Olympus E-PL 7 - Be Creative with Art Filters and Kit Lens

* My OOTD of the day with E-PL7 *

With technology are become more and more convenient, it is not surprise that camera nowdays also preload with a bunch of effect and filter for creative photos shooting purposes. As the matter of fact, Olympus has been offering such filters known as Art Filter since Olympus PEN E-P1 generation.


The Art Filters in Olympus is getting better, improved and also more choices over the years. On this weekend, I brought along Olympus E-PL7 and also kit lens (14-42mm f3.5-5.6 EZ) for outing at shopping mall. I just replicate the gear setup that most people who just buy a new camera because I believe alot beginner who haven'invest on lens will just rely on kit lens and use it on all occasion.

Here are the Art Filters available in Olympus E-PL7. Total of 14!

* Pop Art & Soft Focus *

* Pale & Light Color & Light Tone *

* Grainy Film & Pin Hole *

* Diorama & Cross Process *

* Gentle Sepia & Dramatic Tone *

* Key Line & Water Color *

* Vintage & Partial Color *

Personally this are few of my favourite - Pop Art, Grainy Film, Pin Hole, Diorama, Dramatic Tone, Vintage and Partial Color. The beauty of Olympus Art Filters doesn't stop there! Each of the Art Filters also come with few type choices allowing you to choose which is the best to apply on.

In addition, you can another layer of effect to your Art Filters to stack on top of it. For eg I can have Partial Color + Pin Hole effect!

Here are some Art Filters I used in shopping mall. I gotta admit this is not the best place to test but I just tried to challenged my own creativity. I shot with Art Filters before as well mostly focus on Vintage and Partial Color at this post. Art Filters definitely an awesome tools since it doesn't require the individual to do any post processing (all in camera process!), save time since it instantly process and what's more? you get to preview the effect LIVE right before shoot. Choose your favourite filters, snap and instantly share it via Wi-Fi to your social media!

* Pin Hole *

* Partial Color *

* Partial Color *

* Pop Art *

* Diorama *

* Vintage *

* Grainy Film *

As I mentioned earlier, I tried to replicate user who used Kit Lens on their camera, trying to experience it for myself. I gotta admit I have not been shooting with kit lens quite some time after acquired both Olympus 12mm f2 and also 45mm f1.8. But I do rely alot kit lens since my E-P3 era especially when come to shooting concert (Mind you Olympus hasn't has any reliable fast zoom lens during that time). You can check some of my recent photos using Olympus E-P3 and kits at here, here and here.

Optically, I am not sure is there any improvement on the new EZ kit. But it is worth mention that the new EZ kit lens is smaller than the IIR version (my E-P3 kit) and also maintaining the same filter thread size. In addition, the EZ kit was built in motorized zoom like the Olympus 12-50mm f3.5-6.3 lens. It is great for video recording where it provide a smooth zooming (like zooming it using normal point and shoot). You can also determine the zoom speed inside the camera setting.

* The kit lens with Olympus MCON-P02, a macro converter for my food photography *

Shooting in shopping mall is difficult with kit lens due to limited indoor light and also slow lens (well all kit lens do!). Due to this circumstances, it managed to push myself using higher ISO to shoot. Most of the photos below are shoot in between ISO 800, 1600 and also 6400.

As many people may forgotten, kit lens are actually a very capable lens. It might slow, but it does cover the focal length that most people needed. The sharpness for Olympus 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 EZ is proven not as weak as other Zuiko glasses. In a correct way and also lighting to shoot, the kit lens can be sharp too! Check out Robin post here where he challenge himself shooting with kit lens.

Last but not least a selfie with the camera and also 9mm f8 fish eye BLC. Olympus E-PL 7 is now available in retail price of RM 2,399 and come with 3 colors - White, Black and Silver.

Penang Bridge International Marathon 2014 Diary

* 21KM finisher! *

Hola! I survived another marathon! This probably my first and last marathon for this year haha.. I am getting lazy and lazier to train.. well main reason was lazy, second is no one run with me. Decided to join Penang Bridge Marathon again once Ken said he is joining. We travel to Penang together again this year with addition of Kim Hong & Kok Jing. Ok la not so gay at least. This also marked my first time running 21KM in life!

As usual, when the marathon is at Penang, EAT first RUN later is our objective. We went on Friday evening so that we can has extra day to rest and also extra day to eat without rushing our ass! The first stop for our dinner on Friday was Duck Char Koey Teow at bukit mertajam! Super awesome CKT! Nothing beat this lorrrrrr!!

* Duck CKT RM5 *

I also managed to found a place that have awesome Hokkien Mee (Prawn Mee)! Not sure the shop name but it is located nearby the duck CKT, behind the temple food court look alike. The soup is really something in KL couldn't find.

* Hokkien Mee RM3.50 *

Done our dinner on Friday night, we went to our hotel at Tune to called for the night. On next morning, I had Pasembur at the New World food court that located beside Tune Hotel. Not bad but I think I'll prefer the uncle rojak near my house anytime for the sauce.

* Pasembur RM10 *

Next, another CKT hunt! Went for sister CKt at Jalan Mecalista for the first time (I heard they had bad attitude hence I am avoiding this place). To be honest it is not the best CKT in Penang but it has good wok hei. Something in KL CKT seriously lacked of.

* Sister CKT RM6 *

Not to forget Uncle Goggle CKT again at Lorong Selamat. Waited 45 min for the CKT and as usual, I love the way it spicy! Also the Oyster Egg! Yum yum.

* Oyster Egg RM10 *

* Uncle Goggle CKT RM9 *

Wanted to go for second try on Uncle CKT at Siam Road (The one i had last year seriously lacking of wok hei) but we have been queue for more than 1.5 hours and the queue did not progress much. Since the time is getting near to dinner time, we decided to leave the queue and went to Tian Lai Restaurant instead for Dayumm Burger! Yes they have shifted to this food court instead (thanks god I checked their FB before go there). As usual, awesome pork burger and pork ball!! Kok Jing & Kim Hong who tried for first time also impressed the burger. Literally shouted Dayummmmmmmmmm!

* Thick sauce Chu Cheong Fun RM3.60 *

* Complete Dayumm RM10 *

* Dayumm Meatball RM10 (12 pieces) *

Annddd we are back to hotel again after heavy dinner and carbo loading. Have only about 4 hours to sleep before begin the run on 3am! Guess I am more matured now. Though my first time run 21KM, I did not rant! I did not ask why do I even join the run. Probably in my heart already died for the question and just DO IT spirit embedded in me. Though the result is not satisfying, but I am happy I managed complete the run! a big pat for myself :D

Done our run, we quickly run back to hotel to have quick nap before check out from hotel. After done checked out, we went for lunch around Penang and later on head back to KL. We tried 67 Coffee Mansion that located near Lorong Susu out of curious because we been seeing it too many time when pass by the road.

From some blog review, they served quite awesome pork dishes. Have no chance to tried because we ate Sister CKT again before coming here. Hence, we just had coffee & tea to chill around before back to KL. Ken ordered Carbonara with Bacon for sharing. Taste quite good! Probably I'll be here back again to try their pork when I am coming to Penang again.

Overall, fruitful journey at Penang. Leg was pretty pain on the day itself until Tuesday. Today feel much better except right foot. At least things better than I expected. 21KM! One of the achievement I should be proud in my life LOL

Random joke of the day : Carmen went to told her friend that I ran 21st position in Penang marathon *Facepalm*