Oh no not another camera! (Yashica EZ F521 Review)

I have just got my hands on a Yashica EZ F521, touted as the Digital Holga. I am not so sure about the Holga tag, but this tiny digital toy camera does have character. I dig it's retro design, and the fact that it's so very light; if like me, you are used to big Dslrs, you could say, it's almost weightless, which makes it extremely suitable for a carry everywhere camera.

I have dropped it once, when it slipped out of my pocket onto concrete floor, waist height. Nothing's broken, so you know it's more durable than it feels.

It's pretty sharp for what looks like plastic (albeit f2.8) lens. It has no manual controls, the white balance's dodgy, and it has, as far as I know, only one iso setting - 100. Compared to my F31fd compact, this one's a lemon, a Lada, but I am not about to sell it. In fact, I am taking it with me everyday to work, taking pictures. I can't explain why. It just has a quirky charm about it.

Sample Photos:

Color-


B+W -

Tabula

Tuesday night at Walas. We each have a glass of sangria. Tabula is playing the first set without a drummer. We don't mind because they are playing our favorites.

1. High and Dry
2. The Drugs Dont Work
3. Collide mashed with With or Without You mashed with She Will Be Loved mashed with Wont Go Home Without You
4. Two Steps Behind

Now if they'd only play our dedication.

Ramblings.

Persistence above everything marks a good photographer. That is probably the most important thing I have learnt so far from Intermediate Photography at Objectifs. Yian Huang, our trainer recounted to us his experience looking through the contact sheets of Magnum photographers while he was interning with the famed agency. "You will be surprised by how many rubbish shots there were in those sheets." Out of every photograph which made the cut, there must have been 20 that didn't.

Persistent I will be. I have to, given the nature of the subject I have chosen for my photo project. Ordinary Singaporeans are generally camera shy people,what more the denizens of Geylang.

I have been listening a lot to the Manic Street Preachers lately.

Tickets to California in June booked. Whoopee!

Exactly 1 month to DNA 2!

USD at an all time low! 1.39. Double Whoopee!

8 down. 58 more scripts to go.

Post ICT.

Reveling in the feeling of liberation after 2 weeks, 240 hours lost, stuck in Pasir Laba camp. I can't say it was completely awful. I thought it was great that I was able to catch up with some old friends and reminisce on those two shared years of sweat, toil and indignity.

Out-processed at 5pm yesterday and after a short spell at home, I headed out, to the Acid Bar for some live music and drinks. Lulu, the Choys - Kenny and Sandy, pre-'hornymoon', were there early. Jaime and I joined them after some ramen. We missed Gwen, and Nerine had a hot date with Adam. We had some sangria, the music was great, the conversation smash.

This morning, after seeing Nerine off at the terminal three (the lucky girl's flying off to Boston, Business Class on SQ!), we went on an excursion to the CBD. Wendy's at Lau Pa Sat first and after that Thian Hock Keng Temple, located right smack in the centre of the CBD, or if you choose to see it in Dan Brown-ian manner, you might postulate that perhaps, the CBD was built around the temple.


Jaime remarked that it's funny how she's been working in the CBD all this time, and she's probably passed by the temple numerous times, but she has never noticed it much, and it has never occurred to her that it might be an interesting place to visit.

Methinks we should all try to slow down sometimes, pay more attention to the people and things around us, look more intently, because when we are too fixated with the destination, we risk missing out on the best parts of the journey.

The Cove. Not Forgotten.

Save Japan Dolphins Campaign - Ric O'Barry
Earth Island Institute
Electronic Receipt

Lim Weixiang
Blk 123 Paya Lebar Way #10-2911
Singapore, 381123
SGP
wxlimwx@hotmail.com

Thank you, Lim, for choosing the Save Japan Dolphins Campaign at Earth Island Institute for your generous donation.

Your donation amount of $5.00 USD was received on March 6, 2010.

If you have seen the movie, like me you must have been appalled, you must have felt the same anger, the same sadness. I have finally overcome procrastination and made a donation. It's not a lot of money but I did my bit. You can too. Here.