Sony HandyCam HDR-CX130E

Sony HandyCam HDR-CX130E is the first camcorder I have. I bought it yesterday from ClubSnap forum. The standard retail price in Sony Singapore is S$999.00. It is as same as the price that was offered by Sony on the last Comex (with plenty free-gifts, include crappy tripod). So yesterday I was quite lucky got this new HandyCam for only S$550.00 although the free-gits are only an Original Sony HandyCam Bag and a Sony 16GB SDHC Class 4 card.

The features are as follows taken from Sony website:
Take stunning 1920 x 1080 Full HD video with the ultra-compact HDR-CX130E Handycam® camcorder. It features an "Exmor R" CMOS sensor for superior low-light performance, a wide angle Sony G lens, plus 42x extended zoom for getting you closer to the action.

“Exmor R” CMOS Sensor
29.8 mm wide angle Sony G Lens
30x optical zoom (42x extended zoom)
Optical SteadyShot with Active Mode
3.0” Clear Photo LCD
Intelligent Auto mode



Specifications:
HD Video Codec: MPEG4-AVC/H.264
SD Video Codec: MPEG2-PS
Media Storage Type: Memory Stick PRO Duo™ (Mark2) / PRO-HG Duo™ / SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Card
Image Sensor: 1/4" "Exmor R" CMOS Sensor
Image Processor: BIONZ™
Lens / Filter Diameter: Sony G Lens / 37mm
Optical / Digital Zoom: 30x / 350x
Audio Format: Dolby Digital 2ch Stereo, Dolby Digital Stereo Creator
Zoom Mic: Yes
Maximum Still Image Resolution (Photo Mode): 3.3 Mega Pixels (2112 x 1584, 4:3)
Image Stabilisation: Optical SteadyShot (Active mode)
LCD Screen Size & Type: 3.0” Clear Photo LCD Plus (230K dots / Wide 16:9), Touch Panel
x.v.Colour: Yes
Face Detection: Yes
Smile Shutter: Yes
Intelligent Auto: Yes
D-Range Optimiser: Yes
Smooth Slow Rec: Yes
Golf Shot Mode: Yes
Backlight Compensation: Yes (Auto)
Direct Copy: Yes
Quick On: Yes
HDMI Terminal: Yes (Mini)
USB Terminal: Yes (TypeA, mini-AB / USB 2.0 Hi-speed)
Dimensions (W x H x D): 52.5 x 57 x 113.5mm
Mass (w/o Tape, Battery, etc.): Approx. 250g

Links:
Sony Singapore
Sony camcorders [wikipedia]

Vanguard Adaptor 46

Two weeks ago, I bought a new photography bag. Because I fell that my Vanguard Oregon 27 shoulder bag is too heavy and not comfortable to carry at all, I decided to buy a backpack, a medium-size Vanguard Adaptor series, Vanguard Adaptor 46, from TK Foto Technic for S$139.

I put my loyalty to this brand because of the material quality, compactness, and most of all is the price. It is cheaper significantly compared to other brands, like Kata or Lowepro.

So far, after some occasions using this bag, I am really happy with it.


Details:
Adaptor earned its name because it’s one versatile camera daypack that’s uniquely designed to be everything you need and more. Whether you shoot right or left handed, Adaptor delivers with quick-access zippered gear openings on both left and right sides so you can get to shooting in a matter of seconds. It’s a great protector, too, with a roomy, customizable interior and thick padding. Easily convert from backpack style to a sling bag by repositioning one of the shoulder straps and neatly stowing the other in its pocket. Zippered and buckled top compartment for additional gear or other supplies. Additional features include a tripod holder and zippered pockets for small accessories and lens caps.

Features:
* Holds a laptop up to 13"
* Customizable interior
* Easily converts to a sling bag by repositioning one of the shoulder straps and neatly stowing the other
* Zippered and buckled top compartment for additional gear or other supplies
* Padded, breathable fabric on backside



Specifications:
Inside Dimensions(LxWxH mm): 240 x 155 x 260
Outside Dimensions(LxWxH mm): 270 x 230 x 455
Weight(g): 1,000
Inside Dimensions(LxWxH inches): 9 1/2" x 6 1/8" x 10 1/4"
Outside Dimensions(LxWxH inches): 10 5/8" x 9 7/8" x 17 7/8"
Weight(lbs): 2.20
Exterior Fabric: Nylon 420D/Polyester 600D
Interior Fabric: Polyester 150D/Velvet
Capacity: One DSLR with grip and lens attached, 3-4 extra lenses, a flash unit, accessories ( memory cards, cables, battery and charger), plus a laptop up to 13

* specifications & photos are taken from http://www.vanguardworld.sg/

Buffalo LinkStation Pro Duo

I bought a Buffalo LinkStation Pro Duo network storage for S$139 in Comex at Suntec Convention Center yesterday. I combined it with an Western Digital 3.5" Internal HDD 2TB Green Sata3 64MB for $109. It was another "kalap" buy because I don't I really need this stuff since I already have storage (2TB) from A.C.Ryan PlayOn!HD2 which I bought on IT Show last March 2011.


Description:
LinkStation Pro Duo LS-WVL/R1 RAID NAS hard drive array offers instant storage expansion and file access on your home or home office network and over the Internet. Twice as fast as a standard NAS, LS-WVL/R1 features a high-speed, 1.6 GHz processor for maximum transfer speeds up to 72 MBps. Plug it into any network Ethernet port or into the back of your wireless router and access it on any networked computer in your house. While on the go, use Buffalo free WebAccess service for remote access to your files over the Internet from any standard Web browser or download the free WebAccess i apps from the the App Store to access and share files from your iPhone®, iPod touch® and iPad®. Included NovaBACKUP® Professional software for Windows® and Time Machine® support provide a whole home backup solution for every PC and Mac® on your network. LinkStation Pro Duo makes central storage and backup easy.

Features:
* Two Internal Hard Drives with RAID 0 and RAID 1 Support: Easily accessible hard drives automatically duplicate data when configured in RAID 1- if one drive fails, your data is safe on the other
* Shared Storage: Store or back up files from multiple PCs, laptops or Mac computers in one central location
* Free WebAccess and WebAccess i App for iPhone and iPad: Access and share your photos, music, videos or data files with friends, family and colleagues over the Internet with any standard Web browser or on your iPhone or iPad for free
* DLNA Certified™ and iTunes® Servers: Stream content directly to any DLNA compatible media player or use LinkStation Pro Duo as content source from within your iTunes application
* BitTorrent® Client: Download digital content over the Internet directly to your LinkStation Pro Duo
* Time Machine® Compatibility: Use the LinkStation Pro Duo with Time Machine backup
* NovaBACKUP Professional: Includes an easy-to-use, complete backup solution for up to 5 of your home and home office Windows® PCs
* Active Directory Support: Join to an existing Active Directory Domain for Windows user authentication and folder level permissions
* USB 2.0 Port: Attach a printer to the network, add a USB hard drive for additional storage or backup, or connect to a UPS for AC power failure management
* Eco-Minded: The power savings feature regulates the power usage of your LinkStation Pro Duo by shutting the unit down and reducing energy consumption
* TurboPC with Turbo Copy: Enhance the overall performance of your PC
* Network Servers: FTP and print servers included with the firmware
* Direct Copy: Plug in your USB hard drive or camera to quickly offload pictures



Specifications:

Internal Hard Drives
Number of Drives: 2
Drive Interface: SATA 3 Gb/s
Hard Drive Sizes: 2.0 TB, 4.0 TB
Supported RAID levels: 0, 1, Normal

LAN Interface
Standard Compliance: IEEE802.3ab / IEEE802.3 / IEEE802.3u Standard
Data Transfer Rates: 10 / 100 / 1000 Mbps
Connector Type: RJ-45
Number of Ports: 1

USB Interface
Standard Compliance: USB 2.0
Connector Type: A type
Number of Ports: 1
Data Transfer Rates: Max: 480 Mbps

Protocol Support
Networking: TCP/IP
File Sharing: CIFS/SMB, AFP, HTTP/HTTPS, FTP/SFTP
Management: HTTP/HTTPS
Time Synchronization: NTP

Other
Dimensions (WxHxD in.): 8.1x 5.1 x 3.4
Weight (lbs): 5.1
Power Consumption (Watts): Average 26 W, Maximum 48 W, 0.7 W Standby
Power Supply: AC 100-240V 50/60 Hz
Client OS Support: Windows® 7 (32-bit/64-bit), Windows Vista® (32-bit/64-bit), Windows® XP, Windows® 2000, Windows Server® 2003, Windows Server® 2003 R2, Windows Server® 2008, Windows Server® 2008 R2, Mac OS® X 10.4 - 10.7

Links:
Buffalo Tech - Network Storage
Melco Inc. [wikipedia]
Buffalo LinkStation Pro Duo - review

Jays a-JAYS Four earphone

When my family and I had vacation to Jakarta last June, I lost my dear beloved Philips earphone. So in this Comex 2011, I really really wanted to but a new one. Audio-Technica was in the first of my list, but after I tried some other brands, I decided to buy the more expensive earphone from Jays, a Sweden company. Because the only earphone they have which is made for iPhone/iPod is only Jays a-JAYS Four, I took that one for S$106.

Technical Specification:
Driver
Type: 8.6 mm Dynamic Speaker
Sensitivity: 96dB @ 1kHz
Impedance: 16 Ohm @ 1kHz
Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 21 000 Hz

Earphones
Color: Rubber Coated / Metal finish
Isolation: JAYS Sound Isolating Sleeves
Size: (L)18.3 x (W)11.8 x (H)13.8 mm
Weight: 14 grams (0.49 oz)

Cord
Type: TPE coated flat tangle free cable
Length: 115 cm (45 in)
Size: Width 5mm / Thickness 1.2mm
Plug: L-shaped Silver-Plated 3.5 mm Stereo Plug



Link: http://www.jays.se/products/earphones/a-jays-four.html

Buffalo MiniStation Plus 1.0TB

Model Code:
1.0TB HD-PNT1.0U3BR-EU

Capacity:
1 TB

Description:
MiniStation™ Plus offers high performance USB 3.0 portable storage in a compact and lightweight shock proof chassis. With USB 3.0 support and backward compatibility with USB 2.0, it works with any PC or Mac®, providing interface speeds up to 5Gbps.
MiniStation™ Plus occupies minimal space and it’s USB powered so there are no additional cables to manage and no need for a separate power source; simply plug it into any available USB port on your computer and instantly add capacity or store files to take on the road. With available 256-bit AES hardware encryption, you can easily protect your data from unwanted access by simply assigning a password. Store, back up and transport your content with SuperSpeed plug and play connectivity.

Features:
* Compact and Lightweight: Super slim, lightweight chassis saves space for ultimate portability with a stylish, sophisticated design
* USB Powered: Perfect companion for your laptop or netbook - no external power supply needed
* Shock Absorbing Chassis: Shock protection elements help protect the hard drive from accidental bumps and drops
* SuperSpeed USB 3.0 with TurboPC: Enhance the overall performance of your PC and increase file transfer rates up to 3X over USB 2.0 hard drives
* Native USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 compatible: Support for legacy USB 2.0 and SuperSpeed 3.0
* Connect & Go: Preformatted hard drive is ready for immediate use with Windows®
* Hardware Disk Encryption: Optional 256-bit AES Full Disk Encryption (FDE) protects your data from unauthorised access
* Buffalo Tools: A feature-rich software suite of tools designed to boost PC performance and enhance your digital life
* Back Up Your Files: Buffalo’s Backup Utility automatically backs up your Windows PC, protecting your data
* Time Machine® Compatibility: Works perfectly with Time Machine to back up your Mac computer
* eco Manager: Eco minded power management tool regulates power usage, conserving energy and battery consumption

Specifications:
Standard Compliance: USB 3.0 / USB 2.0
Connector Type: Micro-B type
Number of Ports: 1
Interface Speeds: Max. 5Gbps (USB 3.0), Max. 480Mbps (USB 2.0)
Dimensions (WxHxD mm): 82 x 118 x 19 (HD-PNT1.0U3B)
Weight (g): 230 (HD-PNT1.0U3B)
Power Consumption: Max 2.7W
Power Supply: DC 5 V (USB powered)
Client OS Support: Windows® 7 (32-bit/64-bit), Windows Vista® (32-bit/64-bit), Windows® XP, Mac OS® X 10.4 or later**

Links:
Buffalo Technology
Melco Holding Inc.

SanDisk Ultra USB Flash Drive 8GB

In the Comex 2011 at Suntec Convention Center, I bought a new USB drive to replace my almost-seven-year-and-still-work Kingston Data Traveler II 256MB. The SanDisk Ultra USB Flash Drive 8GB is only SGD 15.00. Very cheap.


Below are the specs from SanDisk website:
If you have a need for speed, you'll appreciate the SanDisk Ultra® USB Flash Drive. With its faster transfer speeds of up to 15MB/sec, it's perfect for quickly transferring your photos, videos, music, spreadsheets, and other documents. This USB flash drive also allows you to protect access to your private files with password protection and encryption using the included SanDisk® SecureAccess™ software. You'll also enjoy the added protection of secure online backup (up to 2 GB) offered by SanDisk's online backup partner. All this performance comes packaged in an attractive slider design, so you look good while protecting your files. When you need to take your files with you, you can trust SanDisk®.

Features:

• Speedy - Faster file transfer speeds
• Stylish - Attractive slider design houses your data in style
• Secure - Store your private files in a password-protected and encrypted vault on the USB flash drive
• Added Protection - Secure online backup (up to 2 GB) offered by SanDisk's online backup partner
  
• Assurance - Backed by a five-year limited warranty
  

Links:
SanDisk USB Flash Drive
SanDisk [wikipedia]

Singapore Zoo - Aug'11

Equipment:

• Canon EOS 40D + Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L USM + Hoya HD UV 77mm filter