MoO, someone had indeed shown some interest in that 70-200 of mine. In fact, 2 of them. Didn't you follow the thread in alphanatics?

Time to de-mistify the myth about filters. Current crop of UV filters are mostly put in to do one thing only. And that is to protect the front element of the lens. So what about flare? Well, most of the time, the flare is caused by the filter's optics itself! So that is why modern UV filters have anti-flare coatings. That is also one of the reasons why if you are going to invest in UV filters, think carefully about your approach.

A good UV filter can cost upwards of RM150 (depending on brand and filter thread size). If you buy an inferior filter, you will be plagued by flare issues, as it is the inferior quality of cheap filters that is causing the flare. So essentially, if you do not use a filter, the flare problem will not come up. Now, the only question left is "Is the lens worth protecting?". If it is a kitlens, think how much will it cost to replace that kit lens. RM150 (for a 2nd hand SAL1870)? Would you protect a lens that is valued at RM150 with a filter that costs RM150? If me, I will not. If the lens get scratched pretty bad, then I just buy another kit lens. Or buy a replacement (such as the SAL1680Z) - which I will then protect with a RM200 UV filter.

noellee69: All filters will decrease the IQ. It is just a matter how how badly it decreases the IQ. Good filters, like those from B+W, Hoya (btw, Hoya have a few grades of filters. the better ones are the Pro1D and the new HD series) and Sony's CZ filters tends to degrade the IQ far less compared to cheaper filters.

MechaHerc: I still love that photo of yours, even after seeing it a few times!


OK, photo spam time. Here is another photo from Bali. Some HDR treatment done....

Well.... technically you are correct, albnok. I know my naked 50mm f1.7 flares like nobody's business. But I never put a good filter on that lens before...

You will need one of those low profile (read: THIN) filters to avoid vignetting. Try the Hoya Pro-1D. The HD version also quite good. But the problem is that the 16-80 is known to vignette at 16mm, even without a filter! *hehehe*

Go for the flash. For broader learning, go for at least the mid-range F42 flash. Don't get the F20 flash as you will be pretty limited. The F20 is more of a supplement flash rather than a full on external flash.

kmarc, buy online. there are a few reputable sellers. i think yannick is one of them, selling B+W filters. ask him lah. KEEP is a cheap and not very good filter brand. it does the job of protecting the front element, but also at the same time degrade the IQ. want to know how much it degrades the IQ? simple take 2 shots. 1 with filter and the other without filter. You should be able to see the difference. If it is acceptable to you, then no need to buy another more expensive filter.

OK, some pic spam. KL street shooting. Same group of people as Hokc, who put up his photos a few pages back.


#1 Upside down DBKL.


#2 Dark tunnel to KL Plaza. Someone called it the holy tunnel! hahaha...


#3 Mirror Image, split by the joint of the glass window.

popfish: Go for the F42....

Congrats, bro! That is indeed an awesome lens!

well, a professional photographer (who works for Reuters) once told us during a talk that "The background makes or breaks the photograph". I find that to be so true and I tried to stick to that nowadays.....

Bro, films have fixed ISO values. You cannot push the ISO values of film. If you increase the camera's ISO setting, you will only cause the shot to be underexposed (because the camera thinks you are using a higher ISO value film, but in actual fact you are not). Noise in DSLR is only relevant because it is digital noise. Film is analogue, so it doesn't have digital noise. Having said that, higher ISO films have grains.... these are very different than digital noise and in some cases is actually quite pleasing.

I remember I used to have ISO400 films and I have to store them in my fridge because at ambient temperature, the film will go haywire....

albnok! pushing the film in post-processing do not count as changing the ISO setting in the camera!

braynumb: Congratulations on your shot being featured in dyxum! That really is something.

Dun believe in brand war. A camera is still just a tool. Canon is NOT the inventor of the camera anyway, so what makes him think that Canon is not a copycat in that sense?

a700 is still a very good body, even by today's standards.

bro, just call the customer service. they will help you to register. they are very helpful. automatic help you extend your warranty as well.

nose-bleeding again. hang on, isn't that last girl Crystel?

ahtsong, the CZ85 poison really kena you kaw-kaw ah?

flash to get first, if you do not already have one.

e-jump: nice haul!