Item : Vintage Camera

This is my limited edition illustration of vintage camera, laser cut on wooden plate. It was from one of my mini project while I was on hiatus from working life. I'm selling them here in my Etsy, apparently someone bought it all just now.You wont get them anywhere else :D unless someone else copied my illustration and made them into a wooden plate as well. If you are interested in buying them in bulk, you can send me an email : azreen_31@hotmail.com , or if you are interested to order and by request from majority, I'll maybe made them specially made for you. So leave your email in the comment below so I can contact you in the future. 

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I love camera, I got my first camera when I was in my high school. That was like 10 years ago, when there is no such thing as digital camera, all in film. I took a lot of pictures, I went to the camera shop to get it processed every couple of months using my own money. That was the hard days, even so, seeing pictures in album from various moments make me happy. *You should see my albums !

I got my first digital camera as a birthday present when I was 17, I went to the matriculation with a digital camera. I took thousands of photo, I was the only one with a camera at that time so imagine that! 

I bought my dSLR Nikon D40 when I was 22, collected my own money, took commission works while I was still studying. I thought I wanted to become a photographer, later I found out that dSLR is just too bulky my my travel and I can't really connect with people while taking photos. I sold the camera to my brother to buy a smaller digital camera. In 2010, I made another research on a decent camera and chose my current Lumix LX3. Phew. Now I am a proud user of LX3 and iPhone 4s. Fairly decent and not regretting any of those choices.

Doodle : Instax Sticker

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Hello,

I made a set of Instax Fujifilm sticker set : the instant camera.

I had this camera for 2 years now, and I'm still using it for special occasion : mini travel / event / for my travelogue. So, I doodled this for myself, and now I'm selling it too !

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PM me thru my facebook to buy this, 

or my etsy.

Thank you ! 

Doodle : Vintage Camera in the Making

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Hello !

I still find machines quite interesting, so this time, after making a consideration on which theme to doodle for sticker : cakes or vintage camera , I chose vintage camera ! I've collected pictures of vintage camera since last year, thinking I might someday want to doodle them. 

I used Photoshop CS4 and 5 year old bamboo tablet. A friend ask me, why I didn't use Illustrator and draw a vector version instead? I think my answer would be, digital painting is the closest I can achieve to my doodle strokes. Vector feels little bit stiff and the artist's touch is missing - that is what I thought. 

Anyhow, it will be available for this upcoming Pipit event.

 ❤

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Review : Lumix LX3

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I've always wanted to share my love for my Lumix LX 3 to people. Cecelia asked to share a review on Lumix LX3 and I guess it's time. *PS : Check out her awesome artworks in her blog, she's one of my inspiration! I've been absent-mindedly telling people around me about how much I love my Lumix. 

After I've been using Nikon D40 for almost 3 years while studying,  I decided to convert to prosumer camera, read my previous post on why I converted to prosumer camera here. I took months to find a  suitable camera, I read reviews and gave a long thoughts before I bought it. I was a student and buying a prosumer camera was something quite big. I never looked back tho.

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Why I love my Lumix LX3?

1. Super easy to use.

One of my problem while using dSLR is the setting. Especially while on an outing activities like weddings, hanging out with friends and family, parties and such. Those precious moments don't usually wait, you can either take out your camera and snap it right away, or you can shout "wait, wait, wait, the settings...", adjust the aperture, shutter speed, ISO, etc. 

Most of the time, people run here and there while taking photos, and you need to readjust it as fast as you can *using auto setting can be considered as cheating - for dSLR user. And if you want to be in the photo and you ask your friend to take it for you, that's another thing to consider.

With Lumix LX3, I put the setting to iA, and I will get the pictures out beautifully. So easy. 

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2. The size & design. 

This camera is a lot smaller and lighter than dSLR. I love the fact that it is easy to bring to places because of the size, I love the texture and retro design, it reminds me of my sister's first camera back when we were young.

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3. Low light condition.

It takes decent pictures in low light conditions. I don't use built-in flash, I don't even understand why it exists, what it usually does is making pictures look worse than normal. So, with Lumix LX3, pictures can be taken in low lights, there are noise - I can't deny that. But it is decent enough for me. 

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4. HD Video 

I am no videographer, but you can make beautiful videos from this little one.
Try check this one out :

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5. Macro! 

What is a camera without the ability to take pictures super close? And as a doodler, I love to take the detailed part of my doodle, so close, up until it focuses on the small tip of my 0.1 artline or the super fine paper's texture. Ahh.. The satisfaction to see those textures. 

I am serious. You can focus down to 1-2 cm close.

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All in all, I love my Lumix LX3, I am not a spokeperson for Panasonic, no. I am just sharing my happiness on buying such a great product with you.

But be informed that LX3 is an old model, it was first out in 2008. The latest Lumix LX version is Lumix LX5. Most probably Lumix LX7 will be out in September 2012 *rumours! 

PS :

Most pictures in this blog were taken by using Lumix LX3, some rectangular instagrammed photos were taken by using my iPhone. 

Why you don't need a dSLR?

Before you buy a dSLR, you should consider these :

Your opinion might be different, but I just wrote this according to my experience only. We can agree to disagree on any matter :)

1. Size & weight.

dSLR is big and bulky. It is definitely not an ideal camera to bring to your friend's wedding or a reunion. You need to bring it everywhere. You can't leave it on the desk, you can't keep on asking your friend to hold it for you while you want to take some food. 

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2. You love to travel.

Travel light, pack everything up in small potions, only bring what's important. Why bringing all 3 lenses and extra batteries and external flash in a huge bag?

Last year when I went to Universal Studios with my siblings, like everybody else, we queued for a ride in one of the roller-coaster. Guess what? No bags or camera were allowed. So, where should we put our bag & camera? The bag's compartment was full. We wanted to take that ride together. The queue lasted 45 minutes. 

Solution : We left it with our aunty whom apparently had to wait outside with her baby. 

Traveling with a tour is a fast-paced activity. So, you better think of something convenient to use. *I high-lighted the word 'tour'. May not be the same as traveling solo or with your friends & family :)

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3. Long learning process

Having a dSLR won't make you a better photographer instantly. If you are really interested in learning the technical process, know about the aperture, shutter speed, composition, lens and any other things professional photographer loves to brag about, then it should be okay.

Because it is a continuous learning process. Your picture might still be the same. As dull as before. Or worse, you photoshopped every piece of your picture taken by your dSLR. What's the point?

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4. The Reason

If you want to snap a good photo of your product, you DON'T actually need to use a dSLR. I frequently come across peoples who are planning to buy a dSLR for their investment in taking their product's picture. You can buy a good compact camera with the same macro, filtering function that is far much easier to use and pain-stakingly as beautiful as dSLR photo. 

If you just want to share your activity. Fast and easy? 

Use a smartphone eg : iPhone 4. Post it on instagram or facebook right after you snap the picture. 

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5. Money

It would be appropriate to plan ahead! dSLR is not a cheap device. With all those accessories eg: lens, filter, memory cards, external flashes, tripod, battery grip, cleaning equipment, this and that. Oh dear.

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Other alternative :

Panasonic Lumix LX5/GF3

*this is a super awesome compact digital camera. You can change the lens if you insist on changing it, but with the lumix adapter. It is super easy to use. It is super small. The video quality is awesome, in HD. Hang it on your neck and it won't bother you. The macro function, oh, just fine. I'm currently using LX3, and I'm not regretting anything since I sold my dSLR d40. Oh, and you should buy GF if you want to spend more!

Olympus PEN E-P1

Sony Nex-3/Nex-5

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Loving high quality point & shoot camera

Pure satisfaction.

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