Sony Alpha 7R

SONY α7R E-mount, ILCE-7R ($2299, after a $500 discount)

Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* ($769, after $300 discount)

This will be my new trusty companion - the SONY Alpha 7R, a Full Frame on a Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* FE 35mm f/28. The camera itself packs a 36.4 MP 35mm full-frame sensor.

Then we are still getting around the 7R longer focusing distance; it's especially difficult for closeups with food. Anyway, most of the photos on this blog will be from it now.

Sony RX1R - Our first Full Frame.

SONY DSC RX1R ($2,800)

Finally. Ric found an upgrade to our year old Fujifilm XM1. A few trial shots were all it took to decide the easy winner.

It is an upgrade from the APS-C (23.6 x 15.6mm) sensor to the large 35mm full frame Exmor™ CMOS (35.8mm x 23.9mm) sensor of the RX1R. The full frame is definitely our most lavish investment for the arts.

Price includes effective pixels of 24.3 million pixels, up from Fujifilm's 16.3. And the prized ZEISS 35mm f2.0 Sonnar T* lens.

Seems we have come full circle to SONY - starting from the SONY H20 in 2009.

Fujifilm FinePix X100

Fujifilm X100 on Fujinon lens system, fixed 23mm F2

Let the Sony Nex-5n retires to the dry cabinet while we work out something with the Fujifilm X100 which Ric had bought a year ago, and we had not the time to play with. He was pretty impressed with the good reviews he read.

I was simply drawn to the good feel of its solid, two-tone body. Its convenient analogue controls encourages swift customization of our shots and has the beauty of the 1970s compact classics. Which is why i took to the change.

Low lights has still to be tested while we didn't like the blurry shots taken under its Marco mode. Compared to Sony 5N, richer colors were achieved. Let's see what we have on this blog, following this post.

My Redmi Note

Xiaomi Redmi Note, 5.5" (S$199) with tempered glass screen cover

We should be proud. That China smartphone technology is fast catching up with the Korean lead - Samsung. Goodbye to the age of expensive smartphones!

After testing on several lower-end version of Xiaomi phablets, we decided it had to be Redmi Note that doesn't heat up on prolong web surfing. Smooth and fast without a glitch; we have friends switching over from their Samsung Note 3 to Xiaomi for its longer battery life - 2 full days. These heavy users were all praise for Redmi's extended mileage.

Now we just have to see how durable this China phone is... We are rooting for it.

One application i found particularly useful and well-done - Alarm clock. Notice this smartphone can be switched off throughout the night, it will jump start itself at the struck of the clock! How convenient and batt saving. All our previous smartphones had to be left on.

1,000 Washes - Laundry Ball

Tra-La Laundry ball ($10 per ball via Qoo10.sg)

I was excited to receive my laundry balls; looking forward to doing "clean washing" that doesn't pollute the earth water than it already is. And 1 laundry ball is capable of a thousand washes! Friend who recommends the product has been using it for past 5 years. But for my family, this is amazing.

Do laundry balls work? I later read online that it doesn't. So i began my own trials...

Test 1 - No Soap, No Softener, No Laundry Balls.
Test 2 - No Soap, No Softener, Laundry Balls.
Test 3 - Little Soap, No Softener, Laundry Balls.

Test 1 and 2 yields identical results, we don't physically feel the difference; with or without the laundry balls, the washing machine does a good wash. In both cases, badly soiled laundry can't be fix.

Test 3 gave a positive turnout - a crisp clean job, with the clothes smelling naturally wonderful and is soft to touch! When we do pre-soaked some of our dirty laundry, no further cleaner will be added to the entire washing. Although we can't see how the ceramic pellets supposedly diffuse molecule cluster, changing hard water to soft and thus enabling itself to penetrate deeper into the fabric for an effective wash. But for sure, clothes does feel amazingly soft and fairly cleaned - the softness can be a result of soft water.

In conclusion, the quantity of cleaning powder in any washing should be reduced; for as in Test 1 and 2, washing machine already does a reasonable job without any cleaner. The eliminated component here is Softener!

This is your life. Do what you love, and do it often.

"This is your life. Do what you love, and do it often. If you don't like something, change it. If you don't like your job, quit. If you don't have enough time, stop watching TV. If you are looking for the love of your life, stop; they will be waiting for you when you start doing things you love. Stop over analyzing, life is simple. All emotions are beautiful. When you eat, appreciate every last bite. Open your mind, arms, and heart to new things and people, we are united in our differences. Ask the next person you see what their passion is, and share your inspiring dream with them. Travel often; getting lost will help you find yourself. Some opportunities only come once, size them. Life is about the people you meet, and the things you create with them so go out and start creating. Life is short. Live your dream and share your passion." -  HOLSTEE

Came across these life quotes after installing Pocket Apps - it lets you save articles on web pages that you like to read it later, offline. I didn't use the Apps to save anything cos there was just too much to read, always. So i actually benefit from Pocket's weekly email to me that listed top 5 most popular read - Pocket Hits, they call it. Now, that's what i need.

And i like this read. Especially ringing is, "When you eat, appreciate every last bite".

酷比魔方, Cube - Our Best China Tablet

Talk 79, 7.9" ($250) with Talk 9, 9" ($300), excludes shipping

We have sailed the seventh seas - trying out popular Apple, Samsung and several lousy China tablets. Now, we tell you this is the one, the Cube!

Our 'coolest' tablet. Really mean it stays cool, doesn't warm up even when i streamed a online movie for half hour. I was impressed. It runs on Android 4.2.2 and has reasonably sleek interfacing between Apps; of course, it doesn't beats Apple IOS, but at this pricing!? It sure beats all other Android tablets for value.

Camera quality is lesser equip but doable for standard recording. For video playing, the display is clear and the volume control is very much supportive. I'm getting used to the Cube from my iPad, more each day; and growing very fond of it.

And, both of these tablets talk - you can make phone calls from it.

LG Nexus 4 - 4th Google's Designed Nexus-Android

LG Nexus 4, black with internal storage of 8GB ($440), 16GB ($550)

Back from our long day out to JB, the good boyfriend called in the night to say our LG Nexus 4 had arrived from the USA. 1 for him and 1 for me, both in professional black that we preferred. He had got the screen covered and purchased the phone case - all ready for the next morning!

We swear by Google phone because it promises soonest update of the Android operating system. It is now on Jelly Bean 4.3. And is going on to KitKat 4.4!

The Nexus 4 serves as an upgrade from my present LG Optimus L7 II with a larger screen display of 4.7" from Optimus's 4.3", yet fitting nicely into the evening hand purse. Its 1.5 GHz quad-core CPU processor with 2GB of RAM is by far my fastest running Smartphone and it really does not keep me waiting.

Love this.

RICOH GXR versus SONY NEX 5N

Ric says i'm biased towards Sony. So brands of the equipment were intentionally left-out on the display here, and we could remain unprejudiced in our viewing.

Cameras for today's run are the RICOH GXR, with A12 28mm f2.5 lens module and SONY NEX 5N, with E35mm f1.8 prime lens. Both set to their full Auto mode; with a cameraman who is partial to Ricoh.

We have readers requesting for cameras to be tested on the same setting instead of letting the cameras run itself - it is more work for that, but we may try it out sometime.

Which shoots do you prefer?

The first picture of each pairing is taken by Sony, Ricoh follows. Ricoh's appeared somewhat dull in terms of lighting but I like its color tone, especially that of the last photo (above) albeit it is Sony that delivers true color of the food. I trust Ricoh is better off using manual setting.

(Food at Botak Jones - Fish n Chips and Cajun Chicken)

LG Optimus L7 II

LG Optimus L7 II, white ($338)

A week into my Life's Good Android and life's good.

Why the jump back to Android phone after testing out Window phone, iOS? Window phone doesn't provide updates to my favourite social media Apps like the LINE chat (it hangs sometimes too); although i absolutely love its flipping tiles display on the home screen.

And i couldn't risk having my entire data wiped out by an unintentional click on iTunes! So, it is back to old, reliable Android.

Why LG? Not the popular Samsung, because Samsung is charging premium for its branding. Life's good when technology is moving fast and competitive that the market seems to be on a level playing field - every brand of Android phone differs little. So forget about branding, go out there to explore, and pay less, for more.

Give this refrigerator brand phone a try ")

Nokia Lumia - a Window Phone

Nokia Lumia 520

Call it a withdrawn symptom; i got sick of big screen phablets and customize-focused Android. It feels not cool anymore. Just when everybody is all hype about - with the hottest production going as large as 6.3" mega screen to go against your cheeks... I'm back to purist mode.

Give me a simple Smartphone to maintain contact; need no games, videos, too much optional Apps. Yes, to music. And it must be energy efficient. I like the Nokia Lumia 520, the lowest range of the Lumia. Cheap and good. Responsive. Especially cool is its flipping picture tiles!

When everybody is proudly lugging about a phone - which doesn't fit into their pockets and barely their palms, i am happy with my small, lightweight equipment. Call me. I have it on me.

Sony Tablet P

Sony Tablet P ($399)

The folding Sony Tablet P feels like my new clamshell purse that fits into the pockets ingeniously. It fills the palm like a good hand glove; so much that i love holding on to it. Its 372g is featherlight compared to my big screen iPad 4, making it a joy to carry it about.

Of course, the tablet which constantly wears a belt in the form of its hinge-based design does take some getting used to. You now no longer slide the entire screen effortlessly, unless you had learned to, but to control your touch within either 1 of the dual screens. So it does perform some Apps function awkwardly, but we get around it.

Most importantly people who like watching movies on their tablets will never accept this tablet which breaks their picture in half. For me, it doesn't matter. Because the pocket-size tablet serves very well as a communication tools and a music player. Besides, watching movies on any 7" screen isn't a luxury.

Samsung NX210; some food photos

Century Egg Porridge

We've been juggling between the mirrorless trio - Canon EOS M, Sony NEX-5N and the Samsung NX210. A Samsung camera? I too have my doubts; a Samsung phone or tablet, yes, but why a Korean camera...

Nevertheless, the photos came out fine from this non-Japan photographic equipment, mounted with a 20mm F2.8 prime lens, set on Auto Intelligent mode. It doesn't outperform NEX-5N in terms of the lighting hues of pictures; Samsung tends to go brighter, on the safe side. And it delivers a more realistic color as compared to pictures by the EOS M who goes on the vibrant.

These lunch photos were taken in the Maxwell Food Centre.

Raw Fish Salad

Peanut Sweet Soup

Fish Soup Bee Hoon

Canon EOS M VS Sony NEX-5N (In Restaurant Yellow Lights)

Our previous trial between the duo with their pancake kit lens seems to say that Canon provide a more superior kit lens package to Sony.

Today, Sony was mounted with the newly purchased E 35mm f/1.8 prime lens to better contest the kit lens of Canon EF-M 22mm f/2.0. As per our usual practice, both cameras were set to Intelligent Auto and we were ready to go - to Mad for Garlic restaurant.

Spicy Meat Dipping Pizza ($19.40++)

Dipping Pizza topped with fresh Rucola and herb garlic in creamy garlic sauce and served with spicy meat sauce.

Spicy Meat Sauce - Korean styled

Suicide Rice ($19.70++)

Special fried rice with diced octopus, squid and various kind of spices.

Whose photos do you prefer? 

We guess many would be drawn to the brighter pictures by Canon? Me too. Initially. On second thoughts, we favor Sony's darker shade which brings out the feel of atmosphere; it was also closer to the actual lighting condition of the restaurant. This might just be what that separates Sony and Canon users.

In their fully automatic mode, Sony compensate dullness with higher ISO while Canon does it by lowering aperture, thus the more bokeh (blur) photos produced. You should notice that Sony here display more of its background than Canon, dues to this reason.

Fujifilm X10

Fujifilm X10 ($899)

Too much of reading Clubsnap forum led the man to believe that a high-end compact camera could actually perform on par with a mirrorless DSLR! Heheh... Anyway, it's an interesting experience to learn that compact camera is still very much a compact, no matter the advancement in technology.

I liked the antique look of the camera, though.

We are not displaying photos we took with the X10, after pitting it against the Sony Nex-5N as the differences are palpable; we do not need close observation to tell that the X10 takes on the back seat. X10 does give very good details of subject but also an unreal color tint. Note that both cameras are of the same price range.

X10 on Intelligent Auto mode.

X10 on Sunset mode.

Nex-5N on Intelligent Auto mode. (Similar shots when on Sunset mode)

Before we discard the X10, today is a final test on sunset scene to show you what we meant by 'unreal color tint'. Both equipments were set on Auto mode to trial out their image sensors. And as always, the X10 fails to translate the nature color of its subject. .

The picture that best represent the evening sky light was the shot by Nex-5N.

Sony E 35mm F1.8 Prime Lens

NEX 5N on SEL-35F18 ($629)

Sony releases its latest fixed focus lens for E-mount and Ric just couldn't wait to get it for the NEX-5N; hoping to net a less heavy and good-enough setup for my carrying around - he's a good boyfriend.

We haven't really run in the camera; just a little shots outdoor while paying extra attention to its indoor/ low light shots. In this preliminary, the focus is a little trying as it hunts a bit in the darken indoors with close shots; wide angle shootings are no problem. Yes, the camera was updated with latest firmware.

We'll examine with more tries, as photos from all coming blogs will be by this prime lens.

Canon EOS M VS Sony NEX-5N

We just had our hands on the Canon EOS M and couldn't wait to pit this mirrorless against similar Sony NEX 5N which is also on APS sensor. Both were mounted with their designed pancake kit lens; the EOS M with EF-M 22mm f/2.0 and the NEX-5N with 16mm f/2.8. Cameras were set to Intelligent Auto.

The shots were taken at Carl's Junior Big Splash; 2 shots above were taken before the restaurant turned on the ceiling yellow spot lights, and the shots below were taken after - thus the yellowish hue.

Photos taken from the EOS M were clearly brighter and livelier than the NEX-5N when both were on their kit lens. We did however, load the NEX-5N to Sony DT 16-50mm f/2.8 and took a few shots which proved superior to both kit lens setup - but that is an unfair comparison, nonetheless.

For further reading on the EOS M, here is a very good post by ieatishootipost who tested the EOS M against EOS 5DMKIII.

Samsung Chromebook

Samsung Chrome XE303C12-A01US, Wi-Fi (US$249 from Amazon.com)

LED HD 11.6" display screen

Most girls ain't IT-savvy; and we are especially scaredy cats to fumble with computer devices. As such, maybe why the Tablets has become a girls' best friend with 1) fast boots up, 2) 1 touch Apps, 3) long battery life and basically, 4) no operating system to maintain and defrag.

Thus i find the Samsung Chromebook a big turn-on - having all the fine attributes of a Tablet; throw in with a keyboard. Physical typing keyboard is definitely conducive and i dread doing long essay on touchscreens.

So, i was glued to the Chromebook within minutes Ric introduced us. 

And thought it was a really cool and practical device. 

A Tablet with keyboards; ease of downloading free Apps from Chrome Web Store; thin and light-weight at 1.09kg; durable battery use of 6.5hrs per charge. Superb fast boots up like Tablet PC. Expandable internal storage (16GB) by connecting to external drives via the 2 nos. USB ports.

Think laptops are becoming more dispensable now.

We are Apple together, finally...

Apple iPad Mini-16GB, 3G ($618) with iPad A6X-16GB, 3G ($828)

On Chinese New Year Eve, we were finally reunited! We had both decided on iPad tablet and it is quite final. Not i who is undecided; but Ric who is more IT-savvy. He has been going from Samsung Galaxy Tab (7.0) to iPad 2, back to Tab 2 Plus (7.0), Tab (8.9), upgraded to Galaxy Note (10.1), Galaxy Tab 2 (10.1) while staying faithful to his Macbook Air.

It's not hard to understand why he chooses to stay with Android tablet as Android operating system gives its user more control and selective setting options.

But i didn't fancy the cluster of options and was a convert to Apple iOS 1 years back. Holding an Android phone was more than enough as i had preferred iOS to serve the bigger screen. The switch from iPad 2 to the latest iPad A6X marked my conviction. With a retina display so pretty, it was a meeting too late but not too little - the money should have LONG been spend on this upgrade! (Now Ric is jesting, "Told you.")

My only grouse is the weight of the iPad A6X. At 662g, it is 49g heavier than iPad 2. But at least decent photos could now be taken with the improved 5MP camera.

The iPad Mini is a sleek beautiful masterpiece. I would have chosen it if screen sizes could be compromised. Ric loves its portability and good readable display but noted its shorter battery life compared to the full-sized iPad.

Both new iPad from Ric.

Sony Xperia J

Sony Xperia J, black ($398)

It is time. Many of us, the first generation smartphone users had came to realize the short life span of smartphones - about a year or 2. So instead of getting another top range model, i opted for a mid range. In any case, many low-end product is getting better.

I could well acknowledge the compact and handy feel of the Sony Xperia J after my 1 year with the bulkier Samsung Note. The reduction from a 5.3 to a 4 inch screen does not hurt one bit. It is impressive how the Sony Bravia engine easily generates a display that matches up to Samsung HD Super Amoled. And for a sound expert like Sony, the sound quality does not disappoint.

The interface and settings option of these new series of Android phones are innovative and very user friendly. All at a mid range pricing.

For a downgrader, the 512 MB and 1 GHz processor may be noticeable slacking to support a Android with demanding Apps but if you are just a decent user, everything works real fine. Plus, i am enjoying the beauty of this phone to be critical about its machine. Life needn't moves too fast, yeah?