First 2013 shot by Digilux 2

Went out for a early morning shoot with my Leica Digilux 2. Test out a HDR shot using Photomatix to merge the 3 compensated shots.
Happy Shooting Year in 2013 to all Photographers.

Digilux 2 Leica

This serious compact camera from Leica/Panasonic was released in 2004. It has been 8 years since it's release. This camera only last 2years in production. It never had a replacement model since then. The closest model that look, feel and similar spec to Digilux is the Fujifilm X10. The Digilux 3 (sold alreaady) is a 4/3 DSLR and the lens is too bulky for me to use it often. A m4/3 like GF1 and OM-d are better choice for me.

I have been eyeing this camera for a few years. No one seems to be selling it and when they sell, it was at a premium price. I finally found one in B and H (USA online) and quickly order it before it was gone. It was at 1/5 of the original $1800 price. 

When you do a search on this camera and read on http://www.overgaard.dk/leica_digilux2.html who seems to love the handling and output of this camera, you will know why it is still so popular now. In the Leica Forum, L-forum, this group of users has swear by it's great handling and photo output.

If Panasonic and Leica are to do a Digilux 2 revamp, it will sure sell like hotcakes but seems like FujiFilm knows what  the market is looking when they launch the x100 and x10 in 2011.

This camera design to some user, they  link to the Leica M8. The aperture ring is on the lens and the shutter speed dial is on top. As this camera is using CCD sensor and is 8 years old tech, one have to just still to ISO100. The noise at ISO400 is suitable for Black and white shot.

Although the sensor size is the 2/3" small sensor (same size as Fuji X10) it's bokeh and sharpness from the lens it produced is magical . This camera I believe during the design phase is more focus on the handling/ image output than selling to the mass. The lens look big as has alot of glass as the aperture is F2-2.4. Equivalent 28-90mm (35mm terms).

The jpeg skin tone / colour output is better than some DSLR and definitely GF1. Olympus / Leica skin tone and colours are my favourite.

Here are some shots taken during a sand castle building outing with my kids.

Phuket (abstract shots)

Here are some of the abstract from my recent trip to Phuket with my family for vacation.

All done by EM-5 and 14mm/20mm/45mm. BTW, I sold the 25mm f1.4 to get back the 20mm pancake. I still prefer the small size of 20mm.  Can't keep 2 almost similar lens due to costs involved.

Japanese Cemetery in Singapore

This December was a busy month for me. My kids and wife (who is a teacher) are having holidays. I got to plan time for them and also my insurance business. It was the year end to meet my goals my business but thank God that everything went well.

I had an appointment with one of clients and he mentioned that there is a Japanese cemetery in Singapore, near Serangoon Gardens way. After the appointment and thankfully I had also open some investment plans with him, I went back and do a google. Found out that this cemetery is a public park now and is located in one of the private estate in Serangoon. It was originally a rubber plantation owned by a Japanese in the late 1800s. It was later used for burial ground for Japanese living here during the old days and also after the Japanese occupation in Singapore. This is the largest Japanese cemetery in Southeast Asia.

This location , I found out was also feature in the "old romances" by Royston Tan's follow-up of the "Old Places" where his video feature some of the charming places in Singapore.

After doing the search and using my good Nokia smart phone to navigate (ok , it's Samsung and Iphone ruling the world now. However Nokia GPS guidance system is one of the best and easy to use. The best thing is it is free.) I found the place.

Here are shots taken by EM-5 Olympus with 55mm f2.8 Russian lens, Tamron 90mm f2.5 and 14mm/20mm panny lens.

1) At the entrance (20mm)

2) Japanese style memorial place