Monthly Archives: June 2014

Highso

I finally got to get my hands on with the Sony Alpha 7s. My only concern was how it would fare versus my Alpha 99; how much better would it be at high ISO?

For the A99 I usually comfortably shoot up to ISO6400. I wanted to see what that would be for the A7s.

The A99 had the Sony Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 24mm F2.0 ZA SSM, while the A7s had the Sony Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar T* FE 24-70mm F4.0 ZA OSS in E-mount. Both cameras were placed on approximately the same location on a raised wall with approximately the same framing, manual focus, F11 and exposure compensated with increasing ISO, by selecting a faster shutter speed. Unfortunately, I did not bring a flash, so I’d be subject to the flickering of the flourescent lighting, hence the inconsistent exposure and white balance (the brown tint being the ambient light while the green tint being flourescent.)

All pictures were processed in Adobe Camera Raw 8.5 with the “Previous Conversion” option selected. Everything was flat at 0. The A99 picture was downsampled using Bicubic Automatic to match the output resolution of the A7s. After flattening, the collage below was sharpened with 33% 22 pixel 4 threshold if I remember, and then 200% 0.3 pixel 1 threshold. These are all 100% crops (except the A99 crop – that would be a 70.66% crop.)

Because of the variance in flourescent lighting, it’s hard to truly say, but I’d say what was ISO6400 on the A99 looks like somewhere between ISO25600 and ISO51200 on the A7s. Still, much better than I expected, seeing that DxO seemed to think it was only 1 stop in ISO difference. I thought the A7s would only be worth it, if it could pull 2-3 stops above the A99, if I was to get the LA-EA4 adapter, that would take away under a stop of light. As for why I’d want to put A-mount lenses – there is no equivalent to the Sony Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 135mm F1.8 ZA or Sony Carl Zeiss Planar T* 85mm F1.4 ZA on E-mount, unfortunately, and I would not be able to crop as much from say the Sony Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* FE 55mm F1.8 ZA on a mere 12-megapixel A7s.

I was also largely uninterested in the A7 because it was merely 24 megapixels, and I had 24 megapixels since the A900 so this brought nothing new; the A7r meanwhile had 36 megapixels, quite exciting, but it lacked the Electronic First Curtain shutter that the A7 and A99 had, so it had a shutter lag that would not work for action and flash photography. The A7s is better, by having Electronic First Curtain and Electronic Second Curtain so it’s completely silent. In the menu however it’s called Silent Shooting.

Five Ways In Mezze


20th June 2014: Five Ways, at Mezze Wine Bar & Bistro, Medan Damansara!


Here’s the band.


Jerry Ventura of The Falcons fame.


Richard Gomis of Freedom.


Jimie Loh of The Alleycats.


Edwin Nathaniel of Aseana Percussion Unit.


Boy King of progressive rock band Ash Wednesday.


Together, they play the dirty-funkin’ and hard-rockin’ music of the 60s onwards.


This Yamaha and its strings are beautiful! They started with a request – The Shadows – Apache.


Cowbell!


Richard, surrounded by keys and knobs.


Jerry is a multi-instrumentalist. Here he is with one of many percussive instruments!


Tamborine man. I discovered Uriah Heep – July Morning through them covering it. I love songs with such epic riffs!


The stage upstairs is a wee bit small, and the audience can also sit to the side of the stage.


They funked into James Brown – Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag.


Uncle Jimie being cheeky!

Odd that I’d call him uncle, given I’m an uncle myself (which probably explains why I went to go listen to uncle music.)

Pavilion Monday


16th June 2014: I was down in Pavilion for the KL Fashion Week 2014. Spot the minister!


No seriously, I was there to check out TDH Project (it was Monday.)

Got there a bit early, and had myself a pork burger. Also ordered peppermint tea.

They got back to me, saying peppermint tea was out, so I ordered lime juice instead.

They got back to me, saying lime juice was out, so I ordered orange juice instead.


The show started about 10pm.


Clinton Liew on keys! Amazingly talented musician.


Dean Sim, who has one heck of a killer guitar tone and licks with feel.


I don’t know this bassist.


I don’t know this vocalist, either.


I know this drummer though, Jared Cheow.

Before the show, a waiter asked if I’d like another drink, to which I said no.

I was asked again, later. During the show, I was also asked if I’d like a beer, that I’d need to buy a drink to stay for the show.

Whether this business practice helps with staying afloat, I don’t know, because I felt like leaving and not returning to Tom Dick Harry’s Pavilion, out of principle. Understandably, the restaurant may do this as rental is high – but does rental need to be that high, even if you take into account location? Everything is inflated. We’re in a property bubble. You can earn more than 80% of Malaysian households and yet not afford property (because they either only sell low-cost or high-end.)

Tabloid Party Time!


14th June 2014: Tabloid Party Time at The Bee, Publika! This would be the first time I caught a full set with my camera, with this exact lineup.


Their new logo, on the drum set, designed by Keat Leong.


Faz on guitar!


Melina on bass in jacket!


Sharon on vocals! She wears many hats, but not today as the ponytails would displace them.


Yvonne on vocals! Both taking equal time on the microphone.


Adriane on drums.


David in a sea of keys, and a vocoder.


Sharon pops, locks and hops all over the stage!


Mystery gizmo on the floor.


Percussion time! This was probably their Outkast – Hey Ya cover.


More keyboard time…


…with Yvonne singing songs that R&B divas sing.


Kevin, sporting a new hairdo, admittedly quite stylish!


Goodnight!

Tiger Translate Kenanga


14th June 2014: I headed down to Kenanga, next to Hang Tuah LRT station.


An interesting part of Kuala Lumpur that I’d not seen before.


Some shophouses were nicer-looking than others. They all sold textile-related goods.


Quite a cool alley.


I reached Kenanga Wholesale City, in search of Tiger Translate, an event that was not stated on any signboard or poster outside. I had to call Ann Na, who was the proxy to my ticket benefactor (Sepet Vernz), to ask if I was in the correct building.


I tried my luck by going all the way up to the 8th, 9th and 10th floor. When I found nothing, I went to the lift, and discovered that the lift would go up to 15 floors, so I got out on the 15th floor where it said events should be at – and saw a rear door and the event’s loud music booming through the wall.

A security guard told me to go down one floor and enter from there. So I took the stairs down one floor to 13A, and found it was just a car park. I went down again to 13, also finding it a car park. I then took the lift up to 15, getting off when all the people who looked like they were going for the event got off. They, too, were told to go down one floor.

And so, we all took the stairs, since the lift took forever, and tried our luck at the car park – one group going left, the other going right. I followed the group going right, and we eventually saw that the entrance was the car ramp going up to 15. There was no sign, poster or bunting that would hint where it was. A speakeasy event, perhaps?

Even the ticket didn’t say what floor it was at. Apparently, this place was popular for K-pop concerts, but the people who were going for this event didn’t seem to be the same demographic as K-pop fans.


Finally!


Awesome blue versus yellow theme.


Indiego!


Art installation versus art you always carry with you.


Tiger stripes.


Sunclipsing light. (Sunset is technically incorrect as the sun does not set around the Earth.)


Here’s the view from the 15th floor, near the balcony. Pudu Jail! Also, the rest of Kenanga’s shophouses.


This is all that is left of Pudu Jail – its doorway.


Surau An Nur Pudu survived the demolition of Pudu Jail.


Fascinating bungalow.


I didn’t catch this band’s name… but then there wasn’t an emcee announcing it, either, nor a set list.


Good lighting, though.


Bokeh time with the Sony Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 135mm F1.8 ZA.


Good Canto rock, if I remember correctly.


There were also trampolines, and Leonard Chua on trampolines.


Darren Teh on trampoline (as opposed to vocals and guitars on An Honest Mistake, who was not playing that night.)


Manic Sheep, from Taiwan.


Nice aggressive stuff, despite this smiley picture, and a full sound despite being a 3-piece band.


Nearer to sunclipse.


Just a bit after magic hour, where artificial light and natural light is in balance.


Jeremy bounces.


Indirect ticket b-Ann-Na-factor bounces.


Chochukmo.


They hail from Hong Kong!


Drum shot.


Boom.


I left before OJ Law, regrettably, and The Editors, to head to another gig (this was #2 of 3 for the day!)

Boss Shredder


14th June 2014: I went down to The Guitar Store, Cheras. This is near Cheras Leisure Mall.


I climbed many flights of stairs to the top. Fortunately my journey did not continue up that ladder!


552 The Stage!


Raja Farouque demonstrating the new BOSS ME-80 multi-effects pedal! Probably the coolest thing I saw was using the expression pedal to make divebombs!


Bands give me stickers, and I never know what to do with them, since my own guitar has a quilted maple top in see-thru black, and it would diminish its nice shiny look.

Doing The Nightshift On Friday The 13th


13th June 2014: Nightshift live at The Bee, Publika!


Here’s Ian on bass.


Jared on drums with a cool T-shirt.


Jack on keyboards and vocoder.


Andy on guitar licks.


Emmanuel on vocals.


Ian shifts to keys. (Here’s a random throwback of Ian in 2012!)


Teddy bear on the top.


Pictures from this one onwards, taken by Melissa “bokeh” Wong.


Glenn and Jack.


POLITIKO Version 2! Who would win the elections?


Not at all related to any party in real life.

Just Passing By


13th June 2014: I passed by The Stage in Publika…


To find belly dancing going on!


Middle East Dance Academy presents Biya Raks.


Apparently, this academy was in Publika itself, as well.


And so they showed us Middle Eastern Belly Dancing.

Feedback Open Mic @ The Bee Jaya One ft. Crinkle Cut & Calico / June 2014 Edition


QG, made of Raja Farouque and Grace!


They did instrumentals, first one for me.


The Bee, Jaya One, the name of this place.


Don’t Stop Me Now, I Dreamed A Dream, sang Jee.


Hameer, emcee, Feedback, June Edition.


The Groovy Sauce Project, next to be on.


The rest of the band, seated position.


Two guitars, two capos, and one cajon.


The date was 10th June 2014.


The Four Leaf Clover had a tin whistle.


Jonathan Khor here, was on violin.


Gaelic The Beatles – Blackbird, magical!


It’s leg day today so lift your cajons!


Oooh, a shiny pickup! It’s chrome, not bronze.


Ashley Chan, with Melvin Goh on the keys.


The theme was The Musicals, so here’s Fazz.


Cabaret vaudeville, dance if you please!


Kevin Vong leaps around with much pizzazz.


Jonathan Khor adds some strings to the mix.


Meanwhile, outside, six years unseen, was Bo.


Yvonne Chong, salesperson, shows us some tricks.


Then it was time for her band, Calico.


Faz’s new Stratocaster is handsome.


They were the first featured act of the night.


Kimbra – Settle Down with looper, awesome!


Crinkle Cut with Frances’ vocal might!


Here’s Melissa “bokeh” Wong on guitar.


For more of the band, a shot from afar.


You would get in trouble in school for this.


Frances and her vocal effects pedal.


Grace Foo is on keyboard and harmonies.


Guitar Hero-colored nails on this girl.


Pink Punk Chop is a catchy, unique name.


Spot my theme, iambic pentameters?


Hofner! Not all basses are made the same.


Bo Amir, who I had not seen in years.


Joined by Collin, very much comedic!


Cracked us up, silly Cantonese banter.


Sat Arvo with Fariz on electric!


By midnight his wife turned a year older.


Beatrice doing La Vie en rose.


Ashley, the winner of tickets, says yay!