What is the shutter count of an Olympus Evolt camera?
In case you want to buy 2nd hand piece, you might want to check if the seller has been a machine gunner off-loading a DSLR camera with almost exhaustive shutter count to you. This is a very important risk to consider - together with the price, cost of repair - just-in-case and warranty availability, since each camera model has their max shutter count reliability information. It is like buying a car and seeing the pedometer/odometer. This is one way of measuring how honest the seller is, when he/she said that it is infrequently used, while the shutter count is very high, for a piece he/she declared 1 year old for example.
Olympus E-1 / E-500 DSLR
1) power on
2) open CF door
3) press both "->" & "OK" together.
4) press shutter once, follow by up, dwn, left, right
5) repeat step 4 again..reading on "R" is the shutter counts
Olympus E-3 / E-510 DSLR
1) power on
2) open CF door
3) press both "menu" & "ok" together.
4) press shutter once, follow by up, dwn, left, right
5) repeat step 4 again..reading on "R" is the shutter counts
Note: The steps for E-3 is definitely confirmed as I have one and I have tried it.
Now what is a high shutter count? For a 1 year old camera, if the shutter count is less than 10,000 that is quite low. This is just over 27 pictures per day, or slightly more than once every hour.
If the shutter count is < 50,000 that is pretty high for 1 year old camera.
This is very close to 137 images per day, or about 5-6 images per hour.
If the shutter count is near 100,000 for a one year old camera, that is like the camera took over 270 pictures per day. That is about 11 pictures per hour. It is up to you which number you consider high, but to me for 1 year old camera, 100,000 shutter count is extremely high up there.
A mid range DSLR usually has about 50,000 max shutter count, but it does not mean the camera will break apart after 50,000 shutter count. It just means the is enough wear and tear, and at any time, the shutter (a very important part of DSLR) will fail.
A pro-range DSLR usually has about 150,000 or more max shutter count.
26 July 2008
13 July 2008
Die-Cast Tachikoma: GoodSmileCompany v.s. ArtStorm
I am an avid tachikoma collector and I have collected lots of it.
Recently a new breed has been manufactured, which is die cast tachikoma.
I have been aching to get a die cast version because you can play with them longer and they are more durable than the plastic ones.
So there is two die cast tachikoma so far.
First is the forever delaying release manufacturer, GoodSmileCompany (GSC), which choose Tachikoma from Stand Alone Complex (SAC), the first TV series.
Second is the ArtStorm, which has striked a deal with Fewture to sculpt Tachikoma from Stand Alone Complex 2nd Gig (SAC 2nd Gig), the second TV series.
Not knowing which to choose, I end up buying both. One good thing of ever delaying is that even though I know about it rather late, I still manage to get one piece. For ArtStorm, I can only get the so called Naked Version, which is a silver coloured alternative of the oringally blue coloured Tachikoma.
So how do they stack up?
Note: click on the small picture if you want to see larger picture.
First lets compare the boxes: GSC box is smaller (left).
Front view
Front/Top view
Bottom view (ArtStorm is pretty minimalistic in its approach)
Side and bottom
Enough with the packaging, lets unwrap and see the content.
Tada...
GSC SAC original colour Tachikoma on the left and ArtStorm SAC 2nd Gig "naked colour" Tachikoma on the right. Sorry I forgot to attach the side weapon of GSC tachikoma, fret not, it is in the box.
Lets see more.
Rear view and all the openings. GSC version wins hands down, in terms of revealing internal details, and it comes with Major Motoko Kusanagi, which is articulated!
She reached to her Seburo M-5 handgun
After being persuaded to dismount the tachikoma, she grudgingly stand beside it.
You can see the cockpit, and the steering wheel (not so clear). There is two hole where the legs goes in.
Tachikoma obliged to give a more revealing shot much to the disapproval of Motoko.
You can see on the top, there is the night vision goggle or something like that, or may be that is the visual display which the "pilot" of the tachikoma see outside from tachikoma visual sensors.
ArtStorm only have one opening on top. That is the top hatch where the pilot can pop his/her head out, but not the entire body. So it is not like tank.
GSC tachikoma is much more articulated and both arm can be extended. The claw fingers are fully articulated at the joints as well. ArtStorm tachikoma on the other hand only allow the right one to be extended while the left one can only open the claws, as you can see from the picture below.
These are the remaining extra pieces which comes with GSC Tachikoma. They are so nice , they even throw in those senior citizen decal.
As you can see above, and in previous shots, Makoto figure is articulated despite a small size, and it comes with standard hands, and 2 alternatives (holding Seburo M-5 handgun and Seburo C-26 assault gun).
Other 4 pieces showing prominently are the 4 alternative tachikoma feet (I guess you can call it feet, or paw if you must) with moving wheels. The body comes with the retracted wheel, which is good for display.
ArtStorm on the other hand is pretty un-exciting. No mini figure, and nothing much extra, only the choice of replacing the main weapon between machine gun vs grenade launcher (with cover and safety pin).
Now lets see what ArtStorm give you with this version, by sacrificing so much in terms of interior details... Tada... the battery compartment. You cannot be any more hentai for tachikoma, first it is "naked" and upside down (can be considered as a pansu shot of tachikoma), and here showing an opened hole where you insert 2 AAA batteries.
What does those batteries do? No, it will not vibrate, only red LED lights will turn on when I put the cover and screw it back in. Yes, it is screw in and out to open/close the cover, and there is no switch!
Here it is in almost total darkness (my bedroom with door open)
And here it is in total darkness (my bedroom with door closed - yep I sleep in total darkness, muahahaha). Looks a bit eerie.
But wait... to try to entice buyer more, ArtStorm decide not to tell you with a notice on the box (so you guys who has thrown away the box, curse them and cry) is that at the bottom of the styrofoam, they included a printed cloth banner.
If you want to know how it looks like (sorry I got no photo of the banner, too lazy to do that), you can go to http://artstorm.co.jp/ex_gokin_tachikoma_nakedcolor.htm , and click on the first orange colour link (with text: タチコマの特製手拭い付!!!). It was a javascript popup link where I could not right click and copy the image location or see the html source-code. Seesh, they are overly protective. It is white in colour with dark blue prints, about 1 meter in width (or less) and about 40 cm in height (roughly - I got no measuring tool).
So far I have mentioned many of the goodness of GSC version of tachikoma, but it has one drawbacks. If you notice, GSC tachikoma look shorter (torso height from ground).
In fact, it has same lenght (practically same scale) despite GSC is SAC version and ArtStorm is SAC 2nd GIG version design. If you look more closely, it is a bit droopy. Yep, the joints is more loose, and it is harder to pose than ArtStorm version.
The hatch at the back also has a problem. It is made of plastic instead of die cast like the body and legs. Well ArtStorm version is also made of plastic, but GSC version is initially packed separately which you have to join with the body, and when I tried to separate it back, instead of coming off like it was, it took the connector which was initially at the body with it. It is not a visible problem, but re-packing it could be a problem.
Another problem is personal. I like the design of Tachikoma from SAC 2nd GIG better than SAC, the feet or paw is much better designed and more realistic (as it is looks like it is made of rubber or synthetic rubber) than metal.
So what is the conclusion? GSC is my choice for play. ArtStorm for display.
If you only want to buy one, I say buy the GSC version if you can get a hand on one. Just advance warning: it is damn hard to get.
Good Smile Company webpage for its DieCast Tachikoma
Normal/Original colour version, blue colour SAC Tachikoma
ArtStorm webpage for its DieCast Tachikoma:
Normal/Original colour version, blue colour SAC 2nd GIG Tachikoma
Naked colour version SAC 2nd GIG Tachikoma
I bought both at LaTendo Shop. Unfortunately they have run out of stock as they are only bringing from Japan for their regular customers who has ordered ahead. However do look around, may be you find something you like. :-)
Recently a new breed has been manufactured, which is die cast tachikoma.
I have been aching to get a die cast version because you can play with them longer and they are more durable than the plastic ones.
So there is two die cast tachikoma so far.
First is the forever delaying release manufacturer, GoodSmileCompany (GSC), which choose Tachikoma from Stand Alone Complex (SAC), the first TV series.
Second is the ArtStorm, which has striked a deal with Fewture to sculpt Tachikoma from Stand Alone Complex 2nd Gig (SAC 2nd Gig), the second TV series.
Not knowing which to choose, I end up buying both. One good thing of ever delaying is that even though I know about it rather late, I still manage to get one piece. For ArtStorm, I can only get the so called Naked Version, which is a silver coloured alternative of the oringally blue coloured Tachikoma.
So how do they stack up?
Note: click on the small picture if you want to see larger picture.
First lets compare the boxes: GSC box is smaller (left).
Front view
Front/Top view
Bottom view (ArtStorm is pretty minimalistic in its approach)
Side and bottom
Enough with the packaging, lets unwrap and see the content.
Tada...
GSC SAC original colour Tachikoma on the left and ArtStorm SAC 2nd Gig "naked colour" Tachikoma on the right. Sorry I forgot to attach the side weapon of GSC tachikoma, fret not, it is in the box.
Lets see more.
Rear view and all the openings. GSC version wins hands down, in terms of revealing internal details, and it comes with Major Motoko Kusanagi, which is articulated!
She reached to her Seburo M-5 handgun
After being persuaded to dismount the tachikoma, she grudgingly stand beside it.
You can see the cockpit, and the steering wheel (not so clear). There is two hole where the legs goes in.
Tachikoma obliged to give a more revealing shot much to the disapproval of Motoko.
You can see on the top, there is the night vision goggle or something like that, or may be that is the visual display which the "pilot" of the tachikoma see outside from tachikoma visual sensors.
ArtStorm only have one opening on top. That is the top hatch where the pilot can pop his/her head out, but not the entire body. So it is not like tank.
GSC tachikoma is much more articulated and both arm can be extended. The claw fingers are fully articulated at the joints as well. ArtStorm tachikoma on the other hand only allow the right one to be extended while the left one can only open the claws, as you can see from the picture below.
These are the remaining extra pieces which comes with GSC Tachikoma. They are so nice , they even throw in those senior citizen decal.
As you can see above, and in previous shots, Makoto figure is articulated despite a small size, and it comes with standard hands, and 2 alternatives (holding Seburo M-5 handgun and Seburo C-26 assault gun).
Other 4 pieces showing prominently are the 4 alternative tachikoma feet (I guess you can call it feet, or paw if you must) with moving wheels. The body comes with the retracted wheel, which is good for display.
ArtStorm on the other hand is pretty un-exciting. No mini figure, and nothing much extra, only the choice of replacing the main weapon between machine gun vs grenade launcher (with cover and safety pin).
Now lets see what ArtStorm give you with this version, by sacrificing so much in terms of interior details... Tada... the battery compartment. You cannot be any more hentai for tachikoma, first it is "naked" and upside down (can be considered as a pansu shot of tachikoma), and here showing an opened hole where you insert 2 AAA batteries.
What does those batteries do? No, it will not vibrate, only red LED lights will turn on when I put the cover and screw it back in. Yes, it is screw in and out to open/close the cover, and there is no switch!
Here it is in almost total darkness (my bedroom with door open)
And here it is in total darkness (my bedroom with door closed - yep I sleep in total darkness, muahahaha). Looks a bit eerie.
But wait... to try to entice buyer more, ArtStorm decide not to tell you with a notice on the box (so you guys who has thrown away the box, curse them and cry) is that at the bottom of the styrofoam, they included a printed cloth banner.
If you want to know how it looks like (sorry I got no photo of the banner, too lazy to do that), you can go to http://artstorm.co.jp/ex_gokin_tachikoma_nakedcolor.htm , and click on the first orange colour link (with text: タチコマの特製手拭い付!!!). It was a javascript popup link where I could not right click and copy the image location or see the html source-code. Seesh, they are overly protective. It is white in colour with dark blue prints, about 1 meter in width (or less) and about 40 cm in height (roughly - I got no measuring tool).
So far I have mentioned many of the goodness of GSC version of tachikoma, but it has one drawbacks. If you notice, GSC tachikoma look shorter (torso height from ground).
In fact, it has same lenght (practically same scale) despite GSC is SAC version and ArtStorm is SAC 2nd GIG version design. If you look more closely, it is a bit droopy. Yep, the joints is more loose, and it is harder to pose than ArtStorm version.
The hatch at the back also has a problem. It is made of plastic instead of die cast like the body and legs. Well ArtStorm version is also made of plastic, but GSC version is initially packed separately which you have to join with the body, and when I tried to separate it back, instead of coming off like it was, it took the connector which was initially at the body with it. It is not a visible problem, but re-packing it could be a problem.
Another problem is personal. I like the design of Tachikoma from SAC 2nd GIG better than SAC, the feet or paw is much better designed and more realistic (as it is looks like it is made of rubber or synthetic rubber) than metal.
So what is the conclusion? GSC is my choice for play. ArtStorm for display.
If you only want to buy one, I say buy the GSC version if you can get a hand on one. Just advance warning: it is damn hard to get.
Good Smile Company webpage for its DieCast Tachikoma
Normal/Original colour version, blue colour SAC Tachikoma
ArtStorm webpage for its DieCast Tachikoma:
Normal/Original colour version, blue colour SAC 2nd GIG Tachikoma
Naked colour version SAC 2nd GIG Tachikoma
I bought both at LaTendo Shop. Unfortunately they have run out of stock as they are only bringing from Japan for their regular customers who has ordered ahead. However do look around, may be you find something you like. :-)
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