4/1/08

Earlier today I was giving a friend contact numbers for photography stores in Hidalgo as she was decided on buying her first DSLR, a Canon EOS 400D. I told her now was the right time to buy since its price is forecasted to drop with the imminent arrival of its replacement, the Canon EOS 450D.

She had a hard time looking for 400D kits as they were all sold-out and the retailers kept on telling her that the model she was looking for was already phased out. She found a 400D body that comes with a free A4 printer for P33,500. She needed a kit.

I didn’t expect the 400D supply to be scarce already at this point. Either the Philippine demand is really high or Canon made it a point not to overlap the sales. I’m sure there are still 400D units somewhere here in the Metro that have not been snapped up yet, most probably in the D-Zone stockrooms. Who wants to buy the exact same camera, that’s exactly the same price, with exactly the same warranty for four thousand bucks more? I wouldn’t. Problem is the main Hidalgo players have ran out of stock.

But there’s a new guy in town.

The Canon EOS 450D is here!

Apparently, the new Canon entry-level DSLR has already hit the greasy shores of Manila. This could just be the reason which explains the 400D-scarcity-phenomenon. Just to help out my friend, I called up some stores to inquire about the retailing price.

JT Photoworld is selling the 450D kit (with Local Canon Warranty) for P37,000, cash. It can be bought under an installment program (6 mos, 0%) for P41,000.

Mayers, in Hidalgo is selling the 450D kit at P36,000 (cash). I’m just not sure about the warranty.

My guess is that D-Zone will sell it in the P39,000-P40,000 price point.

One thing’s for sure. The 450D is one of the best entry-level cams in the market now. I would advice anybody who’s contemplating on buying his/her first DSLR to take a look at this baby. Bigger, better, stronger and with LiveView to boot!

It doesn’t make sense to get the 450D though if you’re coming from a 350D or 400D. Time for the 40D. Haha!

Summer’s hottest.

*Photo courtesy of trustedreviews.com

3/27/08

I stumbled upon a post at Shutterbox Philippines about a photosafari to the Babuyan Islands! The trips (1st batch on April, 2nd batch on May) are organized by Klub Natur, an environmental and travel camera club. The trip which is 8 days and 7 nights long costs P8,000 which is inclusive of transfers to and from Manila to the Babuyan Islands, food, accommodation and boat tours.

I wanna go! I wanna go!

I can’t on the first batch though ’cause I already have some stuff planned on those April dates. I’m looking for someone to join me on May 17-24 though.

This is gonna be hardcore!

Babuyan Islands or BUST!

The complete post can be found here.

Lahuy Island, alongside the Caramoan Peninsula in Camarines Sur, is rich with gold deposits. To this day, its inhabitants pan its pastel sands dreaming of someday hitting it big. Manong proudly and gamely showed us the steps in harnessing the precious metal from mounds and mounds of sand.

Taken with a Canon 40D and a Canon EF 70-200 F2.8L.  

For some reason, Irene and I were in Trinoma this afternoon and as usual I passed by Canon D-Zone. Very, very bad. I saw a generic Remote Cable Release which was compatible with my 40D. The Canon RS-80N3 was around P2,800. Since I rarely have a need for the remote cable release, I bought the generic one for P850. Just so I have one if I ever want to use one. For long exposures. And someday, when I grow up, when I get my IR filter.

Works perfectly. Made in Korea. The spiral cord may be an issue for some. It looks like a cord from a PLDT-issued telephone. Haha!

Finally, I bought my neglected fifty (50mm 1.8) its designated lens hood (P900). Teehee. Niftier Fifty! Haha!

The ES-62 has 2 parts: the clip on lens hood and the hood adapter ring.

Next stop: Filters!

So I was bored out of my mind one stupid afternoon. Effin bored. So I took out my camera, attached my 580 EX II and took some random shots in my room.

I was just playing with light, bouncing the flash from the ceiling, the walls and my makeshift reflector.

I saw my Nalgene water bottle. Some of you may recognize it. It’s the orange water bottle I bring with me during trips.

I had a faint idea of diffusing the flash through it. Making it some kind of gel. Orange gel. Haha.

I put the flash on its usual TTL mode and I found the shots dark. It was probably underexposing because the bottle was too dark and it had some water in it.

So I stupidly set it on manual and put it to full power. Put the bottle almost touching the flash head. Focused on my Nikon (e-fan). And hit the shutter.

Puta.

Smoke.

Smelled of something burnt.

I almost panicked thinking I fucked up my flash while just playing with it.

And then I found out where the smoke came from.

It came from the freakin water bottle. The Nalgene print on the bottle burned.

See the letter “a” in Nalgene. The flash fried it. Now that’s full power!

But I will not do that again.
Maybe I just got lucky.
Flash works perfectly.

I’m sorry camera gods.