I'm a New Convert

To the Church of Micro 4/3 - Olympus sect!

Olympus OM-D EM-5 with Panny LUMIX G VARIO 7-14mm/F4

I have used my beloved Nikon D200 for over 3 years and we had a really good time together. I always made offerings to the Church of Nikon F-mount but lately I've been brainwashed by compact system missionaries - Micro four thirds.

Nikon D200 with Sigma 15mm EX DG Fisheye

There are pros and cons of both DSLR and μ4/3 systems. 
What I really appreciate in the μ4/3 system is relatively cheaper offerings of the lenses. However, the quality of the lenses is outstanding. Sure, it's very light weight and no mirror shock occurs while shooting.

Now I have "faith" in Olympus OM-D EM-5! This classic film camera-looking silver gadget comes with build-in image stabilization, weather-sealed body, tilting monitor, and 12 art filters.

Note that my first steps into the mirrorless denomination were made with Sigma DP1s two-odd years ago. Now my conversion has been completed!

My beloved wife understands and supports my new religious choice fully. I am a very lucky man. Thank you Mrs T for making this conversion possible! Now you are a Nikon believer (please take good care of the D200), but I am confident that soon you will also see the light, even if yours might turn out to be a Panasonic sect.

F-Mount God bless her.

Mrs T at Hoshinomiya Shrine

This is a Macro Monday entry.

Mizuko Jizo Statues

At Tagesan Fudoson (多気不動尊).

This is a Wordless Wednesday entry.

My New Companion

LED backlight keyboard under the dark

During the editing of the photo for the previous entry on New Year's Day (3 AM), my computer was terminated... When the computer was restarted, the poor guy could not recognize the hard drive. I tried so hard to fix it, however, nothing really worked.

After driving Ms. T to the bus stop, I had my computer with me and took it to the computer doctor. Since I did not foresee any hope, Ms. T placed an order for me for a new computer, Apple MacBook Pro (13 inch). Until the new computer arrived, I had had to use a very old laptop I bought a decade ago. It still works fine but due to the old version of OS10, all I could do was just to browse web sites. But hey, it's still better than nothing since we don't have a TV at home! I could, at least, follow what was happening in the world:)

For these who left a comment, I sincerely apologize for my absence.

The Weirdest Christmas Tree!

Butterfly resting after the eclosion

Since today it was the coldest day so far this winter, we came up with an idea of visiting a green house that provides us with spring-to-early-summer temperatures and heavenly moisture, located within the Igashira Park (井頭公園) complex in Moka city (真岡市). For those who are curious about this park and the city, please go check this article in our Budget Trouble blog (though the article's not yet fixed... Sorry for that).

As you can see photos above, a series of butterflies are waiting for you there. They are beautiful and lovely. When it's sunny, you simply forget that it's Christmas season if you are a resident of the northern hemisphere.

I was so eager to photograph them but I had to wait for 20 minutes or so until the condensation on the lens disappeared... What makes this green house unique is a Christmas tree decorated with a bunch of butterfly pupae! REAL ONES!!! No kidding! They're not socks, LED lights, or plastic toys.

Lots of pupae hanging. ALL REAL!!!

From some butterflies have already emerged and the shells are empty, others are not.

(Left) Pupae decoration   (Right) Overview of the tree

The fee to the green house is 400 JPY (adult). From 9:30 to 16:00.

This is a Macro Monday entry.

The First Macro Of My Own!

You have no idea how desperate I was to have my own macro lens for years. Since I have been a good boy, Santa Claus came to our house a little bit earlier and dropped off a Tamron SP AF 90mm F/2.8 Di Macro 1:1 Nikon F-mount for me.

I attached it to my Nikon D200 and photographed water drops on the CD, which resulted in utterly abstract images!

My new gadget - I'm loving it!

Many thanks to my Santa's helper -  Ms. T!

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah to everyone.

This is a Macro Monday entry.

Finally I Can Fly

Found it while rambling a park.


This is a Macro Monday and Camera Critters entry.

          

Lunch Time

This is my first attempt at capturing an object with a Macro Lens (Manual focus). My wife kindly let me use her Macro lens and DSLR (Sony Alpha 100), as well. That was also my first time to use her camera and therefore I had no clue how to change aperture, ISO, WB, blah blah blah... But hey, I had a lot of fun and now I want to have a Macro lens of my own...

This is a Macro Monday entry.