Bought the Canon EF-S18-200mm f3.5-5.6 IS Lens from Alan Photo on Saturday for SGD$1,070. I regretted not getting the Canon 50D Kit III instead because at that time I have no clue about photography. I wanted something cheap and simple but now I finally know the limitations of the Kit I Lens aka EF-S18-55mm. I wanted a multipurpose lens and it seems the EF-S18-200mm fits into the bill and recommended by others.

Bought the Lens Pen as well for travelling purposes!

Lens Pen Front

Lens Pen Back

EF-S18-200mm Lens Box Front

EF-S18-200mm Lens Box Back

EF-S18-200mm Lens Box Contents

EF-S18-200mm Lens

EF-S18-200mm Lens

Conducted across eight Asia-Pacific markets (Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan), the second quarterly Digital Brand Index (DBI 2.0) continues to unveil insights about; the most discussed brands online, the most active channels and the subject areas that spark the most vibrant debate.

Researched during the last three months of 2009, DBI 2.0 found almost 1.5 million online technology brand mentions – double the level tracked in DBI 1.0, conducted July to September 2009. Other key findings from DBI 2.0 include:

• Mentions of large technology brands online doubled in the last quarter of 2009, reaching 1.5 million across Asia Pacific’s top 300 large technology brands, covering almost 3,800 channels and online sites.
• Twitter’s massive growth trajectory has seen it become the dominant channel for sharing news about technology brands across Asia, except in China where it is banned. For example, in India, Twitter represents over three-quarters of all online conversations tracked.
• Despite massive online buzz generated by Microsoft around Windows 7, Google continued to be the most discussed brand across the region, generating significant mentions in areas such as its Chrome and Android operating systems, and the Nexus One smart phone.

Developed by Edelman and derived from Brandtology data, the second quarterly Digital Brand Index (DBI 2.0) for Singapore found:

• Google (over 20,600) and SingTel (over 13,700) topped the rankings by way of volume of conversations, with increases of 245 per cent and 50 per cent in the last quarter respectively
• StarHub closed the gap on SingTel, enjoying a 137.3 per cent increase in online buzz
• Canon (4.3) once again topped the Average Engagement scoreboard, ahead of LG (3.3)
• The centre of gravity for online conversation regarding technology brands in Singapore was once again dominated Hardwarezone Forum, Eat, Drink, Man, Woman (37,043 mentions) and Twitter Singapore (20,643). The channels combined accounted for over one third (37.2 per cent) of all chatter
• StarHub knocked SingTel from the top spot in the Channel Index, which reveals the number of unique channels discussing a brand

Source: Twitter Leapfrogs Established Digital News Sources finds the Asia Pacific Quarterly Digital Brand Index

Finally gotten my Canon 50D (EOS 50D Kit I EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS) after waiting for more than a month due to it being out of stock.

I would like to thank Glenn and Noel from Ogilvy PR for helping me to order the unit and taking the trouble to ensure that I get it as soon as possible. Thanks guys!

Packaging

Box Contents

Lens (EF-S18-135mm)

Top View

Front View

Back View

Took it for a field test at Orchard, check out my Facebook Gallery: Playing With Canon 50DD.

Went to the Canon second blogging event today. It is held at 1 Caramel at Handy Road (just beside The Cathay). The first one was held almost 6 months ago! Whenever Canon has a blogger event, they really spam us with lots and lots of camera and I have to refer to the press release in order to get all their names lol.

The cameras presented to us today are PowerShot S90, PowerShot G11, PowerShot SX20 IS, PowerShot SX120 IS, IXUS 120 IS, IXUS 200 IS, EOS 7D, Legria HF S11, Legria HF 21, Selphy ES 40, Selphy CP 790 and 3 new EOS EF lenses.

PowerShot S90

PowerShot S90

• Wide 28mm large aperture f/2.0 lens
• Dual anti-noise system
• Intuitive lens control ring (allows access to manual features)
• New ‘Nostalgic Mode’
• 3.0″ LCD
• Price: Not available yet
• URL: Not available yet

PowerShot G11

PowerShot G11

• 2.8″ vari-angle LCD screen
• 5x wide angle lens
• Dual anti-noise system
• Smart Auto Scene Detection Technology
• Price: SGD$899
• URL: http://www.canon.com.sg/p/EN/1-Digital-Cameras/2-PowerShot/1201-PowerShot-G11/

PowerShot SX20 IS

PowerShot SX20 IS

• Powerful 20x optical zoom with OIS (Optical Image Stabilizer)
• 28mm wide angle, 0cm marco
• 12.1 megapixel CCD
• 1280 x 720 HD movie recording capability
• Scratch resistant 2.5″ vari-angle LCD
• Hot Shoe Adapter for Canon Speedlite EX Series external flashes
• Price: SGD$749
• URL: http://www.canon.com.sg/p/EN/1-Digital-Cameras/2-PowerShot/1209-PowerShot-SX20-IS/

PowerShot SX120 IS

PowerShot SX120 IS

• 10x optical zoom with OIS (Optical Image Stabilizer)
• 10 megapixel CCD
• DIGIC 4 imaging processor
• Scratch resistant 3.0″ vari-angle LCD
• Smart auto mode and full fledged shooting functions (Tv, Av, M & P) for more creative capture of the moments that matter
• Price: SGD$469
• URL: http://www.canon.com.sg/p/EN/1-Digital-Cameras/2-PowerShot/1210-PowerShot-SX120-IS/

IXUS 120 IS

IXUS 120 IS

• 20mm slim!
• 4x optical zoom with image stabilizer
• 12.1 megapixel CCD
• 1280 x 720 HD movie recording
• Scratch resistant 2.7″ LCD
• Price: SGD$499
• URL: http://www.canon.com.sg/p/EN/1-Digital-Cameras/3-IXUS/1202-Digital-IXUS-120-IS/

IXUS 200 IS

IXUS 200 IS

• Touch display 3″ LCD
• 24mm wide-angle lens
• 5x optical zoom with image stabilizer
• 12.1 megapixel CCD
• 1280 x 720 HD movie recording
• Price: SGD$599
• URL: http://www.canon.com.sg/p/EN/1-Digital-Cameras/3-IXUS/1204-Digital-IXUS-200-IS/

EOS 7D

EOS 7D Kit I (With Flash)

• 18 megapixel APS-C CMOS Sensor
• 8 fps image capture
• HD movie recording at 24 fps
• Dual DIGIC 4 processors
• Extended ISO range to 12,800
• Price (Body): SGD$2,699
• URL: http://www.canon.com.sg/p/EN/1-Digital-Cameras/1-EOS/1278-EOS-7D/

EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM (EOS 7D Kit I)

EOS 7D Kit I

• Ideal multipurpose wide-angle zoom lens for travel or event photography
• 4-stop image stabilizer
• Allows for close focusing distance of just 0.35m throughout the zoom range
• Price (With EOS 7D): SGD$3,849
• URL: http://www.canon.com.sg/p/EN/1-Digital-Cameras/1-EOS/1297-EOS-7D-Kit-I-EF-S-15-85IS/

EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS (EOS 7D Kit II)

EOS 7D Kit II

• Great for advanced photographers looking for a wide-angle zoom lens with telephoto capabilities
• 4-stop image stabilizer
• 7.5x super zoom image
• Price (With EOS 7D): SGD$3,249
• URL: http://www.canon.com.sg/p/EN/1-Digital-Cameras/1-EOS/1298-EOS-7D-Kit-II-EF-S-18-135IS/

EF-S 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM

EF-S 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM

• New hybrid system
• Ultra Low Dispersion (UD) lenses that correct color aberration for high resolution, high contrast images
• Super Spectra coatings effectively reduce ghosting and flare
• Price: Not available yet
• URL: Not available yet

Legria HF S11

Legria HF S11

• Dynamic Optical Image Stabilizer (OIS)
• 64GB Internal Hard Disk System
• New ‘Night Scene’ mode
• 1920 x 1080 resolution video
• Ultra high resolution 8.59 megapixel full HD CMOS sensor
• Price: SGD$2,899
• URL: http://www.canon.com.sg/p/EN/4-Digital-Camcorders/10-Flash-Memory/1205-LEGRIA-HF-S11/

Legria HF21

Legria HF21

• Weighing just 340 grams!
• 3.89 megapixel full HD CMOS censor
• 15x optical zoom
• High speed instant Auto Focus (AF)
• ‘Underwater Mode’ function
• Price: SGD$2,199
• URL: http://www.canon.com.sg/p/EN/4-Digital-Camcorders/10-Flash-Memory/1203-LEGRIA-HF21/

Selphy ES 40

Selphy ES 40

• New ‘Voice Guidance’ function
• Bigger 3.5″ LCD screen and scroll wheel
• 300 x 600 dpi resolution
• Postcard sized photos take only 55 seconds to print!
• Advanced Image Optimizer – adjust any contrast brightness individually
• Price: SGD$329
• URL: http://www.canon.com.sg/p/EN/3-Compact-Photo-Printers/7-Selphy-ES-series/1206-Selphy-ES40/

Selphy CP 790

Selphy CP 790

• Canon’s creative print function – Jazz up your photographs!
• Choose from 6 different background colors and 17″ stamps to print your photographs
• Print resolution of 300 x 300 dpi
• Portrait Image Optimizer – Achieve flattering, natural skin tones and optimum exposures in every photo!
• Price: SGD$249
• URL: http://www.canon.com.sg/p/EN/3-Compact-Photo-Printers/8-Selphy-CP-series/1090-Selphy-CP790/

Press Photos

Canon First Blogger Event

I am a Canon fan so does my family and Li Xiang. I prefer Canon for digital cameras over any other brands. I was invited to the first Canon’s blogger event at Screening Room which they unveil a full range of updated IXUS and PowerShot series digital cameras as well as a new series of Camcorders called Legria. In additional, there is also a new model to the EOS series, the Canon EOS 500D. Currently I am using the Canon IXUS 860IS which is kinda outdated, thinking of getting the Canon EOS 50D soon.

Wong Li Lin is there at the event as well as she is the official ambassador for Canon.

Wong Li Lin

Canon IXUS Series
Canon added 4 models to the IXUS Series, namely IXUS 100IS, IXUS 990IS and IXUS 95IS. If you are wondering what IS stands for, it stands for Image Stabilizer. The IXUS 100IS is kinda like their flagship product for IXUS Series, it is the slimmest IXUS ever. Canon IXUS series is mostly made in Japan.

Canon PowerShot Series
Canon also added 4 new models to the PowerShot Series, they are the PowerShot SX200IS, PowerShot A1100IS, PowerShot A2100IS and PowerShot A480. Canon PowerShot series is mostly made in Malaysia or China.

Canon EOS 500D
Canon EOS 500D is the latest addition to the Canon EOS series, perhaps you can consider it a successor of the EOS 450D. This updates brings up this entry level DSLR to the number “5″ as seen from its elder brother, the EOS 50D and EOS 5D. The EOS 500D which will be release sometime in early May 2009.

Canon Legria Series
Inspired by the Spanish word Allegria (or ‘joy’), the LEGRIA range (pronounced “ler-greeyer”) aims to bring delight and happiness to users by making video recording simple and fun. Derived from the concept that ‘great movies begin with great images’; LEGRIA camcorders draw on Canon’s heritage in optics and imaging.

The Legria is Canon new digital flash memory camcorders series and there are 7 models to this series at launch, they are the Legria HF S10, Legria HF S100, Legria HF20, Legria HF200, Legria FS22, Legria FS21 and Legria FS200. They are available in either standard and high definition configurations.

Read More (2,428 More Words, 18 More Images)

Friday, 18th July 2008
I had a short weekend (Friday to Sunday) trip with Li Xiang, mum and my uncle (mum’s elder brother) to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. My uncle drove there. It is about 340km from Singapore all the way to Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur. We supposed to set off at 2pm but somehow my grandfather GTAed the car without telling anyone about it. When we managed to contact him, it is already about 3.30pm and my uncle has to send him home first before driving the car. So we are late by about 2 hours.

On our way to KL, my uncle got distracted as we keep talking and he misses one of the turn on the highway. We reached KL, he also misses a turn to Bukit Bintang and hence we reached out hotel at about 8pm. My uncle is driving at about 130km/h to 140km/h, so technically we would need about 2 hours and 30 minutes to reach KL.

We stayed in The Royale Bintang Hotel. We only booked one room and the price is quite reasonably. We paid RM299 for the first night and RM279 for the 2nd night and it includes a breakfast for 2 excluding tax.

We had dinner at Outback which is located in BBPark just beside our hotel. Food there tastes the same as in Singapore but prices wise, it is definitely cheaper. I think it is also cheaper than Outback in Thailand.

After dinner, we went to take a introductory walk around our hotel. Most of the shopping centers are closed after 10pm, however the streets are still filled with people and cars.

We went back to our hotel about 11pm and Skype with my dad and to have an early rest. The Internet rate is quite reasonable, RM24 for 4 hours and it has to be used within 24 hours from the purchase date.

Saturday, 19th July 2008
Could not sleep the whole night and hence woke up at 7.30am. Had breakfast at Sunflowers Brasserie which is the hotel cafe. The food was lousy and the variety was quite little as well.

After breakfast went to visit “Thong Hock Toys & Foodstuffs” which is a shop/company which my mom’s company has shares in it. While my mum and my uncle talk inside, Li Xiang and I walked around and took random pictures as we are really bored.

Once my mum is done, we took the rail (Rapid KL) to Suria KLCC for our first shopping trip. We stayed there till lunch and then my mum re-joined them for lunch while Li Xiang and I headed to Sungei Wang Plaza to shop.

At about 5pm met up with my mum at The Pavilion. As my mom was early, I asked her to buy tickets for The Dark Night. We wanted the 11pm slot but it left the first 3 rows and hence we settled for the 12.30am slot.

We had a late lunch at Food Republic in Pavilion and the food is good and the variety is similar to that of Singapore’s Food Republic, just cheaper.

Joined one of my uncle’s friend for dinner at a restaurant called Restoran Overseas (Near Berjaya Times Square). The food is fantastic and the Soy Chicken has to be the best Soy Chicken I have ever ate.

Went to Berjaya Times Square to take a look as it is located nearby, was quite disappointed with it as there is nothing much to shop there. Maybe people go there for the Amusement Park only.

We went back our hotel after that to take a rest and left again at 11.30pm for our movie at Pavilion. At 11.30pm, the streets are still filled with people and cars and it was very lively.

The Dark Knight was fantastic and I love the underground level as compared to the bat cave. The show lasted about 2 hours and 30 minutes. My mum got confused after watching the movie and Li Xiang said the movie was boring and slept 3/4 through it.

I don’t like the facilities at the movie theater. The toilet is so small and even guys have to queue up for it. After the movie, we had a hard time finding a toilet and we found it only at the ground floor and it was crowded with people as the toilet is again, small.

However, the movie ticket is cheap, RM12 for a weekend ticket, which is only like SGD$5 and in Singapore the cheapest you can get is SGD$8.00 at Cathay.

But I think VivoCity still has the best movie experience especially the toilet part.

We walked back to out hotel at 3.30am and the streets are still filled with people and cars definitely much more than Orchard Road if we compared the timing.

Sunday, 20th July 2008
As usual, woke up at 7.30am and have breakfast at the famous Imbi’s Sun Hong Bak Kut Teh. The taste is slightly different from Singapore, it is more towards the herbal side while in Singapore it is towards the pepper side. But I like the way or the idea that they give you a big claypot of Bak Kut Teh and then you scope whatever you want to your own bowl rather than each a bowl in Singapore.

After breakfast we went to Star Hill Gallery which is located beside Pavilion as my mom wanted to take a look at Loewe. It is like a ghost town inside as I can hardly see a single soul inside.

On our way back to our hotel to checkout, we went to Gloria Jeans Coffees and the prices there are very cheap. It is about SGD$5.60 for a large GJ Ice Chocolate and if we pay using May bank, it is a buy 1 get 1 free offer. So that makes SGD$2.80 per cup, in Singapore the same cup will cost at least SGD$7.

We also pop by to Sungei Wang’s Giant to get some last minute supermarket shopping.

After our hotel check out, we went to Low Yat Plaza to get some IT Stuff. Some of the electronics there are MUCH cheaper than in Singapore. 2 weeks ago, I bought for my mom’s the Microsoft Lifecam VX 3000 for SGD$83 and at there they are selling it at SGD$50 which is almost half price. My uncle immediately bought 2 of it.

My uncle also bought Canon IXUS 800IS for RM599 = SGD$249.47 and I bought a Canon IXUS 860IS for RM1180 = SGD$491.46. The latest pricing for Canon IXUS 860IS in Singapore is SGD$540, see the difference! On top of that the warranty is international.

The last thing my uncle bough is the Canon Pixma i1880 for RM139 = SGD$57.91. In Singapore, it is selling for SGD$99, but the down side is that the warranty is in Malaysia only. But for SGD$58, once it is spoilt, you can just throw it away.

And all the while I thought electronics in Singapore are cheaper.

We left Bukit Bintang at about 1.30pm and we reached Singapore at 3.30pm. This time my uncle is driving 150km/h to 160km/h and hence it only take about 2 hours to reach.

The bottleneck is always at Singapore side regardless whether you are going into Malaysia or coming back into Singapore. It is ALWAYS the Singapore custom holding the queue. I seriously think that Singapore custom need to do better than that.

Petrol in Malaysia is DIRT CHEAP, 1 litre of petrol only cost RM2.70 = SGD$1.12 and in Singapore 1 litre of petrol cost at least SGD$2.20. Malaysia’s government can subsidize so much for their petrol and I wonder why Singapore’s government can’t do that. I only saw Singapore registered cars pumping petrol in the last petrol station when coming back to Singapore.

Overall, I love and enjoy this short trip! Hope there is more to come. I shall learn how to drive to KL someday.