Upgrade From Nikon 18-70 to Nikon 18-105 VR?

I realized that most of my pictures that had been taken with my previous Nikon 18-70 and using shutter speed below 1/30 are mostly blur and not sharp. Then I heard about Nikon 18-105 VR. Yes it was the VR that really interesting for me. So, I sold my Nikon 18-70 and bought a Nikon 18-105. Since then, most of my pictures taken with shutter speed below 1/30 are mostly sharp. Even I can get a sharp pictures with a 1/4 second shutter speed hand held! Can you imagine that?

So if your on a budget and thinking about upgrading your lens from Nikon 18-70 to Nikon 18-105 VR just go for it! Unless you have a big fat wallet then go for Nikon 18-200 VR or Nikon 16-85 VR. VR really works! Trust me!

AF Problem Nikon D90 with Nikon 50mm F/1.4D and Nikon 85mm F/1.8D

Back before I acquired my Nikon D90 I always put my trusty 'bokeh factory' Nikon 50mm F/1.4D or Nikon 85mm F/1.8D on my Nikon D70. The bokeh was amazing and the picture was always clearly sharp even though I set the aperture wide open at F/1.4 or F/1.8. But on my new Nikon D90 most of my pictures that have been taken with both lenses (with object more than 4 metre away) was not as sharp as the one that had been taken with my previous Nikon D70. Sometimes it back focus or front focus. My two bokeh factory lens is collecting dust now since I have my Nikon D90. I miss my Nikon D70.


The last photo of my trusty Nikon D70.

First Picture Taken By Nikon 18-105 VR

This is my first picture taken by Nikon 18-105 VR lens. The lens was at 18mm and shutter speed at 1/8 second. Yes, VR really works, I love it. Take a look at the hand of the lady with the purple scarf, it's a little bit blurry because of the slow shutter speed but overall the picture still sharp!

K-Lite Codec Pack Make My Windows 7 Crash

I was trying to play a flac (Free Lossless Audio Codec) extension file by using my Windows Media Player, but Windows couldn't played it. It turns out that Windows Media Player doesn't support that extension. So I downloaded the latest K-Lite Codec Pack Full version. After I installed the software it was ok, and I can play all my flac file without problem. After I reboot the OS, my Windows 7 hang, it just showing a blank screen without anything. But after I remove the K-Lite Codec Pack (enter the safe mode) my Windows 7 can start normal again.

I then back to free-codecs.com, the site on which I download the K-lite, search the codec for the flac file only, installed it and it works like a charm on my Windows Media Player. The software is called CoreFLAC Decoder 0.4 and Encoder 0.3.

Nikon F55 with Nikon 85mm F/1.8D

I just had fun shooting with this little film SLR camera, Nikon F55. Light weight, small body, and have a ton of features. I attached the Nikon 85mm F/1.8D on it, it's a little bit heavy on the front side though, but I love it.

Pictures from Panasonic Lumix LX3

I bought this little gem for my wife around October 2009. I thought that I could make a portraiture with a background blur since there is a tiny Leica lens in it with F/2 at the wide end, and F/2.8 at the tele end. I was wrong, it was difficult to make a nice background blur or bokeh with this camera, even if it's has a fast leica lens with f/2 aperture. But in Macro mode it is still possible to make a nice bokeh.

For night photography this little camera is very good, I was able to shot at smaller aperture with enough speed to prevent blurring image. ISO 400 is still ok at night, but at noon with iso 400 you will see a lot of grainy image. So I never use this camera above ISO 200 at noon. These are images from this little gem. I still love this camera, but personally, for walk around at night, I just bring the Nikon D70 with my trusty Nikon 35mm F/1.8G.


My wife took this picture at Port Dickson, Malaysia. Shot whith 16:9 aspect ratio at 24mm.


Taken with 16:9 aspect ratio.


My breakfast taken with a scene mode 'food'.


Pool at The Avilion, Port Dickson. This was shot in Vibrant mode colour.


Shutter speed 1/13, F/2.0, ISO 800. Thank's for the image stabilizer and the f/2 leica lens in LX3!


Shutter speed 1/30 at F/2.8 and ISO 500.


Shutter speed 1/30 at F/2 and ISO 640. Again, sharp image helped by image stabilizer and fast Leica lens!

Nikon 35mm f/1.8G on a Nikon Full Frame Body

Actually this lens was designed for Nikon DX body only, not for full frame body. I was just curious what would the pictures looks like in a full frame body. And since I don't have a deep pocket to buy a Nikon full frame body such as Nikon D700 or Nikon D3, I just use my full frame Nikon body, Nikon F55 (film camera).

To my surprised, when I attached the lens on my Nikon F55, the viewfinder didn't show any vignetting, ever. And the result also not so bad, as long as you ok with the vignetting. And you know what, I love vignetting. These are the photos, took by my Nikon full frame Nikon F55 and Kodak Gold 400. All photos were taken at full wide open, F/1.8 and no photoshop. Scan by Fuji SP-2000.

Personally, I love 35mm as a normal lens. 50mm is a little bit long for me. With 35mm you can make a portrait with good enough background. I tried 28mm, but it make people looks small. 35mm is perfect for me. That's why I loved this lens when attached to my Nikon F55 than my Nikon D70. I wish Nikon could make a Nikon 24mm F/1.8G DX lens. There is a Nikon 24mm F/1.4G, but the price could make a good reason for my wife to kill me.