Ricoh 500 G rangefinder-Early 70′s rangefinder underdog: This is a machine that goes ping!

Ricoh 500 G rangfinder..1970's.

This is one adorable camera. I really like the black, separate leather parts that frame the camera well. A very unusual, cool 70′s style.The lens is a 40mm Rikenon.The viewfinder is a bit squinty and mine should be cleaned. It shows the meter on right side. Focus ring is on the outer side of the lens, and has a 50-60 degree rotation. The diamond is not very contrasty, but it gets the job done. I have a feeling that mine is slightly front-focussing, but it might just be the shallow DOF at 2.8 combined with a slightly foggy viewfinder. It’s an easy camera to use.All in all a great, compact rangefinder. I was really pleased with the exposures and got some really cool shots.The ratcheted winder is very smooth, and the shutter based auto-exposure works really well. All but only few photos came out well exposed on my test roll. Well, that its my to-day trial & error. Here are some samples:

India Street Mall in Kuching.

Street news paper vendor.

Crossing.

Sikh Temple in Kuching.

 The Ricoh 500 G is sexier anyhow........

Kembara Media 1Malaysia 2012-Tourism in Mukah.

The RM300mil figure was confirmed during at least two briefing in Mukah during a media trip organised by the state Information Department for reporters across Sarawak.The media group, comprising about 30 personnel, were told repeatedly that the international airport was required, but few officials gave reason for the slashed funds.I have a blogger friend from Kuala Lumpur who is good  in writing about his travel experience Exploring Mukah in 5 hours by Azuanzahdi.com.
Melanau Heartland is the nickname for the 10th. Administrative division...Mukah...predominantly Melanau Community. Mukah Division covered an area of 6,997.6 square kilometer in the Central region of Sarawak covering the District of Mukah...Dalat...Matu and Daro and there have been a tremendous improvement in the infrastructural...boosting the tourism industry in Mukah division. Getting to Mukah division is either by air...by sea and also by roads. Mukah division is being served by Maswing providing daily flight from Kuching and Miri. There is two airports in Mukah...Mukah Airport and Tanjung Manis airport.

Lamin Dana Home Stay.

old Smokestack of the earlier Sago Industry

 Mukah Division with its idyllic setting and unique Melanau culture heritage is increasingly popular to both local and foreign visitors. There are many interesting and tourist attractions in Mukah divisions...from historical site...to culture heritage and you can see old Smokestack of the earlier Sago Industry. You can also visit and experience the Melanau Culture at Lamin Dana cum Mini Museum at Kampong Tellian.

 You can also go for a swim at Blue Horizon Beach.

  While in Mukah town you can also stroll at the Kenyana Lake...Taman Tanjung Pedada at Kampung Tanjung...Kala Dana Recreation Park and the Setia Raja Boulevard Recreation Park.There are other interesting places in Mukah division that are yet to be discover and explore.

Media Trip to Mukah"Kembara Media 1Malaysia 2012"

Kembara Media 1Malaysia 2012 to Mukah organized by the Media & Corporate Communications Division,Department of Information Malaysia was attented by 30 Media representative from Utusan,RTM,Cat Radio,NST,The Star,Film Negara,Bernama,The Borneo Post,New Sarawak Tribune, Sarawak Bloggers Community and many more.This is the first time Sarawak Bloggers being invited to join the trip.

The Media represenntative posing with YB Dato'Sri Dr,Muhammad Leo Micheal Toyad Abdullah (in batik shirt)

When Penerangan Malaysia,Kuching graciously offered to sponsor my trip to Mukah,I knew i would have to spend time with the local community in Mukah Town.I was honoured and grateful to Penerangan Malaysia and also to Sarawak Bloggers admin Encik Cyril.
The trip headed by Encik Francis Buncol Lasam from Penerangan Malaysia a hard working officers,Thank You very much to Mr Francis.(white shirt standing beside YB).Throughout the program from 10th-13th July 2012,the media were taken to visit various place of interest around Mukah,Oya and Dalat.Media were also taken to visit various Government and Local Council agencies in Mukah region. Read HERE.The media were briefed about numerous development project that are currently or to be carried out in the Region of Mukah..
I snap many photographs during the trip below).

Kembara Media 1Malaysia 2012 to Mukah. Slideshow: Awang’s trip to Mukah (near Sibu), Sarawak, Malaysia was created by TripAdvisor. See another Sibu slideshow. Create a free slideshow with music from your travel photos.

Kembara Media 1Malaysia 2012 to MUKAH.

First of all I would to apologize to all my viewer as my first,second and third posting about my trip to Mukah (Kembara Media 1Malaysia 2012) was  accidentally deleted  and now I am trying to recover what ever i have posted  regarding the Kembara Media 1Malaysia.My apology  to Penerangan Malaysia,Sarawak bloggers Community
 In the mean time do enjoy the pictures snap during the trip (below)

Tourism,Melanau Heartland. Slideshow: Kembara’s trip to Sarawak, Malaysia was created by TripAdvisor. See another Sarawak slideshow. Take your travel photos and make a slideshow for free.

Padungan Street-In The Morning,

Busy having a  awesome time. So I haven't been blogging. I'll try and correct that over the next few days. A quick update on my photography hobby and I spent the weekend doing street photography along Padungan Street in Kuching City.So I arm with my 4 years old Olympus E620 with OM Zuiko lens 50mm f1.8.I also carry my Panasonic Lumix LX3 just in case......
Padungan Sreet is designated as Kuching Chinatown, although it doesn't make any sense to me as the whole of Kuching South or most Sarawak cities are predominately where the Chinese population then to lived. So you wouldn't noticed any differences here compared to other non-chinatown streets.There are a number of nice cafes here, traditional Chinese medicine shops and hardware shops which is what the area was originally known for among the locals.Anyway, just enjoy viewing  my photos that I shot this morning (Sunday 08/04/2012).

Its still 7.30am and the road is clear while the shop is still closing during this Sunday off day. Padungan Street is one of the busiest street in the city.

Olympus OM Lenses on Four Thirds Cameras.

There are so many question comes up in the photography forums.
#Can you use OM system 'Legacy' lenses on the 4/3 system camera?
#Must i purchase the expensive Olympus MF-1 adapter ?
Also is it true that Olympus does not recommended using OM system lenses on 4/3 system for e.g in my case I'm using Olympus E620 DSLR.

This image taken with Olympus E620 using Zuiko OM lens 50mm f1.8

I started to use OM lenses in my 4/3 system camera for the past few weeks ago and I bought an inexpensive adapter (third party brand).The adapter is well constructed and its work very well with my DSLR and with my OM lenses.

The Cobbler shoot with 50mm f1.8 OM lens

I read about the MF-1 adapter which is nicely constructed and quality, but I feel it is too much to pay for an adapter that gives no different results from an inexpensive one. After all, it is just a hunk of finely machined metal. Most adapters will allow the lens to focus past infinity. This is to ensure that you can focus to infinity, given the slight variations in adapters and lenses. In practice, it means for a given lens, you may have to focus to infinity and then back up a little bit to bring distant objects (infinity) back into focus. I do not find this objectionable with my lenses.

 Olympus recommended not using most OM lenses because they consider their performance substandard compared to designed for digital lenses. You may experience some exposure variation with lenses under f/2.8 and blooming wide open.

 Here's what you need to know to get started using legacy OM-system lenses. You will need to focus manually and use stopped down metering. Legacy glass requires using aperture priority. None of the automatic exposure modes on your E-system camera will work with lenses mounted through an adapter. All the other modes require the camera to make aperture adjustments. This is not really a drawback because the lenses work fine with aperture priority and you will likely be wanting to exercise creative control over aperture if you are shooting with old glass.

 Using your manual focus lens on the E-System camera requires stopped down metering.

• Set the camera to Aperture Priority mode.
• Open the aperture to its widest opening. (Turn the aperture ring on the lens to set aperture.)
• Turn the focus ring on the lens to focus.
• Close the aperture to the desired opening. (The camera will select the shutter speed for correct exposure.)
• Trip the shutter. 

Why do photographers use manual focus lenses when auto focus lenses are available? Creativity. They like to differentiate their work from others, explore new ways of making images, choose lenses with unique characteristics imparting special qualities to images. Nostalgia also plays a role for those who got their start in the film era, and curiosity for those who didn't. Sometimes they want a faster lens than is available with their kit zooms or is affordable. 
Have fun!.

Councils to recycle used cooking oil.

WITHOUT proper handling methods, used cooking oil can contribute to environmental hazards and Sibu councils in Sarawak have come out with a brilliant solution – recycle the oil.
 Do you know what happen to your used cooking oil when you disposed it? Is it following the local authority and the Environmental Department guidelines? Does your current used cooking oil collector has a valid license from the Malaysian Palm Oil Board and endorsed by the Environment Department?If answered YES for all of the above, then Congratulations, you are playing an active role to contribute in creating a healthy and a Less Polluted Environment. You have also avoided your used cooking oil from been recycled and re-sale again as cooking oil in the market by irresponsible traders.