The Unrest World

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Just as the world is still fighting against a pandemic, other had a different agenda on hand and pushed ahead with war. I do not think that war is the best and only way to resolve any conflict, it’s amazing that at 2022, we are still resorting ourselves to the barbarian roots in our DNA when it comes to conflict resolution. Strange, but perhaps you can’t defy our genetic code no matter how much we evolve and progress.

With the war started, sanctions begin. Everyone is cutting their ties and even the slightest association, and it certainly is getting ugly. Athletes of that country banned from any competitions, sponsorship contracts terminated, and on top of that, all sorts of economic sanctions imposed are causing more harm to the innocent people than to the war starter. Some argue that it is necessary to have the suffering people to pressure their government, but personally I couldn’t comprehend such approach. Is there a better way then? I don’t know, I’m as helpless as those who were caught in this crossfire.

At lower level, some acclaim they would stop drinking vodka, while some started to shame anyone of the nationality or having some association to that country. We read news that people get cyber-bullied, restaurant getting bad reviews out of the blue and the list goes on. I understand that you are angry, so do I, but such action you took, which likely triggered by the barbarian gene rooted in our DNA, to me is no different from what was done by the guy who started the war. Just because you are standing on the other side of the war starter doesn’t mean you are entitled to start your own war and have it justified.

People threw a punch on you, and how do you respond makes all the difference. Perhaps this is something that we should ponder a little more, so that we could perhaps find ways to suppress that barbarian gene that tuck down deep within our body.

Leica is a joke!

As usual, every time when there are news about Leica camera, there will be jokers commenting about something similar: with that price I can buy X camera with Y lens, only crazy one will spend their money on Leica, blah blah blah.

Well, people who don’t get it will never get it. There’s ballpoint pen that cost few dollar for a dozen, and there’s fountain pen that cost thousands that does the same job. There’s Toyota of course, and then there’s Rolls Royce. There’s brand-less quartz watch and then there’s Rolex. It’s just the same case here when it comes to camera, and there’s no need to bark around and showing off your shortcoming.

It’s just how things work in the world. Different product occupying different price point, hence appealing to different customers. There’s no need for you to go around and despise a Rolex just because you can’t afford one. There’s no need to look down on other brands just because they are not your cup of tea. People just need to grow up. Period.

Alright, enough of rant. So what are my thoughts on this new M11? Very nice, though 60MP is certainly too much for such camera in my opinion. Will I dip my fingers back to the rangefinder world? Well, someday in the future… maybe. Anyway, the used camera market for M10 is where things get spicy, for those who are shopping around can start shopping around.

Till then.

2022

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Happy new year. It has been two stagnant years on photography front. This year, with borders gradually open up, I will try to look for opportunity to head home and spend some time with family and friends, and hopefully picking up my camera again for some shoots. 

Will I be traveling to other countries for leisure? Not sure, seems unlikely for now but let’s see how the situation unfolds, my priority will always be head back to my home in Malaysia, everything else would be secondary.

Some said you could still shoot in such situations, and yes I agree to it. But maybe it’s just me, I don’t feel like doing so and taking in unnecessary risk, not just for myself but also to others. Hopefully a two years hiatus allows me to restart with fresh mind and eyes, we’ll see.

Otherwise, not much has planned for 2022. I would like to spend more time focusing on my life and career this year, once everything settled down, I’ll then dream bigger in years to come. Till then.

There goes 2021

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Time flies, as always. 2021 is coming to an end, nothing much, nothing special. Just another year flew past under the effect of pandemic. Despite countries are opening up and “vaccinated travel lanes” were in place, I still do not have the urge to travel this year. Perhaps next year, perhaps, when things get a little better, when medication for both prevention and cure caught up. We’ll see, I’m not in a hurry.

Another year without photography. Oh boy, I wonder if I still remember how to use my camera, take a picture and edit them later. Or perhaps this would become the tipping point that makes me drop photography altogether? Who knows, only time will tell. As for life in 2021, nothing much has changed aside from changing a new job. My new role requires some travelling in the future, perhaps that would help me to reignite my passion for photography?

Let’s see how things are going to pan out in 2022. I hope that I can travel back to my home and meet with my family at least. Let’s hope for the best. Till then.

Everything is expensive

When you can’t afford one, everything is expensive. I believe nothing is “expensive” in this world, it is just the perceived value of the item to different individuals. A poor man thinks a Toyota is expensive, a middle class man thinks a Mercedes is expensive, a rich man thinks a Rolls Royce is cheap. 

The same can be said in the world of photography gears. Recently Sony launched the all new A7 IV with RRP of $2,499, and it immediately drew comment on its price tag. Most people would like to see a $2,000 price tag like its predecessor model, so people started to label it as expensive and overpriced.

Considering the improvements Sony brought to the new body, both hardware and software, and the worldwide situation of parts shortage and price hike, I personally don’t think Sony has overcharged on the new camera. Most consumers don’t think like me of course, as I have the experience dealing with manufacturing and costing, so most will not be able to relate.

Many complained on the lack of improvement on photography area, hence the price hike is not justified. Well, if photography is all you care about, the A7 III is still plenty of a still camera today. It’s not like Sony has discontinued older model, there’s a body for each price point for you as long as you don’t tunnel vision to have the latest gear in hand.

Or perhaps even the A7 III is still expensive to you… well then just shoot with the smartphone you are holding in your hand. Start small and grow slowly. Don’t make an excuse to stop practicing and improving your skills by blaming on your gear.

Till then.