SHUTTER JOURNEY SINGAPORE

ourshutterjourney.com Year Awards 2012/ 2013

Posted on June 11, 2013 by Editor AL

11th June 2013, Singapore – ourshutterjourney.com Year Awards 2012/ 2013 is here!
We will like to take this opportunity to thank all our readers, followers, members, supporting merchants for making ourshutterjourney.com one of the most read photography site in Singapore!

Now, let’s hear it from you – the reader! And 02 x readers will stand to win a $100 NTUC Fairprice Voucher** each!

How to participate:
1) Answer the below questions and email your answers to sjscontest@live.com with subject “SJS Year Awards 2012/2013.
2) There is no right or wrong answers, just answer every questions and you will be eligible to win.
3) Winners will be randomly picked from the eligible list and will be notified.
4) Please include your full name, contact number in the email.
5) All emails must reach us by 15th June 2013 midnight.

It’s that simple! Join Now!

Question 1: How Many Cameras do you own? (Please List Brand & Model)
Question 2: How Many Lenses do you own? (Please List Brand & Model)
Question 3: How many Brands of equipment do you own? (List the Brands)
Question 4: Regardless of brand, Which is your favorite walkabout lens?
Question 5: Regardless of brand, Which is your favorite wide angle lens?
Question 6: Regardless of brand, Which is your favorite telephoto lens?
Question 7: Regardless of brand, Which is your favorite prime lens?
Question 8: Regardless of brand, Which is your favorite macro lens?
Question 9: Regardless of brand & focal length, which lens is your dream lens?
Question 10: Regardless of brand, which lens will you be purchasing next?
Question 11: List your top 3 favorite camera dealers (shops) name. (1. Most favorite, 2. 2nd best choice favorite & 3. just favorite)
Question 12: How many Sigma reviews have you read on ourshutterjourney.com?
Question 13: How many Pentax reviews are there on ourshutterjourney.com?
Question 14: How many Review Editors are there on ourshutterjourney.com?

Email your answers from Question 1 to 14 to sjscontest@live.com by 15th June 2013 midnight.
Results will be published on 16th June 2013.

Once again, thank you everyone. We wouldn’t have come this far without the support from each & everyone of you.

Have fun answering the questions & Good Luck Everyone!
Ed.

** Prizes Kindly Sponsored by Audio & Photo Distributor (F.E.) Pte Ltd & Sigma Marketing Singapore Pte Ltd.

Posted in Brand: Canon, Brand: Nikon, Brand: Olympus, Brand: Others (Cosina, Carl Zeiss, Leica, Mamiya, Samyang, Vivitar, Zenitar,etc), Brand: Pentax, Brand: Sigma, Brand: Sony, Brand: Tamron, Brand: Tokina, Photography Articles & Videos, Photography Contests, Photography Courses & Events, Uncategorized | Tagged Contest, Photography Contest, SJS Year Awards, Year Awards | 1 Comment

Featured Photography Group – Mentorgraphians

Posted on June 7, 2013 by Editor AL

Picture: The Mentorgraphians

07th June 2013, Singapore – Kicking off the special series for the month of the June 2013, we will be featuring 4 photography groups weekly for this month. We are opening the series with MENTORGRAPHIANS, an “elusive photography group” – not that the group are secretive or anything, just that the group is not a public group and at most time, members joined by invitations only. Mentorgraphians members are made up of beginners who are just starting out in photography to well known full-time professional photographers. The group has an excellent mix of demographics that will create a great mentoring environment for all the members.

Picture: Photo by Mentorgraphian Calvin Chan for the theme “Depth”.

Founded by Andrew JK Tan, the group was recently formed in March 2013. Andrew is not new to this industry; he is a veteran photographer who has been shooting for more than 30 years while juggling between his full time job as a Business Development Director in the semiconductor industry. These days, he still takes up photography assignments on a freelance basis – but selectively.

Picture: Photo by Mentorgraphian David Wang for the theme “B&W”.

So how did the group started? Andrew shared that readers from his dedicated photography page “Mentorgraphy” had requested to him that a group should be formed and to also create a platform where Andrew can personally mentor, coach and render help to members on anything regarding to photography. To start things off correctly, Andrew had set directives like having a group Vision & Mission to ensure that all members are in line with the group’s values.

Group Vision:
– To be the resource that help transform every MENTORGRAPHIAN into an award winning photographer

Group Mission:
– To provide trusted and proven photography advice to any MENTORGRAPHIAN in need of advice.

Picture: Photo by Mentorgraphian Eddie Seng for the theme “Depth”.

Working on the group with the Vision & Mission in mind, Andrew decided that this should be a closed group for a start – that is why photographers were invited to the group by invitation-only. In a real positive way, this means the group can be technically smaller and easier to manage. This also realistically allows Andrew to answer and critique every image submitted by members. Small is an understatement here as the MENTORGRAPHIANS is now a 160+ members strong photography group.

Picture: Photo by Mentorgraphian Joanna Ng for the theme “Depth”.

The group excels in various photography genres but there are also many very capable Landscape, Macro and Street photographers in this group, the group consists of members that are “experts” in almost every genre of photography and Andrew strongly promote and encourage the members to experience every genre of photography. He even started an initiative for his members recently to help them excel in their photography.

Picture: Sports Photo by Andrew JK Tan

Called the “Weekly Mini-Challenge”, Andrew will decide on a photography theme and the members will be given 1 week to shoot & upload their images (there is no limit to the number of images to upload) according to the theme. To help the members out, Andrew will personally share a couple of photo examples on the selected theme to encourage the members especially the beginners. This is really an open invitation (and a cover) for members to try every genre of photography over time. Mentorgraphians are currently into their 10th Mini weekly challenge and the responses fantastic. The recently ended challenge #9 with the theme “Black & White” attracted more that 65 images submissions from the members. And the submission does not end there; Andrew will personally critique each image focusing on the various ways to improve the member’s image further!

Picture: Portraiture Photo by Andrew JK Tan

When asked if the group had made a difference to the members, Andrew admitted that Mentorgraphians had served and still serving its purpose. Judging from the fantastic interaction he get from the many members that actively participate in providing commentary and critique, the high participation rate in the Mini Weekly Challenges (averaging at least 40+ entries per challenge) and the fact that the members are trying genres of photography which they do not normally do. This is more than just making a difference; this is more like impacting the members in a much greater way. Since the group started (March 2013), Andrew had personally commented and critiqued 300+ images uploaded by members! And in April, there was a Mentorgraphy Sharing Session held at Marina Bay City Gallery where 40+ Mentorgraphians members attended the 4 hours session!

We have dedicated a few interview questions specially for Andrew as below:

——————————————————————————-
An Interview with Andrew JK Tan, Founder of Mentorgraphians

Picture: Andrew JK Tan, Founder of Mentorgraphians

Ed: How does photography inspires you?

Andrew: Photography is a burning passion!!! I have been doing photography for more than 30 years now and in fact I have increased my involvement in photography by trying to “give back” as much knowledge as I can. By starting my dedicated Mentorgraphy page and the Mentorgraphians group is only just the beginning.

Seeing the progress from the photographers that I had mentored and coached through the group activities/events, my photography page and during many occasions when I am shooting together with the members does gives me thrills and satisfaction that I love. The fact that I can help and influence even in the smallest of ways makes all this work and sacrifice worthwhile!!

Picture: Travel Photo by Andrew JK Tan

Ed: How does managing a photo group feels? Any ups & downs?

Andrew: Having went this far, I can only see the UPS!!!! …. I do have to admit that I was initially afraid that members would only sit back, be silent and not participate actively, but my fears was unfounded as the participation rate has been overwhelming and it is consistently increasing.

Ed: How frequently does the group meet up and is there other activity that had
been organized that is non-photography related? Like social events?

Andrew: Since the group was formed in March 2013, we have had 5 photography events and 1 major photography sharing session which I hosted at Marina Bay City Gallery. During the sharing session, I shared my Hokkaido wildlife images and related wildlife photography tips, in addition I had invited a special guest CS Ling, Nikon Singapore’s notable wildlife professional photographer who also came & shared her insights on being a wildlife photographer.

As for social events for the group, Mentorgraphians is still in it’s infancy stage, I am pretty sure we will have some social gatherings very soon.

Picture: Macro Photo by Andrew JK Tan

Ed: In your view, what is the most important element in photography?

Andrew: In my view, there are TWO elements that are of equal importance, the first one is the PASSION for photography. Having the burning passion is vital in ensuring the persistence, the self-motivation to continually learn, practice and spread the wonders of this wonderful hobby. The second element which is of equal importance is CAPTURING THE LIGHT which is essential in creating a photograph……..without LIGHT & without PASSION (photographers) beautiful & meaningful photography would cease to exist.

Ed: In the diversified and sometimes complicated circle of photography, have you met good people as well as bad people?

Andrew: I have been involved in photography for over 30 years, I must have been very fortunate as I have only met good people. I have not met a single “bad” person in the circle of photography. However, I must admit that I had met many overly-competitive photographers who at times can be very protective and defensive. Then again, if a person is good at the craft, the quality of one’s images and the professionalism of a responsible photographer will still prevails and be recognized by all.

Picture: Landscape Photo by Andrew JK Tan

Ed: Please describe the relationship among you & your photography members in 01 sentence.

Andrew: We are ONE BIG CLOSELY KNITTED FAMILY that fully supports each other.

Ed: Is there any Allied photography group that your group associates with?
Any rival groups?

Andrew: So far Mentorgraphians is not associated to any other photography groups. I do not rule out any future association with other photography groups and I also do not view any other groups as rivals. At the most I will refer all other photography group as “friendly competition”. Every group needs some form of competition to continuously improve.

Picture: Creative Photo by Andrew JK Tan

Ed: Is there a person/ group that inspires your group?

Andrew: I have to say NO to this question for now. Honestly I am glad that there isn’t one, I truly want my group to form our own identity and not be influenced too much by another person. I want to form and mold a group with members that are self-motivating, independent and yet willing to help a fellow member or for that matter, any other photographer freely.

The other aspect that I am really proud of this group so far is the absence of any discussions on the topics of photographic hard wares or the photographer’s individual merits. Mentorgraphians is just focused purely on photography.

Picture: Nature Photo by Andrew JK Tan

Ed: What visions & dreams do you have for your photo group?

Andrew: I have mentioned this to my photography friends numerous times. There have been occasions where photographers have questioned my motivation for the selfless sharing; some believes that there could be some ulterior motives when in fact there is none. The following is my yardstick of a successful photographer: “The success of a photographer is NOT measured by how many awards that photographer has garnered, but by how many award-winning photographers he/she has mentored and coached” hence the Vision of this group (see above).

My ultimate dream for this group is for every Mentorgraphians to become a better Mentorgrapher than me and vigorously promote the continued growth of this wonderful hobby by “passing it on” and sharing his/her knowledge to others in need.

Ed: Thank you Andrew for the wonderful and insightful sharing!

Special Thanks to Andrew Tan & Mentorgraphians!
——————————————————————————-
Mentorgraphians are a group of like-minded photographers and artists that have the patience & passion to share, learn, explore and have good fun as they explore the different genres of photography.

Mentorgraphians can be contacted as below:
Group Website: www.facebook.com/groups/mentorgraphians
Group Facebook: mentorgraphians@groups.facebook.com
Group Contact Person: Andrew JK Tan
Group Contact Person Email: Andrew.jktan@yahoo.com

Posted in Featured Photographers, Featured Photography Groups, Photography Articles & Videos, Uncategorized | Tagged Andrew JK Tan, Mentorgraphians, Mentorgraphy, Photography Groups | Leave a comment

Sigma Local Sets vs Sigma “Grey” Sets

Posted on June 4, 2013 by Editor AL

Picture: Local Set vs Grey Set – Can you tell the difference?

4th June 2013, Singapore – Recently there has been spates of incidents where the question of buying original sets (distributed by local Sole distributor) versus grey sets (parallel imported sets) were once again posed to the market and put to the test. So how does buying either one stacks up?

Well, many will ask themselves, is it worth to buy grey sets at a significantly lower price and take the risk of buying a lemon? Or should they buy locally distributed sets as the additional cash paid gives a great peace of mind should anything (touch wood) goes really wrong. What do you think? I guess the answer will be very much each to his/her own.

Let me share an incident that had happened quite a while ago. A buyer walks into a camera store and asked for a lens. Then the buyer bargains and bargains. The shop owners wants the business and what he did was, he took out the Warranty Card from the local set and slipped it into a Grey set box – then sold the lens to the buyer at a really “good” price. The story may have ended there but not in this case. As fate may have it, the set turned out to be a lemon. The lens keep focusing front back erratically. The buyer decided to bring the lens to the local service centre.

At the service centre, after letting the customer officer checked the lens, the lens had to be “admitted” for checking by the technician so the procedure of registering the owners’ particulars started. Then the warranty card was produced. The customer service officer checked the serial number on the lens, then on the warranty card – found that it is not the same and alerted her manager. The manager came, took the lens and went to another computer and entered the serial number, then the manager came back to the buyer and informed him that the lens serial number and the warranty card does not matched. And from the system, the lens was also not from Singapore but from Myamar. The buyer flew into a rage. But left the centre after the manager informed him that they will still repair the lens for him – at a cost.

Naturally, the buyer call up the shop where he bought the lens and questioned the shop owner. The shop owner simply told the buyer that since he (buyer) wants it cheap, he sold him cheap, everything else is not his problem – then the line went dead. And what happened to the local set that has no more warrranty paper inside the box? Well, the shop owner had called the distributor and claimed that the lenses delivered to his shop were without warranty papers right after he sold that lemon lens. A set of warrranty cards were sent to him hours later following his call.

Who is at fault here? The person selling the grey set? The buyer that went cheapo commando? The distributor that replaces the warranty cards too easily? Or is it market forces? I will leave the final answer to be answered by you.

Meantime, the photo at the top shows 2 Sigma consumer lenses. On first look, can you tell which box is from the local distributor and which box is parallel-imported?

Now take a look at the below photo.

Picture: Local Set vs Grey Set – Notice the Box on the left with the Sticker?

The box on the left comes with an additional sticker that says in bold and large font “Sigma 2 years warranty”
with some fine text below it. The box on the right does not have a sticker like this on anywhere of the box.

The truth, local sets (Singapore & Malaysia) comes with this unique sticker, grey sets don’t.

The local distributor for Singapore, Sigma Marketing Pte Ltd shared with us that this sticker is unqiue to Singapore & Malaysia.
This sticker were specially produced and printed & added to all Sigma equipments that are distributed by them before each and every single item leaves the warehouse.

Picture: Local Set distributed by Sigma Marketing Pte Ltd comes with a unique sticker.

Picture: Local Set distributed by Sigma Marketing Pte Ltd enjoys additional 06 months warranty.

To reward local buyers who shuns away from buying grey sets, the fine print on the sticker actually says that
the equipment comes with an additional 06 months waranty, now that is really buying with a peace of mind.

So next time when you are out shopping for Sigma lenses, remember to look out for the sticker. And if the sticker
looks tampered or weird, do call up Sigma Marketing Singapore at 6273 9622 (during Office Hours) to verify if the
Sigma equipment you are about to purchase is a locally distributed set.

And lastly, remember, with demands, comes supply. And the supply can be from various sources.
Happy shopping~!

In Singapore, Sigma cameras & lenses are exclusively distributed by Sigma Marketing Singapore Pte Ltd, a subsidiary of Sigma Japan Corporation.
——————————————————————————————————

Sigma Marketing Singapore Pte Ltd. is a subsidiary of Sigma Japan Corporation.

For more information, please visit http://www.sigma-global.com

Posted in Brand: Sigma, Photography Articles & Videos, Uncategorized | Tagged Sigma | Leave a comment

For Sale: Canon 450D & Canon 500D

Posted on June 4, 2013 by Editor AL

Special Price at the Bottom of Page should buyer takes both!

Name of Item: Canon EOS 450D
Condition: Mint. (Excellent Condition)
Warrranty: No
Other: Original packaging.
Asking price: SGD $250
Email: yyawyong@gmail.com
Mobile: +65 8299 6588
Seller: Adrian
Additional Description:
– Condition 8/10
– ShutterCount Unknown
– Purchased on 25th Dec 2011
– Seldom use because upgraded to 500D after 2 months.
– Full Box with all original accessories
– Giving additional 02 x 3rd party batteries.

Note:
Deal at seller’s convenience.
Overseas Buyers Welcome. Just email seller for shipping charges.

Name of Item: Canon EOS 500D + Grip
Condition: Used. (Good Condition with mild user traces)
Warrranty: No.
Other: Original packaging.
Asking price: SGD $350 for Body + Grip
Email: yyawyong@gmail.com
Mobile: +65 8299 6588
Seller: Adrian
Additional Description:
– Condition 7/10
– ShutterCount Unknown
– Purchased on 25th Feb 2012
– Seldom use because upgraded to 500D after 2 months.
– Full Box with all original accessories
– Giving additional 02 x 3rd party batteries.

Note:
Deal at seller’s convenience.
Overseas Buyers Welcome. Just email seller for shipping charges.

SPECIAL!!!
Seller is offering Both Cameras above for SGD $500 (You save $100!)

______________________________________________

Got an equipment to sell?
We have an average of 17,000 visitors on a weekly basis and 95% of our readers are photographers like you.
With a reach stretching from Singapore to USA, you can be sure your ads is read by the right people, every time.
Find out more how to place an ad here.

Posted in Brand: Canon, Photography Buy & Sell | Tagged Buy & Sell, Canon | Leave a comment

Nikon Singapore Moves Operation to New Location. (with Editor’s Notes)

Posted on June 3, 2013 by Editor AL

Nikon had announced on 20th May 2013 that they are moving their operations out of Fuji Xerox Tower and will start operating from their new Capital Square from 10th June 2013.

Nikon Singapore’s new office will be as followed;

Nikon Singapore Pte Ltd (Office)
23 Church Street
#13-07 Capital Square
Singapore 049481

Nikon Customer Service Centre / Nikon Showroom
23 Church Street
#13-03/04 Capital Square
Singapore 049481

—————————————————-

Editor’s Note:

I have had photography students switching systems due to the “not-so-friendly” location of service centres and moving to other brands
just because the brand’s service centre is easier to access, outside town, near MRT, etc.

While this may come across to you as a joke – as people should be looking at what a system can do for the user
rather than the location of the service centre. Sadly – but in Singapore context, we are sort of “cultured” differently.
Parking rates, ERP charges (means you have to pay to drive into city during certain time of the day) does puts people off.
And it will not help if the location is more than 5 minutes walk away from any MRT stations or far away from the nearest bus stops.
Almost forgot to mention that high parking charges does puts people who drives too.

Well, I hope that all of the above that I mentioned will not determine the buying decision of the consumers, but trust me, it will, in a way affect how a consumer (in Singapore) will react given the additional trouble that one had to take just to get a camera or lens serviced.
While photographers in other countries have no issue driving 40 miles away to get to a service centre, 40 minutes to get to a service centre sure puts many off. Different country, different standards – so don’t slam me for this.

I have compiled a list of service centres below for everyone’s reference.
(In Alphabetical Order)

Canon Singapore – Keppel Bay Tower (Outside but near CBD)/ 10 mins walk from Harbourfront MRT)
Nikon Singapore – Fuji Xerox Tower (Inside CBD/ 20 mins walk from Tanjong Pagar MRT) *Current Office
Nikon Singapore – Capital Square (Inside CBD/ 15 mins walk from Raffles Place MRT/ Telok Ayer MRT) *New Office
Olympus Singapore – Valley Point (River Valley/ Outside CBD/ 20 mins walk from Tiong Bahru MRT)
Panasonic Singapore – Bedok South (Outside CBD/ 15 mins walk from Bedok MRT)
Pentax Singapore (APD Singapore) – Bukit Merah e-Centre (Outside CBD/ 20 mins walk from Redhill MRT.)
Ricoh Singapore (APD Singapore) – Bukit Merah e-Centre (Outside CBD/ 20 mins walk from Redhill MRT.)
Samsung Singapore – Orchard Road (Inside CBD/ 5 mins walk from Dhoby Ghaut MRT)
Sigma Singapore – Bukit Merah e-Centre (Outside CBD/ 20 mins walk from Redhill MRT.)
Sony Singapore – Wisma Atria (Inside CBD/ 5 mins walk from Orchard MRT)
Tamron Singapore (JEL) – Changi North Way (Outside CBD/ Takes forever to walk from Simei MRT or Expo MRT or Changi Airport MRT)
Tokina Singapore (Cathay Photo) – Tan Book Liat (Outside CBD/ 15 mins walk from Tiong Bahru MRT)

** The above list is correct at the time of publishing.
** All distance covered & traveling time calculated is based on google maps.

June 2013 Special Feature Series – Photography Groups

Posted on June 3, 2013 by Editor AL

03rd June, Singapore – In the month of June 2013, we have the privilege of interviewing a few reputable photography groups in Singapore.

In the tiny photography circle on the local scene, it is better to have allied groups working for the common good of the photography industry in their own way rather than to have divisive & aggressive groups amongst us. The selected featured photography groups were selected based on their selfless contribution to photographers of all levels (from beginners to professionals), the effective way of running the group, a common group of people grouped together for their passion, their activities and their specialties.

We are pleased to announce that we will be featuring the below groups with the date to be published.

Week 1: 07th June 2013 – Mentorgraphians
Week 2: 14th June 2013 – Landscape Hunters Asia
Week 3: 21st June 2013 – Westshooterz
Week 4: 28th June 2013 – Photography Khaki

So look out out for the featured interviews!

If you are keen to have your group featured, please email to media_world@live.com

CLICK!

Ed.

Posted in Featured Photographers, Featured Photography Groups, Photography Articles & Videos, Uncategorized | Tagged Featured Photographer, Featured Photography Group | Leave a comment

Industry Voices – Compiled

Posted on June 2, 2013 by Editor AL

A collection of quotes from whatapps messages sent to me by my friends & students, from forwarded emails, facebook pages, etc.

Disclaimer:
All the contents below did not originated from me.
All original Authors name had been withheld to protect their identity.
All contents below are for sharing and entertainment, not targeted at anyone, any company, anything.

Voices:

1) “Why buy T*mron when you can afford Sigm*?”
– Tan XX XXX

2) “Looking for free photographers to cover a charity event…”
– Shu XXX

3) “That shop selling this lens at $4XXX, you had been doped. I got it at $5 cheaper.”
– Lim XXX XX

4) “Pentax is an excellent system, but too expensive in Singapore.”
– XX Sim

5) “No lah, C*non system better. You sure you did your research? There’s another brand called N*kon you know?”
– “Some Gurus at some online forum.”

6) “I heard that a replacement model is coming out soon”.
– Lim XXX XX

7) “Last time do 1 job rest 1 week, now every week must get job else how to pay bills?”
– Chen XXXX XX

Well, voices are still voices. Everyone still entitles to their own views, what can we say?

If you heard something interesting or ridiculous or funny regarding the photography industry, feel free to email us your discovery!
Photos welcomed too!

Send us at media_world@live.com

Posted in Photography Articles & Videos, Photography Quotes, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Danboarders SG

Posted on June 1, 2013 by Editor AL

1st June 2013, Singapore – A new Facebook Group were formed earlier today dedicating images of everyday life to the Japanese Manga Cardboard Robot Danbo (Japanese: ダンボー). This group aims to bring Danbo owners in Singapore and around the region to share their images of their Danbo figure in everyday life.

Founded by 2 local photographers, the group welcomes anyone who are interested in Danbo to join & share their Danbo images.

Visit Danboarders SG today at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/danboarderssg/

Posted in Featured Photography Groups, Photography Articles & Videos, Uncategorized | Tagged Danbo, Danboarders SG | Leave a comment

Apology to ClubSnap

Posted on June 1, 2013 by Editor AL

In my earlier angered post about my thread being deleted by Clubsnap, I would like to clarify that my anger was directed at the person who reported my thread to the moderators who acted on the report and deleted my thread. The moderator (Albert Lim) had since explained to me that he is acting on the reported thread in line with the forum’s policies at http://www.clubsnap.com which I had also explained that I am not a regular seller thus not familiar with the rules.

As requested, I had removed the earlier article and removed from all shared channels.

I hereby, sincerely apologize to the moderating community of http://www.clubsnap.com and in particular, Mr. Albert Lim
who had been helpful and patience in explaining the policies and helping me to understand.

Sincerely,

Allan LEE
Editor

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Magical Guilin – China 8 nights / 6 days photography trip

Posted on May 28, 2013 by Editor AL

Guilin and its surroundings have many scenic locations, ancient towns, beautiful landscapes and interesting activities.

Huang Yao – an ancient town was built in 927 B.C. It has famous mountains with caves, pavilions, temples, ancestor hills, old trees and tablets. Every corner of the town presents a typically Chinese scene and presents a marvelous photo opportunity.

The Longji terraces area is famous for the excessively large number of terraced rice paddy fields on its mountain, which have created an intricate pattern on the hillsides.

Cormorant fishing is a traditional fishing method in which fishermen use trained cormorants to fish in rivers.

This outing will give photographers abundant subjects to practice the various skill of photography which could not be found in Singapore.

We also have included two photography sessions in the evening, where the expert can teach photographers on the finer scopes of photography and review the photographs taken in the days. So that they can improve and take better photos in the second half of the trip.

Interested?

Book NOW!
Contact Person: Michael Chia
Contact number : 96407261
Email : mcswmike@gmail.com

———————————————————–
Supported by:
ourshutterjourney.com

Posted in Photography Courses & Events, Photography Tours, Uncategorized | Tagged Photography Tours | Leave a comment

Canon EOS 100D – The Baby Rebel

Posted on May 28, 2013 by Editor AL

Originally Posted Canon EOS World.

Canon EOS 100D, the Baby Rebel with the new EF S18-55 IS STM lens

I spent a morning last weekend with Canon’s new hobbyist camera aimed at users who are planning to upgrade from their high-end compacts, and those seeking a “bridge camera” in the form of a mirror-less DLSR-lookalike. Because of its cute and miniature size compared to its other EOS siblings, this camera would likely appeal to the ladies as well.

Although tiny in size and weighing at a mere 370g, this camera is undoubtedly built for performance. It has all the capabilities for serious photography like the Digic 5 processor, a new Hybrid CMOS AF II system with close to 80% coverage, 4 FPS (frames per second) continuous shooting, a formidable ISO management and an intuitive touch screen. Its APS-C sensor also makes it considerably cheaper than full-frame cameras used by professional photographers.

At the time of my review, the EOS 100D is the smallest DSLR in the world. After spending a day with it, I am convinced that the miniaturization has not compromised the camera’s design or layout of the standard dials and buttons. In fact, buttons for easy access to frequently used menus are sensibly placed, making the EOS 100D easy to operate. Those who are new to Canon’s EOS system would find its interface extremely easy to use.

So let’s have a look at the photos that I took during my morning walk with the EOS 100D:

EOS 100D & EF S18-55 IS STM | ISO 400 | F5.6 | 1/1600s

EOS 100D & EF S18-55 IS STM | ISO 400 | F3.5 | 1/4000s

All my photos were shot with Canon’s new EF S18-55 IS STM kit lens. This lens’ fast and quiet focusing powered by a stepper motor is a notch above the competition. I put the camera to the test with some sports photography. Firing a burst of 13 shots on continuous shooting mode at a water-skier nearby, it captured all his actions effortlessly.

EOS 100D & EF S18-55 IS STM | ISO 400 | F/5.6 | 1/1000s

Not only does the EOS 100D produce excellent image quality, its compact size makes it perfect for discreet street photography. Having the EOS 100D as a travel companion saves weight especially for professionals who are inclined to use their Canon EF/ EF-S lenses for travelling. The recommended retail price for the camera and kit lens is S$999. It’s so value for money that I am contemplating to get one to complement my EOS 1D series and EOS 5D series cameras.

Zoom using the EF S18-55 IS STM lens
EOS 100D & EF S18-55 IS STM | ISO 400 | F6.3 | 1/250s

Creative blur effect using the in-camera creative filter
EOS 100D & EF S18-55 IS STM | ISO 400 | F/7.1 | 1/125s

About Canon Singapore Pte Ltd
Canon is a global leader in photographic and digital imaging solutions. Canon Singapore Pte Ltd is the headquarters for South & Southeast Asia driving sales, marketing and service strategies. Besides handling the domestic market, the company leads 18 other countries including subsidiaries in India, Malaysia, Thailandand a representative office in Vietnam. The parent company Canon Inc has a global network of close to 300 companies and employs close to 200,000 people worldwide. It is dedicated to the advancement in technology and innovation and commits about 10% of its total revenue each year to R&D. Canon is consistently one of the top few companies to earn the most number of patents over the last 19 years. As a Fortune Global 500 company, Canon is guided by its kyosei philosophy that focuses on living and working together for the common good.

More information is available at. www.canon.com.sg

Posted in Brand: Canon, Group Test & Reviews, Photography Articles & Videos, Uncategorized | Tagged Canon, DSLR, EOS, EOS World, Gear Review | 2 Comments

ClubSNAP Aventures Photo Trip : Melaka

Posted on May 24, 2013 by Editor AL

Date : 22nd ~ 23rd Jun 2013
Duration : 2 days 1 night
Group Size : 10 pax + 1 organiser + 1 driver
Cost : SGD200 per pax

Highlight
A Famosa (St Paul Hill)
Christ Church
Clock Tower
Melaka River
Floating Mosque
Jonker Street

Full Itinerary
22nd Jun (SAT) – Day 1 (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Depart from Singapore 730am. Breakfast at JB. Drive 3hours to Melaka. Check in hotel, chicken rice ball for lunch. Heritage photo shot at Melaka town. Sunset shot at Floating Mosque. Nyonya food for dinner. Night shot at Melaka river.

23rd Jun (SUN) – Day 2 (Breakfast, Lunch)
After breakfast, street shot at jonker street. Check out at 12pm and heading to Tangkak for the famous beef noodle. Arrive Singapore 530pm.

Packages Include
– 12 seater AC, WiFi, Tourist van for entire trip
– Pick up and return at Kranji MRT station
– 2 x breakfast, 2 x lunch, 1 x dinner
– 1 night stay at 3 star hotel, AC room, twin sharing, WiFi
– Individual Basic single trip travel insurance by AEC

Packages Exclude
– Visa to visit Malaysia if applicable
– Travel insurance
– Additional beverages not covered in the meals

Fitness and Photography Level
– Photography trip for beginner and intermediate
– Able to carry own equipment ; there will be lots of walking at Melaka town

Registration and Payment
– Full payment is required to sign up for the trip

Email mlee8088@hotmail.com for enquiries and registration

———————————————————–
Supported by:
ourshutterjourney.com

Posted in Photography Courses & Events, Photography Tours, Uncategorized | Tagged Photography Tours | 2 Comments

Photography Expedition (6D5N) to Bromo, Ijen & Madura

Posted on May 23, 2013 by Editor AL

Contact Person: SKYimage Usov
Contact: 94515650
Date: 29th Aug to 3rd Sept
Cost: T.B.A
PACKAGE INCLUDES: Tour Bus, Rooms, Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Permit, Entrance Fee, Jeep, Horse Riding, Food, Photography Tips, Drinking Water, Porter Service.
NOT INCLUDES: Travel Airfare, Travel Insurance, Personal Expenses, Airport Tax, Alcohol Drinks.

Note:
~ Itinerary is set in an environment of fresh air & greenary, hence members can expect to take a break from the hustle-bustle of city life.
~ Once the minimum numbers achieve, participants will be CONFIRM ONLY WHEN PAYMENT ARE RECEIVED, made thru Bank Transfer
~ Open only to 18yrs and above- And do check the expiry date of your passport.
~ This is an adventure (extreme/explore/exploit) photography trip
~ Be mentally prepared for lots of trekking
~ Physically fit to carry out personal chores & handling of photographic equipments
~ Food provide are very basic meals.
~ And do check the expiry date of your passport. Preparations
~ Wear light, breathable clothing.
~ Wear appropriate footwear that will support and protect your feet.
~ Wear a hat if much of the walk will be in the open.
~ Bring enough drinking water to last your walk. 1 litre per person per 3 hours is a good estimate.
~ Bring a small easy-to-digest snack to energise yourself.
~ Prepare raingear and plastic bags for electronic and other delicate items.
~ have a good night’s rest, drink plenty of water and have your regular meal.

PROPOSAL TRAVEL ITINERARY (Subjected to changes)

1st Day – 29 August 2013
a. Flight
b. Arrival at Juanda International Airport ( Surabaya )
c. Lunch at the nearest restaurant.
05:00pm > Expected arrival at Bromo, Check-In at Cemara Indah Hotel.
06:00pm > Rest at Cemara Indah Bromo
08:00pm > Dinner at Bromo.
10:00pm > Rest & Sleeping Time or Night Photography.

2nd Day 30 August 2013.
03:00 am > Morning Call.
03:30 am > Move by 4×4 Jeep for Sunrise at Penanjakan 01.
From here we can capture the view of Mount Bromo, Batok & Semeru.
06:00 am > Free activity at Penanjakan 01.
06:30 am > Move on to Pasir Berbisik or Savana ( Depends on time ).
09:30 am > Back to Hotel Cemara Indah for Breakfast, rest until lunch.
12:00 pm > Lunch around Bromo area.
04:00 pm > Human Interest around Bromo.
07:00 pm > Dinner around Bromo.
09:00 pm – Rest & Sleeping Time or Night Photography.

3rd Day 31 August 2013.
03:00 am > Morning Call.
03:30 am > Move by 4×4 Jeep to Mount Bromo.
03:45 am > Climb the Mount Bromo by Horse for Sunrise.
06:00 am > Climb the Kawah Bromo.
08:00 am > Move to Pura.
08:30 am > Back to Cemara Indah Hotel.
09:00 am > Breakfast at Hotel
11:00 am > Check Out from Hotel & move to Ijen.
12:00 pm > Lunch otw to Ijen.
06:00 pm > Expected arrival at Ijen.
07:00 pm > Check In at Ijen Homestay.
08:00 pm > Dinner at Homestay.
10:00 pm > Rest & Sleeping Time.

4th Day – 01 September 2013.
02:00am > Morning Call & Check-Out from Homestay.
02:30am > Climb the Ijen ( around 3 hours ) or Human Interest Photography at Factory.
**Those not doing the IJEN climb wld be setting off at 5am for Human Interest at the Sulphur factory and it surrounding.
06:00 am – 09:00am > at Kawah Ijen.
09:00am > Back to Ijen main entrance.
10:00am > Drive back to Surabaya.
12:00pm > Lunch OTW to Surabaya.
06:00pm > Sunset at Salt Farmer.
08:00pm > Dinner around Surabaya.
10:00pm > Check-In at hotel & Rest.

5th Day- 02 September 2013.
04:00 am > Early Morning – Sunrise at Kenjeran Beach.
07:00 am > Return back to hotel for Breakfast.
10:00 am > Depart to Madura Island for visiting.
12:00 pm > Lunch at Madura Island.
02:00 pm > Round the island.
04:00 pm > Sunset at Suramadu Bridge.
07:00 pm > Back to hotel & dinner at the nearest restaurant.
10:00 pm > Free & Easy

6th Day – 03 September 2013.
Free & Easy until Check Out from Hotel,
09:00 am depart to Juanda International Airport Surabaya.

Note:
1) SCHEDULE MAYBE CHANGE TIME TO TIME DEPENDS ON SITUATION AND DISCUSSION DURING ON ACTUAL PLACE.
2) TRAVEL FORM THE ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER PLACE SOMETIMES WILL TAKE 5-6 HOURS

Posted in Photography Articles & Videos, Photography Courses & Events, Photography Tours, Uncategorized | Tagged Photography Tours | 1 Comment

Canon EOS 700D – It Just Got Better

Posted on May 21, 2013 by Editor AL

Originally Posted on Canon EOS World.

Road-testing the new Canon EOS 700D kit (with EF S18-55 IS STM)

But that’s where the similarities end. A big difference with the EOS 700D is the inclusion of Live View mode. With it, users can preview their image with seven different creative filters straight after shooting. This is a particularly useful application for photographers who like to apply the effects of post-processing filters on their photos.

EOS 700D & EF-S 18-55mm IS STM | 1/250 | F5.0 | ISO 400

EOS 700D & EF-S 18-55mm IS STM | 1/640 | F/5.6 | ISO 400

EOS 700D & EF-S 18-55mm IS STM | 1/800 | F5.0 | ISO 400

EOS 700D & EF-S 18-55mm IS STM | 1/800 | F4.0 | ISO 400

EOS 700D & EF-S 18-55mm IS STM | 1/1000 | F4.0 | ISO 400

EOS 700D & EF-S 18-55mm IS STM | 1/200 | F5.0 | ISO 400

EOS 700D & EF-S 18-55mm IS STM | 1/200 | F5.6 | ISO 400

I took the EOS 700D for a walk at Marina Bay on an overcast day. As you can see from the above, the photos were unaffected by the pale lighting. The EF-S 18- 55mm F/3.5-5.6 IS STM kit lens works really well with the EOS 700D, producing sharp images with good contrasts. The lens focuses fast and quietly, behaving like a compact and light baby L-series (Canon’s high performance) lens. This combination of camera and lens is great for new DSLR buyers and photography enthusiast seeking a more powerful camera to shoot with.

EOS 700D & EF-S 18-55mm IS STM | 1/800 | F7.1 | ISO 400

Photo created using the in-camera miniature mode
EOS 700D & EF-S 18-55mm IS STM | 1/800 | F7.1 | ISO 400

Creative blur effect using the in-camera creative filter
EOS 700D & EF-S 18-55mm IS STM | 1/320 | F7.1 | ISO 400

I did a little “high speed” experimentation in continuous shooting with AI Servo and I am pleased with the results. I fired a total of nine shots and they all turned out pretty clear.

EOS 700D & EF-S 18-55mm IS STM | 1/250 | F7.1 | ISO 400

As Canon’s kit lenses always have a good magnification ratio, I used it to focus on an interesting little pink object off the riverbank that caught my curiosity. From a distance, the zoom-in shot has a nice 50% crop factor from the initial photo taken.

EOS 700D & EF-S 18-55mm IS STM | 1/200 | F7.1 | ISO 400

Overall, I am impressed with the camera’s results. The shooting modes are aplenty and the easy operation and usability place it ahead of the competition. The EOS 700D is clearly a worthy performer and contender to the other DSLR cameras offered at the same price range.

More information is available at. www.canon.com.sg

Posted in Brand: Canon, Group Test & Reviews, Photography Articles & Videos, Uncategorized | Tagged Canon, EOS World | 1 Comment

Exploitations of Photographers – True Stories

Posted on May 20, 2013 by Editor AL

Illustration Photo Courtesy of http://www.digitaltrends.com

Often, I was asked by fellow photographers how much do I usually charge for various assignments – and my answers usually varies from person to person. The harsh reality is; a photographer should determine your own worth rather than asking others how much you are really worth. If you are one of these “photographers”, you are worthless in the eyes of other working photographers – simply because you cannot even place a price on your own works.

The (already tough) market has shifted so much that photographers are viewed as abundant & readily available (and fully exploitable). Sad as it is, and the irony to it all, many (still) allows themselves to be used – some without a choice, while as many decide to take the chance and allow oneself to be used while corrupting the industry further.

Let’s take a look at some real life examples below.
(All names & organizations had been changed or masked)

Case 1: Charging Peanuts for a SGD $2,500.00 Assignment

Illustration Photo Courtesy of http://www.birdsong-peanuts.com

Just 2 weeks ago, a fellow photographer friend told he charged a well-known “Hair Restoration” company a mere SGD $250.00 for an assignment – I almost flipped but kept my cool since he is just an amateur. Instead, I turned on my “keep cool” mode and continued the conversation with him. It’s people like these that really affects the industry pricing as working photographers are literally forced to lower their rates in the face of such competition by these freelancers.

Don’t get me wrong, there are certainly good amateurs or freelancers out there, then again, if they are good, they should be charging market rate like the working photographers are charging and not belittle themselves by charging token sums which is like a fraction of what the rest of us charge. With these rates, they are putting us out of business faster then you can reach for that shutter button.

Case 2: Since He Works for Me, He Shoots for Me – Free

Illustration Photo Courtesy of http://blogs.photopreneur.com

Another common scenario, an employee was known to be pretty good at photography by his employer. It does not help that his boss is on his Facebook & Flickr and looking through his photos and everything else he posted. Then one day the boss pops the question and asks him to shoot for company events, the company’s product shoots, etc and all these extra duties are to be carried without payment. This is exploitation to the max. I can fully understand this guy is facing his boss who determines his bonus & salary, but owning a DSLR and shooting great photos outside working hours has nothing to do with work!

In this case, the guy has no avenues to say “no” but allows himself to be exploited. By having one such employee, another working photographer lost a client. Such is the cruel reality of the industry.

Case 3: Will Credit You for you Photos, Here’s Your Photographer Pass.

Illustration Photo Courtesy of Google Search.

Now, this is the best lie in Singapore now. What the person is actually saying is “I am going to use your photo, but I am not going to pay, but I will announce to the world that you shot this and gave me this photo free!” Sad as it is, many companies are finding their ways to free photography through this channel and name it “below-the-line” while it is really a cover for shamelessly hitting below the belt.

Respectable corporations & even some ………. are using this cheap lowdown trick. They make it sound so glamorous like you are the “appointed” this, “appointed” that, gives you a “Photographer” pass so that you can wear on your neck and flash it to those “non-official” photographers while shooting on site. All the photos that you shot, becomes theirs – in reality. And all that the photographer is left with? Fatigue, sweat and a worthless Photographer Pass with tons of photos to be processed and to be given in exchange for the “experience” and the overrated “pass”.

Case 4: Photography Competitions

Illustration Photo Courtesy of Google Search.

And there are other companies that employ a similar tactic by organizing photo competitions. While prizes are sourced from sponsors vying for a logo display (so the prizes is free), then when all the photos are submitted, read the fine lines, those photos are at the organizers’ disposal – means they can use for anything they like from entrance tickets to posters to advertisements to everything and anything they can think of.

And after that, some good photos will be selected and they qualify themselves as competition organizers by doing an exhibition while shutting up the photographers at the same time giving these photographers a false sense of “glam” & recognition. Sounds familiar?

Case 5: Friends

Illustration Photo Courtesy of collegecandy.com

Friends around a photographer will remember the photographer when photography is required. Otherwise, this photographer will not be remembered at all. I am sure many of you can relate to this. Then when asked about rates, these people will be expecting you to quote a super low rate or “token sum” while most of them will (really) expect you to shoot for them for free – that’s what friends are for right?

Wrong. Friendship aside, Photographers are people too, with bills to pay, with family to feed and a photographer is 100% human just like you. If they truly regard you as a friend, they will ask for your market rate, not friendship rate. Get the drift?

Sad as it is, there are many photographers who still allow themselves to be used and exploited in various ways. Some exploitation methods are even creatively masked so that the photographers do not even realize that they are being used like a commodity. I fully understand that it takes 2 hands to clap, but who created the demand first?

Definitely not the photographers in this sense. And since there are many photography forums which advertising components are built into it, some of these companies even try to source out photographers from such communities by advertising paid assignments while trying their luck and hope that the next photographer who responds will be able to accept a token fee and yet produces world class photos.

Some things which all organizations must understand, a good photographer will be busy and kept busy, where got time for posting on forums and chit chatting with other “photographers”. Must be the really wrong place to find photographers isn’t it?
I leave the rest to your imagination.

To close this article, I have included a little price list below for those who had tried to exploit me in the past. This list was originally compiled at the end of 2012

Photography Assignment Price List
You Pay I Come with
$3000+ Canon 1Ds3/ Nikon D3x/ Sony A900
$2500+ Canon 1D4/ Nikon D3s/ Sony A850
$2000+ Canon 5D2/ No Nikon or Sony for you.
$1500+ Canon 50D/ Nikon D90/ Sony A700
$1000+ Canon 600D/ Nikon D5000/ Sony A230
$750+ Canon 1100D/ Nikon D3000/ Sony A100
$500+ Canon Powershot G12/ Ricoh GRD3/ Pentax Q
$250+ Holga Cams, Lomo Cams, Lego Cams, Go-Pro
$100+ iPhone 5.

Disclaimers:
All scenarios quoted above are taken from real life stories from real photographers and experiences. Any similarity to the shit that you had done or (still) doing to other photographers are purely coincidental and unintentional. All the shits above are also creatively weaved in such a way that photographers reading this will not know that I am talking about you & your tricks.

This article is not to slam amateur photographers working hard to be a pro one day but to educate those morons who charges peanuts for assignments or even shoot free. Whether you are a hobbyist, amateur freelancer or a pro, you should charge market rates if you are good at your craft. It’s time to corner those organizations who are exploiting photographers while cheapening the industry at the same time. Although this is easier said than done, everyone should at least try to say “No” once to a potential exploitation.

Maybe only then, everyone will learn in this Decade of Decadence.

Posted in Photography Articles & Videos, Uncategorized | Tagged Exploitations, Personal Views | 11 Comments

Co-op Hot Shots 2

Posted on May 17, 2013 by Editor AL

17th May 2013, Singapore – SNCF is organising its 2^nd Annual Photo Competition – Co-op Hot Shots 2 this year from the 17 June. There are two categories for this competition – Print and Online fun categories. This competition is targeted at photo-enthusiasts of all ages. Entry to this competition is Free-Of-Charge, with attractive cash prizes to be won.

For more details: Click Here.

Posted in Photography Courses & Events, Uncategorized | Tagged Photography Contest | Leave a comment

Explore the Hidden Thailand with Allan LEE

Posted on May 14, 2013 by Editor AL

Posted in Brand: Others (Cosina, Carl Zeiss, Leica, Mamiya, Samyang, Vivitar, Zenitar,etc), Brand: Pentax, Brand: Sigma, Photography Courses & Events, Photography Tours, Uncategorized | Tagged Photography Tours, SJS Photography Events | Leave a comment

Editor Featured on Travellution Magazine Issue No.19 – With English Translations

Posted on May 9, 2013 by Editor AL

For more information, please visit: www.travellution.com.sg

Travellution Magazine Issue No. 19, Page 80 & 81.

All Photos for this feature were shot with a Pentax K-30. 🙂

English Translation Below, Courtesy of Nicole Wong.

English Translation
Courtesy of Awesome Awesome Nicole Wong: (Thank You Nicole!!! Muacks Muacks!)

Qn1: When did you start to enjoy photography? Why?

I started enjoying photography in 1996, however, it was only in 2003 when I treated this hobby as a profession, and stepped into digital photography. This hobby was nurtured by a friend’s camera, which shot a very cool photo. The sound of the shutter, background and beautiful photos were what I like most. From then onwards, I bought my first SLR and there is no turning back, but to move forward.

Qn2: What was the most enjoyable and most often worked on in which genre of photography?

I was trained as a wedding photographer, and also for products photography (advertising purposes) as well as a activity photographer. To me, my favorite style of photography would be travel and infrared.

Qn 3: When you first started into the photography profession, was there a difference in equipment used back then and today?

When I first started, I only had a Nikon SLR, but today I have over 40 DSLRs and over 100 different types of lenses. The main reason for upgrading the equipment is because I feel that as a photography instructor, it is important to understand each brand’s main function. This is so that I can pass on my understanding and knowledge to students who are using different brands of cameras. If its for work, I will only upgrade the camera if the old camera is unable to produce images that my customers require.

Qn4: How has photography inspire you?

Photography is like an invisible force, and it helps me continue to improve myself. When I come across places that I have not photographed before, I will feel very high. I guess it’s because of the invisible force!

Qn 5: Someone mentioned that if the focus is more on photography during travels, one would lose the interest of traveling. What are your views?

I don’t think so. People who enjoy photography will naturally find their interest in it. I think no one would wish to enjoy a holiday and return home with blur photographs. This is why I enjoy planning my own itinerary, and approach the travel agency to follow the itinerary and arrange a tour group for me. If not, I would do a “private tour group”, and have more time to enjoy photography.

Qn 6: In 1 year, how much did you spend on travel photography?

I travel often, and it’s difficult to calculate travel expenses, due to the mode of traveling and location of the country. As for photography equipment expenses, I have spent about $100,000 in 3 years.

Qn 7: In travel photography, which factor (concept, lighting etc) is the most important? Why?

For me, I would first work out a main theme, and this main theme must be able to evoke feelings or inspiration, and to form a story with the image. The second factor would be lighting.

Qn8: What is the greatest satisfaction or reward that travel photography would bring?

A lot of life experiences, sharing of other people’s stories, making a lot of friends, which also allows traveling to a lot of known and unknown places. However, photography is definitely not a money-spinning career.

Qn9: Please use one sentence to express the relationship between you, photography and traveling.

When I travel, I can forget about everything, but not my camera.

End.

Posted in Featured Photographers, Photography Articles & Videos, Photography Magazine, Uncategorized | Tagged Allan Lee, Press, Travellution Magazine | Leave a comment

ClubSNAP Adventures – Ipoh Wesak Day, Taiping, Cameron Highland – Walk with Sigma

Posted on May 8, 2013 by Editor AL

Full Itinerary
23rd May (THU) – Day 1 (Dinner)
Depart from Singapore 7am. Breakfast at JB, stop at NS highway for lunch, and arrive Ipoh by 3pm. Visit Kellie’s castle, an uncompleted project started >100yrs ago. In 1999, it was used as setting in the movie Anna and the King. Followed by a visit to the last tin dredge in Malaysia, TT5, which had surrendered its service in 1982. Dinner at Tanjung Tualang for its famous fresh water prawn. Over night at Paragoon Hotel or similar.

24th May (FRI) – Day 2 (Dinner)
Morning sunrise at Sri Botani garden. After breakfast, visit Tibetan Monastery at Tambun and photorgraphy the thangka rolling, ritual ceremony. After lunch, model shoot at Ipoh old town, Majestic Railway train station, street art painting, Perak Cave. Visit Lubuk Timah waterfall and enjoy natural hot spring. Night sunset shot at Kinta River. Hawker food for dinner.
Over night at Paragoon Hotel or similar.

25th May (SAT) – Day 3 (Dinner)
Early breakfast, drive to Sepetang to visit Malaysia only charcoal factory. Continue to roam around the fishing village to explore their activities and lifestyle. Malay style prawn mee for lunch. Continue to visit Taiping, a town rich with British heritage where British once used Taiping as state administrative Center until after the War. Photography at Lake Garden, and the WWII memorial park. Back to Ipoh for a rest. Relax at Hot spring pool at Tambun Lost World. Hawker food for dinner. Over night at Seemsoon Hotel or similar.

26th May (SUN) – Day 4 (Dinner)
Hike up to Kledang Morning sunrise, and head to Menglembu market for breakfast. Visit chinese clog home industries. Back to Ipoh, visit chinese traditional lion head making. Explore the prehistoric cave painting from the Neolithic era. Check out, lunch and drive up to Cameron highland. Visit farms and shopping, relax in cool weather. After steamboat dinner, visit the night market. Over night at Hotel Planters or similar.

27th May (MON) – Day 5
Sunrise shoot at tea garden. After breakfast, visit Boh Tea factory. Check out, on the way heading back to Singapore, stop for Iskander waterfall

Sigma sponsors
– 1 day model shooting
– 1 farewell dinner
– Variety of Sigma product for hands on try out, including the Merrill series

Packages Include
– 12 seater AC, WiFi tourist van for entire trip
– Pick up and return at Kranji MRT station
– 4 dinners
– 3 nights at comfortable hotel in Ipoh, 1 night in Cameron Highland
– Room is twin sharing basis
– All entrance ticket

Packages Exclude
– Visa to visit Malaysia if applicable
– Travel insurance
– Additional beverages not covered in the meals

Fitness and Photography Level
– Customized photography trip for beginner and intermediate
– Able to carry own equipment ; there is no porter service
– Some hiking are necessary for sunrise shot, not more than 20mins

Registration and Payment
– PM me for detail
– Full payment is required to sign up for the trip

Enquiries
+65 9727 7748

=================================

Sigma Marketing Singapore Pte Ltd. is a subsidiary of Sigma Japan Corporation.

For more information, please visit http://www.sigma-global.com

Posted in Brand: Sigma, Photography Courses & Events, Photography Tours, Uncategorized | Tagged ClubSNAP Adventures, Photography Tours, Sigma | Leave a comment

2013 Sigma 120-300m F2.8 DG OS HSM (S) – Part 3

Posted on May 8, 2013 by Editor AL

Following our Part 1 & Part 2 Reviews of this excellent lens, the editorial team was contemplating to
whether we should do up a Part 3 review. Then fated as it is, an avid reader & follower of this site feedbacked
that my experimentation of posting unedited raw reviews direct from users doesn’t work on the Part 2 review.
Taking careful considerations that links from this site were frequently shared on other photography sites like dpreview, hardwarezone, photography-on-the-net etc, I had decided to re-edit the article almost immediately upon receiving
the feedback from Shawn Quek. Thank you Shawn for the head up!

To reward Shawn for providing us valuable feedback, I decided to invite Shawn to be the reviewer for the Part 3 review.
We met at East Coast Park, Singapore on last Sunday morning and after explaining to Shawn on the functions/modes/buttons on the new Sigma 120-300mm F2.8 DG OS HSM (S), I handed over the lens to him. Let’s hear what Shawn has to say about this optical art piece.

Picture: The NEW Sigma 120-300mm F2.8 DG OS HSM (S) fitted on Shawn’s Canon 1D MarkIII

===================================

Shawn Quek’s view on the NEW 2013 Sigma 120-300mm F2.8 DG OS HSM (S)
Text by Shawn Quek, Edited by Allan Lee

Picture: Shawn “feeling” the weight of this Sigma Monster Lens.

The Sigma 120-300mm F2.8 DG OS HSM (S) is a remarkable lens to behold. As the third generation of the 120-300mm lens and part of the new ‘Sports’ line of Sigma, this lens feels like a polished and refined article. Constant bright f2.8 aperture, prime-like image quality, great ergonomics, this lens should be a winner as it stands out from the competition!

Picture: Getting to know the Lens better.

For a super telephoto lens, cosmetically it looks and feels great to the touch – it has a nice matte black exterior made from the new TSC material (Thermally Stable Composite) with touches of engineering plastics and rubber parts. Personally I prefer the new version which uses the TSC for the lens barrel over the older ‘EX’ finish. The lens body feels solid, the tripod mount is well-spaced and sturdy, and the zoom/focus rings are very tactile & responsive. The newly designed lens hood is similar those of the Canon L telephotos, a step-up from the previous bayonet mount type.

Photo credits: Shawn Quek, SQ Photography

Picture: How Shawn Quek shot the first 2 photos of the cable skiers above.

Photo credits: Shawn Quek, SQ Photography

Having owned & used the second generation Sigma 120-300 and Canon 300L I/II, the weight of this lens was expectedly manageable. This lens is definitely “hand-held friendly” for an extended period of time (with some weights training perhaps!), but needs getting used to. The 4 stops Optical Stabilizer (OS) further enhance the hand-held shooting capability. A monopod or tripod would be recommended, but personally I find it restrictive and less maneuverable. One gripe is that the lens weight is balanced towards the front element, meaning that it feels heavier than it actually is.

Photo credits: Shawn Quek, SQ Photography

Picture: Shawn Quek shooting the female runner in blue above.

Photo credits: Shawn Quek, SQ Photography

Picture: Shawn Quek shoot the “boy on bicycle” photo above.

The good ergonomics of the Sigma 120-300 is matched by its impressive image quality. Compared to the previous 120-300, IQ has improved in overall sharpness and contrast (especially at wider apertures). This new (S) lens produces good contrast, punchy colours, good sharpness and lovely creamy bokeh (as seen from the review photos here). To my eyes, it is on par with the highly regarded Canon 70-200L f2.8 IS II, and trails closely behind the Canon 300L f2.8 II (losing out in bokeh and slight sharpness). Sigma lenses are known to produce more yellow-ish or warm colours compared to Canon variants, this doesn’t seem to be an issue here.

Photo credits: Shawn Quek, SQ Photography – Excellent for shooting pets.

Photo credits: Shawn Quek, SQ Photography – superb lens for birding photos.

Photo credits: Shawn Quek, SQ Photography – excellent for capturing moments like this.

Good IQ and ergonomics are useless if AF performance cannot keep up. I was delightfully surprised to find great improvements in this new lens – AF speed and accuracy was superb. Paired with my Canon 1D3 in AI Servo mode, tracking cable skiers, cyclists, runners was fast and accurate, and I achieved a high hit rate of 8 out of 10 (sharp photos). Higher hit rate could probably be achieved with more practice and better technique. I also tested a 1.4x teleconverter on this lens, but AF speed was noticeably slower, and IQ was visibly reduced at widest aperture. Perhaps I am using another brand’s teleconverter, maybe the result might differ if I had used the Sigma’s teleconverter instead.
On conclusion, I’m impressed with the AF performance, I’d pick up this lens any time for critical sports work.

So who would this lens suit? For starters, sports enthusiasts looking to own their first super telephoto, with the added versatility of zoom and hand-held capability. Nature shooters and birders should also consider this lens seriously. Concert and stage photographers would love this zoom range and bright f2.8 too, as would photojournalists. Also, as seen from my sample photos, this lens could also suit the weekend shooter looking to take photos of his/her children, pets!

If the focal range of 120-300mm is something you often use/need, then you should seriously consider the competitive priced Sigma 120-300mm F2.8 DG OS HSM (S).

Review Submitted by:
Shawn Quek
================================
Editor’s Note:

Shawn, thank you once again for taking time out to meet up on
a Sunday morning. Thank you for the awesome photos and the great review too!
I hope you had enjoyed the new Sigma 120-300mm F2.8 DG OS HSM (S)
and hopefully you will continue to support this site. Gracia!

Allan Lee
Editor
==================================

For more information on this lens, please visit here.

For other articles & reviews of Sigma Lenses, please visit here.

Special Thanks to Sigma Marketing (Singapore) for the lens!
We Love it!

=================================

IMPORTANT NOTE:
** Sigma had re-organized their whole lens line into 3 category.
They are “C” Lens, “A” Lens & “S” Lens.

C Lens = Contemporary Lens Line

Featuring the very latest technology, and combining optical performance with compactness, Sigma’s high-performance Contemporary line covers a wide range of needs. Lenses in this category are Standard zoom lenses, telephoto zoom lenses, high-magnification zoom lenses.

A Lens = Art Lens Line

Designed with a focus on sophisticated optical performance and abundant expressive power, Sigma’s Art line delivers high-level artistic expression. Lenses in this category are Large-aperture prime lenses, wide-angle lenses, ultra-wide-angle lenses, macro lenses, fisheye lenses.

S Lens – Sports Lens Line

While offering sophisticated optical performance and expressiveness, Sigma Sports line lenses deliver high action-capture performance, enabling photographers to get exactly the shots they want. Lenses in this category are Telephoto lenses, telephoto zoom lenses, super telephoto lenses, super telephoto zoom lenses.

Sigma Marketing Singapore Pte Ltd. is a subsidiary of Sigma Japan Corporation.

For more information, please visit http://www.sigma-global.com

Share this:
Tweet
Reddit
Share on Tumblr
WhatsApp
More
Email
Like Loading...