Testing out the Commlite CM-AEF-MFT Lens Adapter on Olympus OM-D EM-1 (Birding)

I have been using the Olympus system in my birding photography for sometime until I find the reach a little too short for my liking and gotten myself the Sigma 150-500mm instead. I used it on my Canon 7D.

Subsequently in my attempt to consolidate my gear, I sold off my Canon system and decided to use the Sigma lens via the mc-11 converter on my Sony a7ii. Then, I find that one of the downside of using crop mode on the Sony is that I lose pixels and the reach isn't much different.

© Edward Chen

So I decided to get the Commlite CM-AEF-MFT lens adapter and try the Sigma lens (and possibly all other Canon EF lenses) on the Olympus system. 

Morning walk at the Setia Alam Wetlands

I thought of going for a short walk at the Setia Alam Wetlands after sending my kids to school early in the morning. But it was already seven o'clock when I was leaving the school, so I decided to do some grocery shopping before I went (since the sun was already rising). 😆

I reached the wetlands slightly before eight o'clock and took photos as I walked around the park. 😊 

All photos are taken with the Olympus OM-D E-M1 with the Kowa Prominar 8.5mm f2.8 MFT manual focus lens.

© Edward Chen Photography

As expected, due to the time of the day, it's not really what I wanted. The sun was too bright and the lighting was harsh. But it wasn't hot, so I just continued my walk around the park.

© Edward Chen Photography

Twilight with Light Painting & Steelwool in Putrajaya. Photos taken at the PSPJ group outing.

I have been away lately, rested while keeping myself occupied to more important tasks related to family and work. Now I am back ! 😁

Just last Sunday I joined the PSPJ photography club for a photo outing near the Seri Wawasan bridge in Putrajaya. While waiting for the participants to arrive, I went to the bridge and took some photos. Many people have taken similar photos here, so why not I take some too? 😊

All photos are taken using the Olympus OM-D E-M1 with the Kowa Prominar 8.5mm UWA manual lens for micro four-thirds except for one or two closeups when I used the Olympus 12-40mm Pro lens.

Live Composite / Live View are used during the steel wool spinning and light painting. I enjoyed seeing the photo being created as the lights started to fill in the frame.

Here are some examples of how Live Composite can be used according to Peter Baumgarten: http://www.creativeislandphoto.com/blog/live-composite-beyond-the-stars

Gary Ayton shows how it works here: http://www.ayton.id.au/wiki/doku.php?id=omd:live_composite

© Edward Chen

Olympus OM-D EM-1 + Olympus 12-40 Pro lens © Edward Chen

2017 Thaipusam at Batu Caves, Kuala Lumpur

Drawn by the contrasting colours and interesting rituals performed during Thaipusam, I have been visiting the Hindu Temples during this celebrated day almost every year.

As the temple is usually crowded and traffic is heavy, it's sometimes best to take the train from the nearest KTM Kommuter station to Batu Caves.

I took the 630AM train with a friend of mine, Gilbert, at the Subang Jaya station and reached Batu Caves after nearly 2 hours. (Yes, it's quite a long ride.)

I was using the Olympus OM-D E-M1 camera attached with the Olympus 12-40mm f2.8 Pro lens, and also brought along the Olympus 45mm f1.8 lens as well as the Olympus 75mm f1.8 lens in my pouch. 😃

Here are the photos taken...

A Bug's Life, Macro Photography During the 2017 Chinese New Year Holiday

Chinese New Year is a time when I usually travel back to my hometown Ipoh to visit my friends and relatives. If it's possible, I would see if there is time for photography as well. For the past years, aside from family portraiture, I have taken photos like street photography, landscapes, and also architecture. This year, macro photography came into my mind.

So, I contacted my friend, Markus Kam, a macro sifu based in Ipoh, and met up with him (and another friend, Ms Lim) on the third day of Chinese New Year for some snapshots at a nearby forest reserve.

Armed with my macro kit comprising of the Olympus OM-D E-M1, the Olympus 60mm macro lens the Olympus FL-600R with a Gamilight softbox attached, I went into an area adjacent to the forest reserve at Kledang Saiong, Ipoh.

It's not my first visit there as I am still recovering from mosquitoe bites from my previous visits just a few weeks ago. 😢 Those little mosquitoes are really poisonous! 😓

The Gamilight softbox isn't intended for macro photography, but I do not have a dedicated diffuser like the Canon and Nikon photographers since there isn't any commercially built for the Olympus FL-600R flash. One choice is to buy and use a new macro lens on either my Canon 7D or Nikon D800E. Then I can get a proper one (diffuser) from Markus since he builds and sells them.

Anyway, here are some of the findings.

Gotten myself a new Olympus OM-D E-M1 !

Yes. As updated in my post : Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark ii Announced & My Initial Thoughts, I have gotten myself a new Olympus OM-D E-M1 camera, together with its kitlens, the Olympus 12-40 f/2.8 Pro lens.

I've gotten one since Olympus Malaysia extended its promotional offer for the E-M1. It came with 2 years warranty, and a free Olympus 45mm f1.8 lens.