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Photography
Q&A Part 1
By
TV Smith
10th
April 2004
This
week TV SMITH tackles questions on
photography sent in by readers, ranging
from battery endurance to shooting KL’s
skyline.…
Is
a protective filter necessary on my camera?
My brother says it will degrade the quality
of the picture. Is this true?
ANN WONG, Malacca
One should attach a protective
filter to shield the lens from scratches,
dirt, water and other harmful contaminants.
A clear UV filter should do the trick. Replacing
the relatively cheap filter is much cheaper
than replacing the entire lens when damaged.
Provided you keep your filter clean, you
may not notice any degradation unless you
examine the print under a microscope. Which
is more tolerable to you: normally unnoticeable
reduction in picture quality or the risk
of hefty repair bills?
I
was taking some pictures in a shopping mall
when I was stopped by a security guard.
Has he the right to do that?
MOHD SHUKRI, Kuala Lumpur
Yes.
You were on private property and therefore
subject to rules set by the property owners
as a condition of entry. Normally,
if you act like a tourist or don’t
create a commotion, they close an eye. However,
try to avoid taking pictures in front of
jewellers, moneychangers, ATM machines,
or inside a department store.
Where
is a good vantage point to photograph Kuala
Lumpur’s skyline?
AUYONG TC, Kuala Lumpur
From any of the high-rise buildings in the
Ampang area where the Petronas Twin Towers
and the KL Tower can be clearly seen. Beyond
a certain point, haze and some high-tension
cables might get in the way. There is also
a good view of several skyscrapers from
one of the flyovers along Jalan Tun Razak.
 |
| Silhouette
of KL skyline as seen from Jalan Tun
Razak. ISO 50, f4, 1/400sec |
Thanks so much for the “inspiring”
pictures. I’m a senior citizen who recently
rekindled my childhood hobby of photography.
Are there interest groups in the Petaling
Jaya area where I can meet and learn from
others?
RK WRIGHT, Selangor
Thank you for your kind remarks. For
interest groups in your area, you may want
to join the informal Yuan Circle at
http://www24.brinkster.com/yuancircle
or contact the PJ Photographic Society
at http://www.pspj.com.
Also look out for announcements of photography-related
events and activities in this column.
Shouldn’t I buy a camera that uses conventional
disposable AA batteries instead of those expensive
battery packs?
MICHAEL POON, Penang
Disposable batteries are definitely
cheaper in the short run and are easily available.
The downside is that they cannot power the
camera for long periods and changing four
or six batteries frequently in the field can
be tricky, inconvenient and expensive. Feature-rich
digital cameras suck up a lot of juice. As
a result, models that use conventional alkaline
or rechargeable AA batteries are becoming
rare. The dedicated battery packs are far
longer lasting and easier to manage in terms
of charging and storage. Nonetheless, if you
forget to charge your battery or carry a spare,
your camera is rendered useless.
With an AA battery compatible camera, you
can just run to a convenience store or neighbourhood
grocer. Invest in a spare battery if you take
many pictures at one go or travel frequently.
Some models like the new Minolta A2 comes
with a (optional) holder that allows the camera
to be powered from conventional AA batteries
when attached. Many so-called “compatible”
or third party batteries are also available
but are (understandably) not endorsed or recommended
by most camera manufacturers. They sell for
about a third of the original price and, from
my experience, function just as well.
 |
| Running
out of battery unexpectedly may mean
missing a rare picture moment such as
this. ISO 50, f2.2, 1/50sec |
Above
article appeared in the print and online
version of The
Star Weekend 10/04/04.
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