Product Preview - Olympus OM-D

Finally I have seen the Olympus OM-D  the most talk about camera by my Photography buddies lately. The OM-D is a new mirrorless digital interchangeable lens camera, another micro forth third camera beside the PEN Series. Thank to Olympus Malaysia organizing a product preview session on this camera for its die-hard fans on 18 February 2012 at Fullhouse, Sunway Geza Mall.  Everyone were on time and eagerly wanted to "molest" this new camera. The OM-D are smaller than I thought. the size is like PEN EP3 with slightly taller as the top mounted with electronic view finder.   

OM-D has the best size that we want. Generally, we love PEN Series camera because of the light and compact body. The camera is easy to be carried around especially during trip or street shooting. 

The design of the OM-D remains the retro look, just like its parent or great grand parents camera, the retro look is one of my preference, my blood pressure and heart pumping faster when looking at those beautiful camera ....

Wow !!... Aren't they simply look gorgeous  !!

The key features of the OM-D are fantastic, I love the fastest auto focus, it is important for me when I capture street shooting, the touch screen just like EP3 where you can just touch on the  areas on the screen that you want to focus, the camera immediately capture the photo. Beside the fast auto focus, build in EVF in the camera is a cool thing that do, that what I want  ... 

I was told that the OM-D will only reach Malaysia in the end of March or beginning April .. some of my Pen Lovers who are eagerly wanting to buy have to wait for this camera loh. They have been talking about it even more, look like it is going to be many sleepless nights for certain people ...... til the product hits the market ... Ha Ha Ha!!~~

For time being, we can embrace the miniature OM-D that Olympus had given us as door gift .... maybe it would help to make you sleep better .... hahahaha

Door Gift - Miniature OM Camera with two lenses

The end.

  

My New Olympus 45mm F1.8 Lens

Poison – can kill.

But Poison in term of photography enthusiast is not to kill but worse than that ….

It means "buy buy buy" !!

“What am I talking about?”

Yes, this is the common jargon that we used to tease our fellow buddies when one is being influenced by another person thinking to buy some new camera gears such as lenses, accessories etc. 

When one said something in the FB that he is interested in something, the rest of us will response by encourage him to “buy, buy, buy” the thing!! So, ended up the person will buy the thing finally.

The best way for not being “poison” is to practice “See no evil, think no evil” ……. If you don’t see it, the desire won’t be awakening. 

However…. Can you really stand it?! I think chopping off finger also doesn’t work. 

With the recent launch of Olympus 45mm f1.8 prime lens, many of us have been poisoned by those who bought it earlier. Special thank to people like Yeow, Robin, KY and also some Pen buddies …. With their persistence, intentionally or unintentionally, they kept telling us how good the 45mm lens is. They post many beautiful photos using 45mm lens in FB or their blogs, it makes you crazy about it. They are “so kind” to let you try and play with it … Once you accepted their offer … THAT IT!! NO TURNING BACK! YOU HAVE BEEN POISONED!!

Below is one of the photo I took using Yeow’s Olympus 45mm f1.8 lens, photo taken on Yeow himself, look at the result …. Beautiful isn’t it? (Tricia see this photo, immediate wanted to “BAU” him… wakakakakaka … LOL)

Capture using EPL2 with 45mm f1.8 Lens (in low light condition without flash)

I keep my desire deep-deep into my heart, try not to spend any money .... but Today! OH!~

Today, I ended up in Mid-Valley Shopping Mall visiting Olympus Product Road Show. I decided to drop-by at one of the Olympus shop in Mid-Valley to check out the 45mm f1.8 Lens … In fact, the shopkeeper didn't even push hard on the product, I already being “sold” mentally by my Pen buddies.

Capture Using EPL2 with 45mm f1.8 Lens

The 45 mm lens is made for portrait shooting. It is perfect for portrait shooting. However, for Macro shot, it is not suitable, this is due to the nearest distance from the object to the camera is 1.64ft. Then I recalled that the lens diameter is suitable for the macro converter lens … so I asked the shopkeeper for trying, after I had hooked up the macro converter, wow!! The result was fantastic, I think I can get as near very near from the subject.

Without hesitation, I bought both the 45mm Lens with the Macro Converter Lens.

I tried to take a few photos using the 45mm Lens with Marco Converter at my Pentax CCTV Lens and I truly love the result. It's awesome as blurring effect had made the lens like floating on the air ...

I really love the blur background, my CCTV Lens like floating

My journey of buying did not end there, I was having a good time checking and admiring display of camera in Olympus Booth. There are many skin designs on Pen Cameras at Roadshow Booth. Some camera skins are so beautiful and cool. I have taken photos to share with you …. It is really fun to look at those cool designs.

At the end of the day, My beloved Pen have changed a new cloth, it looks wild, sexy and extraordinary.

My EPL2 with new skin

Now, I think I need GREAT COURAGE to take my camera out as this is too sexy for a Man to carry around ..... Hahahaha.

The End.

Olympus Users' Gathering for PEN EP3

Olympus launched their new product PEN EP3 on 30 June 2011 last month. I was invited by Olympus to attend their Users’ Gathering at Fullhouse, Sunway Giza on 16 July 2011. It was a great gathering whereby I have a chance to meet up many PEN USERS who used to chat or communicate in facebook but now we are actually meeting face to face and acknowledge each other physical appearance as human and not something digital in facebook…. Hee hee!!

Before the gathering, some of us even took the opportunity to have breakfast together at Paparich …

At Fullhouse, we were greeted by friendly Olympus staff, look how warm and friendly Phoebe (right) welcoming us!! Off course the K-poh Jamieh (left) was given us a bigger huge !! Ha Ha!!~

Taken with EPL2 with Art Filter - Soft Focus

After registration, we were given a piece of paper which printed, “It’s Love, it’s Pen”

This is too much, Pen camera has built in SKII, it made my skin so damn smooth ... walaueh!~

Wow, that piece of paper was a door gift coupon and can be exchanged for a special gift from Olympus ... See !!

It is a miniature pen camera with two exchangeable lenses …. Isn’t that cool!

The objective of Pen Users Gathering is to brief us the features of the newly launched Pen EP3. The presentation started by the Olympus General Manager, Mr Kee Nyap, a young and energetic guy who is also very friendly to all of us. The presentation was simple but very informative. It was presented in point form which straight to the point. Later followed by Robin Wong who claimed as non-professional photographer but no one is agreeing with him … hahahah, he was just too humble, this is because the photos that he had taken (www.robinwong.blogspot.com) are much better than many so called professional. Last but not least, the Pen Lovers founder, Koon Yik who has shared some of his experiences of using the new EP3. All of them had given a great and wonderful sharing and advise to us.

I called this type of sharing as poisonous sharing because they are very contagious, the feeling of "buy buy buy" are so strong. The EP3 is a fantastic product; the fast auto focus is unbelievable fast, we have tested onsite and no one had disputed about it. Robin did say it is real good for street shooting because even the subject matters notice you are taking their photo, but they couldn’t even reacted, you have finished taken their photo. “Wow!!” is the only word I can think off.

Robin Wong

Koon Yik Chin

The 12mm lens with f2 also another poisonous lens, deep inside me wanted so much. … Ah yai, expensive hor!! So, control control control … nice to see, nice to try, nice to hold, once you are not careful, you will be ended one at home …….hahaha, LOLs!!~ and Olympus will be laughing all the way to the bank with your money !!

I purposely don't want to post the photo of the 12 mm lens here, so that "see no evil, think no evil" LOLs ...

But for those who are looking for a good camera with good lens, but thinking other brands are better, you better give a look at the EP3, because you don’t know what you have missed!!

It was a fun session; beside listening to the sharing, we have the opportunity to meet up and chit chat with some old friends, some are “long time no see”, and also meeting some new friends ……

A long time no see friend :)

It's like a big family …. Especially when you join the famous PEN LOVERS in facebook, you started to be able to know friends who have the common interest and you also have the opportunity to share your photo with them and learn from other sifu around in the group.


The end.

Olympus, My Poison or Antidote?

I am “whole life” buying Olympus … Yes, no joke!!

(Please don’t think Olympus have paid me to write this blog) Ok!!

Well, at least is true up to this point of time. I am not sure in future. So far, I have six cameras in life and all of them are Olympus made. From the first camera, a film camera was also from Olympus until my current camera, an Olympus PEN EPL-2.

“Why?” some K-poh would ask.

Honestly, I don’t know why.

Every time I wanted to change my camera, toward the end, I went home with Olympus. I remember there were a few occasions, I was comparing a few brands but I ended up buying Olympus. Nobody pokes me to buy or influence by friends who used Olympus or had threaten me …. But I just decided to buy Olympus camera … emm!!?

Why ? Why ? Why?

I still remember when I wanted to invest into a better camera (instead of compact camera.) I was thinking to get a DSLR camera; People told me the best DSLR camera is either Canon or Nikon. So, in one of the Merchant Fair, I am so prepare to buy the Nikon 3100 which I have checked a few times already …. (money is so ready, too bad, they failed to win my “buy”)

Cut the story short I ended up with Olympus again!! I bought PEN EPL1 !! (before I upgrade to EPL-2)

Olympus again!!? How come plan to buy Nikon but ended up with Olympus …..

I must have been “Cham” by Olympus Poison Poison!! Any Oly Antidote? LOL

Even, after I reached home I felt a bit regret that I didn’t buy the Nikon 3100 ….

hehehehe …

Nevertheless, now I reflect back, I am not regret that I bought Olympus PEN … I love the PEN because it is compact and light weight but producing DSLR quality photo … The most important is I got to know a bunch of PEN Lovers who are using Olympus PEN. I am getting more active into photography with this group. Prior to that, I don’t even know the different between DSLR and Micro Forth Third … not to mentioned all those alien words like aperture, ISO , metering and all those lenses type … Gosh! So Crazy !! It is so confusing ….

But through PEN Lovers, I started to pick up knowledge about photography and it gave me many opportunities to learn about camera, lenses and such. I started to join them for T.T, a photo-walk around activities at street or certain location that we do one thing together, i.e, take photograph. I am also actively share my photo in facebook or flickr so that others can comment on my photo …Don’t under estimate this process as this is the best way to learn and improve our photo shooting skills.

I never thought I would set foot into Olympus office and meet the Managing Director and General Manager. For me, they are up up up up out there, in the planet MARS. I can only think of the reason for me to go Olympus office is the time I want to send my camera for service, but is only services center and not the corporate office :)

But last Saturday, with the help and initiative from the PEN Lovers founder, Koon Yik Chin, we have the opportunity to visit Olympus new office at One Mount Kiara and meet up with the MD and GM. 

We are glad that Olympus had given such a recognition to PEN Lovers. We appreciated Olympus allowing us to use their conference facilities to conduct our owned training session. Even the PEN Lovers' Signature Poster was hanged in their new conference room …

It is indeed a solid recognition to all the PEN users and we are truly appreciated for the support from Olympus.

Time is getting late and time for me to chow!! I will cover the Olympus Buddies T.T @ Olympus office in my next post … okay? 

Hahaha, stay tune if you are interested! 

BYE!!

(You may check my previous blog post on the purchase of PEN, click here).

P.S. Oh!! Forgot! Is Olympus a Poison or Antidote for me?

Well, I would like to answer ......

"Olympus is Poison to my Wallet but is an Antidote for my Stressful Life, with Olympus I can paint my life with many exciting colors   .....  "

The Return of My Luv

It has been a long farewell with my luv, people said time is the best remedy to forget the pain of loosing something important in our heart. But each and every day, time passes-by but the lonesomeness remains there; the lost of pain gobble the heart and made many sleepless nights ….. Deep inside, the heart is howling out many times … calling you … but you remain unanswered……

Why ? Why ? Why ?

Who is so crudely separated me from you? Is it intention or just an accident?

I do not have answer….

Though you know but I know you can't tell me now.

Mother of a missing child could lodge police report and get everyone in public to help her. Owner of missing pets can print posters and paste everywhere hoping some kind hearted people would find their pets.

But, missing you, I am so helpless. What can I do to get you back?

Although I have tried to look for replacements of luv … but they are not you. I could not find the same passion that in you in other places. Yes, some of them could be more beautiful or even better … but maybe the chemistry is not right. My heart remained lonesome ….. I cannot forget the wonderful and sensation images after going through your loving body … They are simply awesome and no replacement.

Finally, I decided I want you back, my heart yell for the return of you … I don't care, I can't wait anymore …

I believe only "you" can replace the loss of "you". There is no other replacement in the world. No matter how much it cost me … I still "willing" …

Yes …

No regret!!

No return!!

No more waiting!!

No more searching around!!

Enough is enough!!

.................................................................................................

Therefore, on 13 May 2011, after loosing you for 20 days, I walked into a shop and buy a panny back.

The Panasonic 20mm f1.7 Pancake lens …

Hahahaha .. this is my luv …LOLz..

I am happy now and like many prince and princess stories, from now onward, they are living in the castle happily ever after ….

The End

See also the earlier post on farewell lettle to my panny ... click here

A Farewell Letter to my Pany

My TT (Photowalk Session) at Ipoh is almost near perfection if I didn't lost my Panasonic 20mm f1.7 lens. I have no idea how it got missing? Could it dropped some where when I walked around, or could I leave it some place and forgotten to pick it up?  The worst, could it be taken by someone? (Bless you if you really did that!!)

Nevertheless, only when lost something or someone that important in life, then we realize many things we have taken for granted.

I should have bought good cameras bag with compartmentalize design which gives better storage space for my lenses, it eliminates the opportunity of dropping out accidentally. But because I wanted to save cost, I ended up losing more……

I should have checked my lenses each time I took it out, but many a time, I took for granted and assuming it always be there for me …

If I have been more diligent in my properties, I would have eliminated the possibility of losing it …

What good is it to think  . . . .

"If I …" or "I should have ...."

Someone did say this (or I am the one who say)  . . . .

"If the old doesn't go, the new will never comes!!"

Walau-er !! I want to knock whoever said that …. the problem is my lens is brand new which is less than 6 months and if you know lenses, you would know how much it cost !!!

Anyway what good is it to say more?
 

Last thing that I can do it to write a goodbye letter to my lost (be loved) lens

…………………………………………………………………………………..

"Dear Pany Lens …

You departed me sooner than expected. I know everything in this world is perishable in time, but you are leaving me too soon. Yes! is damned too soon …..  Well, no point grieving about it, time to put down, time to forget, time to let you go and let my mind rest in peace. You are good companion and the only regret is that I did not use you often and did not even use you in my Ipoh TT … what a mistake I had done for letting you alone … (you protested is it by MIA from me!? Goash!! )
 

Well, you have served your purpose by bringing me many nice photos though it was a short time …. I truly missed the Bokeh that you bring me, Things becoming so attractive and beautiful through your body … I missed you .....

Lastly, I just want to say thank you.

Regards, your owner"

…………………………………………………………………………………

Okay, Done!!
 
Time to look for a new lens !!!!!!! Hahahaha .....

"in mind shouted BUY BUY BUY ...."

"pocket shouted NO NO NO ...."

Herrrr~~~~!

Yeow and his Leica M6, the virgin apperance

The other day I blog about I’m going for a Yam Char time with a few friends from PEN LOVERS group…

Well, just want to let you know I have a wonderful time with these big boys (I don’t like to call them man because it sound so old … LOL), after all most of them are still young, some not even married … I like to hang out with them because at least I would feel a bit younger when stay longer with them…. hahaha..

We stayed up to 1 am at the morning before we departed.

“Walaua, so much to talk meh?”

You might think only girls would have a lot to gossip, right? Hehehe, but I think guys too, as long as they have common topic …

What else is our common topic? Off course camera loh

We are a group of photography enthusiast, in most gathering, we usually non-stop talking about photography, sharing notes or k-poh this or that about lenses …

That night, all of us are very high, because we all got arouse by Yeow’s virgin appearance ….

Ops, sorry, hehehehe … No Yeow virgin appearance but rather his newly bought “LEICA M6” virgin appearance!!

As a newbee in photography, for me a Leica or Laila is not much the different … hahaha. I think some of my friends read this blog would vomit blood and knock my head, LOL. Anyway, according to my friends, Leica is like a Roll-Royce among all the cars. Wow, sound big hor. So, later I Google in the internet and found out that Leica is the only film camera that is still in production since 1950s. It is rangefinder camera that the focus using dual-image range finding devise (sound technical… hor hor hor) and it is Germany technology which produce very sharp images. Until today, it is still popular in demand (which mean value never drop but increase) and always be the most expensive camera.

After reading a few blogs that talked about this…. I think all the Leica owners are very proud to have a unit ….

Not excluding our super friendly Yeow, he is damned high on that night after he showing us his new wife … the Leica M6 …. if you don’t believe, let check out some of the photo as below…

Look at this beauty ...

Look how happy Yeow is ......

I think he is unable to sleep liau ... keep telling people what he got..

Other buddies also got excited liau ... the Leica becoming the center of attraction.

Click Clark ... Click Clark ~ ~

Camera War - Germany vs Japanese .... (Rangefinders vs PEN Micro 4/3)

So, I think Yeow cannot sleep tonight because he is going to think of TT (photowalk) session tomorrow. Hope he can enjoy himself with his new wify .... and make many babies .. ops! I mean take many photos... 

As for me, I am going to work work work tomorrow ... :( 

Even after work, I have to attend another meeting at church ..... :(


Hor ! ..... my life isn't mine entirely ... >_

My New Toy - Olympus E-PL1

All these years, I'm using Olympus compact digital cameras. Despite many times I changed camera; I stick back to Point-n-shoot camera because it is rather convenient and hassle free to operate.
 
Lately, I admire many nice photographs on the internet posts. Those photographs are so beautiful. No matter how I tried using my existing camera, I couldn't get the same result. So, I decided to "indulge" myself with a  better and more expensive camera - DSLR camera.

But again, there are so many DSLR branded cameras in town, such as Nikon, Canon, Sony etc . Which one is suitable? I’m searching around for a while, I meet many promoters but they are either impatient or lack of knowledge about the camera, I ended up with disappointment.

This is the lady promoter that I mentioned in my blog

Only recently, I met a lady promoter who is selling Olympus and she managed to explain the functions of the camera clearly. At the end of the presentation, I already know almost 80% of the camera. She is not just keen in selling the camera, but she was rather patience to teach me how to use the camera. I was glad of her service and bought the Olympus E-PL1. 

Although it is not a full DSLR version, it is something in between of DSLR and Point-n-shot camera. It is new hybrid camera that has Micro Four Thirds with mirrorless interchangeable lens. It produces quality pictures comparable to some of the expensive DSLR camera. But most important, is the service level that influence me to purchase it.

Yesterday’s night, I attended to photograph training session organized by Olympus and glad to meet up with the trainer - David Chua, a renowned professional photographer.  Although within short time of two and half hours session, he taught me quit a bit about professional photography. I realized it is not easy and quite techniques to shoot a nice photo. I appreciate his help and I added him to my facebook. I hope I learn more from him in the future.

Wow, can’t wait to try some of his ideas in photo shooting, will share with you in my future blog.