One Cheap Lens but It's a Keeper...

Cheerss...

After my recent sale-upgrade, I've been left with only one lens to play with my new Canon 40D body. Well, would have been able to squeeze in the 18-55mm IS kit lens during the buy but somehow maybe my brain was tired of getting mix up feelings again about jumping ship into the Nikon system, I totally missed out on the point that I could get it for only extra RM200 as standard kit package...Damn. The truth is with my initial budget RM3000-4000 (cash), I was aiming for the Nikon D5000 due to its similarities to D90. But then after being poisoned by the shop's taukeh cum so called camera expert (he talked a lot as if he knows everything), I was forced to decide between D90 and 40D. It's a decision between latest very high end entry level Nikon camera and the seasoned semi-pro level Canon camera. I most probably would have straight away chosen the D90(offer RM4100 including freebies) if it wasn't because of my need for a flashgun as well which was totally out of my budget and the pro over entry level body logic finally made me decided to stay with the Canon 40D body (RM3000) plus 4GB CF Extreme memory card (RM150) and a Sunpak P242X (RM600).

Now, if I want to buy the kit lens alone, it would cost me around RM600-700 new...Damn again. But then again, maybe I don't need it anymore. My past experience with the budget lens has thought me what kind of things that I actually need in my arsenal to get the kind of pictures that I want. I want SHARP images and that means better lens. I'm not saying that the budget lens is bad as the pictures coming out from my previous 1000D kit lens were decent enough to my satisfaction in those days. It's only that I think it's natural that as you go deeper into your tools, you'll start discovering and wanting more things eventually.

Enough said on that wasted opportunity buy, let's go back to this one lens that I've bought since my early venture into this DSLR realm and permanently stucked on my new Canon 40D now.Well, at least until I've enough money to fund for new better lens that is.. Hahaha. It's the cheap(RM300 only) Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II prime lens which easily became my favourite lens since day one due its spot on sharp images and really nice bokeh effect when stopped down to f/1.8. Its the lens that made me wanted to explore more into portraiture photography. I can't say enough good things about this lens here and I was more that happy when I stumbled upon this great article summarizing all the wonderful features about this lens. Check it out here guys.



p/s : WOW!!!This lens also can be used for macro photography..2 in 1,it's a real keeper!!!

Faces of Tamparuli kids...

Cheerss...

These are just some pictures of local kids that I took during my friend's recent engagement day in Tamparuli. Joining in such a wonderful trip like this one would normally comes back with a wonderful memories. Well, not entirely a smooth sailing journey as we had to cross a river by a hanging bridge (jambatan gantung) then climbing a steep hill on our way to the girl's house. We were already well warned ahead about this feat but thinking that I'm myself used to kampung life, these kinda things wouldn't be a problem. Wrong!!!...I was sweating like hell when we finally reached the girl's house...Hahaha.

It was almost noon time, the sun was shining fiercely as it should be on bright sunny day and there I was... still sweating non-stop outside the house when I spotted these kids gathering nearby a small shed or 'sulap' as i fondly like to call it. They were busy playing with each other when I made my exit and approached them to take some pictures.







The 1st picture was taken spontaneously when I reached them, 2nd picture when I asked them to pose for me and the 3rd picture was taken when I spotted these three budding tanakwagus at the house's balcony on my way back to join the engagement ceremony.

I find that taking pictures of kids is actually fun. What I like the most is their innocent expressions and sometimes candid moments as they tend to get either blurred or erratic when faced with a camera.



p/s: tanakwagu - anak muda in Malays

The Short Trip Home...

Cheerss...

Just some pictures that I took on my recent short trip back home last Monday. It was a last minute decision made as I had something urgent to settle with the bank there regarding my new account. Started my journey around 5.30am from KK and I stopped for while in Tamparuli hoping that I could catch the early morning sunrise there.Damn... Didn't get any sunrise shots there but I discovered that the town's hanging bridge would be a good subject to shot next time around.

I was looking forward to have my breakfast at my usual favorite shop before continuing my journey again. Too bad, it was still closed and it was already around 6.00am.Mmmm...Another disappointment there. Anyway, I found this one Malays shop opened so I just parked nearby the pasar area and walked my way there. Then when I went back to my car, I saw this little fella (pic below) on my window. Mau tumpang kali ni?... Hahaha. Surprisingly, it didn't budge when I was driving away and it only flew away when I was about to reach the roundabout junction going to Ranau.

Arrived at Ranau around 8.30am and I was back in KK around 1.30pm going straight to office since I had to attend a meeting at 3.00pm that day. Would have taken the whole day leave if it wasn't because of the last minute notice meeting... :(