Tokina 11-16 VS Canon 17-85 lens test

My good buddy Keith lent me his Tokina 11-16mm f2.8 AT-X PRO super wide-angle lens this week to play with. Despite it being a third-party lens, it is a very high quality lens comparable to other top notch UWAs, such as the Canon 10-22mm. The distortion at 11mm is very slight, while at 16mm, distortion is almost non-existent. Sharpness when stopped down 1 stop from f2.8 is very good, and at f8.0, it is incredibly sharp across the frame. The build quality is solid, the zoom ring is smooth, and the lens is quite compact.

But then I started to wonder, just how much better is the Tokina as compared to a standard zoom lens, at wide angle 28mm? So I decided to do a quick, unscientific test between the 11-16 and my Canon 17-85 f4-5.6 IS USM. I'm just investigating the optical quality here, and my test does not take into consideration other factors like price, build quality, weight etc.

So I got my 500D steadied on a tripod and shot 2 frames at 15MP, deliberately ensuring there were high contrast areas in the picture so I could compare chromatic aberration.

I shall let the pictures speak for themselves, and yes you may pixel-peep. Click to enlarge.

11-16 (Resized, with slight crop):

17-85 (Resized):

And now for the 100% crops where the difference is noticable:





The conclusion is simple and clear-cut: if you're shooting at 28mm most of the time, get the Tokina 11-16 over the 17-85. The Canon's chromatic aberration is horribly bad compared to the Tokina. Sharpness wise the difference is less obvious, though the Tokina is much sharper of course.

Microsoft Security Essentials 1.0 thoughts

[Note: I have not installed MSE yet, it is not available in my country. All opinions are based on information online.]

So Microsoft has just launched it's new Microsoft Security Essentials v1.0 software (MSE abbreviated). MSE is basically a free, lightweight and effective anti-virus software that can be installed on XP, Vista and 7 systems which have been validated as genuine copies. Remember that Microsoft used to sell it's OneCare product? Well, MSE replaces OneCare. It is essentially OneCare, minus all the extra PC tune-up and backup stuff, i.e. MSE is just supposed to tackle viruses and spyware. It is built on the same foundation as OneCare.

MSE is a very interesting product, for if it really takes off, it could spell doom for the big-time security companies, namely Symantec (Norton) and McAfee. I mean, think about it: we're talking about a no cost, lightweight, hassle-free security solution which claims to provide very effective security for a worry-free PC experience. Microsoft says it gives the same level of protection as Microsoft's Forefront product for businesses. That's what many consumers want, isn't it? We all like to install our AV, then forget about it and let it take care of itself.

But that's where my worry is. Maybe it's just a human thing, but I do not feel secure when something is this good. When you download an installer that is less than 10MB and when something as important as an AV takes up so little computing resources, I just have that feeling that it's not good enough, that it only offers basic protection and is not as intensive as Norton, with all their complex detection technologies. So I'm not sure if I would trust MSE to protect my PC from all sorts of threats online; I guess only time will tell if MSE can be a replacement for Norton when it comes to solid PC protection. I'm a big fan of Norton Internet Security 09, because their protection is top-notch, and I always feel secure online. But with the simple UI of MSE and little options or settings, I just feel that it is inadequate.

So in conclusion, for the informed IT user who likes to muddle with settings and options, maybe MSE is not for you. I guess MSE is targeted at that ignorant user who knows nuts about anti-virus software but still want to stay secure. Also, it is catered towards developing countries where users do not want to fork out extra buck for security software. But I would assert that there is one last target audience: the netbook users. Yes, because MSE is so feather-light, it is an ideal AV solution on low-powered netbooks. But then again the whole question of 'is it good enough protection' arises. Only time will tell, but with this first release, the situation looks positive. Tests reveal that MSE is indeed quite effective... if I can trust MSE, then I will not renew my Norton subscription when it expires.

Camera setup - shooting rocks

A thought on Christian music

I love praise and worship songs. I love contemporary Christian music. I particularly enjoy Hillsong, United, Planetshakers, Chris Tomlin and other similar bands. My iPod almost contains only Christian music. I don't listen to mainstream english pop/rock songs, or Chinese pop music for that matter.

The point I am trying to make is that as Christians, we should have a greater appetite for the music of God. We should hunger more for these music which glorify God than that which the world promotes. I don't like listening to worldly songs simply because they are meaningless. The songs of the world glorify men, not God. The songs of the world deal with unholy issues, where God is out of the equation. Many times the lyrics used are unwholesome too.

However, listening to Christian music enriches our soul. It allows us to quietly worship God wherever we are, be it during a commute, walking down the street and so forth. Many times the words speak to me and comfort me after a bad day. They provide me an assurance of the greatness and goodness of my God. Such is the power of Christian music. It is a means by which we connect to God, in a personal way.

This being said, I must always stress that listening to Christian music is NEVER a replacement for reading the bible. It should be done in addition to reading God's word. And always remember, we are glorifying God and not that awesome Christian band or singer!

Learning to be like Job

Today's Purpose Driven devotional that I received in my email is extremely relevant to my life now. Allow me to share it with you. (: It talked about Job, and how he lost everything around him in one day - his family, his business, his health, and everything he owned. He called out to God but somehow God seemed a million miles away. God did not respond to Job. In such a situation, it is very easy for a young believer to conclude that God isn't real. But that wasn't what Job did. In fact, Job did not curse God but, on the contrary, worshipped and praised him.

“Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised’” (Job 1:20–21 NIV).

WOW! Isn't that amazing? Job had so deep a faith and trust in God that even the most tragic circumstance could not shake his belief. THIS is what we should learn from. To always give thanks and praise to God even when life is screwed up. Why you may ask? Simply because even though we may not feel God, the truth is that he will never abandon or forsake us! In fact, he is always watching over us, and uses such times of testing to build our faith.

“I go east, but He is not there. I go west, but I cannot find Him. I do not see Him in the north, for He is hidden. I turn to the south, but I cannot find Him. But He knows where I am going” (Job 23:8-10 NLT).

I have to learn to be like Job. Even through tough times, with prelims and art coursework due soon, I must have faith and praise God. It is not easy, but doing so will only strengthen our faith.

Feeling more settled

I feel more settled after talking to Mr Tang yesterday. It's funny how I've gone full circle and finally settled on nature photog. I have to promise myself that I shall not change it anymore and get down to work, fast. I should be on overdrive mode now, making full use of my time. At least I'm doing something that I like, something that I'm confident I can do. Praise God! He hears and answers :)

On a lighter note, I have just discovered a new Christian band that I really like! It is Big Daddy Weave! Love their album entitled 'What Life Would Be Like'. Their style is more contemporary and less praise and worship (think Barlow Girl and Superchick instead of Hillsong and Planetshakers). Simply amazing songs!

What Life Would Be Like - Big Daddy Weave

Quick Canon 500D update

My Canon 500D is about 2 months old. It is my main workhorse. Having used it thus far, here's what I think are the 3 most important upgrades from the 400D, my previous camera.

1) Live view mode
It comes in really handy especially when working on a tripod, where placing your eye at the viewfinder while composing may be cumbersome. I have used it 99% of the time while shooting macro stuff. Also allows for very precise MF if the situation calls for it.

2) Higher ISO
OK truth be told: the 500D is a noiser camera compared to the equivalent Nikons, i.e. the D5000 and D90. However, that said, the high ISO performance on the Canon 500D is decent. Compared to the 400D, I would say it is a one stop noise advantage, with NR turned on. That means a lot when working in low-light. Photos are perfectly usable up to ISO 1600, and ISO 3200 is fine as long as you're not making big prints.

3) Bigger, sharper screen
It is a JOY working with the sharp 920K dot 3" screen. It allows me to check with confidence if a shot is sharp or not. Colours are brilliant and the screen can be very bright at max brightness.

So that concludes what I think are the most significant feature upgrades from the 400D. There are many many many other features which contribute to making the 500D a wonderful camera, but I consider these 3 the most valuable.

What is the best thing that happened in your life?

Have you ever stopped to ponder about this question? Or is life just too busy that you don't have time to reflect?

For me, it's simple and clear: the best thing that has happened in my life is knowing Jesus Christ!

And because it's the best thing ever, I am excited and it is always my goal in this lifetime to share it with others!