Photography Happenings !! Issue #15

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                        *      PHOTOGRAPHY HAPPENINGS !!      *
                        *        Photography news in Singapore        *
                        **************************************************

Greetings all photo enthusiasts !!

1) This a private mailing list for photographers in Singapore, so that we
can all be kept informed of the latest happenings in the photographic
circle, eg. any courses, outings, interesting websites, and new products in
photography.

2) If you wish not to receive any mails, or if you have any photography
enthusiast friends who wants to be added onto this list, pls e-mail me their
e-mail addresses. All the recipients on this mailing list will not be
listed, so your address will be kept private and confidential.

3) Depending on the amount of news, you should be receiving one update every
two weeks or so. If you have any news of photographic interest you wish to
share with the rest, pls mail it to me !! Remember, this mailing list is
only as good as the info I receive !

4) I cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information posted, but I'll try
my best to verify the information before putting it up.

5) The official "Photography Happenings !!" homepage is located at:

Http://home.pacific.net.sg/~nelson88

Best regards,
Nelson Tan (Editor)

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Issue #15 Dated: 5th Mar 1999

*** CONTENTS ***

Okay, and in this issue of "Photography Happenings !!", we have:

        1) Announcements
           - New Articles

        2) New Products
           - New Products from Canon
           - 3 new Sigma lenses
           - New films from Fujifilm

        3) Website Reviews
           - Darkroom Mania
           - Cory's Photo Gallery
           - Lightning Photography

4) Events in Singapore
- M1 Youth Festival Interactive Photo Event

        5) Photography tips
           - A Beginners Guide to Color Infrared Photography
           - A Guide to Available Light Photography
           - Inside a Canon EF lens

        6) Classified Ads
           - Tamron 70-210 f/3.5 SP (Nikon mount)
           - Balcar Studio Light for sale
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* ANNOUNCEMENTS *

New Articles
------------
For this issue, there are a total of 3 new articles !!

** Push and Pull processing - the basics **
This article highlights the basic points and information about the pushing
and pulling development process for films. If you don't know anything about
altered development, this is for you !!

** Film Dynamics - What you should know about films **
This article is for the intermediate photographer who wants to know more
about films. It contains information about films, such as film latitude,
highlight and shadow details, contrast, reciprocal law failure, clip tests
and dummy rolls.

** Copyrights in Photography - Do you know your rights ? **
This article is about copyrights and infrigement of your copyrights. This
article is definitely worth reading, and the info is contributed by one of
our subscribers, Lee Kwok Wah. The copyright notes are taken from the
American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP) Inc.

You can check out the article under the Articles Section.

Http://home.pacific.net.sg/~nelson88

[Total list membership stands at 382]

Notable Quote:

"Professionals look for Quality Images, amateurs look for Image Quality".

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* NEW PRODUCTS *

New Products from Canon
-----------------------

Canon has released a spat of new products, which comprises of the EOS 300
and four new USM lenses:

EOS 300

Canon's new EOS 300 is an ultra-compact camera offering seven focusing points,
improved AF speed, 35-zone exposure sensor, 1.5fps film advance, shorter
prewind (film loading) time, a mid-roll rewind button, depth-of-field
preview button, and shorter viewfinder blackout time.

The camera uses a newly-developed CMOS sensor with TTL-SIR
(through-the-lens secondary image registration) for autofocusing. This
features seven focusing points, five of which are in a horizontal line
across the centre of the frame, with one above and one below the middle
point (a high-performance cross type sensor). Point selection can be
automatic, with the camera using an intelligent system to select the
most appropriate point. Manual point selection is also possible.

One-shot AF or AI Servo AF focusing mode is set automatically by the
camera, according to the picture-taking mode selected. One-shot AF
locks the focus as soon as focus is achieved. AI Servo AF switches
between One-shot AF and Predictive AF, depending on the subject movement
detected. Predictive AF tracks moving subjects. Manual focus is also
possible.

An in-focus indicator is included in the viewfinder, and an audible AF
confirmation beeper is available (can be switched off in all
picture-taking modes).

Exposure metering is carried out with a 35-zone silicon photocell (SPS).
Three metering modes are available: Evaluative (takes reading from 35
zones and compares result with built-in predefined patterns); Partial
(takes reading from 9.5% central area); and Centre-weighted average
(takes reading from entire picture area, but gives greater emphasis to
subjects in the centre).

There are eleven shooting modes: A-DEP, manual, aperture priority,
shutter priority, program, full auto, Portrait, landscape, close-up,
sports and night scene. Exposure compensation is available (+/- 2 stops)
in the creative zone modes.

The EOS 300 has a three-zone built-in retractable E-TTL autoflash with a
guide number of 12 (ISO 100, metres) and coverage for focal lengths as
wide as 28mm. The 3-zone autoflash metering is linked to the focusing
points; flash metering is off-the-film. Red-eye reduction is available.

E-TTL program flash AE is possible with Speedlites 550EX, 380EX and
220EX. A-TTL and/or TTL program flash AE is possible with other
Speedlites.

The shutter speed range is from 30 seconds to 1/2000 second; speeds can
be set in 0.5 step increments in shutter priority and manual shooting
modes. Flash synchronisation is 1/90 second. Auto Exposure Bracketing
(AEB) is available (+/- 2 stops in 0.5 step increments) in the creative
zone modes.

The EOS 300 measures 140 x 90 x 58.5mm and weighs 350g.

EF 75-300mm f4-5.6III USM
This replaces the EF 75-300mm f4-5.6 II USM lens. The new lens looks
similar to its predecessor, but includes a metal ring on the front part
of the zoom ring to provide a touch of luxury. The main difference is
that a new micro-USM (ultrasonic motor) has been used.

EF 75-300mm f4-5.6 III
Similar to the above lens, but uses a DC motor for the AF-driving
actuator in place of the quieter, faster micro-USM. Both lenses have the
same optical system as the EF 75-300mm f4-5.6 II USM and give a similar
optical performance.

Specification (both lenses)
Construction (elements/groups): 13/9
Angle-of-view (diagonal): 32° 11" - 8° 15"
Minimum aperture: f32-45
Aperture blades: 7
Closest focusing: 1.5 metres
Maximum magnification: 0.07 - 0.25x
Filter size: 58mm
Size: ø71 x 122.1mm
Weight: 480g
Lens hood: ET-60
Lens cap: E-58U
Lens case (soft): LP1019
Extension tubes: compatible
Extenders: not compatible

**********
EF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 V USM
Developed to replace the EF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 IV USM lens. Like the new
75-300mm lenses, the EF 28-80mm can be distinguished by the metal ring
on the front part of the zoom ring. A new micro-USM lens has been used.

EF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 II
Similar to the above lens, but uses a DC motor for the AF-driving
actuator, in place of the quieter, faster micro-USM. Both lenses have
the same optical system as the EF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 IV USM and give a
similar optical performance.

Specification (both lenses)
Construction (elements/groups): 10/10
Angle-of-view (diagonal): 75° - 30°
Minimum aperture: f22-38
Aperture blades: 5
Closest focusing: 0.38 metres
Maximum magnification: 0.10 - 0.26x
Filter size: 58mm
Size: ø66 x 71.2mm
Weight: 200g
Lens hood: EW-60C
Lens cap: E-58U
Lens case (soft): LP814
Extension tubes: compatible
Extenders: not compatible

3 new Sigma lenses
------------------

Sigma has released 3 new lenses.

The original version of the 28-200 f3.5-5.6 has now been fitted with aspherical
lens elements and LD (low-dispersion) glass for improved edge definitions
and prevention of colour fringing.

Sigma's new 8mm f4 EX Circular Fisheye gives round images on the negative.
It has 10 elements in 6 groups. Angle of view is 180 deg. This should
interest photographers who crave more coverage than the ordinary 16mm
full-frame fisheye.

And finally, Sigma released a full-frame 15mm f2.8 fisheye lens. The lens
has a angle of view is 180 deg diagonally, with 7 elements in 6 groups.

All three lenses will come in mounts for Sigma, Minolta, Nikon (D), Pentax
and Canon.

New films from Fujifilm
-----------------------

Hot on the heals of Kodak who recently hogged the news with their new films,
Fuji upgraded their Superia films with a new line called New Superia. There are
three film speeds in this new series, namely ISO 100, 200 and 400. Liek the
Fuji Reala, they have a fourth sensitive layer for more accurate rendition
of colours and to eliminate the green cast when used under fluorescent
light. Fuji claims that the new films have more natural skin tone
reproduction. Fuji has also used the same technology to improve their APS
Nexia film and for Fujicolour Press 400 film.

Fuji's Provia 100, will now be replaced with Provia 100F, which has finer
grain and improved sensitivity to the blue spectrum.

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* WEBSITE REVIEWS *

Here are this issue's recommended websites:

Darkroom Mania
--------------
One of the subscribers asked me if it's possible to write an article about
how to convert a typical HDB toilet into a darkroom. It's a great idea,
except that there are already articles on the web on darkroom stuff. So
instead, I've sourced out this incredible website that has everything about
darkroom that you need to know !! There is just one thing... you have to be
a little bit of a handyman if you want to build your own darkroom. Get ready
to go crazy in the dark !!

http://www.open.org/hughesa/darkroom/index.htm

Cory's Photo Gallery
--------------------
This website seems to be quite new, since there is no much articles and
stuff. But the wildlife images are good, and worth taking a look. Even if
you are not into wildlife photography, the images are attractive enough to
make you want to use them on your screen as wallpaper. And while you're
there do check out the articles section - they do have a good article for
starting your own website.

http://www.idcnet.com/~scc/gallery2.htm

Lightning Photography
---------------------
I never knew so much could be written on such a seemingly simple topic !
This site has loads of information about photographing lightning, and you
should probably read the warning and safety precautions before you start !!
If you love lightning photography, this is THE place to go !!

P.S: I've also added another "lightning" website which you might like to visit.

http://wvlightning.com/tips.html

http://gene.wins.uva.nl/~heedens/tricks.html

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* EVENTS IN SINGAPORE *

M1 Youth Festival Interactive Photo Event
-----------------------------------------

The M1 Youth Connection is an annual festival of theatre and other arts for
young people between the age of 14 to 25. Every year, the festival reaches
out to the public, via the Festival Centre, hosted at Parco Bugis Junction.
It is co-organised with The Necessary Stage, Shell, Singapore History
Museum, etc

For the 1999 exhibition, Photography (Black and White Monochrome) will be
highlighted as an artform, and young photographers between the age of 14 to
25 are given a platform to exhibit their works. The exhibition will be held
from 6 Mar to 21 Mar at Hylam Street, Parco Bugis Junction.

Each day, from 6 to 21 Mar, 15 cameras (simple focus free stuff) will be
issued to anyone aged 15-24 to express photographically how they, as young
people in Singapore, view their environment, or what it means to be young in
Singapore. Everyone will shoot on the same film with the same simple camera,
and processed at the same lab. The prints should be sets of 4 b/w
photographs, following the
theme of "Telling My Story".

One print will be selected from each roll and displayed. So over a period of
15 days, some 225 interesting fresh prints will be displayed. There will be
no prizes as it is not a competition. It is an opportunity to not just talk
photography but shoot some.

Some photographers whose works are on display include Heman Chong, Darren Soh,
Ng Ken Liong, Wayne Siew and Dawn Tan.

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* PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS *

A Beginners Guide to Color Infrared Photography
-----------------------------------------------
For those of you who are sick of the usual colour photography, and want to
try something weird and out-of-this-world, try the zany colours of colour
infrared photography !! Don't know how or where to get started ?? Check out
this website !! It has pretty good information on colour infrared
photography without too much jargons and complications. Check out the site,
pop down to Peninsular area for a roll of Kodak IR film and start rolling !!

http://www.picture-perfect.net/infrared.shtml

A Guide to Available Light Photography
--------------------------------------
Available light photography is taking pictures in available light. Pretty
obvious ?? Actually, available light photography is a much neglected field
of photography. With modern flash technology, many people have neglected
available lighting. No enough light ? Just add a flash !

In fact, available light is often the most natural looking lightsource
around. You do not even need to bring bulky flash equipment. Just lug along
your tripod and bring a keen eye for observation of available light. You'll
be surprised at how the existing light sources can be used to your advantage.

http://www.picture-perfect.net/availablelight.shtml

Inside a Canon EF lens
----------------------

Steve Weixel's Photoscene is a great personal homepage. He is obviously a
Canon EOS user, and there's no doubt that other EOS users will love his
site. Ever wondered what the interior of your USM EF lens look like ???
Steve has taken apart his USM lenses so that you don't need to. Follow his
guided tour into the world of ultrasonic motors, and techies you may like to
read through his explanation of how each part of the motor works. Okay,
enough... I can hear the girls yawning...

For others who are not interested in EOS stuff, check out his gallery. It
has a great layout, is fast loading, and the pictures are pleasing. Check it
out at

http://www.photoscene.com/sw/index.html

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* CLASSIFIED ADS *

Tamron Adaptall mount for Nikon
-------------------------------
I have a Tamron Adaptall mount for Nikon, for $50. Price is negotiable,
please page for me at 9-317 4776 to view. Thank you !

Balcar Studio Light for sale
-----------------------------
French made Balcar studio light Mini Z1 for sale at $400. Great for
beginning photographers looking for a reliable and compact studio flash. A
professional brand, in great condition, and rated at 300W/S, giving you
plenty of power for the money !! Page for me at 9-316 6742 for more
information !!

<Terry Toh>
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That's all, folks !
Happy shooting !!!

Your friendly list-maintainer,
Nelson Tan

Visit the official "Photography Happenings !!" website at:

Http://home.pacific.net.sg/~nelson88