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The one glaring weakness of the XZ-1 was the use of a lens cap that immediately fell off the camera when the lens popped out. However, for an extra $20-$24, Olympus will sell you the LC-63A lens cap. It’s a pretty ingenius design, but really should have been included with the camera from the get go. See the photos below.
Here’s a sexier view:
This Thanksgiving, I chose to forgo any air travel and drive down to San Diego to hang with the Mizutas. They had a big Thanksgiving dinner for all the peeps that didn’t go home for the break. We had tons of turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and desserts of every kind. For the rest of the break we did some photography lessons for Marc, hit up Greenflash, went to the zoo, and even did a baby photoshoot for 5 week old Noah. I’ll post some of those photos later.
A friend of mine bought one of these for a trip to Japan. I didn’t think much of it until Amazon dropped the price to $199, probably due to the release of the XZ-2. That made it a really hot deal. There were a lot of pluses…and some minuses that kept me from getting this camera at a normal price. First, let’s start with the good. Its got a 600k dot OLED 3” screen, F1.8-2.5 (2.5 at the long end, woohoo!) 28-112mm lens, fairly compact build, hotshoe, front ring (similar to S95, but not programmable), and shoots RAW. The big minuses: It has a stupid lens cap that will pop off as soon as the lens extends. The battery is only chargeable in the camera with a USB cable. The lens cap issue is fixed with the Olympus LC-63A Auto Lens cap, which is an extra $20. In any case, I have only shot a few test shots with the camera with pretty phenomenal results, but I really need to put it to a real test. Here’s a size comparison to the S95 and G12.
For those of you that don’t know SEMA, its the annual Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association show. This is pretty much the biggest automotive related show in the country and its so big, the only place it can take place is in Las Vegas. I was asked to go and pull the silk off the Veloster Turbo Concept car we built at HATCI this year.
It was great experience meeting John Krafcik, CEO of Hyundai Motor America and having the VP of Corporate and Product Planning, Mike O’Brien announce my name during the Livestream Press Conference.
Here’s my baller Tower Spa Suite in the MGM Grand. Thanks to Mikey, who found a coupon code that got us the upgraded rooms for less than a regular room.
Press Conference preparation.
After the reveal.
Ford and GM Press Conferences.
Global Rally Cross Finale. Ken Block’s car caught on fire.
Dinner at the Public House, Public House Burger and Poutine w/ Oxtail.
Halloween night Hyundai Sponsored RE:MIX LAB Party at 1 OAK in the Mirage.
And of course, what’s SEMA without Booth Babes!?
Halloween time was upon again. Funny how fast time flies. I headed down to San Diego to hang out with the Mizutas and enjoy some Halloween pumkin carving and of course a ridiculous amount of tasty treats.
James had a medical convention in San Diego and thought it would be a good time to fly in early and hang out with me in the OC. Pete was up in SF and flew down so we could all hang out. It has been probably 6-7 years since I had seen those guys. Crazy how time flies. We had a good time eating all the delicious food in the OC and enjoying hanging out in Huntington Beach. Unfortunately the weather was not very SoCal like. We also make a failed attempt to go to an Oktoberfest event…and ended up smoking hookah. Pretty hilarious.
Hookah, beach bunnies, beach cruisers, and a non-Oktoberfest event.
Life seems to have gotten in the way of my blog posting lately. But now I’m finally caught up and ready to post a flurry of adventures. The first week of October is Golden week in China, so my friends Mike and Kim had planned to bug out to avoid all the local tourists. They suggested that Brian (Detroit) and I (O.C.) meet up in Tokyo and go on a Japan adventure. Of course we said yes! Anyway, we started out in Tokyo for a few days and made a few day trip excursions to Yokohama, Harajuku, Tsukiji Fish Market, and Akihabara…as well as enduring a Typhoon to retrieve a hat from a bar. Then we headed to Kyoto for a few days with a side trip to Nara. Then we ended up in Osaka to visit my Cousin Vi and her husband Daniel. It was a pretty epic trip. Good times with my peeps. Definitely have to do it agian soon.
Harajuku…
Aaron and Mitch happened to be in Tokyo on a layover from Korea, so we met up for some food and beer.
We got to Tsukiji Fish market way too late, but still had a chance to walk around and explore.
Then it was off to Ginza for some shopping.
Our attempt to see the Imperial Gardens.
Boss before our trek to Yokohama to see the Baystars!
Tokyu Hands…Tempura and a pet store.
Shibuya.
Shabu Shabu
Mustache ride to Kyoto.
Nijo Castle.
The cast of characters, Brian, Kim, me, and Mike.
Geisha District.
Getting our Temple on.
The Golden Temple, if you couldn’t guess.
Nara, home of the largest Buddha in Japan and free roaming deer.
Osaka – Meeting up with my Cousin Vi and her husband Daniel. 1 Michelin Soba Restaurant and Sake Tour time!
Kobe, Mike and Kim head off back to Osaka for their Anniversary celebration and fly out early the next morning.
Yakitori!
Osaka Castle.
My 6 hour layover in Seattle to visit my parents for Dim Sum.
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