Pophoto - My photography website

http://www.pomingchu.com/

This is the photography website of Po-Ming Chu, called Pophoto.

Nikon D700

The Nikon D700 has been released about half a year now. At this price point (US$2300) it feels almost a steal compared to the Bigger and very similar D3 professional Camera costing double. As far as quality is concerned the D700 is great as a full frame sensor digital camera and for low light photography with its low noise, high ISO, and wide Dynamic Range, with images that cannot be differentiated even upon close up inspection compared to the D3.

When comparing the DX camera the D300, the D700 is still a far better quality camera with regards to image quality and the level of photos you can expect to achieve with a pro-camera, this is after all what you are looking for.

With all the FX lenses available to the D700, you are looking to spend US$4500 total on the three best available FX lenses to date, covering wide-angle, standard and telephoto zoom lenses. Anyone expecting to move to the FX should be expecting this, given that costs is no concern, however, lesser and more inexpensive lenses are also available, especially in today's economic state.

If quality is what you are looking at for someone who's serious at Photography, I'd say the D700 is your pick, and the closest alternative is the Canon 5D Mark II. For the Professionals, I'd doubt they're settle for anything less than the D3 or even the D3x and 1Ds Mark III for Canon. Pros using the D700 as a second body as a lighter backup for images that are almost identical and a camera body that is similarly as tough as the flagship D3.

Christy Bath Towels

For about ten years, I have used my Christy Arcadian Egyptian Cotton Bath Towel. It is still as soft and plush after all these years, maintaining its quality and color all this time. In between, I have bought some other towels and NONE have lived up to this standard. I almost use it everyday, and alternate maybe between a different towel during laundry each week.

This is something I could highly recommend. It is a little bit more expensive, but not so much that it will make someone consider an alternative. This is my personal must have in life. If given the choice, or chance (still begging with the Mrs.) I will have their towels as our only towels!

I don't think they still make the Arcadian range, I am willing to gamble my next towels on them any day!

Lacie Mobile Hard Drive, Design By F.A. Porsche, 5400 RPM,250GB

Wow, another old but stylish and reliable product.

Are these older models better than ones newly released?... I seem to think so. This is the 2nd product that I seem to share similar thoughts about!

In fact these drives have saved my life quite a few times, lets just say there's data that'll rather not lose or need to have backed-up!

Designed by Porsche and sold by Lacie, the combination is indeed a fine one. I have an older 20GB Digital Databank also from Lacie, 160GB and 250GB of this current version pictured. Yes I do need this many hard drives... I am an artist (digital) afterall! :)

The mobile drives by Western digital, although I love their larger internal HDs and MyBook Pro editions, again not the newer ones, I find that their glossy surfaces really scratch too easily and are not as robust as these from Lacie. With Solid State HDs entering the market, these are going really cheap now, and are highly recommended for anyone always on the move or just need convenient backup. They come with USB2, and some with Firewire combined . Whichever suits your fancy, you will soon realise you can't live without them. Best thing about these, you don't need any external power supply, all your power comes from your USB or firwire attachment.

If only laptops were shipped with powered eSATA attachments!

Fuji FinePix F31fd

I just got home after my farewell karaoke dinner in Chinatown London. This was a farewell with my old Loughborough University friends,my current housemates, and of course my best friend here.

So I decided to bring my Fuji FinePix F31fd along. I have to say I was impressed after taking pictures in a small poorly lit room, the photos taken at 1600ISO were superb!

You're probably asking why I am reporting this camera here, when it is not new, unavailable in most places now, and not a highend model. Well it's exactly these reasons that I am reporting this camera, and recommending it. For under 100pounds (Britain), this take pictures better than many more expensive, higher megapixel, better marketed digital cameras. So why are you guys still spending so much for a camera?

The super CCD and the way this camera is so well put together that owners and professional camera review sites have reported so too! I thought I'd post something here that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. Although many good products are expensive, once in while with the right recommendations, you could find yourself lucky too.

Kyocera Ceramic Knives

From the Kyocera website (http://kyoceraadvancedceramics.com/) states the following:

What are ceramic knives made of?

These knives are made of an advanced, high-tech ceramic called zirconium oxide (also called zirconia). Zirconium oxide is extremely hard, wear resistant, and chemically inert. For the technically minded, zirconium oxide has a hardness of 8.2 mohs (vs. steel at 5-6 mohs and diamond at 10 mohs).

I couldn't have put it better myself, as tough as diamonds? Sure, it's close, but as expensive as diamonds, surely not!

Ceramics, during my University days studying Materials, even way back when was considered amazing! From High performance racing car brakes costing thousands of dollars, to our finger nails can be considered to be ceramics. However, it is the heat properties that are amazing, and when combined with other material to make composites, the subatomic structure is redefined making amazing products like this knife for instance, and perhaps one day very soon: lightweight car engines that are efficient and durable and even higher performing... VRrroooom!

Sharp KC-C150U Air Purifier with Humidification

My older brother had bought a Sharp Plasmacluster when he was living in Hong Kong, right after my baby nephew was born. These were really popular at the time especially in medical centers. Since then, I have bought one with one sitting by my side as of right now!

Well its function is to clean the air around you, with a true HEPA filter built in. Bacteria, germs, mold spores, pollen, pet dander, smoke, dust and odors is what this air purifier tackles. I have to admit, either this technology works or I have a strong imagination, as I am a sufferer of hayfever and this does seem to work. The picture above is of their high end model with humidifying functions included.

Oh don't forget to turn it on after a power outtage :P

Mamas Papas

Right, this is a test post to see if it suits this site!

Okay, we're not quite there yet... I'm talking about Babies, but let's just say this is research in advance!

I still remember the time when my younger brother was born, we have an age gap of thirteen years, some just call it a generation gap. He's in College now.

Well either way, I took note during that time of how much push chairs had advanced into like BMXs. A brand that stood out at the time and I hope they still do was indeed the UK brand Mamas Papas (Their roots are apparently from Italy, hence the brand name).

I know what you're thinking, you want to replace your Recaro seats with this huh?

Narumi Bone China

Narumi is a Japanese chinaware company.

http://www.narumi.co.jp/
(Their websites are only available in Japanese)

The tech is in the craftsmanship, okay, okay.... but this is still worth talking about here!

The first time I came across the Bone China from Narumi, was in the Island Shangri-La Hotel in Central, Hong Kong . The exquisite tableware was indeed very fine, a very clean and bold white, with a certain luminance about it. In particular, the ones they used in the hotel had a certain pattern that was more transparent, in the form of a Chinese dragon.

All this was over ten years ago, and to this day, I have rarely found their products outside of Asia. The same plates and bowls can be found in SOGO, Hong Kong, but without the dragon emblem. I am guessing this was exclusive to this prestigious hotel chain.

Panasonic DMP-BD30K 1080p Blu-Ray Disc Player

Panasonic DMP-BD30K 1080p Blu-Ray Disc Player

I know, I know, you're probably thinking I'm a Blu-Ray fan boy... well if you ever owned a Beta-max over VHS, or PS3 over XBox 360, then you're probably right! No, lets put it this way, Blu-Ray as of right now stands a pretty good chance to stay around for a while longer yet, especially over its other competitor!

Why this player?

Well it's not a profile 2.0 player, they're not out yet, but as far as what's out as of right now, this is what I have researched to keep most customers happy about their purchases. It's also a nice design.

Also profile 2.0 are mostly bells and whistle as far as I can tell, which shouldn't keep you from watching future movie releases. If I find this information to be incorrect, I will update this space as fast as you can say profile two point uh-oh!

Samsung LNT4671F LCD HDTV

Samsung LNT4671F 46" 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV

Yeah I know, it's not the latest from Japan, it's not LED or laser.

So why this TV?

It has now reach a great price point in quality HDTVs that I recommend not spending an arm and a leg for one. TVs can and will be replaced regularly in this new tech world of home electronics! So will this TV last, yeah of course. I'm not talking about a defective product should one be unlucky enough to own one, but the specifications are very good for this price. My usual top picks are the Sharp Aquos (good but not good enough), Sony Bravias XBR5s (too expensive).

To summarize the (just right) specifications:

Full 1080p resolution.Auto Motion Plus 120Hz technology.25,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio.

A fast 8ms response time ensures smooth, lifelike motion.

SRS TruSurround XT™ sound from hidden side speakers is enhanced by the premium audio sound of 2.2 channel dome speakers.

3 HDMI ports and a full complement of inputs.

HDMI-CEC feature lets you control all your CEC-enabled peripherals using just one remote.

There is a minor detail to note, the screen itself is of a glossy surface, and this is how I like it. Some may find it a bit reflective depending on room lighting and location like window facing, however, it's sibling models offer almost identical specs without the glossiness. Expect to pay just around US$2100 for this HD baby! (Oops did I mention pricing here)

Miele S4210 Carina Canister Vacuum Cleaner

Miele S4210 Carina Canister Vacuum Cleaner (Melon Yellow)

Yes, this sucks! Powerful, efficient, reliable vacuum cleaner!

No, this isn't a top of the range model, and I happy to not go any further than this, they work great!

What more can you ask for? No, I haven't used a Dyson, but having used this I have no desire to use one, really! Have used Panasonics, Hoovers (which I consider to be the worst)... okay let me take a moment to explain, we have one that is noisy, heavy and just plain inconvenient to handle, like attachment hoses etc. Next I had one smaller compact canister type which after spending what I consider a fair amount of money, just doesn't...err... suck up as well.

Vacuums really need to suck up well to me :)

Seriously, these are expensive machines, but you will have to be very particular to dislike these little suckers! Okay I think I've made my point.

PS. Did I mention this is a quality German product...well it is!

Zojirush Hybrid Water Boiler and Warmer

Zojirushi CV-DSC40 VE Hybrid Water Boiler and Warmer, Stainless Steel.

Says it all doesn't it, a kettle! Well these are particular popular buys in asian homes, since we drink a lot of tea, coffee too! Stores large volume of boiled water at a controlled temperature.

Saves for reboiling on smaller kettles.

There are disadvantanges to these though, and users are aware: Like too heavy to 'lift' dispense, but hey it wasn't meant for that, since there is a snout with a dispense button for that. Also boil times do take a while, since you are boiling a whole sink! However, the pros clearly outweigh the cons.

Zojirushi Rice Cooker

Zojirushi NP-HBC10 5-1/2-Cup Rice Cooker and Warmer with Induction Heating System, Stainless Steel.

Yeah... I eat rice, a lot of rice!

Induction is a fabulous system which doesn't really use any external heat source. Therefore having an extremely high efficiency for cooking! How? Well basically induction is based around Magnetics, whereby the molecules of the pot (iron or some alloy) are agitated and generates the heat almost instantly, hence cutting out any surface transfer and heat loss to surroundings, ingeneuos!

Have been using lesser Zojirushi models and can only sing high praises, wonderful.

Samsonite® Sahora Spinners

Here's a shorter review.

Okay, I actually own one of these. Actually let me rephrase it, I have actually owned four of these all to myself, the first one a Special Edition, which my older brother took. Then I went out to buy another two for myself!

My sister in law went on to buy another one in red to go with my brother.

Then my mum needed one, so I naturally gave her one of mine, and I went out to look for another, only to realise they were nowhere to be found. Luckily for me there is still online shopping. So here I am back to two!

My wife has bought two more not the Sahora, because she couldn't find them at the time she needed them.

Note: these are amazing to carry around "effortlessly," you don't even have to lean them over to drag, just keep it upright and move them along. They are also lightweight; I mean why have your suitcases take up all your luggage allowances.

I have taken these back and forth between the UK, HK, and SF. My absolute favorite.

Scanpan Pots & Pans

All SCANPAN Cookware imports from Denmark are FDA certified and safe to use for food preparation. (from their website http://www.scanpan.com/)

Why this remark at the very top, for all those who are health conscious, my choice in pans are to be non-stick, safe, and reliable! I mean who doesn't really want that.
Anyways, with the non-stick materials coming into media scrutiny, mainly Teflon, I think it should be noted the public awareness becomes heightened, but shouldn't just read things on face value but research and understand what they report in the media.

Okay, now onto the product.

What makes these Scanpan products stand out?
Firstly SCANPAN Classic and SCANPAN PROFESSIONAL are made of pressure cast aluminum and feature our patented ceramic titanium nonstick surface. SCANPAN Fusion 5 is made of 18/10 stainless steel. SCANPAN Fusion CS5 is a copper clad assortment with an 18/10 interior. ( from their website)

So what does this mean?
Their non-stick surface treatment is unique to them and is of very high quality techniques used. Especially good for making cooking pans, no?

Background:

I have used All-Clad (all metal), Analon, Circulon as my main pots and pans. Of all of these the All-Clad have been most reliable, but Analon are the ones I am currently using. Most non-stick do eventually suffer from peeling and surface imperfections occurring even during proper care and normal use but my least favorite I have to say were the Circulons.

What do I expect:
If say this is a fine cooking product, but say over everyday cooking, after a year or so scuffs do develop, it isn't unheard of Scanpan will make a full replacement of your item with their lifetime warranty. Okay don't quote me on this, but lets see in the future what happens. So far I have ordered a Wok and a Saute Pan with lids from their Pro series, these are with metal handles and lids as opposed to Plastic handles and glass lids (I actually prefer to nose in at what I am cooking). So overall, I hope to report the success of this non-stick technology fused with their titanium-ceramic technology, so keep watching this space. Okay you can go already...

Shun Classic Knives from Kershaw

Background:
Okay I grew up in a martial arts background, practiced a little myself, so I have certain amount of understanding... Okay not of kitchen knives, but swords and the like!

I actually grew up using brands like Wusthof and J.A. Henckels, just anything from Germany can be considered of quality from Europe. So what was wrong with those? Nothing, they were perfect! Expensive but perfect. I don't think I ever really found anything wrong with them. They were of course my parents kitchen tools, but I used them just as often enough. So why the Shuns? Well, they offer a unique Asian look, more to the point Japanese, even though I am from a Chinese descent.

The Look:
These Shun blades, okay, these knives look exquisite, not only do you feel a certain presence with them, you feel like you can cut, I mean cook anything with these! No really, the construction of these are similar if not the same as a Japanese sword that they have layered-steel Damascus-look finish. They come in a few varieties, the Ken Onion series, Alton's Angles series and Classic are the main one, there's the usual marketing pro, elite series. Today it's just the classic, because I deem them good enough!

History:
Damascus steel is a hot-forged steel used in Middle-eastern swordmaking from about 1100 to 1700AD. Damascus swords were of legendary sharpness and strength, and were apocryphally claimed to be able to cut through lesser quality European swords and even rock. (From wikipedia)

Ownership:
I will come back to this, since I... err... don't actually own these quite yet! I mean I will but I will let you know how I get on with these... but do continue to read on.

Durability:
Okay, even Damascus or Japanese legendary swords will chip and blunt if you don't treat them with any respect. Of course you want to try a Cleaver out on chicken bone or something like that right away, but like anything, know what you are doing, otherwise it will break all the same. Most fine blades (which knives do consist of) are very very sharp, and when used properly cut, chop, slice like a dream. So when you read forums of certain people complaining about their fine and expensive equipment, imagine elephants wielding lightsabers!

Art is key:
What art? They are PRETTY expensive! Will other product perform as well and cost less, I will say probably! Again I will come back to this, maybe after a month, and a year of using them!

Disclaimer...So soon?

Haha, yes it's a disclaimer, why you may ask?

Why not, but I thought I'd take this opportunity to explain how I will review certain products and how I report about them. For example, do I own this product, for how long, any problems, and why this product. If I dislike a product or change my mind, I will try to give a reason and also offer an alternative. Yes I will try to be constructive!

My first couple of reviews might be used to warm up, but mostly it will consist of a picture and a paragraph until something 'bad' is to report, since these are what I consider to be good products that I'd like to have myself!
Of course this isn't a professional reviewer site, but at the same time I have no ties or loyalties as such. If a product has lasted decades over daily abuse, WOW, indeed my loyalties are there. Again why not.

Also, these are purely my thoughts on a product, I mean who else would they be, I'm the one writing. Likewise, if you follow my recommendation, that was YOUR choice... come on, I try my best!

Pictures: Yes I have pulled them off the internet (mostly from google) and respect their owners wishes. Please let me know if you wish for me to take down a picture, add your name etc. I welcome your contribution.

New Chapter...One!

As most friends who know me, I've spent most of life in the UK and then studied in San Francisco, worked back in the UK, and now I am about to join my wife in SF again! Wow.

Through my life I have been fortunate to be acquainted with most things Europe, experienced things from Asia (Japan, Hong Kong and China). Living my life, I have used many products and with a natural liking towards most things Gadgets and computer hardware, it felt natural to share what I have learnt and experienced when and where I can about the products I know about!

The main reason for this, is that I'm now settling into my new home with my wife, I have had a tough time deciding on everything new. Costs aside, I wanted certain qualities I have been accustomed to and wanted to share. Consider this a sort of gadget nosing around recommendation website, from Po's point of view....

The Essentials and then some more.

Okay let the games begin!