My cameras - The Canon years

After my Minolta systems were destroyed in a flash flood, I went for over a year without an SLR camera. Finally in 2006 I decided to go Canon and bought the EOS 50E together with a matching silver EF 24-85 f/3.5-4.5 lens.

EOS 50E with silver EF 24-85

This is a Quartz date model, which means it has the capability ti imprint date, time or numbers on the image.

EOS 5oE with 75-300 IS

Later I added a Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM lens. This is the first Image Stabilizer lens in the world.

PowerShot G5

In 2003 I bought my first digital camera, a Canon PowerShot G5. I choose the Canon because it has the capability to use an external flash. Actually I wanted to buy the EOS 10D but the price was too high at RM 6000 for body only. The G5, at about RM 3000 was not cheap either, but it was my first foray into digital photography and at that time I wasn't sure of how digital is going to be.

EOS 20D with EF-S 10-22

In 2004 I bought my first DSLR, the EOS 20D. Those 2 lenses from the film era, the 24-85 and 75-300, were still usable with the 20D. But the 20D has a 1.6 crop factor, therefore a 24 mm lens has a 38 mm equivalent to 35mm film field of view. Therefore my first new lens for the digital camera was the EF-S 10-22 f/3.5-4.5. It is an excellent lens for its purpose.

EOS 20D with 70-200 2.8L IS

The 73-300 was a bit soft at the higher end (above 200 mm) and I was craving for something better. Therefore I joined the bandwagon for the best telephoto multi-purpose lens, the EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM . Heavy, expensive yet very good quality.

EOS 20D with 24-105 f/4 L

The 24-85 develops some internal fungus, therefore it is time for a new "normal lens. For that I choose the EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM . Another excellent lens from Canon.

EOS 50D with 100mm macro and MR-14EX

Another type of photography that I like to do is macro photography. For this I have the EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM. Lighting is provided by the MR-14EX Macro Ring Lite. I bought both the lens and flash in Taipei because it was slightly cheaper there. However I had problem getting the instruction manual in English; the one that comes with the flash was in Japanese. I finally managed to find a copy online from this site.

EOS 50E with EF-S 18-200 IS

By 2008 the 20D is getting old. While still perfectly usable it is time for a new camera. Therefore I bought an EOS 50D with an EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS "superzoom". With a zoom ratio of over 11X it is a lens that replaced all my other lens, except part of the 10-22. Range-wise, it is an excellent lens. Quality-wise, it is said to be better than most other similar-range lenses. However it wasn't as good as the L-lenses quality.

The 50D / 18-200 combo is now for sale, at RM 5500 (negotiable, of course). Any taker?

Events of 2009

Still 2 months before the end of 2009, but already a very eventful year for me.

I started 2009 as a B734 captain with MAS, as well as an IP (instructor pilot). Then things started to go downhill.

Early this year I wa ready for promotion to a higher fleet. According to the office there will be 2 choices this year; B744 or A330. I didn't want to go to B744 fleet as the fleet is downsizing and will be phased out. Not exactly though; the 2 freighters will still be around. And I don't want to finish off my career flying only freighters. Been there, done that, and it is not exactly what I really want to do.

So I bid for the A330. And got accepted. Good news? Not really, as the day after I got the A330 promotion, news comes out that the 2 B744 classes are being canceled. To be replaced by B777 classes! The coveted triple seven slots, the one I've been waiting for 2 years, and I missed it by days!

Started the A330 ground school in April. The CBT and classes went smoothly. The sim sessions were delayed by about a month. I started the sim sessions by late June, and things started to go downhill. I just cannot adapt the the Airbus way of flying. A few sessions were repeated. By late July I felt I won't be able to finish the course. The fleet office and myself, independently, decided that it is better for me to not continue with the course and go back to my previous fleet instead. Bye bye A330 fleet.

A missed opportunity, sure. But although I was unhappy for not making it to the A330 fleet, the greater regret is that I didn't know that there will be the B777 promotion this year. Compared to the A330, the B777 fleet has better route, better working condition, relatively easier conversion from the B737. And like it or not, more glamor.

Anyway, here I am back on the B734 fleet. For failing a conversion, no fleet movement for the next 2 years. What are my options now? We'll see in 2 years time.