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Hands on Canon 5DS R DSLR camera and Canon 11-24mm f/4L lens over coffee at Hideout Coffee

By Photography
Hands on Canon latest flagship DSLR camera, EOS 5DS R and new ultra-wide angle lens, EF 11-24mm f/4L USM at Hideout Coffee with Ms. Vna from Canon Malaysia, CW Tay at the back, and Kenn Wai on the right

Hands on Canon latest flagship DSLR camera, EOS 5DS R and new ultra-wide angle lens, EF 11-24mm f/4L USM at Hideout Coffee with Ms. Vna from Canon Malaysia, CW Tay at the back, and Kenn Wai on the right

The new Canon EOS 5DS R, full-frame 50.6MP DSLR camera

The new Canon EOS 5DS R, full-frame 50.6MP DSLR camera

They are in Melaka: Canon EOS 5DS R camera and EF 11-24mm f/4L USM lens.

Last Friday I and good friends, Kenn Wai and CW Tay were invited by Ms. Vna from Canon Malaysia to do a test and review on Canon latest flagship DSLR camera, EOS 5DS R and new ultra-wide angle lens, EF 11-24mm f/4L USM.

We met up at a new cafe, Hideout Coffee just across the road from our studio. We had the review over coffee with Vna. She had this session arranged for the three of us with yummy latte.

A hidden cozy cafe in Taman Kota Laksamana (shot with Canon EOS 5DS R and Canon EF 11-24mm f/4L USM)

A hidden cozy cafe in Taman Kota Laksamana (shot with Canon EOS 5DS R and Canon EF 11-24mm f/4L USM)

Camera vs coffee (shot with Canon EOS 5DS R and Canon EF 11-24mm f/4L USM)

Camera vs coffee (shot with Canon EOS 5DS R and Canon EF 11-24mm f/4L USM)

This new full-frame Canon camera features 50.6MP CMOS Sensor with dual DIGIC 6 image processors. I will skip the specification part which is available over Google.

I did a few shots of the cafe, testing the grip, focus, quality of the output, shooting in full Raw which is about 50MB of size per image, and tested the new EF 11-24mm f/4L USM lens. It feels like Canon 5D Mark III.

The uncle at Hideout Coffee was kind. Knowing that we are wedding photographers and doing some test shoot, he helped us to switch on the all the lights of the cafe, and asked us if we required anything to shoot inside. In addition, the barista serves nice coffee.

Kind uncle at Hideout Coffee (shot with Canon EOS 5DS R and Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM)

Kind uncle at Hideout Coffee (shot with Canon EOS 5DS R and Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM)

We enjoyed good coffee on a rainy (shot with Canon EOS 5DS R and Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM)

We enjoyed good coffee on a rainy (shot with Canon EOS 5DS R and Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM)

This ultra-wide angle lens is truly amazing.

Capturing at 11mm however shots were less distorted, out of my anticipation of a ultra-wide angle lens. It was ‘Wow’ to all of us how wide it could cover at 11mm. Despite shooting at f/4 widest aperture with low shutter speed, we needed nothing to worry about minor hand-shake. The advantage of its super wide focal length at 11mm could compensate the minor effect of handshake.

How wide is 11mm, shooting your own feet? (shot with Canon EOS 5DS R and Canon EF 11-24mm f/4L USM)

How wide is 11mm, shooting your own feet? (shot with Canon EOS 5DS R and Canon EF 11-24mm f/4L USM)

Minimal distortion at 24mm focal length (shot with Canon EOS 5DS R and Canon EF 11-24mm f/4L USM, no lens correction in post-processing)

Minimal distortion at 24mm focal length (shot with Canon EOS 5DS R and Canon EF 11-24mm f/4L USM, no lens correction in post-processing)

Much lesser distortion even at widest 11mm focal length (shot with Canon EOS 5DS R and Canon EF 11-24mm f/4L USM, no lens correction in post-processing)

Much lesser distortion compared to other ultra-wide angle lenses, even at its widest 11mm focal length (shot with Canon EOS 5DS R and Canon EF 11-24mm f/4L USM, no lens correction in post-processing)

Being one of the widest lenses available now with much lesser distortion and provides super-sharp images, the Canon EF 11-24mm f/4L USM lens is a magnificent lens for landscape and architecture photography. Added to my wish list 🙂

Since the test was done with ambient and objects in the cafe, I then requested Vna to be my model so that I could test the quality of skin tone it captures, comparing to 5D mark II which I am using. Reluctantly yet kind Vna agreed.

Vna with her coffee (shot with Canon EOS 5DS R and Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM)

Vna with her coffee (shot with Canon EOS 5DS R and Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM)

Smile... (shot with Canon EOS 5DS R and Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM)

Smile… (shot with Canon EOS 5DS R and Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM)

Relax... (shot with Canon EOS 5DS R and Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM)

Relax… (shot with Canon EOS 5DS R and Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM)

With Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens mounted to 5DS R, I captured Vna with mainly windows light and ambient of the cafe. Then switched to 5D Mark II with Sigma’s 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM, captured Vna again with her precious 5DS R.

Comparing the shots taken with these two system, even with different lens, both cameras captured skin tone with obvious differences. 5DS R delivered a more contrast and color rich tone, compared to 5D Mark II which gave a more pinky and soft skin tone.

Isn't it cool with 5DS R and a Canon tele-lens (shot with Canon EOS 5D Mark II with Sigma's 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM lens)

Isn’t it cool with 5DS R and a Canon tele-lens (shot with Canon EOS 5D Mark II with Sigma’s 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM lens)

Vna with her favorite camera (shot with Canon EOS 5D Mark II with Sigma's 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM lens)

Vna with her favorite camera (shot with Canon EOS 5D Mark II with Sigma’s 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM lens)

With its gigantic megapixels resolution and superb sharpness performance I read online, I requested to do some test at our studio. Vna again agreed to be our model.

CW Tay had a shooting session going and couldn’t join us. Before he left we captured a big family photo (image on the top of post). At 11mm ultra wide focal length, we could probably capture the whole cafe-full crowd.

So we headed to our studio, Craftify Studio.

Four strobes were setup to photograph Vna who visited our studio for the first time. Kenn Wai helped with the lights while I briefed Vna on the pose. Using Canon 5DS R camera with Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM, we did two postures: half-body and full-body, making the half-body one a formal shot and full-body a fun shot. Vna later described the latter as shopaholic pose. Sniff. Sniff.

Originally Vna (shot with Canon EOS 5DS R and Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM at Craftify Studio)

Originally Vna (shot with Canon EOS 5DS R and Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM at Craftify Studio)

Vna in shopping mode (shot with Canon EOS 5DS R and Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM at Craftify Studio)

Vna in shopping mode (shot with Canon EOS 5DS R and Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM at Craftify Studio)

The new Canon EOS 5DS R camera is a great camera for studio photography, especially the sharpness surprised us. Ultra-large megapixels however requires extra work and time for the post processing, as minor retouch will make a big difference visually.

It is a pricey camera however, for photographers who specialize in studio shooting and commercial photography, 5DS R is a good camera to have in arsenal with its large megapixels and sharpness performance. We have yet tested the 5DS R to its full capability and new features. We hope to have more time to review again in near future.

Big thanks to Vna and Canon Malaysia giving us this opportunity to try out this stunning full-frame camera.

May all bEE happy 🙂

Some images of Canon EOS 5DS R and Canon EF 11-24mm f/4L USM taken at Hideout Coffee over the session:

Canon EOS 5DS R with Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM

Canon EOS 5DS R with Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM

Canon EOS 5DS R's front view

Canon EOS 5DS R’s front view

Canon EOS 5DS R's rear view

Canon EOS 5DS R’s rear view

Canon EOS 5DS R with Canon EF 11-24mm f/4L USM lens

Canon EOS 5DS R with Canon EF 11-24mm f/4L USM lens

Guess whose eyes? (shot with Canon EOS 5DS R and Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM at Craftify Studio)

Guess whose eyes? (shot with Canon EOS 5DS R and Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM at Craftify Studio)

 

Our first experience capturing the stars in Melaka (from left, tiny Vernon, tiny Ee, tiny Kenn Wai, tiny Chow Gui and tiny Jacky)

First experience with Milky Way photography in Melaka

By Landscape and cityscape
Our first experience capturing the stars in Melaka (from left, tiny Vernon, tiny Ee, tiny Kenn Wai, tiny Chow Gui and tiny Jacky)

Our first experience capturing the stars in Melaka (from left, tiny Vernon, tiny Ee, tiny Kenn Wai, tiny Chow Gui and tiny Jacky)

Often looking at the stunning photographs of Milky Way other landscape and cityscape photographers have taken, such as signature stars shots of Church of the Good Shepherd in New Zealand, Mt. Bromo in Indonesia and etc., I always wanted to do it here in our home town Melaka. I kept survey for locations far from light pollution especially from places away from houses or buildings or traffics, with minimal light visibility.

During an engagement portrait the Klebang beach of Melaka last month, where I was photographing a couple at a sand dune by the beach of the reclaimed land, there were no street lights, no buildings, purely land of sands dug from the sea, piling up like a sand dune desert. It seemed like an ideal place for shooting Milky Way, dark and far from light source.

Hari Raya’s eve was a good day, it was new moon and the weather was good after we checked the forecast. We organized a small group of friends (Kenn Wai, Ee, Vernon, Jacky and Chow Gui) to travel together to kill time and for safety purposes.

When we arrived at site on the evening of eve of Hari Raya, it was very dark and we had to park our cars far from the sand dune, where the tracks of tires ended in sand. It was too risky to drive further in to the sand dune and might get the cars stuck in sand. We carried our gears and walked about 500 meters on a wide open area of sand to the sand dune.

The weather was perfect. No clouds with little breeze, and the sky was absolutely beautiful, filled with stars. We used an IOS app to track the position of the Milky Way. We could see partial of it with naked eyes.

It was 11:00pm, one hour to Raya. The Milky Way was at the south-eastern direction. We setup our gears facing south which was the direction of the Strait of Malacca.

There were three light sources which somehow would pollute our exposure. One from the east, which was a berthing Star Cruise on the Strait of Malacca, and one from the from the west which might be the oil refinery at Tangga Batu’s beach, and lastly the spotlights and street lights from the north which was the Dataran 1 Malaysia ground. Three sources were far from us however could still make impact to the shots.

Our main objective was to capture the Milky Way with sand dune in our composition. As for myself, I was shooting using a Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L II lens. 16mm was the widest range I could get into.

On the first 2 hours of our shooting, it was difficult to capture both Milky Way and sand dune even with 16mm focal length as the Milky Way was high up from the horizon, at about 70 degree. And the spotlights from the Dataran 1 Malaysia ground was annoying even they were kilometers away.

Patiently we tried and tried, from different angles and various camera settings, yet we couldn’t get any ideal shots.

At about 1:00am, the game was changing. The spotlights were switched off. The Milky Way ‘moved’ too, from south-eastern to the south and closer to the horizon, at about 45 degree.

Milky Way and sand dune were in our frame. We continued to capture with long exposure. At last, Milky Way was clearly observable in our camera’s playback. We got it.

It was exciting for everyone of the group especially on this very first attempt. We had fun with shooting the Milky Way, and did some lighting-painting group photo as memory.

There are still lots of things to learn of shooting the stars. Setting up few challenges in the future, I started to follow some stars everyday and read more about landscape and cityscape photography always.

Below is one success shot of mine captured on that Raya’s morning 1:30am. Specially dedicated to all parents of the world!

May all bEE happy. 🙂

Milky Way shot at the beach of Klebang in Melaka (Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L II, ISO1000, f/3.5, 30sec exposure)

Milky Way shot at the beach of Klebang in Melaka (Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L II, ISO1000, f/3.5, 30sec exposure)

Nyonya Memoirs - a live environmental Peranakan show

Nyonya Memoirs – experience the first live environmental play in Melaka

By Beautiful Melaka, Photography
Nyonya Memoirs - first live environmental Peranakan show in Melaka (iPhonegraphy)

Nyonya Memoirs – first live environmental Peranakan show in Melaka (iPhonegraphy)

It caught my attention when the ad in the mall stated it to be the first 360° musical show, not only in Melaka but Malaysia’s. The show is the product by the familiar Malaysian film director, James Lee whom I admire of the short films he directed (read about his introduction of this play in his Facebook too). 

Last week I got an entry ticket from my friend and invited to see, I would say ‘participate’ in this show happening in Dataran Pahlawan Melaka Megamall. The musical show is about the love story of the young couple, a poor Baba and tailor ‘Zhang Min’ and a pretty Nyonya ‘Bao Zhu’ from a wealthy family, set scene to the 20s of Melaka, yet something different than the usual musical show or play I had been.

When I entered the show, I realized everyone was standing. There was no seating arranged for the guests. It was a garden-like open area with a narrator in the center doing the talk while the other actors and actresses wearing of the 20s Baba and Nyonya, and some Chinese costumes and danced around us.

The stage was in fact around us. Shops like photo shop, tailor, sundry shop, street food stalls, fortune teller booth from the 20s of previous century were setup as of the street of Melaka. After the introduction, we could visit each stall or shop and interact with the actors and actresses, behaved and talked like they were in the 20s.

The play then continued. The use of lighting, actors and actresses would directly or indirectly guide us to the spot where the play progressed. There were spots decorated like the interior of a Baba and Nyonya house, including a main hall, backyard, dining area, kitchen and bedroom (what is showing on the picture above was a feast setup, called Tok Panjang in dining hall).

The story took place in all area of the theater, so-called 360° setup, and involved the participation of the audiences. Such as in a scene when the main actor ‘Zhang Min’ was in dilemma of proposing to ‘Bao Zhu’ whom he admired, he seek the help from the audience for advise. A guest from Klang was sporting and was invited to the front and taught ‘Zhang Min’ how to propose. In addition to that, the guest’s wife was too invited to the front and the guest demonstrated proposal to his wife by kneeing and said the magic words. Everyone laughed.

There was also a scene when a kid from the audience was requested by a messenger of ‘Bao Zhu’ to pass a letter to ‘Zhang Min’. The kid was requested to walk and deliver the letter to the tailor’s shop of ‘Zhang Min’. He did so and ‘Zhang Min’ then replied the letter by passing it to another elderly from the audience and requested the elderly to deliver a letter back to ‘Bao Zhu’. Of course, the elderly was intercepted by the evil family members of ‘Bao Zhu’ before he could decide what to do with the letter in his hands.

It was a happy ending for sure, and the final scene was a traditional Baba and Nyonya wedding ceremony of ‘Zhang Min’ & ‘Bao Zhu’. It took place outside the theater. A lovers’ bridge was setup in the shopping mall for the scene, which drew the attention of many shoppers too, and joined in the play. They missed the front part in the theater anyway 🙂

The dances and songs during the play were definitely outstanding. I enjoyed very much. The actors, actresses and the back-end people were putting a lot of effort for the show and doing a splendid job. The show itself is a fresh experience to me and beyond my expectation. I would recommend to all friends whether you are from Melaka or visitors here, to enjoy such a wonderful play, at the same time, understand more about the Baba and Nyonya culture of Melaka.

A few things to note about this show. It is conducted in Mandarin and some Bahasa language. English translation however, is displayed on the many TVs hanging at the walls of the theater.

It’s good to have your camera with you because you are alright to snap photos with the actors, actresses and the setup. However, please do not fire the flash during the play 🙂

The show is on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the 3rd floor Dataran Pahlawan Melaka Megamall (of the GSC cinema’s block), and it’s only until mid of July. So don’t miss it, grab your ticket and join the fun!

May all bEE happy 🙂

 

Couple sighted under the sunset at the beach of Taman Kota Laksamana (iPhonegraphy)

Sunset at Taman Kota Laksamana’s beach

By Beautiful Melaka, Photography
Couple sighted under the sunset at the beach of Taman Kota Laksamana (iPhonegraphy)

Couple sighted under the sunset at the beach of Taman Kota Laksamana (iPhonegraphy)

Gorgeous sunset near the beach of Taman Kota Laksamana, where couples always here and immerse themselves in romance by the sea breeze.

The setting reminded me of the song “Two Less Lonely People in the World” by Air Supply.

May all bEE happy 🙂

Back lane’s cafe of Melaka, Backlane Coffee

By Beautiful Melaka, Photography
Rear entrance of Backlane Coffee at Jonker Street Melaka (iPadgraphy)

Rear entrance of Backlane Coffee at Jonker Street Melaka (iPadgraphy)

Backlane Coffee is a new coffee place in town recommended by my good friends Eric & Yan. As its name suggests, the cafe is located on rear part of an old building near the stage of Jonker Street where there is a rear entrance access from the back lane between Jonker Street and Hereen Street.

After a few visits, when Singaporean couple Daryl & Su Ann approached us for prewedding portrait in Melaka, we brought them to Backlane Coffee for a short break, relaxed and chilled ourselves in this place full of DIY items and old-fashioned vintage decorations, and filled with aroma of coffee and freshly baked desserts. The place reminded me of the cafe back in Melbourne.

With the consent of the sweet lady boss Shu Lin, we took some portrait with the couple near the large windows of the cafe facing the back lane. Shu Lin told us, we were the first to do portrait over there 😉

If you visit this place, don’t forgot to try the tea in menu besides the good coffee, they too offer variety of sweet homemade macaroons and cakes. Recently some light meals were added to the menu, which I haven’t had a chance to try but I will.

We’d love to share this album from Facebook, of the bridal portrait with Daryl & Su Ann.

May all bEE happy 🙂

Inspired by the love of Lawrence & Susan

By Prewedding and couple portrait
Lawrence&Susan (9)

Inspired by the love of Lawrence & Susan

When we heard good news from Lawrence & Susan last week, in which they are getting engaged end of this year, we feel so happy for the both of them. Lawrence & Susan are sweet couple whom last year we had a couple portrait with. It was also the first couple portrait for which Love+ photo artistry family was formed last year.

Lawrence is the prince charming who always carry a sunshine smile and similar to Susan who is a teacher and has beautiful and sweet smile whenever we meet the both of them. Lawrence & Susan had been together for a year before the shoot. Yet we felt so much love in them and between them, for every shutter we clicked in that afternoon, the moment was so authentic and loving.

The evening light was settling deep and golden, amplifying the passion between them. The experience was so magical and powerful.

Thank you again to Lawrence & Susan for sharing their love with us. We are thrilled to share this album with you now! 😀

May all bEE happy.

Lawrence&Susan (1)

Lawrence&Susan (2)

Lawrence&Susan (3)

Lawrence&Susan (4)

Couple portrait by Love+ photo artistry

Lawrence&Susan (6)

Lawrence&Susan (7)

Lawrence&Susan (8)

Melaka beloved portrait

Lawrence&Susan (11)

Lawrence&Susan (12)

Lawrence&Susan (13)

Lawrence&Susan (14)

Beautiful sunset in Melaka

Lawrence&Susan (16)

Lawrence&Susan (17)

Lawrence&Susan (18)

Lawrence&Susan (19)

Lawrence&Susan (20)

Lawrence&Susan (21)