My Photo Journey

In 1973, I enrolled into Victoria School at Typwritt Road, Singapore.  My mom insisted that I focus on my studies and disallowed me to join any ECAs, until her friend enlighten her on the goodness and requirement of at least one ECA.  By that time, most of the ECAs have closed their membership drive.  The Victoria School Photographic Society was late in their membership drive, so I joined them.  My uncle used to be a Photo Studio apprentice until he  dropped out and became a Noodle seller, first at the Persiaran Kerlining (Circuit Road) Food Centre and later at a Haig Road Coffeeshop.  He, through his former studio contacts help to acquire this camera.  It uses 12 exposures 120 roll film that take pictures on a 6 centimeter square film base.

In 1975, Mr Miew Kim Mun, teacher in charge of the Victoria School Photographic Society manage to enlist the sponsorship from the distributor of Canon products and they sent in the expert, Mr Tan Lip Seng, to run a certification course for our members.  Mr Tan was able to help us obtain educational discounts for Canon camera and I was fortunate to have gardner the support needed to acquire the above.  The uniqueness of this camera is the Quick Load (QL) mechanism.  In 1975, almost all 35 format cameras requires the careful insertion of the film into the loading spool, in fact many recent film cameras still requires this.  Canon development a QL mechanism that only requires the film to be laid past a marked point, close the film cover and wind the film advance.  In the many years of use, I could not remember if I ever have a mis-load.

I can’t recall when, but this was amongst the first quartz based cameras and I really wanted it, so I trade in my Canon FTb to Cathay Photo, located at People’s Park Complex for it.  With an additional sum i also got a 80-200 mm zoom lens with it.  It served me well, especially the 80-200 mm zoom until the shutter fail.  I took it to a camera repair place down at Kallang, but after multiple visits, the shutter was inconsistent.  And I eventually have to give it up.

This was the replacement I got.  After the former experience with my Canon FTb and the Mamiya, I decided to go back to Canon.  I was never quite a Nikon fan.  This camera served me well into my early thirties and I was doing mostly candid shoots then.  That was when I decided I needed an additional easy to carry about, no fuss camera …

Leica is a brand I could not afford, but when this one came out at a price of about Singapore Dollars $500+, I bought it.  A photographer friend, Mr Ang Kok Ann, help me test it and his verdict … it is as good as his Nikon SLR that he use for his works.  I still own this camera.  There is a little problem with the circuits, so if I leave the battery in the camera, it would drain it flat in about an hour or two.  I sent it for repairs, the distributor told me to buy a new one as the circuit boards are no longer available.  I decided to keep it and now I place a small piece of paper to shield the battery when I am not using it.  When I need to use the camera, I will open the battery cover, flip off the paper, close the cover and use the camera.  I keep this camera for scenery shots, where I could lock the focus on infinity.  The results are stunning for its price.

This would be my first digital camera.  After I saw the results from an EPSON digital camera, i decided to get one.  I bought it off a shop at West Coast and had a really good time using it.  It was fantastic for candid situations.  The cost of the camera paid for itself when I met with a car accident in the expressway.  It was just after a heavy downpour and it was drizzling.  I was on the fast lane and about the pass a prime mover truck.  Just as i was passing its rear wheels, the prime mover skidded into my lane, I slam the brakes but it took out the entire front of my car, just in front of my front door.  This camera was with me and I recorded a good 20 shots of the aftermath.  Eventually, the owner of the prime mover instructed the driver to report that it was I who crash into him causing him to skid.  The process took a while, but the proof of the pudding was all in the photos.  This camera was eventually stolen in Jakarta when I accidentally left it on my table while I went to pick up my breakfast from the buffet table.

This was bought for a trip to JiuZhaiGuo in Chengdu, China.  My friend, Mr Ch’ng Beng Hin, was kind enough to guide my childhood buddy, Mr Patrick Chan Kean Tuck, and me to a China trip.  I was toying with the idea of bringing a digital camera.  At that time, Beng Hin and Patrick are both firm believers of film.  Eventually, I am the only one that brought a digital camera (above) for the trip.  I also brought along my favorite Leica Mini (film).  I came back and printed my first album with my $120 EPSON 3-in-1 printer.  After sharing with each other our albums.  Both of them spent a good amount of money on a digital Nikon (Beng Hin) and Canon (Patrick) system.

I bought this in 2012 after seeing the results of the CZ1680 lens on my friend’s (Daniel Png) camera (Sony A580). I bought the lens without a camera and held it for a good month, till I found a reasonably priced A550 from Clubsnap. When the A77 stocks arrived, I upgraded.

I have not got this camera yet, Leica M, but it would be something I would like to own … someday.