camera body packages.

Nikon Capture NX is a high-quality image editing and processing application that enables versatile, highly intuitive image adjustments using innovative U Point Technology.

Image adjustments can be made simply by positioning a Control Point on a given image, without having to deal with special tools or layers. Using Nikon’s original RAW and NEF (Nikon Electronic Format) image files, you can edit images while retaining the original file and without decreasing image quality.

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Those newborn baby in Japan, or even if not born in Japan, there is BCG injection in October for all newborn babies.

In Malaysia, BCG injection was given on the same birthdate, same as Taiwan. However, in Japan they have a fixed date for BCG injection carried out by the city office. So, some babies can be 1 month old, some can be 3 months old…different age. There are few different sessions of BCG injection a year, ours was in Oct for Megumi. City office will send a letter to inform you the date to go for injection in the city office health care center nearby.

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Internet banking user is growing furiously nowadays. With more and more people going online, people tend to love settle things online rather than having to queue in the counter.

Yeah…the first and most popular internet banking site is “too busy” today…

It is quite frustrated when you want to get something done but couldn’t due to the site busy message. They should have upgrade their system always before it reaches its limit (eg. Ebay is one of the company that consistently upgrade their hardware making sure that there is no time-out or can’t keep up with demand failure).

Tried and tried the site above…after half an hour still the same. In fact, I find maybank2u.com.my is very slow nowadays…but the good thing is that Bank Negara has stated the rules that there must be no charge for internet banking service. You can transfer money to others without having to pay any service fee. This is good. However, with the increase popularity of internet banking, it is only a matter of time before the free service will be charged.

The success of internet banking is also mainly due to the wider coverage of internet and the “slightly faster” internet connection nowadays in Malaysia (highest is 2MB for household users but many still complaint that the speed of 2MB/s package is no different than the slower package…). Though still consider as “snail speed” when compare to oversea neighbours (Japan is using 100MB fibre optic now and the basic/slowest is 8MB/s Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) broadband, while Singapore is offering 10MB ADSL line now), at least we are growing and it is good that some companies (Maxis, Digi…etc.) are now offering wireless broadband internet service. Landline service is monopoly by TMNET/Streamyx, so hopefully there are some more players in the wireless ISPs so that we as consumers can benefit more and also encourage healthy competition among providers to facilitates the internet technology grow and coverage in Malaysia.

With this…I hope more people will shop online at ShaShinKi.com too!

ASKA has just announced a new firmware for their Tripper V portable storage device – version 1.23.

Changes:

• A part of mis-display of Exif information generated by the image of which it took a picture with the camera was corrected.
• The mis-display of the update time of the file was corrected.
• Trouble concerning the voice output was corrected.

Download:

http://www.aska-corp.co.jp/support/download/dl-trv03.htm

I have emailed ASKA about a month ago, suggesting some update via firmware to their Tripper V, I am curious if they do listen to customers feedback and change the Tripper V functionality based on that or not.

DO NOT TRY TO SHUT DOWN THE TRIPPER V YOURSELF! Tripper V takes around 10 mins to update the firmware. Be patient

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Just received a new toy today from Malaysia…

Yeah! Crumpler the Seven Million Dollar Home!

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It is now getting cold in Saijyo, Hiroshima, Japan. My wife and I were having very heavy/bad flu on Sunday. We took a good rest and was getting better on Monday. I took another day off on Monday and resting more at home. I am feeling 99% back to normal now.

However, my wife is getting bad flu again today. She has work hard in taking care of Megumi while letting me get all the rest. We cleaned the house today and changed all the blankets…etc., tired and now the flu from bad to worse.

I hope she will get well soon. May God bless and protect my wife. May God also protect Megumi from all these disease and grow healthily. May God cleans our sins and protects us from all evil temptations.

In Jesus name I prayed. Amen.

Megumi Blessing Ceremorny on 19th August 2007

Pastor: Kato sensei

Church: Megumi Church, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan.

Date: 19th August 2007

May God blesses Megumi day by day. Lead her and guide her to fear our Lord and walk on Lord’s path in her whole life.

In Jesus name we prayed. Amen.

I ordered this lens for my customer. The seal on the box was broken, so I was kinda worry. When open and check the lens inside, I saw a dust in the middle of the glass. This is definitely not a new lens. The rear lens mount also looks as if it has been mounted on a camera before.

I complaint to my supplier. They agreed to send a new replacement but it requires 3 days. I was in rush, because my customer needs to receive the lens in Malaysia before flying oversea. It is either I deliver the lens before she flies or a full refund. My supplier doesn’t allow for refund or cancellation of the order, so I have to take the risk and rush it.

Thank God, everything went smoothly. I managed to get the lens to my customer in Kuching from Japan in time. I sent on Sunday evening, reached my customer on the next Thursday. Thank God, He is just amazing!

Here are some photos of the lens that I returned (I circled the dust in red in the 2nd row firstphoto from left):

This is an incredible lens, but will you spend that much money on a 50mm lens? Only for the richie rich.

Autumn is always the harvest season in Japan. Japanese rice is what Japanese are very proud of. You can see paddy field always everywhere. No need big space, even a small field of around 3 card parking area you can see people growing paddy on it. Japanese has sufficient rice to provide within the country for consumption, the only food that do not need import from oversea, and can even export!

Here are some photos of the paddy field taken next to my church. Already been harvested a week later after I took the photos.

Japanese people are just like the riped paddy…who are going to harvest?…

Found a photo of my wife and I first visit to strawberry farm in Japan. First time enjoying so much strawberry and so big strawberry…you can put the whole strawberry into your mouth…it is so very big and sweet! The bigger the sweeter!

Ah Fu…my wife…Jenny Lee

The second photo is our second visit to the strawberry farm in 2007. This time the strawberry isn’t as delicious as the first time. My wife was pregnant with Megumi during the visit in April 2007.

Leoga…my wife…meimei…Jenny

Megumi went for BCG Vacine injection yesterday. In Japan, their BCG injection “symbol” is very unique. There are MANY holes. Not just one…but many! I did not count…but I think is around 9 x 2 holes. Yes, it is like stamping. Two stamps with many needles (9 each I think). Doctor put “something” on the needles and then PRESS HARD onto Megumi’s left hand.

Very painful for sure, she was crying hard with tears wet all over her face… :’(

Here’s the photo of Day 1…

Here’s close-up:

Thank you, Jesus my Lord!

Today marks the exact two years I am in Japan. I arrived in Japan on 4th Oct 2005, together with my wife.

Today, God has blessed me with Megumi and my wife is still here by my side to take care of me and our whole family.

God’s grace has been overflowed…we have nothing less, more than enough than what we have ever imagine. God has blessed us in my study, my family, my business, my friends, my brothers and sisters.

Life in Japan is like a dream…soon I will be leaving…soon I might come back again…God’s grace and guidance is always the best. I just want to say…

Thank you, Lord!

What do you need when renewing your student visa?

Before I came to Japan, I was given 2 years visa pass. Now…in Oct 4th, my visa will be due. I need to renew my visa two weeks before the due date.

Here’s what the required documents:

1. Scholarship/letter of scholarship from Hiroshima University
2. Letter of attendance (meaning that you do attend the classes or go to the university)
3. Letter of student’s results (showing what grade you got for your classes in the university)
4. Passport
5. Alien card (yeah…Japanese calls foreigner alien…)

1~3 just go to the administration office of your faculty and they will assist/prepare you with that. For 2 &3, you can actually print it out from the “machine” using your student card. Free of charge.

You will need to fill in some lengthy form at the foreign registration center in Hiroshima-shi. Just go to the country and ask for the form. Tell them you want to renew your visa and they will give you the form.

Update:

I just got my new renewed visa today. One year extension. Fee? Yeah…need to pay JPY4000 per person. Any other document needed? No, but I was actually supposed to wait for the foreign office to post me a card telling me my visa is ready before I went, thank God I manage to get the visa today too and the people there are very nice and efficient.

One thing I notice. They have official lunch time from 12pm-1pm, but the staffs there never use the time till full. They will take their lunch quickly, and then come back to work. This is Japanese culture, their working style, which is the very main reason they can be such a develop and successful country/nation.

This is the whole scene when I took the toes photos in the previous post. My wife was feeding Megumi with soya milk. I love the scene, so took my D200 and snap snap snap…no flash, ISO800, Tamron SP 17-50mm lens.

the whole scene picture…

- horizontal view of whole scene -

- little hand holding bottle closeup -

- face closeup -

Uploaded many photos today…hope you all enjoying reading…I hope this serves as a good growing memory of Megumi… God bless and good night…

2.42am, Saijo, Hiroshima, Japan.

Previously I thought ASKA Tripper V is just having a white box packaging as stated in my First Impression post. Which is quite unprofessional and not so appealing for such a high end and expensive product.

I WAS WRONG!

Today I received the stock that I ordered from ASKA (SHASHINKI is ASKA Official Dealer in Malaysia). I ordered the 120GB in quantity, which I think is the best value for money as compared to the 160GB version. Here’s the photo of the nice REAL packaging of ASKA Tripper V, which is actually very professionally designed, and they even have the 120GB stated on the box. Officially ASKA only selling 120GB and 160GB to dealers.

I can only say that the box can only be BETTER design than the Epson P-5000 and P-3000 (made in China). Very nice quality, matches the product (ASKA Tripper V) inside. Read More

We often hear the term “grey product” when shopping online, especially in USA shops.

What is GREY PRODUCT? Why USA shops use the word GREY for their parallel import products? The reason is simple: because the origin of the product is unknown, hence making it a grey (not white not black) product with unknown origin. In USA, shops will not tell you where their grey products came from. It can be China, Japan, Hong Kong…etc., unknown.

ShaShinKi.com parallel import products are official from Japan, I stated it clearly. You know the origin, you will have the Japan warranty card (sometimes no), Japanese menu…etc. That is why it is not called as grey product. If you know the origin of a product, you can’t call it grey set anymore.

When you go shopping oversea and bought a DSLR from say Singapore shop, do you call it a grey product? NO, because it is an official product in Singapore and you have all the document and you know the origin of the product.

People nowadays like to use GREY PRODUCT name too simply without knowing what they are talking about…hope this post will clear the cloud and give GREY a clearer definition.

Embassy of Malaysia in Tokyo, Japan

Malaysia government official website for foreign embassy:
http://www.kln.gov.my/perwakilan/tokyo

ASKA Tripper V biggest target is Epson P-5000 potential buyer, so I did a comparison in size of weight of the two products.

The photo below shows the plan view of the two products based on their specifications dimensions:

In terms of weight (both with battery and HDD):

• ASKA Tripper V = 370g (very accurate weight, I personally measured it with my digital weight meter)
• Epson P-5000 = 430g Read More

Part TWO from me.

Here’s some views from various angles of the ASKA Tripper V.

Made in Japan product. Input power is 5V, but the power adapter provided is 100-240V worldwide compatible, so no worry when traveling oversea and charge the Tripper V in country that uses 100V or 240V power voltage. Tripper V is said to have 70GB download capability from one full charge of battery. Read More

This should be the world’s FIRST ASKA Tripper V review in English. I couldn’t find much information about this product in the net…as I have posted in here. So I took the chance to order one unit for myself…as I plan to sell and offer this product to the world at ShaShinKi.com, so must try and test it out myself first.

I just received my ASKA Tripper V this morning! What a surprise! I thought it will never came…thought of dropping an email to the supplier already. The ASKA Tripper V came in an envelope style of packaging. Knowing how Japanese handle their parcels with care, I have no worry. Pierce open the envelope and I saw a big white box inside. Yeah, no printing or marking at all, just plain white box. Read More

Sharing a photo I took some time ago at my English Pastor’s house:

Aska Japan has introduced a new PSD (Photo Storage Device) ~ Aska Tripper V. Available in 40GB, 80GB, 120GB and 160GB version. 40GB and 80GB are limited edition only available direct purchase from Aska website, while 120GB and 160GB are available from big stores in Japan.

I tried search for reviews or information online on this product, but couldn’t find any except the “news release”. There is however an interesting comparison of various PSD speed and specs at:

http://www.photozone.de/2Equipment/portableHD.htm

Download speed from memory card is an impressive 10MB/s speed, versus Epson P-5000 of 7MB/s. So, theoretically it is 30% faster than the Epson P-5000. Read More

Japan is a country that have sufficient rice to supply for the whole nation. Japanese are very proud of their rice, which is of very good taste.

You can see paddy field almost everywhere in Japan, even in the city area. When there is a small land, even if it is of a house size, they will make grow paddy field on it.

Here’s a view from the balcony of my 9th floor apartment. All those bright shinny greens are paddy fields.

09 August 2007, Summer.