Preliminary testing Canon 5D MKIII

So many years ago I wondered why some cameras can be that expensive and heavy. Years went by with entry level DSLR after a no. of compact cameras, I gotta have my first full frame camera Canon 5D MKIII. I find the answer to what I wondered.

On my seaplane flight, I looked at the propeller running so fast. I wanna freeze it. So I had the maximum shutter speed 1/8000 second at F5.6 and got this image (photo 1). I felt a bit horrified with this image - as it looks like an engine problem at 10,000 feet high.

Then in the villa at night, I set it to the auto. Though I set the minimum shutter speed at 1/15 second, the auto setting made it 1/30 (at 24mm), F4 and then ISO10,000. This is a bit different from my other cameras like 550D or X100 or most other cameras that normally it would first go to the minimum shutter speed setting first and then ISO. That means the ISO is in a very good control. As I enlarge the photo, the noise is amazingly low (3-4 times lower than 550D). So putting the ISO in priority can minimize the handshake issue when taking night photo. More to test and more to discover....

Some little things they did, but big in heart, with Niyama Maldives

Photo 1. when in the castaway island, I was given a cell. phone and simply dial the last dialed no. for assistance. Such an secured castaway trip.

Photo 2. Since the trouble happened on the 3rd night, each day or night I was given various little surprise. A nice wooden tray with some pralines and a letter of apology.

Photo 3. Was given a bottle of champaigne but I kindly return it since I don't drink. No need to waste it. They felt very embarrassed and I felt a bit embarrassed but immediately I asked for an orange juice. Some canapes to go with a nice sunset view by the beach side.

Photo 4. Some mocktail prepared in the room as we returned after dinner.

Photo 5/6. At the last night, a surprise of floral bubble bath was prepared. What more can I say? Warm and heartfelt.....

A happy breakfast to start with, at Epicure, Niyama Maldives

Though the resort wasn't full (about 40% occupancy rate due to quite a no. of studios being renovated as they were built quite some years ago), the restaurant still keeps its buffet at a high quality. Fresh fruit juices, nice coffee, fine preserve from Sri Lanka, nice bread (served warmed after you picked them), house made yoghurt and museli/cereal, various hot food and 10 choices of fresh fruits. This simply reminds me of the breakfast of MO BKK (in 2006/07). A happy breakfast marks a new happy day to begin with!

Lunch buffet at Epicure, Cafe of Niyama Maldives

The trip to Maldives has broken my record of having taken almost 3,000 photos. The place is so beautiful that I even forgot introducing some of the meals I took at Niyama. Here is the review. When booking thru' my agent, I got a Half board arranged, which is good enough. As after a full breakfast, I can't eat much at lunch and then later a full dinner meal. Epicure is so thoughtful in having a light salad buffet at just US$20++. They serve sushi and hot sandwiches made to your order. In considering it's a 5 star luxury resort and in Maldives, US$20 is a real bargain. Back to the salad, it has quite a wide variety of veggie as well as tuna, chicken breast and other meats. More than enough to me and taste pretty good.

Journey retrospective: Maldives

Perhaps my family used to live by the sea. I feel so warm and touched whenever I am close to the sea. This place is so "sea". Every day the cloud, the sun, the wave, the fish come by and very different from day to day. Seen a sky without any cloud. Rain through a sunset, and a cloud in its happy solitude. What a wonderful world.....