Nikon D600: Is it good enough?

I have to admit: I am a Nikon DSLR user and lover. Having used the brand for decades, I am accustomed to the handling and the interface. Putting my film SLR usage history aside, my first digital SLR was the Nikon D60, then D200, then D300. When the first full-frame Nikon DSLR, D700, was released in 2008, I reviewed and decided to wait for the 2nd generation of Nikon full-frame DSLR before deciding if I should buy one.

It was a 4-year wait.

Early this year, Nikon finally launched the D800. I reviewed and loved the whole experience of handling the beast. However, the image resolution and file size are too large for my workstation to handle the image processing workflow efficiently. Furthermore, I am not shooting photographs full-time, and certainly could not justify the purchase. For the kind of assignments I undertake, the current D300 is more than adequate.

Now that the Nikon D600 is launched, people are comparing the technical specs and wonder if the D600 is good enough. After all, with a street price of S$2900, the D600 is the cheapest full-frame Nikon DSLR - an "entry-level" camera.

My view: it is.

At 24.3 megapixels in full frame, the D600 pixel density is slightly lower than my 12-megapixel 1.5x crop D300. What it means is that when I crop at 100%, subjects on the D300 appear more magnified than D600.

Comparing field of view between D300 and D600 with same 50mm lens.

But the D600 sensor captures with better details.

100% crop: D300 vs. D600.

While the quality differences are apparent from the comparison shots above, they are probably not that obvious in actual shooting conditions. Besides, these can be tweaked using post-processing methods. So it appears my D300 is still capable of delivering good images after all these years.

D600 or D800
Let's put things in perspective. If you shoot for a living, you would have decided on the D800 for its excellent professional-grade build and functions. If you are considering the D600, you are either a hobbyist photographer who doesn't need - only want - spectacular handling, or someone on a budget who needs to make a very wise purchase.

Well then, choosing the Nikon D600 is wise.

Don't be mistaken: the D800 totally wins my heart in terms of ergonomics and performance. When it comes to shooting pleasure, the D800 is more enjoyable to use.

It's just that the D600 is not designed for the true-blue professional handler. It has consumer-like mode dials, Auto and Scene modes, fewer dedicated buttons, plastic frame body. Yet when you hold the D600, it feels every inch a professional grade camera. And it can deliver professional quality images. That's why I love Nikon DSLRs.

I don't find anything seriously lacking on the D600 for my shooting needs. The hand grip is adequate although not as comfortable as D800. The buttons feel responsive and well-built just like D800. The camera AF is speedier compared to my faithful D300. And although there are less AF points compared to the D800, I don't really feel any handicap. If any, I felt that Nikon should have filled up the entire frame on the D600 and D800 with AF points.

Personally, I don't fancy the D600 mode dial lock, which impedes my ability to change modes quickly. But I guess it's there with good intentions (and consumer feedback). I also find that I am unable to customise the "OK" button to zoom-in images during playback, something that I could do on my D300. This is a convenient custom feature that helps me check focus sharpness quickly.


Here's why I prefer the D600 over the D800:

• 2 user preset modes. They are so useful to switch between settings when you needed it. Even as a seasoned photographer like me who shoots mostly in manual exposure mode, I still like to switch to another mode quickly for some quick shots. These preset modes let you save whatever setting you have made to your D600, down from the RAW quality to the ISO and aperture setting. One thing to note though: if you have made changes to the settings with these modes, and then you switch to other modes and back again, the changes would be lost.
• More manageable file size and image resolution. My current D300 generates 12-megapixel RAW images at 10+MB. The D800 generates 36-megapixel RAW mages at 40+MB. The D600 creates 24-megapixel ones at 20+MB. While bigger is better, sometimes you have to be rational. Too much pixels might not be a good thing for your digital workflow as it increases your processing time and requires a lot more memory cards when shooting, especially for events like weddings. Sadly, Nikon does not have options to save smaller RAW files.
• Higher frames-per-second. D600's 5.5fps vs. D800's 4fps
• Lighter weight. D600's 760g vs. D800 900g, though I swear I couldn't tell the difference.
• More fun to use, thanks to consumer-based shooting modes. The D600 is ideal for formal assignments as well as family events. 

Why D800 is still a better choice over D600:

• More professional. The camera delivers the highest possible image quality, if your job demands.
• More hardware buttons for direct setting changes, again important for mission-critical photographers. The D800 button layout is consistent with the other Nikon professional cameras, which makes it easier to adopt. The D800 also has PC sync socket, an old-school connector that professionals would appreciate. The USB port on the D800 is 3.0 vs. D600's 2.0, meaning you can transfer images from the D800 to your computer a whole lot faster.  
• Higher shutter speed. D800's 1/8000s vs. D600 1/4000s, something that only professionals really need. For the most of us, even if the actual exposure requires faster shutter, you can still capture the shot in RAW and recover the overexposed areas using post-processing.
• Higher flash sync speed. D800's 1/250s vs. D600 1/200s. But if you use Nikon flash that support CLS, you can sync up to 1/320s on D600.
• Better build. With full metal body, the D800 will survive accidents better than D600. Then again, how many of us would even want to risk the situation to test the durability?
• If you need higher frame rate, you can get the vertical grip which bumps the D800 to 6fps.

Don't kid yourself: the Nikon D600 is never meant to offer uncompromised professional handling. But do you need it to achieve your shooting objective? For S$1000 more, it does sound like the D800 is a small price for a more complete product. But, if you do not really need to push the limits of the DSLR functionality (1/8000s shutter speed? 1/250s flash sync? High-risk accident-prone assignments?), for what it's worth, the Nikon D600 delivers a lot of value.

This article is also published on XINMSN.

Microsoft Windows 8 Pro: Upgrade?

As part of the invite to the Microsoft Windows 8 launch yesterday at the Esplanade Roof Terrace Singapore, I received a version upgrade DVD (VUP) of the next-generation operating system.

Upgrade Me?
While I am extremely excited to embrace the new Windows experience, I have a few concerns before jumping into the bandwagon and install over my current desktop PC running Windows 7 Pro.

1. How long would the upgrade process take? I'm pretty sure it's going to take a while to migrate all the settings to Windows 8. And then there is this eagerness to explore and familiarise with the new platform, which would derail my daily computing routine for weeks.

2. Will it work seamlessly with all my existing legacy devices? I have a few antiquated devices from the XP days and had a tough time looking for appropriate 64-bit drivers to make it work on Windows 7. I'm not gonna risk that.

3. Without a touchscreen, would the upgrade really make sense? Windows 8 experience relies heavily on the touch experience, not the mouse. I do not wish to disappoint my expectations by using the OS over traditional keyboard-and-mouse input methods.

I only hope that I get laptop/tablet/hybrid review units soonest from one of the manufacturer brands over the next few hours/days/weeks so that I can share my personal experience on this OS.  There are over 50 brand new models from dozens of manufacturers with various form factors, there is bound to be one that will meet your needs.

Windows 8 launch event.

Upgrade You?
Here are the ways to upgrade your current Windows OS to the latest Windows 7 Pro in Singapore (and it's very affordable!):

a. Existing Windows XP, Vista, 7 owners - purchase the Windows 8 Pro Version Upgrade (VUP) retail DVD from retail stores for only S$89. For a limited time, get a free Canon Pixma MP237 printer worth $79. Effectively,  you are paying only $10. Highly recommended, best value.

b. Existing Windows 7 owners who purchased their PC before 1 June 2012 - purchase online at http://windows.microsoft.com/en-SG/windows/home and pay S$49.99. Offer ends 31 Jan 2013.

c. If you purchased your Win7-run computers between 2 Jun 2012 and 31 Jan 2014 - upgrade your computers to Windows 8 Pro for S$19.99. To register for this Windows Upgrade offer, customers have to go to www.windowsupgradeoffer.com .


Finally, the question every non-geek is asking: what is the big deal on Windows 8 and should I really upgrade? Well, if you are extremely comfortable with the current Windows experience and are resistant to changes, there is really no need to perform the upgrade and risk losing your sanity over the completely different user experience of the Windows 8. But, if you are a casual user who has been enjoying touch experience on your other mobile devices like tablet and phone, you should take the advantage of this upgrade offer and get it. If this is the first time you are using a Windows PC, then it's a no brainer to get Windows 8 and enjoy the future.

If you bought your PC before 1 Jun 2012, you have up to 31 Jan 2013 to decide for the upgrade and pay at a lower price. After that, you will have to pay retail price of $89 and possibly without free gifts. If you ask me, the $40 difference is not worth the risk of upgrading the OS and finding yourself disliking the new interface.

If you bought your PC from 2 Jun 2012 or if you are thinking of buying a new PC that runs on Windows 7, you're in luck. You have up to 31 Jan 2014 - that's 15 months - to consider the upgrade. And when you do, just pay S$19.99. So cheap! The only consideration when buying a new laptop PC running on Windows 7 is the lack of touch screen, which again defeats the purpose of upgrading. But then again, these laptops would be selling cheap as manufacturers try to clear stock for their new products.

This coming SITEX 2012 will be very very exciting for computer shoppers.

Welcome to the new computing world of Windows 8.

ASUS Windows 8 Mega Launch

ASUS has probably broken the record with the most number of Window 8 devices announced in a single launch event. Here's a breakdown:

Gaming Desktop PC
Delivering the highest specs for the most demanding user.

ASUS ROG TYTAN CG8480
The ROG TYTAN CG8480 Desktop PC is powered by the liquid cooled Intel® Core™ i7-3770K processor with Turbo Gear enabling 4-core CPU instant overclocking to reach a maximum speed of 4.2 GHz, while graphics look stunning on the NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX
680 graphics card that supports up to four monitors.

Available date: 22 November 2012 (SITEX 2012)
RRP: S$2,250/-

ASUS ROG TYTAN CG8890
The ROG TYTAN CG8890 Desktop PC is powered by the liquid cooled Intel® Core™ i7-3960X processor with Turbo Gear enabling 6-core CPU instant overclocking to reach a maximum speed of 3.8 GHz, while graphics look stunning on the NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 690 graphics card that supports up to four monitors.

Available date: 22 November 2012 (SITEX 2012)
RRP: S$5,900/-


All-in-One PC
Space-saving, sleek and compact desktop solution.

ASUS ET2220
The ASUS ET2220 sports a unique space-saving photo frame-inspired design, with a frameless 21.5” FHD LED-backlit display that can be tilted from 16° to 45° to give users an ergonomic viewing position. Its smart and elegant design gives it a silver stand that can also be used as a carrying handle, and also features an intricately-designed speaker mesh. This elegant 21.5” All-in-One PC features a frameless 10-point capacitive touch display, SonicMaster audio technology, USB 3.0, HDMI connectivity and VESA mount compatibility.

Available date: 22 November 2012 (SITEX 2012)
RRP: S$1,339/-

ASUS ET2701
The ET2701 features built in SonicMaster technology optimized by audio experts — it features a finely-tuned digital signal processor that produces every note in pristine clarity with near-zero distortion. Also onboard is DTS Surround Sensation UltraPC™ ll audio technology, which delivers the most realistic, three-dimensional sensation of being completely surrounded by sound. The ET2701 comes with an external subwoofer with a 580cc resonance chamber dedicated to low-range frequency audio signals that provides a rich bass response never before heard in ASUS AiO PCs.

Available date: 22 November 2012 (SITEX 2012)
RRP: S$2,459/-


Touchscreen Laptops
The keyboards are not detachable.

ASUS TAICHI
TAICHI — an incredible fusion of notebook and tablet. Its unique dual-screen design features two 11.6” Full HD screens for unparalleled mobile flexibility. Lid open, TAICHI is a fully featured ultra-portable notebook with keyboard, multi-touch touchpad and SSD storage; lid closed, it’s a sleek and powerful multi-touch tablet for intuitive fingertip control with Windows 8.

Available date: TBC
RRP: S$2,698/-

ASUS Zenbook Touch
ZENBOOK™ Touch is the upgrade to the award-winning slim line design with a beautiful spun-metal finish and impressive specifications with 3rd generation Intel® Core™ processors. Brilliant full HD 13.3” screen and now with capacitive multi-touch for Windows 8, thus enhancing users’ multimedia experience.

Available date: TBC
RRP: S$2,498/-

ASUS VivoBook Series
The more affordable laptop range, the ASUS X202 and S400 will be priced at S$799 and S$1,098 respectively. Between 24 October and 4 November, customers who purchase the VivoBook S400 will receive a free Canon inkjet printer (worth S$79). Promotion is only valid between 24 October and 4 November. While stocks last.

Hybrid Laptops
Functions both as a laptop and a tablet.

ASUS Transformer Book
The ASUS Transformer Book combines the best features of a notebook and tablet. Together with the keyboard, the Transformer Book is a powerful and fully featured notebook with a high-capacity hard drive. When detached, the full high-definition 13-inch IPS panel display instantly becomes a multi-touch Windows 8 tablet with its own blazingly fast SSD storage.

Available date: TBC
RRP: TBC


ASUS Vivo Tab

With slim, light designs and optional lightweight keyboards, ASUS VivoTab offers a perfect balance of portability and productivity. With a resilient metallic finish and high-definition multi-touch 11.6” displays, the VivoTab with Windows 8 Pro features Super IPS+ technology for a brilliant image with wide viewing angle of 178°. Keyboard dock with built-in battery for up to 19 hours of mobile use on the VivoTab. It also includes a Wacom stylus for high-precision input.

Available date: TBC
RRP: S$1,399/-

ASUS VivoTab RT (Wi-Fi version)
ASUS VivoTab™ RT with Windows RT and Office Home & Student 2013 RT Preview has a 10.1” Super IPS+ display and is powered by an NVIDIA® Tegra® 3 quad-core processor, yet measures just 8.3mm thin and weighs a mere 525g.

Available date: 26 October 2012
Launch Price: S$949/-


ASUS VivoTab Smart ME400
VivoTab Smart is the thinnest and lightest tablet with full Windows 8 experience for mainstream users and is available in stylish black or white. Its optional smart keyboard cover combines a compact wireless keyboard with colour-coordinated screen protection.

Available date: TBC
RRP: S$699/-


Kudos to ASUS for their aggressive launch strategy. ASUS has been the top 3 best-selling computer brand for several regions. With Window 8 and all these new products that will be gradually released over the next few months, ASUS aims to be the top best-selling brand for 2013.

This article is also published on XINMSN.

Nikon Coolpix S800c: Android-Powered Compact Camera

The Nikon Coolpix S800c is an Android-powered compact camera that treads on the 2 worlds: the compact camera realm and the Android device domain. The great part is that the camera handles both aspects pretty well. While it is not a fantastic camera nor a blazing Android device, it offers a glimpse of mind-bending potentials of converging multiple devices.

- 16 megapixels 1/2.3" CMOS sensor
- 25-250mm 10x optical zoom
- ISO 125-3200
- F3.2-5.8
- 3.5-inch OLED touchscreen, WVGA
- Android OS 2.3.3
- GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
- 184g with battery and SD card

Heads turn when I showed them the S800c and what it could do. I mean, who would have imagined a compact camera that can browse the Internet or play games or read emails?

Facebooking on the S800c

Things I like about the camera:

• It's not any bigger than any compact camera in the market. The size makes it rather handy to use the Android mode.
• Image quality is above average compared to most compact cameras. High ISO, although lacks details, are processed to eliminate image noise and thus usable for web use. This is better than having images that are full of chroma noise.
• The camera lens extends and retracts speedily.
• Wide-angle 25mm to 250mm zoom range.
• Fast AF and shutter response, especially in high continuous shooting mode.
• Rather responsive Android interface when doing normal tasks. Some processor-intensive apps might take longer to load.
• Ease of capturing images using third party camera apps (like Retro Camera) in a camera form factor. Note that the optical zoom will not work on these apps.
• The convenience of using Android apps on a compact camera. I can do almost anything that I do on a normal Android phone - Facebook, Twitter, Gmail. After taking a 16mp image on the S800c, I can edit it and share it.
• I can play music tracks while taking photos. It might sound silly but hey, that's an option. When you start to do video recording, playback stops (naturally so!).

Use any Android camera app to shoot with fast AF and shutter response!

Areas I find limiting about the camera

• Outdated Android OS 2.3.3. Popular apps like Instagram and Chrome browser do not support the Gingerbread OS.
• The camera is primarily an Android device in a compact camera form factor. There is no direct camera button to activate the camera function quickly when the camera is in Android mode.
• The camera mode doesn't offer a lot of functions that are available in most Nikon compact cameras. Only 10 Scene modes, 5 special effects, no PASM modes.
• Toggling between camera playback mode and capture mode takes a bit more time, because they are effectively 2 independent apps written in Android OS.
• There is no volume buttons. So you cannot adjust volume easily while running Android apps.
• You can't use the camera when charging. If you cancel the charging message when the cable is plugged, the camera will be turned on but it will not charge, nor can you turn off the camera until you unplug the cable.
• The Wi-Fi function seems to have compatibility and stability issues during my review period. Oddly, the camera does not detect my home network D-Link access point N-router.
• The battery drains rather quickly when using the Android mode extensively.
• Poor speaker quality, no worse than most compact cameras in the market.

I haven't seen such low benchmark scores for a long time.

Summary
I admit I was pushing the camera a bit hard when reviewing the S800c. You can't blame me: the materialisation of an Android-powered compact camera is a camera geek's dream.With converged devices like the Nikon S800c, photography enthusiasts can have our cake and eat it. And frankly, I have never had so much fun with a compact camera for a long long time. I really enjoy using the Nikon S800c and I don't feel at all uncomfortable using the Android apps extensively on the responsive touchscreen.

Yet, the S800c has not reached its destination. It runs on an older Android OS which doesn't support some popular social apps, and makes the Android experience less satisfactory. The recent announcement of Samsung Galaxy Camera overshadows Nikon's first mover advantage.

The Nikon Coolpix S800c has shown us that it is now possible to hope for the unthinkable, to build multi-function devices in a small form factor.



This article is also published on XINMSN.

Glimpses Of Some Accessories Available For Your Samsung Galaxy Note

Glimpses Of Some Accessories Available For Your Samsung Galaxy Note

Samsung is one of the leading names in the present day technology industry. Samsung has maintained a top spot in each and every technological venture, whether it is electronics or mobile phones or IT products and components. Talking about the mobile phones, the Galaxy Note has been the most successful mind child of Samsung. Since its official launch, Note has become quite popular among the tech savvy people. The gadget is fully equipped with trendy looks and wide gamut of features. However, when combined with some highly useful accessories, Galaxy Note can be turned into a smart machine. There are also some other add-ons available in the souk that can help in protecting the outer body from any kind of damage.

Further in this article, I have lime lighted some of the most popular and highly useful accessories for your Samsung Galaxy Note. You are required to have a closer look at the below mentioned points carefully in order to make your gadget a combo of style and functionality.

1. Screen Guards And Silicon Skins

Screen Guards are one of the most popular protective add-ons available for the Galaxy Note. These guards help in protecting the display from any kind of damages including scratches, smudges and the like. These guards are readily available in the market and that too at very reasonable costs. As far as the protecting the outer body of your gadget is concerned, you can make use of the silicon covers. This covers the outer body of your phone and protects it from any kind of physical damages.

2. MHL Micro USB to HDMI Adapter
It is a useful accessory that helps in connecting the micro USB port for creating a bridge between the HDTV or computer monitor. It serves as a pathway between your HDMI port and HDTV. You can easily connect your device with any other larger device having an HDMI port.

3. Home USB Charger
This light and easy charger is available with a micro USB cable and an AC/DC adapter. You need not get frustrated with an empty battery in your phone. You can recharge your phone easily as and when required with the help of this handy charger. You just need to attach the cable from your cell phone to the adapter and your phone will be charged right away.

So, these are some of the main accessories available in the market for your Samsung Galaxy Note. You can find a great range of add-ons in order to increase the utility of your cell phone.

To enhance the look of your cell phone browse the world of Cute Cell Phone Acessories. Here you will come across with various Samsung Galaxy Note Acessories suitable for your cell phone.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Miriam_Fleming


- Samsung Galaxy Accessories -
 

Google Chromebook at $249

Chromebook:Google,Samsung Venture Released with the Cheapest Price tag at $249

Google and Samsung Electronics unveiled their  latest and cheapest gadget called the "Chromebook" with a price tag of $249. Chromebook is a light weight computer designed to run on Google's Android OS.The operating system is designed to run revolving around the Chrome Web browser.

Unlike the earlier Chromebooks, this new one doesn't have a hard drive.It functions like a terminal dependent on an Internet connection to get to information and applications stored in large data centers run by Google or other technology providers.

 

 Like tablets, the discount Chromebook will rely on a computer chip design known as ARM, instead of Intel microprocessors. The ARM architecture is more energy efficient, extending the duration of batteries between charges. With an 11.6-inch screen, the new Chromebooks also will have a larger display than tablets selling in the same price range.

The laptops will be set up to automatically use all of Google's services, including its search engine, Gmail and YouTube video site. Because the laptop lacks a hard drive, Google also is offering 100 gigabytes of free storage on computers kept in its eight data centers. Those remote computers provide the backbone for Google's online storage service, Drive.

As the rivals, Microsoft expected to release their new OS Windows 8 on the 26 October and Apple planning to announce the  new iPad mini the low cost ipad later this month,Google is making an earlier move with their cheapest Chrome book .Chrome book will go on sale through the 500 Best buy stores later this week and planning to accept the online orders soon.

Samsung Chromebook first view 

Share!!!!!!!!!

Upgrade Windows 7 PC to Windows 8

Limitted Period Upgrade offer for Windows7 users to Upgrade to Windows 8

 The window to upgrade to the next version of Microsoft's computer operating system is still open. The new operating system won't be delivered until October 26, however.

People who own a personal computer running earlier versions of Windows can buy the revamped system for Rs 699 onwards ($14.99 to $39.99). 

The upgrade offer is available in 140 countries. Users can register for the offer at: windowsupgradeoffer.com before February 28, 2013.

The lower price is being offered to PC owners who have bought a machine powered by Windows 7 since June 2. Everyone else with a Windows-based computer will have to pay the higher price if they want to upgrade. 

The estimated retail price for the promotion will vary by region and is dependent on a variety of specific factors including exchange rate, local taxes, duties, fees, local market conditions and other pricing considerations. The actual price you pay may be more than any advertised price due to these additional factors.
"Windows 8 can be ordered beginning on 26 October 2012. When Windows 8 is ready for ordering, you will receive an email with your promotion code that you must redeem to receive the promotional pricing during the upgrade ordering process. This email will also include ordering and download instructions and a link to the ordering website," said Microsoft.
The chance to upgrade at these prices expires January 31, 2013. Microsoft designed Windows 8 so it can power both traditional PCs and tablet computers in response to the iPad's popularity.

Sigma DP2 Merrill: Camera Review

The Sigma DP2M is a niche-market camera built with the sole purpose of capturing the best quality image per pixel using its Foveon X3 sensor which I have shared in my previous blog post. It is a rather highly-acclaimed camera, and several photographic websites have made extensive comparisons against competitive cameras.

The Sigma-Foveon History

Foveon X3 sensor was first released in 2002 on the Sigma SD9, a DSLR camera. In 2006, Sigma announced the compact camera, DP1, which was finally launched in 2008, followed by DP2, making them the first compact cameras with large sensors.

The model names signifies different fixed focal length lenses. In 2010, Sigma announced the improvement models DP1X and DP2X. In 2012, Sigma updated the models with DP1M, where M stands for "Merrill", to honour the co-creator of Foveon sensor who died in 2008.

DP1 Merrill: 19mm (28mm equivalent) F2.8 15.4MP Foveon APS-C CMOS sensor
DP2 Merrill: 30mm (45mm equivalent) F2.8 15.4MP Foveon APS-C CMOS sensor

DP2M detailed specs link


Design and Appearance
The DP2M has an understated boxy design with protruding lens. I like the generous button layouts and its solid build. Even though there is no grip, the camera is easy to hold and does not feel too heavy (355g without battery).

The build quality is excellent and feels like a premium product, but I do find a few occasions when I accidentally unlock the battery compartment. Fortunately, there is a battery catch and the camera continues to function.

Photo not shot with DP2M - obviously. I was holding it!

User Interface and Features
Without referring to the manual, I find it easy to understand and operate the camera. I like the generous wheel dial and large shutter release button, I like the ease of adjusting EV with the left-right keys. The "QS" quick select button is customisable, and by pressing it, the screen shows the shortcuts corresponding to the directional keys. The interface is responsive without lag, allowing me to adjust exposure values swiftly.

The DP2M only comes with the standard PASM shooting modes plus movie mode at VGA resolution that does not autofocus nor suppor manual focus during recording. It also comes with 3 custom modes, several preset colour modes (Standard, Vivid, Sepia, etc.) and 9 fixed AF points. While it doesn't have built-in flash, the standard hot-shoe allows one to use external flash. I like the ability to do AF+MF using the fly-by-wire focusing ring. Toggling from AF to full MF is just a button away.


Speed
The DP2M starts up rather fast. AF is responsive with adequate lighting, but takes a beating when shooting indoors. The 920K LCD monitor displays rather sharp images, but I notice display lag and encounters "rolling shutter" syndrome during live view. It is not a camera for shooting active scenes.

After taking a shot, it takes a long time to save the images, and while the images are saved, it is not possible to playback the images, though it is possible to continue shooting.

The DP2M is not built for speed, for sure.


Image Characteristics
With the Foveon X3 sensor, the DP2M is expected to perform better than cameras with Bayer sensor of similar size. Here are the side-by-side image results when comparing with the Samsung NX20 (20.3MP APS-C CMOS Bayer sensor):

Reference photo with EXIF.

Sigma DP2M

Samsung NX20

Zoom in at 100%, NX20 (left) and DP2M (right). Shot at the same exposure, the DP2M is brigher because the Foveon X3 sensor captures more light per pixel.

Zoom in at 400%. Notice, despite NX20 higher pixel count, the DP2M is clearly sharper and more details.

The Foveon X3 sensor delivers the most efficient image quality per pixel, simply because each pixel can capture all colours. There is no need for processing or demosaicing or interpolation: each pixel holds its own colour information. The result is much sharper and more detailed image performance, with some independent reviews claiming it surpasses the Nikon D800. And because each pixel captures all colours of the light, the exposure speed is shorter than using Bayer sensors. Colours appear more accurate and vibrant. Pixel-peepers will be tremendously pleased.

Here's some full-resolution images. Download and pixel-peep at your pleasure. Images are not processed except to apply watermark using Picasa.

High ISO performance is poor. I find the chroma noise level unacceptable after ISO800. The proprietary RAW file, X3F, is not supported by latest Adobe software like Lightroom.

Battery
The DP2M does not last long. You can only get about 80 shots in a single charge. The short battery life is attributed to the power-hungry sensor.


Summary Thoughts
The Sigma DP2 Merrill excels in the ease of use and the image quality, arguably the best when comparing at pixel level. But for everything else, the DP2M is a modern imaging device trapped in the past. This product performs like an early 21st century digicam. Laggy live-view display, short battery life, slow image writing and playback, limited shooting modes. It is best suited for photographers who want to achieve the best per-pixel image quality in a compact form factor. Capturing inanimate and detailed scenes like landscape or architecture would give you amazingly-detailed results, while shooting active subjects (like my daughter) might require good timing and accuracy (it takes too long to review images for a reshoot).

It is a pity that such an excellent camera is flawed by the demands of modern photography. Imagine the potential if the Sigma DP series are improved to match the modern camera's competitive specifications - faster image capture and processing, longer battery life, more shooting modes.

Sigma Foveon X3 sensor has been in existence for a decade. It is proven to be a superior sensor over the Bayer sensor used in every other digital cameras in the market. But quality alone does not win the market share. Until Sigma successfully mass-markets this technological marvel, we will only see the Foveon X3 sensors used by the image connoisseurs who appreciate and value image quality over other shooting aspects.



This article is also published on XINMSN.

Sharp launches 3 smartphones in Singapore exclusively with Brightstar

18 October 2012 - Sharp, Japan's leading mobile handset manufacturer, has announced its foray into the Singapore market with 3 Android devices, distributed by Brightstar Corp. They are the SH530U, SH631W, and SH837W.

The SH530U will go on sale on 20 Oct at S$488, and offers the following key features:

• Dual SIM, useful for consumers who owns multiple SIMs, negating the need to hold multiple devices.
• 5-inch WVGA (800x480) screen, large for comfortable viewing of video content.
• Android 4.0
• 5mp rear camera
• 20GB internal memory
• 1950mAh battery

The 4.5” qHD SH631W and the 4.7” HD SH837W will be made available in November and December respectively, in time for the holiday season. Prices will be announced closer to the launch dates.

The Sigma Foveon X3 Sensor

This is a prelude article to my upcoming review on Sigma DP2 Merrill compact camera.

When I received the Sigma DP2 Merrill compact camera, I wondered how I should approach my review. The Sigma DP2M, like many of its sibling models, is a very niche-market camera, kind of like Leica. But while Leica appeals to users with its branding and external design, the Sigma wins users with its unique sensor. This sensor delivers the kind of digital image that arguably beats most other compact and DSLR digital camera brands out there.

The Foveon Sensor

The magic lies in the Foveon X3 sensor, and to help you understand how this sensor delivers its famed image quality, you should look at the below Flash animation (moving picture speaks a thousand words).

http://www.foveon.com/files/ccd_vs_x3_photondropv5.swf

As you have seen, traditional Bayer sensor relies on demosaicing of neighbouring sensors (each capturing only one colour) to form the final image. This approximation process will no doubt result in a final image that is lesser in quality. In comparison, each Foveon senaor is capable of capturing all colours, resulting in better image resolution.

While this characteristic makes the Foveon sensor appear to be more superior than Bayer sensor, the Bayer sensor's increase in sensor density could often overcome the interpolation drawbacks by downsampling the images. Plus the fact that Bayer sensors are cheaper to manufacture and consumes less energy makes it a choice for mass-market photographic products.

So, will the Sigma DP2 Merrill deliver the superior image quality? And does it really matter in practical applications? Watch for my upcoming blog review of the DP2M!

Microsoft Windows 8 Pushes Product Innovation

The great thing about Microsoft Windows 8 OS launch is the overwhelming volume of computing products that every manufacturers are pushing out these few months, and in my opinion, has leveled the playing field. Since the operating system is identical, each brand has to innovate with designs and features.

Last week, I went to the Samsung event named "Smart Home", where they presented their products in a home setting, showcasing how easy it is to share content across multiple devices with different OSes using the AllShare platform. It gave me a chance to try out their Windows 8 hybrid PCs, the ATIV Smart PC. Essentially a tablet that docks onto a keyboard, Samsung posits all the necessary connectors on the tablet side while leaving the keyboard side relatively lightweight.

This week, I attended the HP event themed "A Life Connected", and the organiser brought in Irene Ang to showcase the upcoming Windows 8 devices. Also driving at the same idea of connectivity, Irene demonstrates with her layperson way how HP products - from hybrid tablet PCs to printers - connects to one another wirelessly and across territories.

HP's version of a hybrid PC is to place all the connectors on the keyboard side, while leaving the tablet side slim and clutter free. Then there is Lenovo's "Yoga", where the entire ultrabook is bent 360-degrees outwards. And Dell XPS 12 converts the laptop into a tablet by rotating the screen 180-degrees to face out before closing back the ultrabook lid. And Sony's VAIO Duo 11 slides to reveal the keyboard. Asus takes another step further with TAICHI: instead of making the display monitor rotate or detach, it adds another display screen on the flip side.

Isn't it splendid? Same Windows 8 OS, but totally different form factors, plenty to choose from. As of now, my vote goes to the HP design. I like how the Envy X2 leaves the tablet-side free from connectors when docked. I envision myself  carrying the entire Envy X2 unit wherever I go since the combined weight is merely 1.41kg. The only time I would probably be undocking and using the tablet side alone is when I am doing light web-browsing on the couch, bed, and any other times when I prefer a clean slate (pun intended) computing experience, which means "no" to connecting any peripherals onto it. Those designs with attached keyboards are just as convenient, but I reckon its combined weight might be daunting for extended handheld tablet use. Your usage preference may vary, but basically, you will be spoilt for choice.

One wonders how the next reincarnation of Apple Macbooks would look like, and whether it will lead to another wave of design revolution.

Home Plug: Does It Really Work?

In my previous post, I shared with you how I managed to connect my own better-performing wireless router to the StarHub-issued Home Gateway router for WiFi home networking access.

Now I have another situation: my Fibre Terminating Point (TP) is in my living room, and my desktop computer is in my study room. I can't hard-wire from the TP to my study, too much hassle. And wireless doesn't give me the maximum subscribed bandwidth (I can only get 30Mbps).

My next best alternative: home plug. My question: does it really work?

I borrowed a pair of Aztech HL-108E homeplugs from my friend, tried it, and achieved about 40Mbps. Still a far cry from 150Mbps that my Fibre subscription offers (I tested, hard-wired, from living room router to my study room PC, yes I can get 150Mbps when running speed test).

The trouble I went through to test hard-wire connectivity speed on my PC

Eventually, I made a decision to get the latest pair of Aztech HL-115EP. These pair offers theoretical 500Mbps speeds, comes with pass-through 3-pin sockets so that you don't waste one socket on the home plug. Paid $60 each from Bizgram (cheapest as far as I know). I was pleased that this pair helps me attain about 70Mbps speed.

Before you think further, let me advise you first. Don't expect home plugs to achieve the full theoretical bandwidth, because of numerous environmental factors, like electrical interference from other devices within the household, or poor electrical wiring. Some electrical points might deliver better speed, so you have to try around.

Then why do I still go ahead with using home plugs? The reason is not to congest my wireless bandwidth. As I have mentioned, my maximum wireless bandwidth is 30+ Mbps. If I were to connect my desktop via WiFi and do heavy downloads, then my other wireless devices like phones, tablets, would have no bandwidth left to use.

Instead, if I connect my desktop with homeplug, I would be utilising 70Mbps using wired connection, while my wireless devices still can enjoy the full 30Mbps.

Don't feel sore about not able to utilise the entire 150Mbps bandwidth, for in real life you will not achieve this speed when accessing websites due to other network bottlenecks. Since I am unwilling to go all out by getting contractor to lay cables, I choose to implement homeplugs over WiFi.

Everyone has his own preferences. This post is to share with you that it is not possible to achieve the full bandwidth as claimed on the homeplugs, but they are more reliable than WiFi and allows the subscribed bandwidth to be better utilised across multiple access points.

A StarHub MaxInfinity Situation: Use Your Own Router

I have been using StarHub MaxOnline (MOL) Express for as long as I could remember. I have been contented with its download speed 16Mbps and upload speed of 1.5Mbps, until they made an offer I could not refuse during the recent COMEX show. The fibre-based MaxInfinity (MIF) Elite plan, with download speed of 150Mbps and upload speed of 75Mbps, was going at a price of S$47.94. That is even cheaper than my MOL plan! No-brainer!

But here's the situation. StarHub requires you to use their Home Gateway, which is essentially a D-Link branded wireless router DVG-N5402SP. This router seems to get lots of poor user reviews. I suppose it's just an average router and it will not out-perform many premium routers out there. I have a D-Link DIR-825 wireless router which I used for my MOL, and I would want to use that back because I believe the WiFi performance is better than the StarHub-issued router. If you are one of those users who has a better router and wants to use it, you can, with a few steps.

Messy, but it's all geek.

Home networking is probably one of the trickiest products in consumer world. What it means is that despite efforts to dumb down the installation of home networking products for the mass market, it is often not that fail-safe. A wrong setting change by a novice will most likely crash your home network. Even tech "semi-geeks" like me is fearful of meddling with home network configuration.

For this situation, I have read up local forums who signed up the same service provider as me, and tried to follow their "vague" instructions, only to come to a dead end, which required me to do a factory reset. Fortunately, through other keywords, I found overseas sites that offered clearer explanation.

Basically, to make a 2nd router work as an extension to the StarHub-issued router without any network conflicts, all I have to do is make the following changes on the 2nd router:

- disable DHCP

- disable UPnP

- assign a different IP address for the 2nd router under "Router Settings". For example, if DVG-N5402SP is 192.168.0.1, then your 2nd router should be 192.168.0.2 or other number.

You don't have to do anything on the StarHub router.

Once the 2nd router settings are done, turn both your routers off. Connect the DVG-N5402SP LAN port 1/2/3/4 to the 2nd router LAN port 1/2/3/4. Note that it's LAN port to LAN port. DO NOT connect to the 2nd router WAN/Internet port. If you plug to this port, the whole thing will not work.

Done? Then turn on both routers. Wait for a while (about 3 minutes, to be safe) for them to "talk" to each other and assign some internal IP addresses. Then to test the 2nd router, connect your wireless device (phone, tablet, laptop) to the 2nd router's SSID. You should be able to access to Internet using the 2nd router's SSID.

Once you are happy with the WiFi performance of the 2nd router, you can proceed to disable the wireless network on the StarHub router DVG-N5402SP. The reason for disabling is to prevent your device from connecting to the weaker-performing router. Isn't that the whole objective of using your own router?

In fact, if you leave both wireless router on, you can position 2 routers in separate locations within your house to achieve better WiFi coverage. To allow your device to connect to either device seamlessly, just make sure the following wireless settings are identical:
- SSID name
- Security type (WEP, WPK2, etc.)
- Password

The only thing that has to be different is the radio channel, to prevent interference. The guide is to use either Channel 1, 6, 11, but other channels are fine too. By default, the routers auto-assigns the channels, but for multiple access points, you should fix the channel.

I actually tried to implement multiple routers at my home but I found it doesn't really work well. My devices keep connecting to the weaker StarHub router. So after a few days of testing, I decided to turn off the StarHub router's WiFi altogether, leaving my own DIR-825 router as the only wireless router.


I hope this guide helps you to using your own preferred router instead of the service provider-issued one. There may be other methods, but since I find this method easy and straightforward, you might want to try this first, then slowly move on to other configurations.

In my next blog, I will share with you my experience on using home plugs.

Firefox Browser for iPads

New Browser from Mozilla for Ipads

Apple fans disappointed with their browsing experience could soon have a Safari alternative from Mozilla. Mozilla has taken the wraps off a new version of its Firefox browser that it has been designing specifically for the Apple iPad, dubbed “Junior,” that the foundation says “makes browsing more fun, more ergonomic and re-thinks browser user experience from the ground up.” While this sounds ambitious, the development team at Mozilla seems to have really created a browser that’s unique to tablets rather than just simply porting its browser over from desktop or mobile platforms.

Junior is immensely simplified compared with most browsers because it only has two buttons that are strategically placed right where the average iPad user’s thumbs go. The “back” button performs the standard back function that’s crucial to any browser while the “plus” button opens up a new screen that gives users the opportunity to enter in a URL manually, go to a recently-viewed site or go to a bookmarked site.

The reason for the simplified browsing experience is that Mozilla wants its tablet browser to take advantage of the entire tablet screen without clogging it up with tabs and search bars. And yes that means that Junior doesn’t have the on-screen tabs that have been a longtime Firefox staple, but Mozilla thinks that tabs on a tablet screen are just taking up space needlessly.

The team was quoted at the presentation that"Junior Firefox for iPad "app will definitely “make browsing more fun, more ergonomic and re-thinks browser used experience from the ground up.” The team of developers said it’s more than just another browsing experience it’s the Junior Firefox for iPad ultimate browsing, that can totally be disassociated with desktop computer and or even other mobile platforms.
Junior Firefox for iPad is simply easy to use, with only two buttons to click or tap with and voila, browsing is never going to be the same again. The browser deletes the problem of filling up the iPad screen with multiple tabs and search bars which makes it a lot of hassle for a small screen.
The information about iPad launch timelines for the Junior Firefox for iPad Mozilla is developing for Apple iPad has not been officially announced but iPad developers are surely excited with this innovation and the planned release. The Apple Safari browser now has a competition which, when time comes would be tested whether it’s iPad suitable or not.
Other than Mozilla, Google will soon create a similar mobile operating system (iOs) version of Chrome which could be a potential competitor to Junior Firefox for iPad in the future.


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Logitech UE Mobile Boombox: Review

When Logitech announced the UE Mobile Boombox a while back, I immediately thought of the Logitech Mini Boombox which I reviewed favourably, and wondered if this new Boombox is based on the Logitech copy.

At first look, the UE Mobile Boombox looks totally different from the Logitech Mini Boombox. Rubber-mould surface with metal speaker meshes speaks of ruggedness and durability for the UE, while the previous Logitech's glossy finish might require more care. The new UE model brings you to places, while the older Logitech model is more suited indoors. The touch-sensitive backlit controls on the Logitech is replaced with large physical buttons on the new UE model.

UE Mobile Boombox

Logitech Mini Boombox (review here)

Like the earlier Logitech, the new UE delivers loud and clear music with its mini speakers. The treble is naturally crisp, mid-range is adequate without overpowering, bass is sufficiently enjoyable at close range. The UE Mobile Boombox is equally adequate for personal enjoyment or as a party groove machine in a small room. You will be surprised how big it sounds. Battery life is excellent and retains charge very well for infrequent users. Again, I like the UE as much as I loved the Logitech Mini Boombox.

And like the Logitech, the UE works as handsfree speakerphone to let you answer your phone wirelessly.

But like the Logitech Mini Boombox, the UE Mobile Boombox churns out buzzing sounds when playing acoustic piano tracks. For pop and rock tracks, the UE Mobile Boombox handles pretty fine.

Rear view of UE Mobile Boombox

Mini Boombox or Mobile Boombox
It's a tough call on which one I prefer. The new UE Mobile Boombox is more rugged, the volume buttons are larger and easier to press. It can pair up to 8 Bluetooth devices and can play 2 devices at the same time. It also comes with its own AC charger. The retail packaging also makes the product more attractive.

The older Logitech Mini Boombox looks more elegant, supports track controls and lower price, with the retail packaging in a simple printed box. But care has to be taken for its gloss plastic surface and I am unsure of the touch control panel's durability. It also does not come with an AC charger, which probably explains the lower price.

But for my final call, I would recommend going for the UE Mobile Boombox, with its better build I believe it will outlast the predecessor.