New Firmware for Nex

Its nice to owe a camera (especially digital) that constantly adds more features by providing a new firmware for it.  My Nex is less than a year and already, it has released the 4th firmware.  Of course, when I bought the camera, it was on version 2.  The latest version added some cool features to it.  First are the picture effects like what the artistic filters we get in Olympus camera.  Pretty nifty,  I especially like the colour removal effect.  Only specific colour in the photo is retained while the rest are converted to Black and White.  Here are some sample shots.

All photos were taken straight out of the camera.  Resized only.  No PS.  Lens used was the 16mm pancake.

The other function which I find it more useful for me is the new peaking function for manual focusing.  The main pain in the arse to shoot with Nex is there is no viewfinder so I need to rely on the LCD screen for focusing.  The magnification is great but sometimes, its hard to see under the bright sunny day.  The peaking function kinds of solve this problem.  Those that are in focus will see a red outline (you can actually set the colour yellow or white but I personally find using red is the best colour) So u get a confirm sharp photo without even magnifying the area you want it to be sharp.  Hard to explain it, you have to use it to appreciate it.  As I normally use M mount lenses on my Nex.  Its a great feature for me. 

For those who bought the Nex 3 or 5 readers.  You can get the firmware over here

NEX-3
Windows:
http://support.sonyeurope.com/dime/downloads/downloads.aspx?f=FW_NEX3_V04_WIN&site=odw_en_GB
MAC OS:
http://support.sonyeurope.com/dime/downloads/downloads.aspx?f=FW_NEX3_V04_MAC&site=odw_en_GB
NEX-5
Windows:
http://support.sonyeurope.com/dime/downloads/downloads.aspx?f=FW_NEX5_V04_WIN&site=odw_en_GB
MAC OS:
http://support.sonyeurope.com/dime/downloads/downloads.aspx?f=FW_NEX5_V04_MAC&site=odw_en_GB

Yes its in Europe but it works :)  Just download, run the program and follow the instructions and you get an updated new camera.

I enjoy teaching.

I simply do. :)  Ever since I started conducting photography courses way back in 2007 for SLCC, I know its a job that I would enjoy and I am a bit regretting why I never went for an education diploma.  Currently, while I'm waiting for my "office" cum shophouse to be completed.  I am giving tuition lessons to some secondary kids in my neighbour and I am enjoying every moment of it.  

I like working with teens rather than kids as they are more keen to learn and the kids here in Thailand are definitely more disciplined then those found in Singapore.  Those who took up tuitions are normally those who are really hunger for knowledge.  Do you believe that its actually the kids themselves who asked for tuition instead of their parents?  

Sometimes I do worry about our next generation of Singaporean kids.  Over here, these kids drive themselves not only for knowledge but understand the importance of education is not only in Science and Maths but in Languages, Litreatures/Arts and Humanities.   Its all about the joy of acquiring knowledge in different forms.  In Singapore, we overemphasises on just getting good grades. We keep training our kids to be efficient in exams while taking away the real joy of learning.   Don't believe me, just ask the Singaporean kids why they study and what they are studying and compare the answers with the Thai kids here :)

Yes, both will say that its for a better "future".  But do they really understand what is a better future? It's because their parents says so or is it they really understand the situation if they did not do well in their grades?