Singapore Streets (8 Feb '12)

For my February trip to Singapore, I decided to bring my X100 along. I thought it'll be a good few days of shooting to test out the camera and see how it does in various conditions.

The X100 is so quiet even when I don't turn on silent mode I managed to get quite close to people. I don't think I can manage to get these shots on a DSLR. The weather has been hot lately so many people take mid-day naps. Probably big lunches haha.

Fujifilm X100 | 1/550 sec, f/2, ISO 200 | 1/400 sec, f/2, ISO 200
| 1/950 sec, f/2, ISO 200 | 1/300 sec, f/2, ISO 200 | 1/250 sec, f/2, ISO 200

The AF on the X100 is not as fast as my 60D but it's quite adequate even at small apertures. Adjusting aperture using the lens barrel lever is quite fun although it means I can't operate the camera totally one-handed.

Fujifilm X100 | 1/30 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 | 1/550 sec, f/8, ISO 200
| 1/180 sec, f/8, ISO 200 | 1/300 sec, f/2, ISO 200 | 1/40 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200

Fujifilm X100 | 1/400 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200
| 1/420 sec, f/1, ISO 200 | 1/30 sec, f/8, ISO 200 

As previously mentioned, the X100 produces very nice colors. I don't do much post processing for the colored shots.

Fujifilm X100 | 1/180 sec, f/3.2, ISO 200 | 1/210 sec, f/3.6, ISO 200

In the evening, I decided to test out the X100 for night shots. First up, cliche shots with the help of the Gorillapod Zoom. The quality's very good, but it was a PITA to switch settings between nightscape and 'normal' shooting. For ISO, I have to dive into 2 separate menus: first to turn off auto ISO and maximum ISO limit and then a separate menu to set ISO at 200. Then I have to undo these settings when I want to switch back to normal shooting. Yeesh...

As for the Gorillapod, it's finally useful again. It works perfectly with the X100. :)

Fujifilm X100 | 8 sec, f/8, ISO 200 | 11 sec, f/11, ISO 200

With the AF assist light off, focus hunts somewhat and is slow. However, ISO 3200 was still perfectly acceptable. AF also misses focus from time to time. Still fast enough to catch the 'moments' though.

Fujifilm X100 | 1/30 sec, f/2, ISO 1600 | 1/13 sec, f/2, ISO 3200| 1/12 sec, f/2, ISO 3200 | 1/80 sec, f/2, ISO 3200

Day 2 shots coming soon

> Full set of pictures on Flickr

An ode to my old Sigma 17-70

A good friend of mine in Singapore was looking for a 'standard zoom' for his APS-C DSLR and I decided to sell my Sigma 17-70 mm F2.8-4.0 DC Macro OS HS to him. Why? Well for one thing, it was an EF-S only lens so when I upgrade to Full Frame I can't use it anymore and for another, it's decent in all sense of the word. It wasn't exceptional in any way.

After I got it in 2010, the first test for it came when we went to Taman Safari in Bogor. With it's 3 stop OS at work, it handled admirably shooting from inside of a moving car up meandering roadways. Autofocus speed was also quite fast.

Canon EOS 60D + Sigma 17-70 mm F2.8-4.0 DC Macro OS HS
1/400 sec, f/4.0, ISO 800 | 1/800 sec, f/4.0, ISO 800

In a zoo setting, 70mm is a stretch for detailed shots. However, I think it held up admirably.

Canon EOS 60D + Sigma 17-70 mm F2.8-4.0 DC Macro OS HS | 1/800 sec, f/5.6 ISO 800
| 1/400 sec, f/6.3, ISO 800 | 1/500 sec, f/4.5, ISO 800 | 1/640 sec, f/4.0, ISO 800

Bokeh at f4.0 is pretty decent although nothing to write home about. Best of all though is that at 70mm, it can still shoot at f4.0, which is pretty wide compared to other so-called 'standard zooms'.

Canon EOS 60D + Sigma 17-70 mm F2.8-4.0 DC Macro OS HS
| 1/800 sec, f/4.0 ISO 800 | 1/50 sec, f/3.5, ISO 400

At 17mm, the lens has a slight 'banding' effect which makes landscapes look wide and expansive.

Canon EOS 60D + Sigma 17-70 mm F2.8-4.0 DC Macro OS HS | 1/60 sec, f/8.0 ISO 100
| 1/100 sec, f/8.0, ISO 100 | 1/40 sec, f/5.6, ISO 1250

The OS also allows me to shoot handheld at night with good results.

Canon EOS 60D + Sigma 17-70 mm F2.8-4.0 DC Macro OS HS | 1/30 sec, f/2.8, ISO 1250
1/100 sec, f/8.0, ISO 100 | 1/160 sec, f/8.0, ISO 100 | 1/160 sec, f/8.0, ISO 100

Sigma also labels this as a Macro lens. Although it's not a 1:1 true macro, I was able to get very close to the subject to get my shot. This makes it a very versatile lens since it covers almost every shot a photographer might want to take: macro, general walkaround, zoomed into details, portraits and landscape.

 Canon EOS 60D + Sigma 17-70 mm F2.8-4.0 DC Macro OS HS
1/80 sec, f/2.8, ISO 100 | 1/640 sec, f/2.8, ISO 100

The only let down for me is that it's difficult to get a shallow DOF with this lens. While rated at f2.8, it's only f2.8 from 17mm to 30mm. Shallow DOF can be had although I had to consciously work at it.

 Canon EOS 60D + Sigma 17-70 mm F2.8-4.0 DC Macro OS HS
1/40 sec, f/2.8, ISO 320 | 1/40 sec, f/4.0, ISO 1600

This is perhaps the best compromise for a traveling lens: it covers a wide range of focal lengths with wide enough apertures. Combined with a fast prime lens like the Canon EF 50mm f1.8 USM II, it'll make for a very potent light travel kit. Add a teleconvertor and your maximum range becomes 98mm (157mm equivalent) with maximum aperture becoming a still very reasonable f5.6.

It's really too bad it's an EF-S only lens though.

> Full set of pictures on Flickr

A romp in the tub

From time to time, we'll pump up a rubber tub for the kids to play with in the backyard. Times like this I'd take out my camera and start shooting.

Canon EOS 60D + Canon EF 85mm F1.8 USM | 1/125 sec, f/1.8, ISO 200
| 1/160 sec, f/1.8, ISO 500 | 1/125 sec, f/1.8, ISO 250

The girl was napping when the boy started playing. Needless to say, she wasn't napping for much longer.

Both Canon EOS 60D + Canon EF 85mm F1.8 USM | 1/160 sec, f/1.8, ISO 800

Canon EOS 60D + Canon EF 85mm F1.8 USM | 1/160 sec, f/1.8, ISO 500

With the two of them running around in the tub, shots came fast and frenetic. And just like that a weekend is over...

Canon EOS 60D + Canon EF 85mm F1.8 USM | 1/125 sec, f/1.8, ISO 125 | 1/160 sec, f/1.8, ISO 400

Canon EOS 60D + Canon EF 85mm F1.8 USM | 1/125 sec, f/1.8, ISO 200 | 1/160 sec, f/1.8, ISO 250

> Full set of pictures on Flickr

Canon 60D @ ISO 5000?

I've always set the ISO limit of my 60D on 3200. I had a chat with a friend who shoots with the 5DII and he mentions that he goes up to ISO 5000 and the results are still very good. So that got me to thinking if my 60D can create pictures with acceptable quality at ISO 5000. Here's what I got:

Canon EOS 60D + Canon EF 85mm F1.8 USM | 1/200 sec, f/1.8, ISO 5000

It's been post processed as per my standard settings although I had to push up the noise reduction more. What do I think? It's alright I guess. There are some obvious noise in the darker areas but I think it will be find printed. 

But I doubt I'll always use it much. There's just something about the image. It feels 'murky' and 'rough' somehow. I think I'll do some other tests under different lighting conditions.