Tiny Little Flowers

This is straight from the camera.  Shot at minimum distance and wide open.  Handheld.

Galloping Horsey

Bryant Park

When the 24mm is attached to a DX camera, all of a sudden, it's not all that wide.  The wide end of my 18-70 becomes 24mm and is kind of wide.  It's quite easy to fill up the frame when 24mm is all of a sudden becoming a 36mm lens.  Is the 24mm lens that bad?  I don't want to believe so.

D90 Supports Non-CPU Nikkor metering?

This is a screen capture straight from Nikon USA.  The silly No Kidding? highlight is from me of course.

I always thought D90 can't do such a nifty thing.  Sure you can mount the lens and shoot in M by adjusting the combination of f-stop and shutter speed manually.  But boy am I wrong or what?

UPDATE 9/3/2010:  It took me two messages to persuade Nikon USA there could be something wrong with the content.  They finally acknowledged their mistake and took the entire Non-CPU paragraph out not bother saying anything with AI or AIS lens at all.  I hope they can send me some gift like a D3X, D3s, or D90 or D90's replacement.  I guess it won't hurt to ask.  So that's all folks.

UPDATE 8/31/2010:  Being a Nikon long time customer, I just couldn't help but wrote to tell.  But the tech support says that's right, it's correct.  So there you have it.  In a few months time it probably doesn't matter because the model is phasing out and is gonna become digital garbage.  But I just hate to be wrong when I am right or I just hate to be wrong when they are right.  I guess I hate Nikon USA being so pathetically careless and even pointed out by their customer, me, they still don't see it.  Very very disappointing by how much their tech support don't even know their products.

UPDATE:  I checked out the pdf brochure.  It says no way Jose.  So I guess one way or another Nikonusa messes up.

Levi's Filson Trucker Jacket

More information here.

There seems to be a lot of curiosities on this item.  And in the spirit of over-sharing, here are more shots of the jacket.

Technical details nobody cares:  wide shots by 24mm, detailed shots by 35-105 set at macro mode.  Camera mounted on horizontal column on tripod.

US OPEN 2010 - Stanislas Wawrinka

UPDATE 9/5/10: I think it really should be Gilles Simon of France. Nadal is punishing the guy in Arthur Ashe right now.

I hope he is what I say he is.  Because I really have no idea.  I ran through the US Open site player by player and he looks like Wawrinka.  If he is not, sorry dude.

It was the second time, I got everything ready except one thing, my memory card.  I left my 4GB CF card home and I thought that would be it for the day.  For reason I couldn't explain, I did have an extra 64MB CF card I brought with me.  Wow, it can take about 16 images or so if I left my image at the usual setting, i.e. Large and Fine.  Would I be just shooting 16 images?  I guess not.  I have no choice but to dial the setting to Large and Basic, that allows me to shoot 88 images--I just counted.  Here are the best of the very best, or rather somewhat appear to be OKAY.

I also brought along my Nikon FE and 28mm 1:2 just for fun.  At some point I mounted my Nikkor 80-200 onto my FE, wow, the viewfinder looked so much better, it's like day and night.  More reason to get a full frame camera just for the viewfinder if not anything else.

Ethics check or otherwise known as delusion of grandeur:  If you think you can use these pictures for non commercial purpose, please cite attribution and link back here.  Thank you.

US OPEN 2010 - Robin Soderling

Has yet to win a Slam.

US OPEN 2010 - Maria Sharapova

Everybody comes to see her play.  She signs everything got shoved in front of her.

US OPEN 2010 - Andy Murray

Murray, so close yet so far away.

US OPEN 2010

Ralph Lauren:  I mean, I'm not gonna be ignored.

Rolled Up Jeans

Bryant Park

I guess I can live without auto-focus.  Since I don't and can't use any auto exposure by the camera, the unchanged f-stop and shutter speed combination across frames guarantee consistent exposure and look.

(note:  I correct myself, this is more a cuffed than a rolled-up)

 

All Asses Were Not Created Equal

Grand Central Station

I waited about four hours for the desired lighting and when the right amount of cloud flew into the frame. What can I tell you? Photography is about patience. It took only 1/160 sec to expose the frame but hours to prepare for that moment.





(note: I hope you know I am just kidding regarding the wait for the proper lighting and cloud flowing into the frame)

Nikon D7000

I am getting very excitable with the impending Nikon D7000 rollout.  I didn't know the D90 can meter with AI or AIS kind of Nikkors but apparently it can.  So I assume its replacement, the D7000 can too.  So that's another reason to stock up any good old AI or AIS lens.  I can focus so fast I don't even need auto focus.  No, mostly I take pictures of inanimate objects.  Man, I always know the D90 doesn't meter with AI kind of non-cpu lens and I don't know where I read the disinformation that it does.  But a quick trip to dpreview confirms that it doesn't.  I think the only DSLR that does support old lens metering is the D pro series, like the D300s and up.  Bummer.  I think I just have to use my mental meter between my ears and use the LCD as a feedback mechanism like I've been doing with my D70, it's not great but doable.

UPDATE:
See this post for D90 and non-cpu lens compatibility.
.
UPDATE 8/28/2010:
You know what, I got the information about D90 can meter with AI lens from none other than Nikon USA. Shocking. I mean does it really can meter with AI lens in M or even A mode? If it can it's a piece of shocking news to me, if it doesn't that means Nikon USA made a gross mistake by probably copy and paste it from some higher end model like D300 or higher.

On 41st Street

I don't know how "useful" a 105mm lens would be to me.  As everything would appear tighter.  Personally I find a 24 to 50mm very useful whether on a DX or FX body.  Anything longer or shorter, I just don't know how to handle.

For reason unknown to myself, I much prefer to shoot with my manual focus lenses from the 80s.  Though they don't provide metering on my D70 but I just think they have more character which is important for somebody who doesn't have any.  I can't find any fault with my 18-70 DX lens or my 24-85 zoom nikkors, it's just that I don't use them much at all if I consider less on convenience, especially the 24-85, after I bought it from Canoga, it pretty much retire right away.  Granted they are all "toys"  but the 24-85 just doesn't see the light of day too often.

People ask all kinds of questions, myself is guilty of asking them too.  One of them is what's a good walk around lens, or what's a good landscape lens.  Those questions invite ridicules as often as they invite answers.  Some people like 18-200 zooms as their walk around lens and some people just don't.  You just have to pick your poison and die the way you want to die.

Getting Ready for Dinner

Chrome and Namoroka Say Nikonrumors is Bad

As much as I like to browse gossips, rumors and half truth about cameras, I am not taking any chances.  Get me out of here!

Happy Horsey

Bryant Park, New York City.

Taking boring picture since 1974.

Selvedge

Everybody is wearing his jeans or pants rolled up now--even when there is no torrential rain or flood.  It's such an epidemic that I have no way to immune myself from.  Sorry.

Shot wide open at f2.

Field Testing Filson's in the Rain

The rain will form droplets initially.  But then after some fifteen minutes walking in the rain with a puny umbrella, the waxed tin cloth absorbs some of the down pour but I see or feel no water seeping through the fabric.  Somewhat water repellent but just don't wear it as a raincoat because it isn't.  The messenger bag from J. Crew (it's called Bowery by the way) is some what waxed but definitely not as waxed or I guess as water repellent as the Filson's Levi's trucker jacket.  It doesn't mean it's bad, just know your gears and their limitations.  (note:  I am into waxed clothings now, everything got coated with wax--I'm not waxed though.  Got to be a fire hazard.)

The Last Word on VR

Finally, geezer Bjorn Rosslett said it. "Often, VR has questionable virtues and confers unpredictable side effects." Translation: VR is a bullshit feature for pussies. That's why I don't own no VR at all. He answers my question and I guess many people's curiosity on why the newly inducted Hall of Fame Nikkor 85mm f1.4 lacks the rather popular VR feature given that it's a short telephoto.

via dpreview via NikonRumors

Would Sony Let Salander Use a Mac?

What would Blomkvist and Salander use now that Sony's Columbia Pictures is producing the American version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo? MacBook and iBook are the most prominent inanimate characters depicted through out the entire Millennium series of novels. Would Salander be seen using a Sony Vaio or a MacBook Pro? I very much want to know.

Viewfinder and magnification

I am into a territory that I know little or nothing about. All I know is my D70 has a tiny viewfinder, and a trip to dpreview tells me that the D70 has a viewfinder of 95% coverage and an image magnification of 0.75. With a 1.5 crop factor, making it having an effective image magnification in the 35mm film world of 0.75/1.5 = 0.5! No wonder the image looks so terrible.

Nikon rumors says the D90 replacement shall have a 100% viewfinder, that's great but what about magnification? Assuming it's a 1.5 crop sensored camera, any effective image magnification less that 0.7 would be murder for old folks like me. The D90 replacement at least should have an image magnification like the D300 which is 0.94 making it having an effective magnification around 0.6x. OKAY, I guess realistically speaking, I have to live with this magic number 0.6x because to expect the D90 better than the D300s seems a bit unrealistic.

To keep things in perspective, my Nikon FE has 93% frame coverage and 0.86x magnification. While my F5 has 100% coverage and 0.75x magnification. My Canon P has 1x magnification.

People buy full frame camera because of the better viewfinder not because of better image quality, me think.

Neocamera has a nice summary.

update:
Nikon Rumors says the upcoming D90 replacement will be called D7000. It has the base IS0 100 that all old timers would recognize as the de facto ISO. I remember that's what ISO I began shooting with and that was what the store stocked for amateur photographers like me back then. If the model really comes out like what NR says it will be, this may very well be my next and second DSLR since the D70. I will just blacken the extra 0 to make it the $2300 FX D700. Or I will hold off for the next incarnation of the D700 or I will wait for the side line forever while the world moves on. Who knows and who cares really.

Ramen

As found at Mitsuwa, NJ.

Free Refills

As seen in Five Guys in PA. This is the right thing to do. I can't believe Subway asks money for refills.

NYC Dragon Boat Festival 2010

This is straight from the scan by the shop.  I just did a resize.  The scan is much better than those from the Kodak 400VC.  It probably has to do with the film speed.  But I think 400 shouldn't be that bad.  Also I think the Carl Zeiss lenses are pretty remarkable.  Sunny 16 works pretty well for me.  Sorry no boats.

Brothers

I found the Kodak 400VC almost unusable.  It's just way too grainy.  The shop which did the develop and scan did a terrible job I think.  Granted the 400VC is grainy to begin with and I think it did sharpening when scan so the scans and the prints came out terrible.  I think the print is actually from the scan though I am not sure.  But it just doesn't look good at all.

I fired up my Epson V500 and I think the scan comes out a tad better, my standard.  At least the grain is not so offensive that I almost puke.  If I ever shoot another roll of 400VC I guess I would shoot it at ASA320.

Scanning is a pain.  Just don't try it at home if you don't absolutely have to.

Nikon 24mm f/2.0 AIS

This lens always got bad reviews.  Everything I read about it is kind of bad.  But you know what I own one and I like it all the same.  Though at times I do find it a bit hard to fill up the frame.  And if I were to mount it on my D70, I find the focusing a bit troublesome as my D70 has this tiny little viewfinder and AF focusing points that aren't actually designed for manual focus.

I like the lens all right, part of it is of course I own one and I don't want to appear too stupid and part of it is I do think it performs adequately--you know I am not shooting for National Geographic.  And the number one reason being the f/2 does give me the advantage to hide indoor and be a closet shooter.

Whatever.  To see some of my Nikkor 24mm f2 shots, you can click the label below.

Nikon New 85mm Prime

Nikon's legendary 85mm f/1.4 gets even more expensive, probably better with this upgrade.  This G lens shall take away the on lens aperture control and $1,700 from your wallet.  What you gain is one more group and one more lens element, Nano coating and silent wave motor.  No, thank you.  I will get my 85mm f/1.4 manual focus lens for $1,000 less if only I am crazy enough to get one.  I don't think the introduction of this lens will drive down the prices of the previous MF and AF versions.  The prices of these primes just keep appreciating.

NOTE:  I just made another trip to the Nikon web site, and I just noticed something, this new 85mm doesn't have VR.  I mean the women are going to love it but how about those shaky hands from the old men?  I just found it a bit odd that this short telephoto doesn't come with VR.  I mean I personally don't have a problem holding a lens still at a shutter of 1/focal length or even longer on a good day provided I am not pixel peeping.  But I know a lot of folks have problem holding lens still especially those who like to jerk press the shutter release button.  Very odd for it not to incorporate VR.
UPDATE:  Also notice how Nikon panders to the crowd's fixation on Bokeh; in its marketing material on the web it says and I quote

FX-format ultra-fast classic portrait lens with high picture quality, high performance, beautiful Bokeh (background blur) and outstanding reliability

I don't remember Henri Cartier Bresson using any beautiful Bokeh in his works.  Nowadays, all people talk about is Bokeh.  Is my aperture big enough?  How is the out of focus rendition look?  Is it creamy or what?  (errr...But I have to admit I want big aperture lenses too ...)

Nikon D3100

Nikon Rumor got everything right, it seems more like the marketing department for Nikon than a rumor mongering site.  Either way, I don't and can't have a problem with that.
The D3100 is marketed as a family camera, especially for young families who don't know crap about photography.  That kind of puts me off a bit even I am not young anymore.  The specs look impressive and the price point is right.  I expect it to sell millions.

Roger Federer Hits Water Bottle

Instead of or in addition to hitting aces, Federer is hitting water bottles off court.  I don't know if it's pure tennis wizardry or cinematic trickery or a combination of both--got to be a combination of both, but it does look impressive and interesting.  I bet millions of kids are practicing this shot with their reluctant younger siblings at home.

US Open is around the corner, can Federer rule the court?  We don't have to wait long to find out.

Car

On the Brooklyn Bridge

Pizza Pizza

No Slices Cash Only

Grimaldi's Pizzeria

Waiting for Pizza

Filson's Original Oil Finish Wax

Friday the 13th: The Battle of Old People

I cannot believe this Friday the 13th, there isn't a Jason movie in a theater near you.  Instead we have some movies starring old people for old people.  The Expendables.  As if one bad actor is not bad enough, The Expendables gathers a whole bunch of bad actors otherwise also known as action stars to front this fruit punch of an action movie.  I guess in some way it's a wet dream came true for all the action movie fans out there, a movie with most of the action stars albeit aging ones--Rambo is 64 years old eligible for collecting social security if he so chooses.  I secretly want to see this big bad loud movie.  Do people care about Julia Roberts anymore?  I guess some do, like moviegoers in Japan I suppose.  I like her, everybody likes her but is it enough to part $12 and go see her in a drama without asinine jokes, guns, some gratuitous violence (you can forget about nudity on big screen as Hollywood is very very conservative on this count)?  Youngsters much prefer to see New Moon kind of movies or pseudo intelligent movies like Toy Story 4 and a 1/2 and Shriek IX.  Julia Roberts would probably make another box office hit if she lends her voice to some animation character.  This sounds harsh but I think this is the box office reality now.  If Roberts beats senior citizen Stallone and his posse in this battle of the sexes between old people, it would really mean something.  It definitely (re-)establishes her as a major box office draw in spite of living in a time where stupid cartoon and vampire movies rule.  Yeah, I talk about movies without ever seeing them.

Going to Summer School in the Morning

Nikon D70, Nikkor-N Auto 28mm 1:2, 1/400s, f/2 at ISO400.  Color correction auto level.  USM at R0.5, A5, T0, all done in GIMP.

Just testing the lens at f2.  I think the lens performs OKAY.  The image looks smooth and creamy.  Or does it mean lack of sharpness?  I am not sure.  But I was thinking the lens should be sharper given what I've read online.  But then it's at f/2.  The focus is on his left eye, to the right of the picture, I don't know how accurate my manual focus was.

Naked Cowboy

Naked Cowboy, the one man Times Square minor spectacle ...

Street Performer on 42nd Street

Street Performer on 42nd Street

I am Beautiful

Shot using an ancient Nikon D70 and an even ancient-er Nikkor-N Auto 28mm 1:2.

Levi's Filson Trucker Jacket

Click link to see more pictures

Wow, Levi's finally got something good to offer in the US.  A jacket that begs not to be washed or dry cleaned.  Imagine how much money you save?  It's the anti-thesis of high maintenance clothing.

UPDATE: 5/9/2014
The jacket is going strong ... in the smell department.  Just kidding.  I live in NYC and I am not a logger or a cowboy living in a ranch.  At any given day, I can be less than 1cm from from my fellow New Yorkers who are just as irritable as myself.  I don't think the jacket gives out any stench but the fact that I haven't washed it  for years bothers me, somewhat, given that there is always some waxy smell to it already.  So one day I decided against the very prescriptive wash label.  I actually put the jacket into the washer and give it a whirl with detergent no less.  No dry cycle though.  Well it came out OKAY.  I don't think it shrinks or it does nothing too noticable.  Maybe it loses some waxy protection which doesn't make it very water or wind resistant to begin with except making the jacket very very not breathable.  The canvas still hold up, literally, pretty well.  I misplaced the Filson wax that came with it so I don't think I would be waxing it any time soon, may as well not to.

UPDATE: 2/26/2017
Just checked out eBay, the jacket is now fetching somewhere from $300 to $500.  I don't know if there is really a market for it.  One can ask any money for it but are there actual buyers?  I took it out, it still smells wax.  I haven't worn it the longest.  I measure the chest again, I think after I washed it, the dimension is hardly 22" pit to pit, it's more like 21 to 21.5 across.  I think it stretch a bit after repeat wearing and contracts a bit after wash.  The shoulder is bit on the small side and the sleeve is a bit short as well.

UPDATE: 9/23/2011
I still don't understand why manufacturers who try to sell online don't include the actual measurements of their clothings.  Does XS, S, M, L, or XL mean anything?  The actual inches can't guarantee perfect fit (an inch is an inch but individual fitting taste varies) but at least it gives more information to the user to form an idea.  Ebay sellers do a far better job listing the actual measurements.

As and when the jacket gets worn more and wrinkles more it seems to get smaller a bit even I never wash it.  The jacket being coated with wax is very not breathable.  I live in NYC and at times I do find wearing it uncomfortable, I prefer just breathable cotton but hey it's waxed tin cloth so be prepared.

UPDATE:  4/2/2011
Here are the measurements that neither Levi's nor Filson bother to tell you
For the size Large jacket that I own
Jacket laid flat.  Armpit to armpit 22 inches, armpit to end of the sleeve, 19 inches.  In the back, from bottom of the collar vertical down to the end, 25 inches.  Shoulder to shoulder horizontal across, 19 inches.  I have never washed the jacket just as instructed on the label.

UPDATE 11/2/2010
I wore this to a camping hiking trip not too long ago.  It was nice and cool.  I wore this while I hiked about 5 hours in the autumn sun and wind.  I was somewhat soaked.  When I returned and took off my jacket, I could see a film of water inside as the tin cloth won't absorb any sweat or at least very non-absorbent at all, and won't wicks any moisture out, unlike modern fabric I may add.  I wore a T-shirt, a long sleeve light flannel shirt, a wool sweater which later I removed.

UPDATE 9/30/2010:
So, I have this jacket for a few months.  My impression is the jacket is pretty well built but it's not as breathable as say anything that's just cotton.  If you live in humid climate this is probably not a very good jacket for you.  Sometimes I wear it out and I got sweaty and I am not even a sweaty person.  I never have any waxed wears before so my point of reference is none.

UPDATE
Click link to see more pictures.  Or click on label below post.

UPDATE
In my mind, the jacket is supposed to wear fitted and it's true to size.  A Large is like a size 42 (American Sizing).  Filson suggests you to buy one size up, what's the matter with these people?  OKAY, it's your choice.  In the Levi's commercial on Facebook, I think the guy actually wears one size too big.  Maybe that's the way to wear it?  Like your grandma would approve it, if it costs the same, get the bigger one, because you are going to wear heavy gauge sweater underneath?

UPDATE
I broke down and bought one.  The last trucker jacket I bought was when I was a student.

UPDATE
Added JPEG's from Filson's website.

UPDATE
Oops, you just have to see the Filson trucker jacket in store in person or go to Filson's web site.  For some reason, Levi's website is not showing the trucker jacket.

Flash Sucks

Sitemeter has become sitecrasher lately and I think it's all Flash's fault.  Every time I go there to check my n millionth visitor, the browser just freezes and goes nowhere.  So I have to give it to Stevie when he bans Flash out right.  It's ridiculous.  Flash doesn't really do anything other than delivering annoying ads.  I am no engineer, it could have been Firefox, or whatever but I just like to blame it on Flash.

Farrow Says Campbell is a Liar ...

No she didn't actually say that.  But what she testifies on the blood diamond case contradicts what Campbell said earlier that she didn't know they were diamonds nor who sent them.  Farrow says Campbell told them she got diamonds from Charles Taylor.  Who has better credibility?  I think Farrow does.  Campbell is most famously known for throwing crystal encrusted Blackberry's at assistants.  Of course, she is also equally good at hitting other targets, like limo drivers and police constables.  And now, obstruction of justice?

filed under international news.

Ubuntu 10.04 and Epson V500 Photo

The above award winning beautifully taken picture is originally in Kodak positive.  It was scanned by scan master me and myself using sucky Epson 500 Photo and Image Scan! for Linux running on Ubuntu 10.04.  Auto color "corrected" in GIMP.  The Kodak slide is of unknown expiration date.

Shot in Bryant Park, NYC.

Ubuntu 10.04 has been pretty stable.  My wireless configuration is still funky and finicky.  But for the most part it works though there is no way to know to get it work consistently, but as long as it works I am not going to touch it.  Switching between users still hit and miss.  Searching and installing new software doesn't seem to be as good as before.

Anyway.

I was able to hook up my Epson V500 god awful scanner.  It wasn't exactly plug and play.  But it isn't too hard either.  If I can do it, you can too.

Go to Epson website or simply Google it, search for Epson V500 Photo and go to support
Go to download driver.
You will be prompted to go to outside Epson, that's go to avasys for the files.  You need to pick your scanner and platform.
Here's how to get Image Scan! for Linux to work:-
Download the deb data, core and plug-in packages, at present 32bit versions are called iscan-data_1.0.1-1_all.deb, iscan_2.25.0-l.ltdl7_i386.deb, iscan-plugin-gt-x770_2.1.1-2_i386.deb.  Install them in that order by simply double-clicking them.  Wow, don't even need to do command line.  I know you're going to miss that.
For me I need a reboot for it to recognize the scanner.  Image Scan! for Linux is pretty straight forward and has a clean interface that I like.  For the kind of scan I do, the simpler the better.  Download the Image Scan! for Linux pdf guide userg_revL_e.pdf for more details.

update 9/25/2010
The 64 bit install works just as well.

The Devil's Rejects

Rob Zombie delivers a movie that's engrossing, enthralling, entertaining and above anything unrepentantly trashy.  And I like it because I am totally able to enjoy gratuitous violence and nudity.  If you enjoy mumble jumble cerebral flick you know what you can watch ... Toy Story VII or Shrek IV 3D.  I especially enjoy the premise that the sheriff turns totally psycho in the process of hunting down these devil's rejects.  I saw this on IFC, part of their Friday night grind house series.  The movie as far as I can tell was presented uncut and without commercial interruption.  IFC rules.

Jones Beach, Long Island