Bird's Eye View

Cool!

Since photographing and videographing birds have always interest me, I may change my 'eye' view this time around. I may now shoot from the view of the birds.

Recently on the news is a hot topic called Hexacopter Cam.

Just Google it and I got loads of information.
One of the brand available is the Versadrones, sells for only RM999 ( did I get it right?) and it is cool.

http://www.versadrones.com/

We can fly WITH the eagles and crows here in Klang.
Just watch the video from Versadrones.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06bNptwzNQ0

Need to control it carefully though, otherwise it will fall on to someone's house and he may not believe that I am just a bird videographer!

A Failure!

3D : A Proven Failure!

Some 6 years ago, I did a silent forecast about the re-emergence of the Three Dimensional format. During my youth days, I saw cineflix such as "The 13 Ghost" in black & white, right up to remakes/reissues in 3D at the cinemas. And then, they brought it into the idiot box, the TV.

The TV technology used in our country was so far behind and out-of-time that the more urgent thing the authorities should do was to quickly introduce HD (High Definition in 1080p) instead of depending on the Assthrow's 720p (1080i).
Then, so many who are ignorant about HD, Full HD (fool's HD) jumped into the pool of confusion, ended up buying TVs that they could not use it to the fullest unless one has a Blu-Ray player.
Some even spent extra on 3D without knowing the whole story. Is it because the sales person who coax you on a bargain resulted on your decision?

Just look at TM's Hypo TV service. We chucked our unify's box top set into the trash. I felt more being insulted using that 'free' TV. It is not on HD as suggested and it is more of 'streaming TV'. Those so called 'free' programs are now chargeable and we end up getting some low class rejects plus the usual seven worthless local TV stations.

Back to the 3D frustration.

Just what is it that we, here in Malaysia wants to see in 3D? The shows are very limited. Just how many TV stations shows 3D? Assthrow? Unify? local stations? Fat hopes.

How about DVD? Hey DVD is 'old tech' and the quality do not exceed 600p. Only the Blu-Ray has 1080p. Unless one also uses a media player there is no other way to watch HD programmes let alone 3D. 3D seriously need HD  frequency to broadcast off air and at present we do not have even one TV station in HD. The ministry is so lacking that all video production in HD are broadcast in the old SD(standard definition) which is about 43 years old! All production equipment even in angkasapuri,are in HD. The cameras, lighting, editing, etc are in HD. The problem lies in the old transmission equipment. they failed to spend the necessary mulla.
Then, how could 3D succeed?

Just read what Bob Zitter of HBO (Home Box Office) has to say on the failure.
http://www.eoshd.com/content/9856/3d-a-proven-failure-4k-unlikely-to-succeed-hbo

Japan and other advanced countries are now broadcasting in UHD (Ultra High Definition) 4K.

So folks, please stop helping them (the dealers) to clear their stocks by paying more.

3D is proven dead (again)

Meow!

Blessed Virgin Mary-HD Video

Holy Mary Mother of God

An appearance of an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary on the window of the Sime Darby Medical Centre (Subang Jaya Medical Centre- SJMC) have many Catholics visiting and witnessing this event. It was reported that the seventh floor housed the Cancer Ward in this hospital.
This HD video shows the location and the image. A 12-second time lapse video (shot with the Panasonic HDC TM300) was made to try to see any changes on the image for the last 90 minutes and the High Bit Rate video was shot using the Panasonic Lumix GH2.

Show Me The Money!!!!

There Is Money In Garbage.

Caught with my HD Spycam, a garbage collector found a purse loaded with cash. I co-incidentally shot this video as a test and end up striking a rare shot. Well, technically, he did not steal the money but it came to him on top of his truck in a huge pile of garbage. He should, at least, find a way to return it. Honesty huh?

This lucky bloke sure got an extra duit Raya.

My gripe here is with MPK (Majlis Perbandaran Klang) or our town council, because of the way these contractors are doing their job unprofessionally and is a health hazard. Just look at the truck itself. Is this the proper way to do this? What happened to the enclosed trucks with hydraulic compactors and with liquid catchment traps? We pay our taxes too and I believe it covers proper garbage collection.
It is getting frustrating everyday to witness just how our government is losing touch with all that claims of success and promises so called 'delivered'!
 As I blog this, I can even smell the foulness of the drippings and this could cause some health problems. You see, the children playground is nearby and kids, being a holiday season, would be walking over these rotting liquid.



Malaysia  sure Boleh!!

Standing with the Big Boys

Red Scarlet vs Panasonic Lumix GH2

Now, that is brave.

The Panasonic Lumix GH2 is placed with the Professionals in film making where other DSLRs dare not thread.

See here for the full report.

More about RED. The camera that shot Underworld: Awakening, The Hobbit, 12-21-11,Green Zone, The Untold Story, Prometheus, Jumper.

The Red Scarlet would cost us RM48,000.00 and the GH2 at RM3,999.00.

I am still wondering why even here in Malaysia, the idol worshippers and followers for the two 'top selling','photo' camera brands are in denial mode that the GH2 is being proven time and again to be a top video shooter.

You do not need big bucks and ultra expensive lenses to get good results.

Or is it that many cannot accept that a company which manufactures other kind of electrical products 'would not be able to' make better cameras than them?

Wake up guys!

Skater Dolly Video Clip

Smooth Operator

Kindly view the HD video clip below to see the panning/trucking effect used when my camera was mounted on a DIY skater dolly. It was then edited on Sony Vegas HD software.
A Leica macro lens was fixed onto the Lumix GH2 camera to shoot on the 24p cinema mode.

C&C most appreciated.

Eat & Shake!

Chinese Pond Heron
Was driving home one afternoon and spotted a migrant in full breeding plumage.

Grabbed my Panasonic Lumix GH2, changed its lens to the 200mm TeleZoom, selected ETC 'on' and shot the bird. Thanks to James and Bitty of Photo Malaysia who id-ed this heron double quick as the usual color and pattern are not the same normally. Even the bill is in two colors!

Was in time for its quick meal and a 'shake' afterwards.

Enjoy the video here.

KL Bird Park

ReVisited

Did a video shoot here last Saturday.

This time, only specific species were selected and a close up HD shot was taken showing details with good colors recorded. Video filming of birds are very difficult as compared to still photography. The equipment alone is hard to obtain here in Malaysia especially video tripods, lighting and microphones. Worst still are equipment for lowly camcorders because of the price.


The HD Video clip is here.

To enjoy the sights and sound, please do connect your sound output to your sub-woofer to hear the deep 'cooing' of the largest pigeon in the world, the Victoria Crowned Pigeon. Beautiful. Also do observe it's ritual of bowing eight time each session!

If you are fortunate enough to have a high speed broadband such as the UNIFI here in Malaysia please click at the '360p' button to select 1080p for maximum resolution exactly the High Definition quality we have produced in.

Enjoy.

Missing in Action

I am Back!

Dear folks,
So sorry that I have not been blogging since 3rd. March.
Was busy setting up a new business in relations to High Definition & Audio/Visual equipment and HD Video production.

Will be blogging about it this coming week.

Have uploaded some new HD video clips on Youtube.
It is about our Sunbirds, Fireworks in Klang and an orchid. Do not forget to click on the box for HD viewing. It would be at 1080p for those who have got High Broadband speed of above 2Mb.
Even at 480p, the clip looks sharp.

You can visit here to view them.

Enjoy!

Astro in HD

Crystal Clear

Sorry folks for not blogging.

Was enjoying Astro's new HD format.
After many years of old, bland standard resolution TV, the new Astro's HD is a dynamic change.

The old format of 4:3 (read old...just like the standard photo format too!) See below.

High Definition is already overdue-d here and we are now awaiting free-off air HD from RTM..for whom we guessed, have been 'sleeping' all the while.

Astro's Beyond HD comes with a totally new Box Top set, a large (good) remote controller which can also be used as a replacement to your LCD TV's remote, a new external Dish, a new smart card and cabling. We kept our old wiring because it was a 'concealed' system.

Just see the photos here, taken directly from our full HD TV





But do remember to buy (Astro do not sell nor supply) the important Digital Coaxial Audio Cable to be connected to your Home Theater system which would be in Dolby digital 5.1. But then, they give the important HDMI cable which provides video and audio signals only to your TV display.
Awesome.

The Stork have arrived!

NEW BABY!
The Panasonic HDC-TM300

Just purchased a new camcorder today.

This new baby was launched last week. Needing a High Definition video camera to record on the new AVCHD format, I selected this model because it is the best at the moment. I chose this over my other favourite brand, the Sony. Panasonic have taken this model as their flagship and with advanced features in technology, they made it affordable too. This left Sony way behind!!!!

The main plus points are as follows:-

1) Full Solid State Recording without any (HDD) Hard Disk Drive. It is on SDCard.
2) 3xMOS 1/4.1" Sensors. That means three sensors. Not one!
3) Optional Manual Controls for focusing, zoom, aperture,shutter speed & white balance!
4) Zoom microphone control including Dolby5.1 System.

5) Leica Dicomar lenses with 12x Optical Zoom
6) Full High Definition 1920x1080 AVCHD format.
7) 10.6 megapixels still picture recording.
8) HD Crystal Engine.
9) Ultra small in size and weigh only 385 gms (less battery)

It will take a while to build-up my HD footage and will be featuring some clips on You Tube in HD format soon.

As for shooting birds in the wild, this time in HD video, I am planning to marry this camcorder to the Swarovski STS 80 HD Spotting Scope. This is really getting up close and personal!

Of course, storage of HD files in preparation of HD video editing, my data banks of HDD is ready and is at 5TB Raid system.
It is gonna be a lot of work!