DIY Project: Macro lens on a shoe string budget.

So you're on a shoe-string budget but love taking macro shots of insects, grains of rice, flowers or just about anything that is blown up 0.5 times larger than what it exactly is to the human eye? I only found this out after purchasing my Tamron AF 90mm f/2.8 Macro lens, to be honest, on a personal level, I find this setup a little daunting. It takes patience and well, even more patience to get the setup correct. If you're game for it, read the rest of the DIY project at the following site: http://www.diyphotography.net/macro-on-a-budget-or-back-to-back-couplers

HTC Desire – available in Singapore, end May 2010.

HTC Desire is now available in Singapore come end of May 2010. The superphone (read: No longer known as smart phones.) will be priced at with a RRP tag of S$898. Running a 1 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor makes the phone incredibly responsive while the instinctive HTC Sense experience lets you wield the power of the HTC Desire with the greatest of ease. Read the press release at http://www.htc.com/sea/press.aspx?id=129702&lang=1033 Overview of the superphone: http://www.htc.com/sea/product/desire/overview.html

MFT: Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2

It looks like the Micro-Four-Thirds (MFT) cameras are now becoming a trend amongst the amateur photographer. Compact in size with the option of interchangeable lenses, not only is this light on your shoulders but lighter on your wallet too. The camera will come as part of a kit, with the newly announced LUMIX G VARIO 14-42mm/F3.5-5.6 ASPH/MEGA O.I.S. (that's a mouthful) lens. Pricing and availability have yet to be announced. Read the press-release here.

Preview: Sony NEX-5.

Image courtesy of DPREVIEW.COM. The NEX series will initially comprise two cameras - the NEX-5 and NEX-3. In terms of specifications, both cameras are essentially identical - the NEX-5 gets a slightly smaller magnesium alloy body and 1080i AVCHD movie recording but in ever other respect they're the same. A mount adapter will be available, giving the ability to use Sony and Minolta Alpha-mount lenses. The LA-EA1 adapter will have a motor to control the lens aperture but nothing to driving the autofocus (they can't currently focus SSM and SAM lenses with built-in focus motors either). We have no pricing for the ...

Starcraft II: Available 27 July 2010.

Blizzard Entertainment is finally releasing the second installation of their popular RTS game, Starcraft II. Although it has taken them 10 long years (A little overdue...) I'm quite excited! Next, when is Diablo 3 going to be released? Another 10 years :P Visit the official Starcraft II website: http://us.starcraft2.com/

Google Andriod Froyo 2.2, to be enjoyed, cold :)

Looks like the Andriod phones will see Froyo soon :) And judging from the highlights given by Google, it looks really good! Plus it also supports Flash 10.1. The Android 2.2 platform introduces many new and exciting features for users and developers. This document provides a glimpse at some of the new user features and technologies in Android 2.2. Hit the jump to view the introductory video, highlights and more! User features: http://developer.android.com/sdk/android-2.2-highlights.html#UserFeatures New Platform Technologies: http://developer.android.com/sdk/android-2.2-highlights.html#PlatformTechnologies New Developer Services: http://developer.android.com/sdk/android-2.2-highlights.html#DeveloperServices New Developer APIs: http://developer.android.com/sdk/android-2.2-highlights.html#DeveloperApis

BlackBerry Bold 9650.

BlackBerry Bold 9650 - un-boxing done by CrackBerry.com. The new Bold 9650 comes with pre-'installed' with a 512MB internal memory and expandable to 32GB via a microSD card. The Bold 9650 will probably only hit Singapore's shores in the next couple of months later. You can view and read more about the specifications of the new BlackBerry Bold 9650, here, http://na.blackberry.com/eng/devices/blackberrybold/bold_specifications.jsp Hit the jump to view the video of the un-boxing and its performance. :)

Starting to piece things up.

Posted: September 28th, 2007 | Author: grey_fox | Filed under: Oldies - post of yester-year! | No Comments »

This post is in-relation to my earlier post, Planning for a new tank.. So far I’ve gathered the following items that I will be needing and have a rough estimate on the total overhead.

These are just the hardware items, I’ve yet to include in the tank and the cabinet and the filtration. I’m wondering if I decommision my tank over at my parent’s place, I can get the two Eheim 2028 filters or should I purchase a new Eheim Pro 3E filter?

Not entirely confirmed but most likely I’ll be getting these items.

1 x Teco TR15 chiller
1 x Giesemann REFLEXX HQ 1200 mm (2 x 150W / 2 x 30W)
5 Powder: Clear Super, Tourmaline BC, Bacter 100, PenacW, PenacP
2 x Power Sand Special M 6L
4/5 x ADA Amazonia 1 or 2

The total cost of the items mentioned above will hit to about S$3,000 +. Pretty steep huh? So If I include the tank/cabinet/Pro 3E and the other items in, I might hit to a maximum of S$5,000.

Still I’m wondering if the full ADA substrate is actually needed; as in the 5 Powder items. If it should boost the plant growth and provide a longer solution for fertilization needs, I guess I’m fine with that actually.

I’ve never used ADA’s line of substrate before but would like to use it for my upcoming project.

The design of the tank that I’m currently picturing in my mind is to have the foreground covered, entirely with hemianthus callitrichoides or glosso, with a mixture of wood/rock scape to give it a natural feel to it. Many of these designs are adopted from folks such as Amano and Oliver Knott. The choice of fauna will be a nice school of shaoling fishes such as the harlequin rasbora with several species of algae eating shrimps, schools of corydoras and the likes, in short, I’m aiming for a peacful community of fishes – having the shaoling fishes as the main focus of the fauna. There’s a lot of ideas that I have but will I’ll probably need to get the hardware items first and foremost.

I’ll update you guys as I go along on this journey of mine.

Hopefully this project which will begin in 2008 and its design will turn out to be my proudest.