The Canon IXUS 200 IS Digital Camera

Introduction
I’ve always been a massive fan of the Canon IXUS range. I’ve had 2 models before and have recommended the range to other people. Their design is sturdy and the navigation is quite good and consistent so whenever I jump onto another canon, I know how to use it already. 

Design

The IXUS range has always looked very much the same and the IXUS 200 IS is actually no exception despite the one big difference between this model and all the others from the series. It has a touch screen! Why does this not change the basic design of the IXUS. Because the menu buttons that I’ve come to recognize so much with Canon are still here, to the right of the touch screen. Why are these buttons still here when the device has a touch screen? Let me explain.

Touch Screen!

Like the rest of the Camera, the IXUS 200 IS touch screen is quite tough and Canon has done a good job of protecting the screen with layers. I love the iPhone with its touch screen and so it’s very pleasant to get the same feel from the IXUS.

• I can look over the thumb nailed photos on the screen with a flick of my finger.
• When I’m taking a photo I can also use my finger to touch the area on the screen I want to focus on

Controls

I’m discovering that there are features of the IXUS 200 IS that can be manipulated by both the touch screen and the hard controllers and I’m extremely glad Canon took this step. It’s a short learning curve before you start to realize what can be achieved by the screen and controls and I found my intuition kicking in to use a combination of both to achieve what I wanted with ease. I imagine another user of the camera will have their preferred use of controls also.

Another aspect of the controls that I have a great appreciation for is the jog dial that circles the usual items above the menu button. I love using jog dials to make selections, change exposure etc. Just another tool to make using this camera a pleasure.

Features

• 24 mm wide lens. Capture more!
• 12.1 megapixels. This is good
• 8x optical zoom (do yourself a favor, always ignore digital zoom) and pop that hood, there’s a Digic 4 processor in there. Woooo.
• Full High Definition video on the IXUS is fantastic. It’s a bit unfortunate though that its not bundled with a HDMI cable, but this is no big deal, I’m happy to buy the well priced IXUS and decide myself as to whether I need the extras later.
• I’ve already covered the touch screen but let me just mention again how it adds another element of usability to the IXUS range and the size and clarity of the screen itself is great.
• Image stabilizer

Photo Quality

Probably the most important part of the camera, does it actually take good photos? The answer is yes, of course it does. The IXUS range of cameras has always, in my opinion, taken fantastic photos for the purpose they serve. As a compact, easy to use, portable point and shoot. I’ve never downgraded my point and shoot so I can honestly say that the images from this camera are the best of all my point and shoots.

The lens allows me to take in plenty of scene with its wide angle, definitely something that feels like a bit of a luxury after using smaller lenses.

I have a friend who loves to take photos but doesn’t have very steady hands so it was great for him to be able to take good scenic and macro shots with the camera that came out crisp and un blurred thanks to the image stabilization.

Video Quality

What can I say but, WOW! I haven’t had any camera, let alone a compact, with 720p video. For those that don’t know what this means, we are talking very crisp, crystal clear video. This translates to even fantastic quality on large monitors and LCD / Plasma T.V.s – very impressive quality.
 
Ergonomics

With the touch screen and the menu side by side, ergonomics is one area where this latest IXUS suffers. The back of the camera is now completely filled with buttons AND the touch screen so that leaning any digits on the back of the camera is likely to result in pressing something while you’re trying to take a photo. Not something you should be concentrating on. Because of this, there has been a slight backlash about it not having a thumb rest of some sort.

I also found it a bit awkward to grip on the left hand side without covering the flash, another common complaint.
 
Overall

When I first started using Canon IXUS 200 IS I was a little bit iffy about the touch screen. I was actually a little concerned that it would lose the functionality and ease of use I’d come to love from Canons menus and navigation. On the contrary, the touch screen has just added to it’s usability with more flexibility and options for use.

The biggest complaint I would give are its ergonomics. I can get use to it, but it would be nicer if I didn’t have to get used to the build and could just use it like a glove, rather then adapting to its shape in order to not press buttons accidently or cover the flash.

This little point and shoot that shares the same sturdy body as its predecessors packs quite the punch with HD video recording (make sure you have a large SD Card to take advantage of that) and a 24mm wide lens that takes fantastic shots.

I was expecting a camera that would be a nice continuation of the IXUS Canon line but I really feel like I have myself a new camera to be excited about seeing the results it can achieve. I picked mine up for almost $200 off the recommended retail

My rating: 8.0/10
Price: $600 RRP

Din Tai Fung
Shop 11.04, Level 1
World Square Shopping Centre
644 George St,
Sydney NSW 2000
Ph: +61 (0) 2 9264 6010/6012

The moment you get to this restaurant, you’ll be thinking - whoa, that’s a long queue!

The long queue at Din Tai Fung

Before you join the queue, make sure you go right to the front of the concierge table, outside the restaurant, and let the person who’s in charge know the number of people you have and let them know whether you minds sharing a table.

The concierge will then give you a piece of paper and a pen for you to order your food and if  you don’t get the menu with pretty pictures, go ask for one and join the queue.

Order anything that looks like dumplings because that’s what you are there for. The first thing I tick is xiao long bao (Din Tai Fung signature pork dumplings). Get the 8 pieces one as you’ll always endup ordering a second batch :).

After you finish your paper order, hold on to it until your number is called. Just a little warning, if a number before yours is called it does not mean you’re is next. While waiting for your number to be called, you should definitely watch the chefs cook. You can see dumplings being made in a surgical-like manner as everyone is wearing white with a mask on their face.

Once your number is called, enjoy the food as you are about to eat the best dumplings in Australia!

Dumplings making factory

It's a serious business making the best dumpling

A guide provided in the table to eat xiao long bao (dumplings)

fresh ginger in vinegar and soy sauce

Follow the instructional card on how to eat the dumpling as it will help with the mess you may cause and maximise your tasting experience.

The moment the dumplings arrive, I quickly grab one and follow the instruction by dipping the dumpling into the soy vinegar ginger sauce and the put it in my spoon and take a bite. As I bite into the pork filling and dumpling skin, I let the juice, which is trapped inside the dumpling skin, to drip onto my spoon so that I can slurp it up. YUM YUM!

Dipping dumping in sauce

Mai feasting on a dumpling

The best pork dumpling (xiao long bao)

Prawn and Pork Siu Mai

My other favourite dish is the noodle. There’re 2 noodles that I like. The first one is Dan Dan Noodle which you have the option to have it spicy or not. It’s a handmade pull noodle in a soup of sesame seed oil and peanut sauce. Tastes soooooooo good. The second noodle I like is the Taiwanese spicy minced pork noodle as shown below in the picture

Taiwanese Spicy Minced Pork Noodle

Vegetarian Delight - mixed tofu, mushroom and glass noodle

One of my other favourite dish in Din Tai Fung is the chicken soup. This is quality clear broth chicken soup. According to my chinese friend this has medicinal qualities but really tasty. The broth has lovely flavour - combination of long boiled chicken, vegetables and lots of things.

Chicken Soup - Soothing and delicious

If you have room left for dessert, I highly recommend you get one of the ice cream. I’ve tried the black sesame seed ice cream, it has a black sesame seed and sugar powder crunch that compliment the creamy full flavour of sesame seed ice cream. Divine!

Sesame Ice Cream with Sweet Sesame Seeds powder

My best dessert that I never fail to have is the Taro Ice Cream with Taro Bread. The Taro Ice Cream is a little bit too sweet to my liking but it tastes really nice. The Taro Bread on the other hand is lovely. The crispy warm toast thats deep fried is filled with soft dense taro. droool…I would usually eat the ice cream and the taro bread together in bite size pieces!

Taro Ice Cream with Taro Bread

A bag stand which looks like a dirty towel bin or magazine rack is provided when you dine there :)

Ok I’ll admit Din Tai Fung Restaurant isn’t cheap but it’s not too expensive either so it’s kind of an betweeners :). The bill for the above food is roughly $27/person. So not too bad at all. Now you know why people are willing to queue. The queue was long even when I left late evening. Din Tai Fung has to be the best dumpling restaurant.

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR EVERYONE!! May the year of the tiger bring lots of good luck to all :). Also, Happy Valentine’s Day!

Mai celebrates Chinese New Year 2010 in Melbourne

The year of tiger this year comes at the same time as The Saint Valentine’s day. The year of the tiger is associated with braveness, courage, changes/unpredicatable events.

Being an animal lover, I think the tiger is the most amazing animal. The tiger might be a solitary animal, but according to chinese beliefs, tigers also associates itself with toughness, generosity and wealth earned through hard work.

It is believed that the year of the Tiger also means a prosperous year for all chinese zodiacs. So let us all do the hard yards and reap the rewards this year!

It is also a good  time to raise awareness about tiger extinctions.  I encourage everyone to donate and help the plight of these amazing animals.

Melburnians - eagerly await the year of tiger chinese new year parade in Melbourne Chinatown

Melburnians gathered in one of the chinatown carpark to enjoy Chinese New Year celeberation at Melbourne China town

Mai in Rome - a city full of history

I finally ended my Italy trip in Rome. I decided to explore the city more and take more photos since I felt that history is everywhere here

Endless dramatic scenery of Amalfi Coast

Hire a sports car and drive along the 50km of amazing scenery of the Amalfi Coast! No Kidding!

Let my pictures speak for themselves.

More picturesque view

Take a break by stopping by the most expensive town on the coast - Positano. Positano is the most phtographed town due to its colourful houses and moorish flair. I managed to buy another souvenir for myself, it was a pair of positano sandals :).

Capri Island

As I continued my travels on the main island of Italy, It’s time to explore the costal and sea resorts. Still in the region of Southern Italy of Naples, I based myself at a nearby town of Montecassini at Sorrento. From Sorrento, I took a ferry ride before arriving at Capri island.

Capri island is really beautiful. I did not go to the sparkling magical sea cave of Blue Grotto but opted for a stroll and coffee instead. I took a short funicular ride and walked around the Capri island public garden. In this garden, I had one of the best views of Capri which included the mansions amongst the hills owned by famous designers such as Giorgio Armani, Valentino and artist Sophia Lorenz.

On the way back from the public garden, I stopped by the perfume factory to get a couple of pressies for family and close friends.

I decided to go for a coffee and cake just off the main square of Capri island. After this short break, I took a chair lift up to the Anacapri which is the highest point on Capri Island. The view just got better and better. It was amazing.

Mai at Anacapri - the highest point of Capri Island - stunning scenery

After an amazing day at Capri island, I went back to Sorrento to do more shopping - bottles of Limoncellos which is what Sorrento’s famous for before stopping for the famous gelati store there :).

Pompeii - temple with Mt Vesuvius on the background

Pompeii has to be one of my favourite places in Italy. It’s a frozen ancient civilisation. A visit to this archeological site is in my “must do” list.

I was told I could spend months exploring Pompeii. I decided to hire a local guide to take me through the site in a square 2 hour time slot.

Pompeii is located at Naples region off Italy (which is down the south of the main Italy Island). Mt Vesuvius exploded in AD79 without any warning. The civilization did not get a chance to escape the eruption. The whole thing got buried under 6 meters of volcanic ash, frozen and preserved overtime. The excavation of the city is still occurring till this day.

Pompeii was a wealthy resort town. As I explored the archeological site, it had a grandeur temple, a forum, an amphitheatre, wealthy residential homes with marble floors, a bath house,  a road designed for a horse cart, restaurants, water fountain, lead pipes and a brothel. What impressed me the most were the bodies preserved at the exact moment that people were engulfed by the eruptions, their body gestures and facial expression frozen in time.

I ended up buying the souvenir book which has a DVD of before and after the eruption. It has to be the best souvenir I have ever bought.

When you walk out of the archeological site, make sure you buy lemon Granita, it’s one of the best lemon Granita’s you can get :).

The leaning tower of Pisa

Pizza - check
Gelati - check
Colloseum-check
Chianti-check
Leaning Tower of Pisa - check

I have finally made it to the Leaning Tower Of Pisa (Torre Pendente). It’s veering at a very scary angle. In recent years local authorities have tried to stop the leaning to prevent it from collapsing and it seems to be working. I didn’t end up climbing the tower but still enjoyed the view from below immensely:).

Pisa is also the home of Pinocchio.

The famous bridge (built by Medici Family) - full of shops :)

One of my favourite movie is Having Tea with Musollini which depicts the life of a British Expats living in the beautiful city of Florence.

There are so many famous things in Florence:

• Florence is the home of one of the most powerful family in Italy - The Medici Family.
• Florence has beautiful Renaisance architecture - it stamps arts and cultures everywhere :).
• The home of Michelangelo statue of David - marvel and piece of art with precision human anatomy.

Galleria Dell’Accademia (Statue of David)

I started my day very early by joining the queue of people visiting Galleria Dell’Accademia. The main attraction here is to see David. Michelangelo carved the giant figure of David from a single block of marble and completed it when he was just 29 yeas old.

Seeing the statue of David makes me appreciate Michelangelo even more. Michelangelo is such a master and genious, his sculpture of David has the correct human propotion and anatomy and it’s a piece of art.

I have decided to take it easy by exploring Florence (including its Duomo) and shop for anything leather and gold :). I ended up with a pair of leather boots and a handbag as well as a really nice gold bracelet :).

Here are some photos

Fattoria Il Poggio at Tuscany where I had my long lunch under the Tuscan Sun:)

Fattoria Il Poggio
Via S.Piero, 39 Montecarlo - Italy
Ph: +39 0583 22088

Supporting Italy Agriturismo (Agricultural mixed with tourism), I decided to enjoy a long lunch under the Tuscan Sun at one of the Agriturismo Farm House. The Farm House grows its own olives and wines.

Tuscany region is really beautiful and fertile, you can grow anything here.

Farming in Toscana (Tuscany)

Arriving at the farm house, I was given a quick tour around the olive plantation and was educated on the importance of what extra virgin olive oil means. Extra Virgin Olive Oil is where they press the olives for the first time. 

The farmhouse is surrounded by olive trees and vineyards

Walking back to the farm house for lunch

After a little outdoor activity, it’s time for the long lunch feast inside a farm house :).

The first course was antipasti - a very typical Italian way of starting a meal.

A selection of bruschetta (crusty bread), olives, and cold meats

Followed by a Vegetable soup

A bowl of hearty and tasy vegetable soup

The next course is simple flat pasta with minced meat

Flat pasta with mince meat

The last meal is Tuscany speciality - The Beans soup. The Tuscans eat beans soup a day after Christmas as a tradition. You often hear a nickname of bean eaters given to the Tuscans :).

Tuscan Bean Soup

Throughoout the whole meal, I was served another Tuscan region speciality of Chianti wine The grand finale was 3 desserts of ice cream with fruit, a shot of limoncello and an espresso.

Afte a huge lunch, I got a chance to soak up the beautiful surroundings of Tuscanny.

Beautiful Tuscany