KLicker at Feeka

As mentioned previously, right after a busy week, it was always nice to unwind. This time, the KLickr group congregated at Feeka at Jalan Mesui for a spot of coffee.

It had been a while since we met up. The last meet up must've been during the wedding of one of our members. They were now expecting a baby - that told you how long it had been.

We caught up about old times as well as plan ahead for the activities for the year. But I missed he highlight since I had to leave early. One of our members got out his balloon kit for all of them to enjoy .... minus me.

Daddy Got a Brand New Lens

Yes. I deserved it. I decided to dive in and get the lens I had been waiting for for the last six months - ever since Fuji announced that they were releasing it.

It was the Fujinon 23 f1.4 for my X-Pro1. An X mount lens which on the camera would translate to 35 mm. The length I always wanted. The X100 cane with that as standard, but only recently that Fuji announced the X mount version.

Getting hold of one was a challenge. I had to put in an order and last week, I got the call that it was finally in. Went to pick it up after work yesterday, but still didn't have the chance to put it through its paces. Was hoping to be able to do that this afternoon but my boys wanted to stay indoors.

The lens was heavier than the other two I have - the 17mm f2.0 and 35mm f1.4. It also had two features which I had only found out.

First, it came with a neat and eye-catching flower-shaped hood. Due the size, I could see the hood obstructing my field of view if I peer through the optical viewfinder. Although I could just switch to electronic viewfinder, I still prefer the optical. It was one of the main reasons I upgraded from the X100.

The second feature was the MF-AF mechanism - switching between auto and manual focus. It was built into the focusing ring. You pull it in to activate manual focus, and tug it out to go automatic. It was surprisingly sturdy and reassuring. In fact, the whole lens was well-built.

With the three prime lenses, I got the 24mm, 35mm and 50mm (although closer to 53mm) covered. The f1.4 allows for some proper bokeh although it would be more prominent on the 35mm.

Can't wait to try it out on my next outing .... which may be later tonight ...

The Melaka Trip Slideshow

Write-up on the Melaka visit here.

Morning Walk

As planned, I left the hotel for a morning walk straight after breakfast earlier. Armed with my camera, I walked past Dataran Pahlawan towards A Famosa. Then walked further towards Stadhurst and crossed the bridge into Jonker Street.

The place was still asleep. All the shops and stalls were still closed apart from a handful of cafe doing breakfast. Quiet and ideal for me to explore the architecture.

I should've taken with me a wide angle lens instead of the 50mm equivalent. Most of the photo ops were on buildings and windows. A wider angle would've been better. I went to check on the availability of the lens last week but it was sold out.

On the way back, I climbed up the hill towards A Famosa, snapped a few pics before making my way back to the hotel. The boys were still asleep when I got back into the room. Time for Anita to go down for her breakfast.

More stories from this trip here.

Part 7 Capital Cafe

Some of the group members stopped at Starbucks at Maju Junction. We on the other hand decided to take a slightly more traditional lunch. We stopped at Capital Cafe or Kedai Makan Capital, right opposite Maju Junction.

It came highly recommended by one of my photographer friend, who for the past seven years had turned vegetarian. And he could still remember the taste of the food there.

Capital Cafe had a long and storied past. It had been around since before Merdeka and the building certainly showed its age. The top floor used to be a motel, but that had long been closed. The owner and workers stayed there now.

Not only that the food there as tasty, the restaurant was also rather unique. There were three main tenants at the front entrance. To the left, there was nasi padang, the middle was pasembor and the right was the magical Uncle with his magical wok who cooked a mean mee hailam.

We arrived there just after noon, and we already had to wait for a table. And according to my friend, the frenzy won't stop until 4 pm.

I ordered rojak pasembor. Not the main highlight on the menu I must say. I should have gone for the mee hailam which my friend had. But the company was good, and we chatted away for at least 45 minutes, when the urge to get on for more photograph returned. Onwards!

More about the walk here.