Picking Up Lenses

Today, I felt a bit weary after a week of planning for the kids birthday bash, driving 400km back and forth to my hometown in the same day on Saturday, and hosting the kids’ birthday party yesterday. So, I decided just to wind down by browsing the Internet and looking back into the photographs of the recent events.

Most of the photos that I shot are excellent. But, I found that some of the important photos are lack of sharpness. By the way, I like to take candid and group photos.

After doing a bit of research, I concluded that the aperture was the culprit.

The person that I focused onto has sharp images. However, the persons around him/her (slightly foreward or slightly backward) were a little bit soft/out of focus/blur. This happened because I used the large aperture (F2.8). There were similar photos that were at F4.0, and the results are much better. I also compared to my photos that I took using the Canon EF 70-200 F2.8L IS lens (which I borrowed from the shop) and I found that the same problems occurred.

So, I went into the Internet to get some write-up and read the forum on such issues. Oh! Yes… I would say the world share my thought.

The aperture F2.8 allows more light to enter, so that you can have faster shutter speed to make the focused image sharper. But, in my photography application, I probably can do without the F2.8 aperture opening.

From now on, I will try to stick to F4.0 and above aperture opening (hence faster shutter speed) for sharper image. Depending on the situations, I need good lighting or flash, and most important is the tripod/monopod to make sure the camera is still.

So, after reading some of the write-ups and forum, here are my suggestions for lenses for the photographers who like to take candid, children (party or setup), group photos and occasionally architecture and landscape. By the way, I am using Canon 400D camera, hence I will only recommend Canon lenses or compatible third party lenses.

For wide angle zoom: Tokina AT-X Pro 12-24mm, F4.

[Tokina 12-24mm, F4]

For everyday zoom:
To choose either one (or if you’re rich, get both...):
Short zoom: Canon EF 17-40mm, F4L.
Everyday zoom: Canon EF 24-105mm, F4L.

[Canon EF 17-40mm, F4L]

[Canon EF 24-105mm, F4L]

I cannot afford neither the Canon EF 17-40mm, F4L nor Canon EF 24-105mm, F4L, so I ended up with Canon 28-135mm F3.5-5.6 IS, which suits my applications.

Currently, I have the Tamron 17-50mm F2.8 Di-II lens, but I still prefer the Canon 28-135mm F3.5-5.6 IS.

[Canon EF 28-135mm, F3.5-5.6 IS]

For medium length zoom: Canon EF 70-200mm, F4L or if you have money to spend, get the IS version.

[Canon EF70-200mm, F4L]

[Canon Ef 70-200mm, F4L IS]

3 Killer Climbs

Sunday, 25 May 2008, its hash at Semenyih.

It was a real killer climb ! There were 3 major climbs and one moderate climb. Just look at the GPS elevation chart.

[One moderate climb and 3 killer climbs]

[The moderate climb]

[The second of the 3 climbs.. no one cycle up]

[Resting...]

[The route]

Jersey

Jersey is an island measuring 118.2 square km, including reclaimed land and intertidal zone. It lies in the English Channel, approximately 22.5 km from France, and approximately 161 km south of England. It is the largest and southernmost of the Channel Islands.

No, no, no... not that "jersey". Now I have a vogue of collecting the World Cup/Champion (WC) cross-country mountain bike jerseys.

This is my list, as at 18 May 2008:

1. Julien Absalon, Orbea WC, 2007.
2. Gunn-Rita Dhale, Merida WC, 2005 & 2006. [Got it on 19 May 2008, picture to come soon]
3. Julien Absalon, Bianchi WC, 2006.

These are the samples, they might not be exactly the same, depending on the sponsors at that time. However, they all have the UCI World Champion stripes/mountain in the middle of the jersey or UCI World Champion stripes somewhere around the jersey. Cool...

Trail Maintenance : Bukit Kiara, 2K Trail

Sunday, 11 May 2008. The 2K trail at Bukit Kiara just got longer by roughly 150 meters, and with 4 additional log drops at the existing section (not in the picture).

The log drops are placed at strategic locations of the early part of 2K (clockwise direction) to slow the riders down, yet it provides quite an interesting challenge combined with the downward nature of the trail. The first drop is a miniature drop, even for an 80mm fork. They get progressively deeper, with the last drop of slightly less than one foot, and there is a left turn immediately after it leading to the new section.


There is a switchback that goes around a boulder, and leading to a triple-terrace descent. If you still like the saddle (ravine) at 2K, turn left after the cascade. Otherwise, go straight and pass through a small, but rocky, creek crossing. Enjoy it…

Great Ride & Great Fish

Sunday, 4th May 2008, I rode about 23kms this morning at the KLMBH bash in Kg. Serai, Kuang, Rawang.

The trails were mixtures of rubber plantations, palm oil plantations and some short singletracks. The trails were not as exciting as Kiara’s trails, but it brought up my riding skill to another level. As it happened, it really enjoyed the ride.

[The briefing...]

[Down to singletracks]

[DIY...]

[Stream crossing...]

[One the streams, and the water was clear!]

[Jimmy & Me]

[Jimmy & Rizal]

[Rizal showing the GPS tracks]

[Overcoming the fear for skinnies...]

This and that… after the ride, I had one of the best cooked tilapia fish ever. The tilapia was steamed and served with delicious soy sauce mix with ginger, coriander, chillies. Lovely…

Our friends from over the straits

On 3rd May 2008, it was my third time riding with our friends from Singapore, Jay and Sally. They said trails at Bukit Kiara are short, but technically and lung-bustingly demanding.

[The riders. Sally is 2nd from right and Jay is 4th frm right]

[Singletracks]

[More singletracks... with obstacles]

[Sally tackling the man-made drop at 4K]

[At Janie's Addiction]

[More at Janie's Addiction]

[I'm climbing here.. with smile...]

[Me and Jimmy at Bukit Kiara Bike Wash]

[Me... and my beloved KHS XC904R/Team]

Callipygian Support

The English word of Greek origin "callipygian" indicates someone who has beautiful buttocks. Therefore, I need to protect and take care of my beautiful ass/bottom/buttock or "callipygian".

So, I bought myself a spanking brand new saddle.. the Fizik Gobi XM.

Nice...

First bike see-saw in Bukit Kiara trails

As I was riding up the Twin Peaks today, I noticed a newly built ramp. Quickly, I went to check out the ramp.

When I got there... wallah... it was not a ramp, it was the first bike see-saw in Bukit Kiara trails.

Pictures of Bukit Kiara's see-saw will follow suit.

However, these are some pictures of the see-saw at trails around the world:

Bukit Kiara Trail Replacement - Pure Quill, Part II

Sunday, 7 April 2008.

The first Pure Quill trail works was good, but due to the amount of works that needs to be done, only half of the trail was digged.

So, we come again to continue what's left.