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************************************************** * PHOTOGRAPHY HAPPENINGS !! * * Photography news in Singapore * ************************************************** Issue #5 Dated: 26 Sept 1998
*** CONTENTS ***
Okay, and in this issue of "Photography Happenings !", we have:
1) Announcements
2) New Products
3) Website Reviews
4) Events in Singpore
5) Photography tips
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* ANNOUNCEMENTS *
Membership of this mailing list now stands at 266 exactly. Note: There is no Sales/Bargains section in this issue.
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* NEW PRODUCTS *
Leica has introduced a number of new products. More detailed info can
be found at their website at
They include:
The APO-Telyt-M 135/3,4 is a greatly improved telephoto lens with apochromatic correction for the Leica M-cameras. It has 5 lens elements in 4 groups. It weighs 464 grams. The APO-Summicron-M 90/2,8 is the first Leica M lens with both aspherical lens surface and apochromatic correction. It has 5 lens elements in 5 groups, and weighs 500 grams. The Leica S1 introduced just a year ago is now replaced with the new
flagship S1 Pro. Leica is also launching the Leica S1 Alpha, a scanner
camera as entry model into the world of digital imaging. Also introduced
is the Leica S1 HighSpeed.
(Brought to attention by Adi Soon, description from Photodo)
2 new compacts from Rollei
Rollei, the manufacturer well known for its medium-format cameras, has now released 2 new compact cameras. The Rollei Prego 70 for 35 mm film comes with a high quality Rollei VarioApogon 35-70/3.9-7.1. It has possibility to adjust the exposure with +-3 stops in half stop increments. Rollei has stepped onto the APS bandwagon with the The Rollei Nano 80,
a very compact APS camera with a 3x zoom lens. It has compact dimensions
of only (98x59x36 mm) and weighs only 200 g. The lens is a Rollei
VarioApogon 28-80/4-10.8. The Nano allows MRC (mid-roll-change).
Revolutionary digital camera using your current SLR !!
Until now, the only way to get digital images is to use a digital camera or convert your images digitally with a scanner. Now, Imagek has a revolutionary device that allows you to capture digital images straight from your conventional SLR camera !! This device is the Imagek EFS-1. It is a electronic image unit that fits into the film chamber of your SLR camera. Just put it in place of your ordinary film, and your images will be captured digitally by this device !! So now you can get straight digital images without buying a separate digital camera, or scanning your images. For the techies out there, it is equipped with a CMOS sensor of 1.3 million pixels. It delivers 30 full resolution pictures and the physical size is about half of a 35 mm frame. A 50 mm lens will be equivalent to 110 mm with Imagek. The system shoots and stores 30 pictures at a time and is reusable thousands of times. And it connects to your PC for instant viewing, electronic storage, immediate e-mail transmission and artistic manipulation. Although this device sounds very promising for those who need to get digital images quickly, and do not care for very high-quality images, the final product has not been launched yet. Some compatibility problems will need to be worked out, before this device can hit the market. Check out their website for picture of the device and more info:
http://www.imagek.com/index.shtml
New Sigma Lenses
Sigma will be launching 3 new lenses, the 17-35/2.8-4, 14 mm/2.8 and a 28-200/3.5-5.6 that supports Macro as well. The 17-35/2.8 is expected below $900.00 and the 14 mm/2.8 is expected to be below $1,200. All the above lenses will be launched at Photokina 98. (Submitted by Hilarion Goh) ******************************************************************************** * WEBSITE REVIEWS *
Technical articles and tips
For those of you searching for technical articles and tips, pop down to this personal website. It has a fair number of technical tips and articles which you may find useful.
http://www.ee.nus.sg/~zhu/photo/
Photok.Net (Asia Photography E-zine)
http://www.photok.net/
Dr. Walter Pietsch's Nikon Page
Nikon users will love this page. If you ever need to know anything about your Nikon equipment, you can almost definitely be sure that you can find it here !! Dr. Pietsch claims that this is "the most complete collection of Nikon information on the Internet". And judging from the looks of it, I don't think he's exaggerating !! Very comprehensive reviews of most of the Nikon cameras and lenses, and FAQs for those little things which you always wanted to know. http://www.zaiko.kyushu-u.ac.jp/~walter/nikon.html ********************************************************************************
* EVENTS IN SINGAPORE *
SDS Photography Contest
Because it is organized by the SDS, there is a field trip to try to get the participants to interact. The contest is open to all SDS members, SAFRA P.C members and Sembawang-Hong Kah residence who are non graduate singles, Singaporeans or P.R, aged between 20-35 yrs. old. Or non-graduates singles who are Singaporeans or P.R aged between 20-35 yrs. old. Frankly, I've never seen such strict criteria for photography contests !! All the photos submitted must be taken by entrants at the Sentosa field trip on 18th Oct 1998. It costs $15-20 for the Sentosa trip. The payment includes High Tea at Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa, 1-way transport and admission to Sentosa and 1 free 8R enlargement. 1st prize: $1000 cash
There is too many details to be spelt out here. So if you're interested in this contest, get your entry forms from Ruby Photo or Cathay Photo. The end of registration period is 1st Oct 1998. For more details, contact Tien Swee or Jill at 1800-348 1213, or e-mail
to:
(Brought to attention by
Hilarion Goh, all info taken from entry form)
National Monuments Photo Contest Exhibition
Not too long ago, there was a National Monuments Photo Contest, which participants were asked to portray our National Monuments in the best possible way. The results are now out, and the winning entries are now displayed at The Singapore Art Museum (at the Old St. Joseph Institute, opposite CHIJMES) until 01 Oct. Those interested in learning about the monuments in Singapore should take a look at the exhibition.
(Brought to attention by Darren Soh)
******************************************************************************** * PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS * Removing Jammed Filters
There are alternatives way of releasing jammed filters. 1 Cut a strip of leather or rubber (from a tyre tube), wrap it
round the
2 You can buy a leather oil filter (as in motorcar) wrench and use it on the filter. Careful though that's a lot of torque!
(Contributed by Kwok Shiung <schnauzr@pacific.net.sg> )
Bleaching Slide Films
1) Mix 1 part bleach to 4 parts water at around 20 degrees
celsius.
Note: Bleach solution is colourless. Do not handle near food, and wash everything thoroughly after experimenting. Do not allow children near solution. Happy experimenting !!
Still-life hints: making water stay on glasses
This tip will be useful for those of you who're interested in still-life photography. If you're shooting a glass of liquid, say, ice-cold orange juice. You want to show water droplets on the glasses, to show that it is indeed ice-cold. But no matter how you try to spray, the water droplets roll off the glass's surface as soon as the water touches the surface. The solution is simple. Water does not bond very well with smooth glass surface. Use acrylic spray (available at art shops) to coat the glass surface, to achieve a invisible plastic coating on the glass. Leave it to dry, and then try spraying water on it. You'll find that it sticks on much better !!! Hint: Make very sure that glass is very clean before spraying. And note that the acrylic spray is permanent ! So unless you're very rich, don't spray them on crystal glasses. ________________________________________________________________________________
That's all, folks !
Your friendly list-maintainer,
Send any comments(commend or condemn), or information to me at:
nelson88@pacific.net.sg
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