I am selling the Canon 550EX E-TTL Speedlite flash.  The flash is in working condition.  No misfire. No problem with it.   everything works.   Tiny minor scratches.  Never been drop on the floor.    I mainly use this flash on top camera with my Radiopopper PX system to control the OCF.

Items For Sale:  SOLD
Canon Speedlite 550EX E-TTL Flash : $160 

Paypal only. CONUS shipping is included. If you are interested, please email me at info @ john-lo.com.

I am selling the two Canon 430EX II flash.  They are in mint condition.  I had both of them about two years now.   They are mostly use for Off Camera Flash (OCF) with my Radiopopper PX System. (which I am also selling)

Item For Sale:
2x Canon  430EX II Flash         SOLD

Paypal only. CONUS shipping is included. If you are interested, please email me at info @ john-lo.com for price.

I did blog about the Radiopopper awhile back. You are welcome to read it if you haven’t yet.

http://www.jklimagery.com/2012/01/radiopopper-px-and-jrx-system-radio-trigger/

I am selling the RadioPopper PX system. They are less then two years old. They work great. Never had a misfire. No problem with them at all. I used them with both Canon 580EX II flash as well as with the 430EX II flash.  Normally on camera the Canon 550EX (which I am selling) flash is attached with the PX Transmitter controlling the Off Camera Flash (OCF)

Items For Sale:   (ALL SOLD)
1 PX Transmitter & 1 PX Receiver – $330
1 PX Transmitter & 2 PX Receiver – $490
1 PX Receiver = $170

Paypal only. CONUS shipping is included. If you are interested, please email me at info @ john-lo.com.

I did blog about the Radiopopper awhile back.  You are welcome to read it if you haven’t yet.

http://www.jklimagery.com/2012/01/radiopopper-px-and-jrx-system-radio-trigger/

Thank you.

So what is Windows Media Center?   It is a digital video recorder and media player developed by Microsoft. It is an application that allows you to view and record live television, as well as organize and play music and other format of videos.  I started out using this feature on Windows XP Media Center Edition for many years and fell in love with it.    Now I am running on Windows 7 using the Media Center for all my entertainment.   I read that Windows 8 might no longer includes the Media Center in the OS.  Not sure how true that is.  Also read that they will be included too.  Only time will tell.

John Lo’s Home Theater Experience.

Here’s my hardware setup:
Shuttle XPC SP35P2V2
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 3.0Ghz
Asus EAH4550 Radeon HD 4550 512MB
G.Skill 8GB DDR2 800
LG Blu-Ray /HD DVD Drive
AverMedia AverTV Hybrid Volar Max (USB TV Tuner)
Windows 7 Ultimate x64 bit.
Couple of Hard Drives inside
Panasonic SA-XR25 A/V Receivers  (5.1 sound setup)
Microsoft MCE Remote Control

I also have the Logitech Harmony One remote control.   So with a touch of a button, my PC turns on, my Home Theater receiver turns on, my television turns on and even goes to the correct Video input.

Here’s a few software to make it work for me.
MediaBrower
Media Center Master
Media Center Studio
Various Video & Audio Codec
TotalMedia Theater – to play Blu-Ray disc

What can I do with the Media Center?
Watch Live TV
Record Live TV (scheduled)
Watch video files  (Personal Collections)
Internet TV
Netflex
Hulu+
Watch Blu-Ray disc as well as DVDs.

If you interested to learn more about setting up your own Media Center.  Check out this forum called AV Science Forum.   They have some awesome sticky thread with excellent information from beginner to advance.

My next setup will be a little different.   I might setup a Media Server for all the video files I have.  I might upgrade to a better and much more expensive case.  Add more RAMs of course.  Instead of a LCD television, I’ll buy a Projector.  Upgrade to a more current Receiver with HDMI support.   And I’m sure I’ll come up with more stuff to upgrade.  No idea when this will happen.  I guess when I get a new or bigger apartment.   Now that’s a real Home Theater Experience.

It’s been 8 weeks since my leg injury and looks like the healing is going smoothly.  Still not 100% or even 60% heal yet.  But according to my doctor, he said the healing is looking good.   Right now at the Physical Therapy we are working on getting me off the crutches.  Next week I supposed to be only using one crutch.  Yay!!!   The walking boot still needs to be worn when going out.  But at home I can do without, as long as I am super careful with it.

Here’s a pic of my most recent Xray (two weeks ago).   Snapped a shot of the monitor screen with my iphone.

Almost 10 years ago, while playing basketball with my friends, I broke my Achilles heals.   It was super painful.   Took over three months to be out of crutches, then follow by months of therapy.

Saturday morning, my friends and I decided to take a short drive to Big Boulder so all the kids can have some fun.  Well let me get to the point.  I broke my leg coming down the slope.  I wasn’t even going fast.   I just lost my balance and started to think way too much while I was about to fall.  Before you know it, I heard a snap and I was down in pain.  I need to stay away from those easy green trails.

So what did I break?  I broke my right tibia (the big bone)… its a spiral fracture.   The good part of this injury is I don’t need surgery because its not out of place.   The doctor said it will take at least two to three months to heal.   Currently I am using a walking boot with crutches to get around.  I am also out on disability from my day time job.  I don’t know when i will be able to return back to work.  I am schedule to see my doctor in two weeks, hopefully he can give me the ok to move around and back to work  (of course with the help of the walking with the boot and crutches).  It is very very painful, not to mention the boot is mad heavy too.  So right now just getting around the house isn’t easy at all.

My lesson from all this accident???    I’m too old to be getting hurt….

This injury wasn’t from skiing or from snowboarding.   Its from ski-blade/snow-blade.   The short skis doesn’t pop off when you fall.   That’s why I was thinking so much.    In case you asked, yes that’s a GoPro HD Hero attached onto my helmet.  Sorry I didnt push the record button…  so it’s not on film.  Thank God for that.

I like to thank my wonderful wife Amanda for doing everything around the house.  and I also like to thank my mom for helping us dropping Dylan off to school every morning.   and of course thanks my friends for being around when all this happened.

Canon just made a HUGE announcement.   That’s right, Canon is coming with a new DSLR camera,  Canon 5D Mark III.   From reading the spec, it is gonna be one bad ass amazing DSLR camera.   I’m not in a rush for an upgrade just yet.  Plus the price tag is pretty high.  Which I think it’s a good thing…  keep all you wannabe photographer from getting it. lol

Here’s some of the key features on the Canon 5D Mark III

• 22.3 Megapixel full-frame sensor
• 61-point autofocus
• Up to 6fps continuous shooting
• Native ISO 100-25,600 sensitivity
• Full HD video with manual control
• 14-bit DIGIC 5+ processor
• Enhanced Weather sealing
• 8.11cm (3.2-inch) 1,040,000-dot screen
• HDR mode with presets

You can read more on this amazing camera at dpreview.com

In addition to the announcement of Canon 5D Mark III, they also introduce a new speedlite, Canon 600EX-RT Speedlite and the Canon Speedlite Transmitter ST-E3-RT.  Here’s some of the key features.   I am really interested to learn more what that transmitter ST-E3 can do.

Speedlite 600EX-RT Key features
• Guide number 60 (m, ISO 100, at 200mm)
• Radio triggering with 30m range
• Use up to 15 units together
• Infra-red wireless functionality
• Remote camera triggering
• Bounce-and-swivel head with zoom control
• White-balance correction filters
• Fast, quiet recycling

Speedlite Transmitter ST-E3-RT Key features
• Radio frequency remote flash trigger.
• Fire selected Speedlites from 30m away.
• Controls up to 15 flashguns.
• Remote camera triggering.
• Weather sealed against dust and moisture.

So are you really to order one now??   You can head over to Adorama who is now taking Pre-Order.   Hurry before its out.   So who’s buying me one for my upcoming Birthday  (March 17)?!?!?!

Look what came in the mail over the weekend?!?!!    That’s right!  It’s Jason Groupp’s “The Kick Ass Field Guide of Lighting Scenarios. IHNY Edition“.  He even signed it for me.  I am a little disappointed that he only wrote John and not John Lo.   HAHAHA!

Well it’s time to Kick some Ass with my Canon flashes.    If you haven’t watch his DVD “25 Kick Ass Lighting Scenarios“.   It’s a must and it will go very well with this Field Guide.

So Nikon announced a new DSLR yesterday, the Nikon D800.  WOW!  Holy Cow!  That is one bad ass still and video camera.  Just read some of the key features I listed below and you will know why.   I would LOVE to test this baby out.   So who’s buying it?   Price tag is under $3000.   Make sure you check out the video below.   Freakin AWESOME!!!

Key features include:

•     36.3-megapixel FX-format CMOS sensor
•     91,000-pixel RGB Matrix Metering System
•     Advanced scene recognition system
•     51-point AF system (15 cross-type sensors)
•     Full HD 1080p video, with full manual control and uncompressed HDMI output
•     Shooting in different aspect ratios (e.g., 5:4)
•     In-camera High Dynamic Range (HDR) image capture
•     3.2-inch, 921,000-dot LCD monitor with automatic brightness control
•     HDMI port (8 bit, 4:2:2)
•     Audio output level adjustment (30 steps)
•     High-fidelity audio recording control (levels set and monitored on LCD)
•     Stereo microphone jack
•     4 fps continuous shooting (6 fps in DX mode using the optional battery pack)
•     USB 3.0 support

After years of reading all the talking, complaining and countless rumors, Canon will be releasing a replacement to the Canon 24-70mm f2.8 L lense sometime in April 2012.   We all know the current price tag on the old version at about $1400.   I am hearing that the new version will be MSRP $2300.   That is insane!!!

Here’s some of the new features that I know of.

1) less heavier then the old version
2) filter size increase from 77mm to 82mm
3) fully extended to 70mm
4) NO Image Stabilization.

I personal do not see myself upgrading to the new version.   Mainly because I cant afford it.   I like my old 24-70mm.   Yes its a little on the heavy side.  I just need a reason to eat more and hit the gym.   If they have added the Image Stabilization, I would have consider.   But right now I just do not see myself making the upgrade. Especially not at that price tag. 

In additional to the new 24-70, Canon also announced two new Non-L Prime lenses, the 24mm f2.8 IS and 24mm f2.8 IS.  I always LOVE prime lenses.  Something about them that just make you go WOW.   Unfortunately I cant afford any of the L Prime lenses.  I have always like the 24mm range.  Maybe I might consider this new one.  I am hearing the price tag will be around $850 range.  Canon is claiming 4 stops on Image Stabilization.  That’s impressive if it is true.  I guess time will tell if any of these lenses are worth getting.    I love to hear your opinion.

You can read more from Canon Press Release here.