..MONEY EYES (formerly MOUTH)

UV filters are useful to make your photos in the bright sunlight prettier. Also, you can use UV filters to protect the glass surface of your camera lens from stray projectiles that happen to be flying towards the lens in an incident. You can purchase the cheapest UV lens over at directphoto.com.my for about RM28 (about USD$8).

They are from the reputable HOYA brand of UV filters. There are many other types of UV filters available for sale at the store ranging from the cheapest to the more pricy PRO versions. Whichever you choose to buy, you will know that you have an extra layer of covering to protect your pricey lenses during outdoor shoots. Plus, your photos will have a prettier look to them.

The flash trigger that I use in my photo studio is of a China brand called Dison. You probably have not heard of it unlike PocketWizard from the USA. Neither did I hear of the brand when I first bought it. Since the photo studio lighting retailer included it into my purchase of a 3 kit mono light flash studio, I was more than eager to give the Dison brand a try. It worked like it should when I started using it in my photo studio. Well, at least for the first three weeks. Less than a month of using the flash trigger on a daily basis, the thing died on me.

I was swearing like a mad man for the next few weeks. Yes, I did not immediately take it to the shop although the salesperson told me that I can exchange it with a new replacement because the problem occurred within three months of use. Nonetheless, I finally had it exchanged for a new set. One of the sales men informed me that even with a PocketWizard brand, one might be simply unfortunate to have bought a defective unit. He added that there is usually at least one unit in a box of 100 units that is defective.

The brand for the studio flash lighting is Tianlai ‘Golden Eagle’ JY-180A (China brand). They do look like some high tech medical equipment but they are a photographer’s precision lighting equipment. I believe it is the best buy (cheapest) for a new 200 watt 3 light studio set up anywhere in Malaysia. Replacement light bulb is the purpose built 50 watts Halogen bulb which costs RM10 to RM15 per piece at retail photo shops.

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