My Hobbies.

Olympus Zuiko 40-150mm f/3.5-4.5 zoom len.

2009-06-02T00:03:00.009+08:00

This is my favourite len with medium zoom focus for portrait and wildlife animals. It's designed and built specifically for the four-thirds standard Olympus cameras which have a crop factor of 2x. also known as kit lens for my Olympus E-500. E-510. E-520. etc.

Visited Hortpark for some photos shooting using above lens.

In summary, the manufacture points of the
Olympus Zuiko 40-150 f/3.5-4.5 are:
Good build quality for class with good price.
Good control of optical view len and sharp pixel.
Metal mount on 4/3 mounting.

The negative points are:
AF a little noisy
Quirky manual focus method
Size and weight larger than APS-C opposition

Will continue to explode in to others lens, etc. 70-300mm.

Olympus E-500 with kit len 14-45mm

2009-04-16T00:44:00.038+08:00

Hi, long time have not been posting anything. So sorry for not having any update. Actually I was learning Digital SLR photography thru magazines, books and even joined Clubsnap. I bought this Olympus E-500 with kit lenses from the CS. ( buy&sell sub-forum.) Price was quite reasonable and managed to buy with satisfaction.

Olympus E-500 with kit lenses 14-45mm and 40-150mm.

Olympus E-500 is extremely easy to use and it’s a good entry for beginners, also easily to understand the features of this solid camera. I've taken a lot of pictures and they look great and nice vibrant color. If you are newbies and interested to take up photography as your hobby, I advised and recommend you to buy this stuff. Cheap and you can just go hunting with your friends, to shoot good pictures and post in the clubsnap. The Olympus E-500 has several advantages including a unique anti-dust system which actually shakes tiny particles from the sensor's filter every time the camera powers-up. In addition to this it boasts a large, detailed 2.5in monitor, an impressive degree of control for a budget model and a great value twin lens bundle.

Overall, the E-500 is a solid DSLR and has a good grip, good battery life, and the image quality is great. I like the 4:3 aspect of the photos, and I like the fact that the lenses and body are interchangeable with other brands, although currently only Olympus.

Pictures taken by E-500 with kit len 14-45mm.

Click on images for larger view.

Pictures taken from E-500 with 40-150mm.

For more details on this camera, please visit:
www.dpreview.com/reviews/olympuse500/

25-04-09.

Olympus E-500 with zuiko len OM 50mm.f1.8 MC.

I bought this second hand len in one of the forum, but realized not very useful for landscape.
Also when shooting portrait picture, very slim bokeh and shallow DOF. compare with 50mm. f1.4. Here are some pictures using this len to shoot.

OM 50mm. f1.8

tack on the image for larger view.

As you can see these picture shots taken from Haw Par Villa.

Note: Limited of use on this OM len.
Len not AF on E-system and manual focus must accuracy.
Using pre-set aperture metering available.
Only A mode (Aperture priority mode) is available, but AE may not be accurate.
No sign of Focus light indication on the TTL screen.

My Olympus SP 550UZ.

2008-11-06T21:59:00.025+08:00

Photography is also my favourite hobby and bought a Olympus SP 550UZ. Went to the Singapore Zoo to have some animals photography.

18x wide optical zoom (equivalent to 28-504mm on a 35mm camera) 1:2.8-4.5

Dual Image Stabilization
7.1 Megapixels
6.4cm/2.5” LCD with 230,000 pixels
High burst rate (up to 15fps in 1.2 Megapixel mode )
Super Macro mode (from as close as 1cm)
P/A/S/M exposure modes
RAW mode
Bright Capture Technology for better low light photography – also available in movie mode
23 scene modes (including Portrait, Sports, Night Scene)
25 languages on board
Internal memory plus xD-Picture Card slot
Supplied with Olympus Master software and four AA batteries

I have taken some animal pictures in the Zoo.

This is a medium size camera, the Olympus SP-550UZ is very similar in size and weight to the Canon S3 IS, Panasonic Lumix FZ8 and the Sony H2/H5. I bought this camera to try out shooting pictures using zoom telephoto lens which was 18x wide optical zoom. Practically this was the first time for me to try out shooting at the zoo. Anyway, this hobby kept me with interest and going to invest more in the equipments.

A pair of German Blue Ram.

2008-10-13T21:41:00.013+08:00

The aquarium of mine was setup in the natural plant’s environment for the German blue ram. This German rams are normally kept where there are plenty of covering area consisting of aquatic plants or submerged driftwood with Java ferns, and including such elements in the aquarium set up. Densely grown groups of plants separated by open swimming space is best. The fish will also need some caves to seek shelter in. If we want the fish to breed, provide them with flat stones in the aquarium.

German blue rams should not be kept in aquariums smaller than 20 gallons tank. The larger the aquarium, the easier it will be to keep the water quality high enough. The German blue ram is sensitive to organic waste products such as nitrate and is therefore not a suitable choice unless you know how to keep the levels of organic waste down.

The female fish is smaller than the male and have more pink pigmentation on her ventral region. The dorsal fin of a male looks more longer and the body doesn’t have blue coloration on the black spot. The back of the dorsal and anal fins have a more pointy edge in the male ram, and the tail fin is also more sharply edged. It is also common for females to have a plumper body shape and have blue coloration on the black spot. The male ram can be recognized on his V-shaped tail fin and the elongated second ray that is present in the dorsal fin.

The German blue ram will do much better if you combine it will peaceful species that will leave some food for the rams. Keeping rams on their own is not recommended; they feel safer when combined with braver fish.

Many aquarists believe that the German blue ram is really difficult to rear. They need excellent water quality, and should have nitrates around 5ppm...no higher than 10ppm. Pay close attention to their diet, and make sure they get all the vitamins they need. I hope to succeed in keeping them than to breed them. Cheers.

Macro shot GBRam.

Nano tank for tropical fishes.

2008-10-05T21:23:00.026+08:00

I have rescaped my old nano tank with a new look. A rockscape on new plants design for easy maintenance and to keep my Cherry barbs and Tetra fishes. Tank size is 30cm x 18cm x 24cm H. with capacity of 3.5 gal.

Plants: Glossostigma, Dwarf Hairgrass, Crypt Wendtii and Ruffle plant.

Fuana: Cherry Barbs and Neon Tetras.

This tank is now 4 weeks old and hopefully that the Hairgrass will

spread evenly over the foreground. The Glosso are not doing well

and was in submerged form, may be lighting was weak. The Crypt Wendtii

were doing well after 4 weeks, does not melt at all and has new leave shooting

out. The Sword Ruffle ( Echinodorus Martii) was growing fine and roots

grounded firmly. Will see how it goes with more time and will keep

update on the growth of Glosso and Hairgrass.

Added some pictures of lighting effects.

2008-09-20T22:51:00.016+08:00

Some recent pictures on aquarium's lighting effects using various color bulbs or tubes. As a result, to manage different aspects of scene from the same aquarium planted tank.

Sunrise scene..........................Morning sun

Click on image for larger view.

Hot sun @noon.............Sunset scene...........spring season.

Click on the image for larger view.

This five images was captured from my 3 ft. aquarium planted tank and I would like to produce different effects on images from photography. Try to learn and capture images with adding colour bulbs and adjustment of lighting in various angle. Hopefully that the pictures are eye-catching for such natural scene for aquarium planted tank. Please enjoy viewing and let me know if any rooms for improvement. Thanks.

Aquarium photography and lighting effects.

2008-09-10T16:08:00.017+08:00

Basically, now I am learning to take photography of my own aquarium and using lights to make different effects for viewing. Many aquarists find excitement to shoot pictures of their plants and fishes. Most hobbyist for aquascaping would also like to have their own camera. As in sub-hobby of keeping beautiful tropical fishes and plants in the tank and it's inhabitants. From what I experience in different sorts of photography with difference lighting to create lights effect on the view of the tank. In fact, it takes equal as much patience and practice as keeping the aquarium itself. Look at this picture below, which has a scene of a sunset view.

Often, the relatively dim lighting conditions, reflective light issue involving the tank itself, and the constant movement of lighting makes the art of aquarium photography to a nature view. Also one of planning, precision, timing, and sometimes even luck to get correct view.

Sometimes, indeed, the equipment can make a difference, but I've found that it's hard to beat the good-old virtues of patience and practice, especially when it comes to the art of "aquaphotography".

Look out of the extra ordinary and unique shots. Try to think how you would like the picture to look altered before you even take it. Like most styles of photography, the aquarium photographer looks to enhance the brilliant beauty often found on it's subjects.

My community fish tank.

2008-08-28T11:00:00.019+08:00

This fish tank was setup in march 2008, and it's size was specially design to keep the fish species which I fall in loved. Actually have no intention to keep these fishes, but was fascinate by the Black ghost knifefish. The black ghost was small in size from the LFS which I bought from and was about 5cm long, did not expected fast growth. Hence got to get a bigger tank, deep in height for the reason they might jump out of the tank. These fabulous creature looks alike those dolphin, so cute looking and a little aggressive towards small fishes, now grown to 16cm long.

Tank size: 60cm x 30cm x 54cm H..Black ghost knifefish.

Below are fishes found in the tank, 2 nos. Electric yellow cichlid scientific name Labidochromis caeruleus was very active and entertainment fish. It needs some rocks cave to allow establishment of territories, less aggressive than other fishes. 2 nos. dwarf Golden algae eater, 2 nos. Koi angel and 3 nos. Black ghost knifefish can get along in this community tank.

Electric yellow cichlid. Golden algae eater ..... Black ghost.

This present community tank which I house with lesser fishes, because the black ghost are very aggressive at time. Some of my smaller fishes was attacked by them and I decided not to have too much difference species in this tank. For the Electric yellow cichlid, it can grow until 5" long and at present it's only 3" long. Where else the GAE will help to clean up the algae and left over food in the tank. Hope you like it as viewing this post and loved the hobby.

Canon Powershot A580.

2008-08-21T22:10:00.022+08:00

Bought a new camera Canon powershot A580 from Challenger.

The Canon Powershot A580 is a new point-and-shoot digital camera offering an 8 megapixel sensor, 4x optical zoom lens (35-140mm), 2.5 inch LCD screen and an optical viewfinder. New features for 2008 include blur-reducing Motion Detection Technology, Face Detection White Balance, Face Select & Track for tracking moving subjects, and Auto Red-Eye Correction when taking a picture and wide selection of ISO sensitivities, white-balance control. Shooting in auto and manual mode, also with movie shooting.

The A580 has a impressive look for a camera of its size and weight, not so much bulky as it is stocky and substantial, though still compact. It feels like a camera that won't fall apart with use. It's lightweight and reasonably small, though the body itself feels unduly thick and the grip along the right-front contrarily shallow. Batteries and the memory card are readily accessible and A/V connections are easy to find.

The LCD screen is clear and large, essentially as large as possible within the confines of the body, which contrasts heavily with the pointlessly tiny, optical viewfinder centered above it. We might not be in use and couldn't help but will much convenience to look at the LCD as focus.

The A580 fits the mold of a standard design: an invariable zoom control surrounds the front-right shutter release; on top the camera is a standard mode wheel; and along the right are various menu controls and a selector to choose between camera and playback mode. Said buttons on the back are a bit small but as long its quite handy. The bundle includes a USB cable, an A/V cable, 2 gb SD memory card, batteries and charger and the original software CD and card reader.

# Macro test (click on picture for large image)

The powershot A580's menu is intuitive and easily navigable, and all of the camera's settings are accessible within a few button-presses. It also comes with a few programs to facilitate uploading, editing, printing and emailing photos off of the camera's USB connection, and all work as they should via clean, easy to understand interfaces. Camera features soon trying out more of its result.

My planted tanks collection.

2008-08-18T00:48:00.023+08:00

Here are some of my tanks collection from the day that I started this hobby. After surfing several forums to learn the necessary details and maintaining the quality of aquascaping. Usually when we want to setup a tank, first of all try to read as much as we can from forum sticky on planted tank setup. It's fun when the plants thrive and lush grown, important of water parameter for the tank and whether to be low or high tech tank.

The grass plantation. 60 x 30 x 30 cm

Most of the time, keep track with the fertilization works. Do regular partial water change each week. Lighting are important to the plants as it needs photosynthesis for 6-8hrs. If algae strike is a problem to the tank,
a contributing factor is usually to much light. Then have to reduce the lighting period less than usual and will reduce the algae growth.
............................................ The lost jungle

Less Algae found in the tank.
Having live plants, that are consuming these plant nutrients, means less nutrients available for undesirable algae, which are also plants but uninvited. So there will be less algae growth in our aquarium, if it contains live plants and correct fertilizer use in the tank.

The highland trail. size 90 x 45 x 45 cm.

Less Maintenance for your tank.
Lower nitrates and less algae growth means less time is required to clean the tank. If you have so many plants that the nitrate levels are zero, that does not mean you do not have to do regular partial water changes any more, but you can do less, if you wish. We would recommend that you stay in the habit and continue to do partial water changes anyway.
When we feed our fishes, and they produce waste. The bacteria living on your biological filter take that fish waste and turn it into nitrite and other chemicals. Then another type of bacteria turn the nitrite into nitrate. You do regular partial water changes to remove the nitrate and other chemicals during each week.

My nano tank.

size 30 x 18 x 24 H cm.

DIY Co2 injection using yeast,

2008-08-01T11:17:00.010+08:00

Start to DIY 3 litres bottle Co2 using yeasts and sugars.

Share with you the cheapest method of producing CO2, as I started off with my previous 2ft. planted tank that was 5 months ago. I found that the plants are thriving and lush growth. So I decided to use DIY method (yeast+sugar+water) for all my new setup tanks. It's quite easy to custom our needs in the mixture, some may used beer yeast and bicarbonate soda powder. All this can be found in super mart. May be this will help students save the pocket money who are in this hobby.

And today, I'm preparing for 3 l. diy Co2 injection for my new tank.

DIY material: 2 nos. 1.5 litres coke plastic container, 1 m. silicone air hose(air pump type), 1 m. black hp air hose, 1 no bubble counter, 2 nos check valve, 2 nos. control valve and 1 no. diffuser. Not to forget sugar and yeast.

Method of connection: 2 nos. 1.5 litres container > 2 control valve > 1 check valve>1 bubble counter >1 check valve > diffuser.

Usually start run with one bottle first and then a week later with the second bottle, so the 2 factories run different timing that the Co2 will consistently supply to the tank. When the first bottle weaken in 2 or 3 weeks time, then close the control valve and repeat again the same mixture as follow below.

I followed these method from website, and after fixing all items, and prepare for the mixture. First add 2 cups of sugar into each bottle and only use first bottle to fill up with lukewarm water until 3/4 full. Shake the water bottle until the sugar dissolves in the water. Then add 1 teaspoon of yeast into the dilute sugar liquid and tighten the cap. Make sure the control valve is fully open then shake the bottle gently in upright position so that the yeast and sugar will not flow into the tank. Within 2 hours or less you can see co2 bubbles into the tank. One week later, fill the 2nd bottles with lukewarm water using the same application as the first bottle with the yeast and fill up to 3/4 full container. Close tight the cap and open the control valve to let it link the 2 bottles. The Co2 injection with consistence supply to the tank and this mixture will last 4 weeks or more that depend on the bps count.

Control valve.

Finally everything fixed and prepare to add into my new setup tank.

7) Miniature photography.

2008-07-19T14:54:00.022+08:00

Miniature photography using compact digital camera.

As for beginner (part 1), I will discuss the basic photography on miniature figures or glass ornaments to get start. Use this as our model and I have to practice with my steady hands on close-up shooting still objects. To begin with, my discussed options for getting close-up, focus on the smaller figures or ornaments from the camera and without using tripod making several different shots with the setting of ISO speed, white balance, exposure compensation EV +2 to -2, and others. And from there, we pick the best result of the pictures. Study the composition on each picture to understand the different setting so in order to improve our standard. Usually, when using point and shoot digital camera without much features as DSLR and less adjustment, but a good way to learn before investing into buying expensive camera. This practice gives some photographic tips and tricks for getting quality pictures of our shots. That's what my opinion in making best use of our money.

Lighting for photography.

Proper lighting for your photography will be the most important thing you can do to get an attractive detailed photo of the miniature shots. Will have two options--natural light, and artificial light (usually from a camera flash).

Indoor photography.

The interior of most houses will not have enough natural light to give you a good picture photo. Even if the light is bright enough, the "colour balance" of a photo (especially one taken with wrong exposure) can be off--yellowish with a regular light bulb, or greenish with a fluorescent bulb. Therefore, indoor photography will need a camera flash. For my case of close-up focus, I need to setup own lightings, and if using flash for close-up shots are not advisable.

Digital SLR.

For portrait or group photography in house, we need to check the distance range for our camera flash--just like our camera has a focus range for sharpness, it also has a distance range outside of which the flash will not give the proper amount of light If your camera flash operates for close-up work, and your flash is removable, you should consider getting an attachment which would allow your flash to operate off the camera, since lighting to the side of an object, and not straight in the front, is always more appealing (if we put the lighting off to the side, the lighting is not flat, and it will create proper, flattering shadows on your doll). Compact digital cameras generally do not have removable flash but with built in flash. (to be con’t)

6) Update my 3 ft. planted tank.

2008-07-14T01:00:00.029+08:00

Hi, today I have clean up my tank and took a picture of my 5 months old tank with heavily planted. The tank size is 36" x 18" x 18" H, capacity 190 liters which house many cherry shrimps.

Flora species: Anubias barteri nana, Aponogeton ulvaceus.
Bacopa caroliniana, Cabomba caroliniana.
Tropical hornwort, Echinodurus tenellus.
Hygrophyla difformis, Windelov java fern.

Substract: Gex soil black colour. DIY Co2 using yeast and sugar.

Fertilizer: Seachem excel and seachem fertilizer.
Some of the plants are fast growing type and usually I will trimmed them once a month, for water change at once a week 30% and most of the time just top up water.

Red Cherry Shrimps.

This red cherry shrimps can be mess productive livestock and are hardy shrimps which can survived at temperature 27 to 32 degree celsius and are cheap in the marketplace. These shrimps feed on moss and riccia plants and their life span around 2 years, the maximum size they can grow to 2cm. Usually I feed them with Up brand " Red shrimp food" 2 times a day and it does not cloud the water. And it's good for beginner on this hobby. Cheers.

Date 08-08-08. (lucky number).

For many chinese, 08-08-08 is the luckiest date on the Gregorian calender, it comes once every 100 years. The date 08-08-08 particularly auspicious because chinese words for "eight" and "to prosper" sound the same. Many will choose this date celebrate wedding, birthday, house warming, engagement and many others. And today, my planted tank a sign of prosperous will update here with good wealth and health for my family. Hahaha, sound great.

Click on to the picture for larger image.

Added 2 ruffle plants and intend to look for more rocks to balance the view. The plants thrive and healthy growth, so far didn't see any major algae strike. May be need a light plants trimming. Hope you enjoy it.

2)Shrimps for my tank.

2008-07-07T04:15:00.021+08:00

Bought some A grade crs from colourful aquarium.

This crs shrimps should be constantly busy and active when it's introduce into the tank. If you see the shrimps starts keeping still and not behaving or eating as normal, then the water condition is not right or if you see them swim up and then float and grasp for air or motionless and let themselves get carried by the current then your water is in a state of emergency. Check on the water condition and temperature of the tank with test kits, still many things to learn in order to rear and breed this crs shrimps.

Shrimps moult on a regular basis as the sign of growing. A new shell will be formed which in time will be also be shed and replaced again. So, if you see an empty shrimp shell, you don't have to be alarmed. In fact, just leave it alone and it will be eaten back as a source of calcium. Actually, it is very interesting to see them moult and the shell shed left the image of shrimp alike and many time when I saw one, thought was a dead shrimp. LOL.

Type of food for the crs.

They should be fed a varied diet rich in vegetable matter. It is also good to have moss or riccia in the tank so that they have a ready snack when they are hungry and never starve. They also eat algae but there should not be algae in your tank because if so your nitrates is too high. Algae tablets/pellets for bottom feeders are available at most aquariums. I used to feed them with mosura shrimp food.

1) Aquatic Planted Tank.

2008-07-06T23:56:00.027+08:00

Hi everyone, the picture you saw here is my latest aquascaping 2 ft. freshwater tank. Welcome to my blog and hope you have a pleasant read here!

This is what I have in mind to setup this tank in theme of " The Nature Park" which have the concept view of " Jurassic Park Adventure". The tank is mend to house Crystal Red Shrimps and I'm new in this hobby for the tiny invertebrates. Many of the local hobbyist would like to joint the forum as to share opinions and experiences on how to breed this little creatures, there are many who succeed in breeding higher grades. So, I always want to try out the lower grade A and B shrimps, because this shrimps are quite expensive and are very sensitive in condition of water.

The standard crs grading: grade c, b, a, and grade s, s+( v-band, tiger tooth, no entry) grade ss, sss and single hinomaru.

First of all when we prepare to set up a tank of any size, do a rough layout plans of what you intend to have inside such as plant, fauna, snail, crab and others.

The tank water conditions
Water should be no ammonia or nitrite present in your crs shrimp tank. If you didn't cycled properly the water in the tank, do not even think of loading any crs in it.
Optimum Temperature: 22 to 25 degrees Celsius.
Can tolerate up to 28 degrees Celsius (but only with strong aeration and non-overcrowded density.) Optimal pH: 6.2 to 7.2
Low alkaline to neutral pH is good for crs shrimps because invertebrate shells are alkaline in nature. Acidity is detrimental to shrimp shells as it reacts with its alkaline nature, causing microscopic pits. These pits can act as better platforms for micro insects to perch on. In an acidic tank, shrimp shells are less shiny because of these micro pit tings, making it more like a matt surface. Also, you may see the shrimps trying to brush off microscopic insects on its body.

Plants for the tank.
Anubias barteri, bacopa caroliniana, spiky moss, java moss, windelov, amazon sword and some which I do not know the name. When cycling the tank, I added some fertilize and seachem excel to let the plants absorb the nutrients from their roots. During this time the idea of adding nitrogen and phosphorus to the water, later bought a bottle of Nutrafin biological aquarium supplement to built up the bacteria in the water. Prepare Co2 (diy type) with 2bps. for 24/7 for the first week and later disconnect to let the tank runs in low-tech form.