Warrior belts side by side

Published on Author Yean Wei Ong
Warrior Meijin and Warrior Silver cotton black belts, June 2022, Perth

In my recent look at the Kataaro deluxe brushed cotton black belt, I mentioned that I had old and new Warrior Silver black belts in hand. The old Warrior Silvers, dating back to almost 20 years ago, represented remarkable value for money; they cost only slightly more than typical belts, but were of far superior… Continue reading Warrior belts side by side

Kataaro deluxe brushed cotton black belt

Published on Author Yean Wei Ong
Kataaro deluxe brushed cotton black belt label, May 2022, Perth

In many Asian martial art systems, particularly those from the easternmost countries, a belt forms part of the uniform worn during training. Often, the colour of the belt denotes the rank the wearer holds within that system, with rank generally reflecting technical proficiency or expertise. The founder of Judo, Jigoro Kano, introduced this practice to… Continue reading Kataaro deluxe brushed cotton black belt

February 2017 action

Published on Author Yean Wei Ong

First Tae Kwon Do held a special grading examination in Perth recently, with one candidate undergoing the test for 1st Dan black belt. Following a rigorous programme of breaking, sparring, patterns, and self-defence techniques, she was promoted by Master Vernon Low. For the photographs above, I shot with my Nikon D700 and Nikkor 70–200 mm f/2.8… Continue reading February 2017 action

Japan with a 50 mm lens

Published on Author Yean Wei Ong

A few months ago, I had the opportunity to travel to Japan. Photographically speaking, it was clear that a mobile telephone camera or other ‘small sensor’ camera would not be desirable, and this left me with essentially choosing between my Nikon D70S and Nikon D700. Although the D70S had probably the more appropriate lens for travel… Continue reading Japan with a 50 mm lens

Choosing Nikon DSLRs

Published on Author Yean Wei Ong

Nikon currently has the second-largest DSLR market share worldwide, after Canon. These two companies are far ahead of the rest of the field, and they have the most complete systems, in this particular market. Below, I describe what I consider to be the current mainstream Nikon DSLRs. There are other Nikon bodies available, such as the D4S (flagship professional body), but… Continue reading Choosing Nikon DSLRs

Choosing Canon DSLRs

Published on Author Yean Wei Ong

Canon currently has the largest DSLR market share worldwide, ahead of Nikon. These two companies are far ahead of the rest of the field, and they have the most complete systems, in this particular market. Below, I describe what I consider to be the current mainstream Canon DSLRs. There are other Canon bodies available, such as the EOS-1D X (flagship… Continue reading Choosing Canon DSLRs

Choosing a DSLR

Published on Author Yean Wei Ong

For low light action photography, having the right equipment is very important—but what is the ‘right’ equipment? Some years ago, my recommendation was that a DSLR and prime lens be the minimum level of equipment used for this kind of shooting. Mirrorless camera technology has advanced significantly since then, but practical functionality (particularly viewfinder and autofocus)… Continue reading Choosing a DSLR

Canon EOS FAQ for beginners

Published on Author Yean Wei Ong

Neil Guy, more widely known as N. K. Guy or NK Guy, maintains a comprehensive set of frequently asked questions and answers for new photographers using the Canon DSLR system. He covers: General questions; Cameras; Lenses; Flashguns; and Filters and other items. Unless you’re a veteran photographer, I’d highly recommend a read through these documents. For those of you who’ve… Continue reading Canon EOS FAQ for beginners

Comparing camera sizes

Published on Author Yean Wei Ong

There’s a handy on-line tool for visually comparing camera sizes at camerasize.com. I’m not certain that the measurements are all correct, though. For example, the thicknesses of the Nikon D70S and Nikon D700 bodies are specified as listed on Nikon’s website—78 mm and 77 mm, respectively—but the visual comparison indicates that the D700 is thicker… Continue reading Comparing camera sizes