7/30/08

This is a very late post and I apologize for not having any entry for the past week. It’s just that my requirements for school and my duties at work are all piling up.

These are some of the images I gathered on a recent photowalk I had with some friends. We started off at Hidalgo at noon and finished off at CCP for dinner. Man, that was a long walk.

Dumadaan -  This was shot along the busy road of Hidalgo where hawkers, vegetable sellers, roadside eateries and photography specialist coexist in harmonious anarchy.

Pattern -  Smack in the middle of Hidalgo Street, Quiapo.

Payong -  The Quiapo Church is an undisputed character, commanding presence and irrelevance at the same time.

Laundromat -  At Escolta, a woman brings a wee’s worth of laundry. Have water, will wash.

Canon System, Kodak TMAX 400, D-76

MANILA or BUST!

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