Who needs mirrors ?
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e have always associated high quality photography with expensive, bulky and unwieldy Digital Single-Lens Reflex (DSLR) cameras. No matter how convenient point-and-shoot cameras maybe or how handy and ubiquitous smartphone cameras have become, nothing could beat DSLR photos. With the coming of new mirrorless cameras, however, this no longer holds true. Mirrorless cameras work with the same system as DSLR but by removing the shutter and the viewfinder mirrors, camera companies have managed to produce devices that are small, portable and yet give DSLR-level pictures. Here we look at some cameras that have forgone the use of mirrors and yet provide a quality unmatched by traditional DLSR cameras.
Samsung NX3000
Price Rs 46,920 (body with 16-50 mm lens)
Aesthetically, the Samsung NX3000 looks like a camera from the past. The entire body is covered with plastic resembling polished silver steel, and leather covering like Leica and Kodak cameras of the past. But technologically, there is nothing retro about the device. The camera supports microSD cards and even comes with a modern micro USB charging port. Modern technology like Wi-Fi and NFC make it easier for you to connect it to your smartphone and control the camera remotely. Internally, the camera is equipped with a 20.3 MP APS-C sensor. The camera does suffer during low light, however, and the in-built noise reduction mechanism can further complicate issues. Overall, the NX3000 is a good deal for the price. Night-time shooting is always a hit-or-miss, even with DSLR cameras.
Sony Alpha A6000
Price Rs 67,010 (body with 16-50 mm lens)
Performance-wise, Sony is much better than Samsung. For the extra cash, the A6000 delivers good image quality, build and specifications. The camera is equipped with a higher 24.3 MP sensor that performs well under low-light conditions as well and focus on this device is fast and accurate, with various forms of modern focus like zebra and area focusing. The camera is also great at shooting video and will appeal to filmmakers and videographers alike. The device is well-built and although the long and thick lens adds to the bulk, the features that they offer outweigh the added heft. For the price, the Sony Alpha A6000 is a really good camera.
Sony Alpha A9
Price Rs 490,000 (body only)
If you want the best of the best, look no further than the Sony Alpha A9. At such a price point, the Alpha A9 is not only the best it beats full-fledged DSLR cameras from brands like Canon and Nikon. This camera is equipped with a full-frame 24.2 sensor, which is supported by a BIONZ X image sensor, and the images that this configuration produces is simply awe-inspiring. It comes with all the bells and whistles of a traditional DSLR and surpasses their image quality with a fast auto-focus speed and image stabilization that will ensure that you get the perfect shot in any situation. Further, the camera is great for film and video as well with a blistering 693 auto focus points all across the digital frame and incredibly precise focus tracking. Sony is not playing around with the A9; it’s everything a mirrorless camera can be and more and for such a ridiculous price-point, it better be. It does not disappoint however and it’s one of the best mirrorless cameras you can get.
Royal Enfield Reunion, reloaded
The reunion is one of the most coveted gatherings for Royal Enfield Riders throughout the Asian sub-continent. Much like the first one, the second rendition of the event in Nepal, was also a big success. Even with considerable increase in the number of participants, the basic layout of the two-day event remained the same. Here we recall the same Royal Enfield Reunion held at the Riverside Springs Resort in Kurintar.
On Day One the motif was to unwind with some good food and the banging tunes of The Midnight Riders and Dukpa and Dudes.
On Day Two, participants registered for their desired competitive events for the day.
Assembly Wars
The goal is to remove your front wheel, run across the track, come back, re-assemble the tire and ride across the finish line before anyone else. Each team had four members, who needed to coordinate and used their combined knowledge of the bikes.
Slow Race
A signature event at the RE Reunion, the slow race is contrary to the idea of racing. The primary objective is to be the last person to cross the finish line. Of course, this is easier said than done. Advancing a hefty Royal Enfield motorcycle at a snail’s pace requires complete control of your machine, and a perfect blend of balance, throttle control, and clutch play. It was definitely not for the novice riders.
Carry Your Bike
Brute strength and stamina, along with team coordination, is the key to winning this one. Four participants heave their motorcycle off the ground and run across the finish line before anyone else. If the wheels touch the ground before you cross the finish line, you lose; simple as that.
Figure it Out
In order to win this event, the rider has to complete a complicated course through a track of circles and eights without putting your foot on the floor. Winning this challenge calls for more than control of your motorcycle; you also need presence of mind to take the right track.
Beer Drinking Competition
*Hicc* Down your beer of glass first, and win *hicc* Bottoms up!
Arm Wrestling
Sit across your opponent, and battle it out mano-a-mano. Considering that motorcycling groups aren’t usually weaklings, the show of strength was enthralling. And the women were not shy to participate.
Band Performance
The Midnight Riders started the show with a performance that had the crowd going, and Mukti and Revival brought the house down with one of their legendary performances.
Everything was done without a hitch, and the organizers and marshals did a tremendous job. Shrugging off the label of “biker gangs” has been a long and arduous battle for motorcyclists all over the world. Holding events like these that show the maturity and class of bikers is crucial to creating and maintaining a good reputation. This is surely a step in the right direction.
The sound you love
Sound in today’s digital world is a multi-dimensional entity. Yes, your music needs to be good, but that is not where the role of the sound stops. Sounds are also very important in providing audio cues and adding to the sensory experience of games and movies. Which is why we put emphasis on the quality of our audio devices, and spend money on speakers and headphones that replicate the audio signatures we love. Here we discuss some audio devices that are cheap yet offer great audio experiences in different situations.
Creative T3150 Wireless
Price Rs 7,450
Creative is not new to the audio game; they have been producing some quality audio equipment starting from the early days of computing. Known for their SoundBlaster cards in the past, even today, they produce some really good audio equipment. The Creative T3150 is one such equipment, a 2.1 desktop speaker with a sub-woofer, it sounds great with thumping bass and clear highs and mids. These speakers might not appeal to bass-heads because there is a definite emphasis on audio clarity rather than bass. Regardless, hip-hop and R&B music are represented with a good sustained bass and music, with an emphasis on highs, so that rock and folk don’t get drowned in emphasized lows. The speaker also comes with Bluetooth functionalities built-in, making it easier to connect your portable device with the speaker even when it’s connected to your desktop. These speakers are cheap and sound great, but suffer from one of the lowest maximum volumes I’ve seen in desktop speakers. They’re excellent if the low volume doesn’t bother you, and cheap too.
JBL Clip 2
Price Rs 7,000
One of the cheaper JBL Bluetooth speakers, the JBL Clip 2 does not perform as well as its more expensive counterparts. The Clip 2 is nonetheless one of the most portable speakers and sounds great as well. This speaker offers a clear sound signature with a define emphasis on highs and mids. It can’t move as much sound waves as bigger speakers, which severely hampers the lows, but overall, if you want a speaker with an emphasis on vocals, the Clip 2 is a great option. It’s also a JBL speaker, which means it’s waterproof and robust, making it great to take out with you on your outdoor adventures without having to worry about it too much.
Xiaomi Mi In-Ear Headphones Pro HD
Price Rs 3,500
Xiaomi is by no means a veteran in the audio industry. They have been known to make affordable smartphones but when the Chinese company started making earphones, they did it with such fervor that today the Mi In-Ear Headphones Pro HD perform better than some earphones from veteran companies like JBL, Skullcandy and Sony. These headphones come with dual speakers inside each bud, one for bass and the other for the high. This configuration gives them a sound signature that’s crisp and clear with added thump for the bass. In single speaker earphones, bass-heavy earphones overpower the highs giving them a very one sided sound, but with the configuration of the Mi headphones, this problem has been mitigated. These headphones are some of the best available in the market right now and for the price, they’re a steal.
By: Prajesh SJB Rana
The ‘What is what?’ of automated transmission
Have you ever gone car shopping? You visit one showroom after another and collect brochures. Some call a car an AMT gearbox or a CVT or a fully automatic or even a DSG, but so far as you care, they are all automatic. Well, you’re not exactly wrong, but you are not completely right either. To be clear, any form of clutch-less drive is known as an automatic. But there’s more to an automatic than a missing clutch pedal in your car. Here we break down the most used versions of automatic transmission systems in our country, tailor-made for an everyday driver to understand the “what is what” of automated transmission.
AMT
Automated Manual Transmission, just as the name suggests, automates the manual transmission in your car. AMT consists of a hydraulic actuator system and an electronic control unit, which work in conjunction to simply engage and disengage the clutch while shifting gears. Basically, your AMT car has a clutch, but not a physical clutch pedal that you can see; instead the system is doing the tiring work of pressing the clutch and shifting gears for you.
CVT
Continuously Variable Transmission is a giant leap from the AMT towards a fully automated gearbox because a CVT doesn’t have a clutch at all. The CVT system consists of a single unique gear that can change through a continuous range of effective gear ratios, responding only to the throttle, much like, you guessed it, a scooter. You operate a CVT car the same way you would a normal automatic transmission, although the actual inner workings are much different. CVT relies on a belt and pulley system. Instead of having gears, there are two pulleys connected by a belt. The engine turns one pulley and the other pulley is connected to the rest of the transmission and powers the wheels of the car.
DSG
Direct Shift Gearbox is a dual clutch gearbox that is designed with two electronically controlled clutches. In simple words, it’s two totally independent clutches working in a single box. Using a pair of clutches means that as one clutch disengages a gear, the other one engages the next at the same time, effectively eliminating the time spent in neutral between changing gears. The obvious big advantage of a DSG is its much faster shift time.
AT
Automatic Transmission or fully automatic transmission use gears to match engine speed to road speed. There is a combination of different gear ratios, usually a total of six (but sometimes as many as nine) that are chosen so that the engine can remain in a range to produce the best amount of torque.
It automatically changes gear using a fluid coupling called a torque converter and a series of epicyclic gears engaged by band-clutches within the transmission itself. The gear ratio is changed hydraulically, locking and unlocking the system of gears, and you don’t have to depend on a clutch to change gears in the vehicle. More sophisticated AT transmissions also have different shift programs and can come with paddle shift systems.
Well, there you have it. The next time you go car shopping, take this issue with you. We firmly believe you won’t be as clueless when you see the brochures stating the different gearboxes of the cars you will potentially buy and maybe you might teach even teach a thing or two about the different gearboxes to the salespersons themselves.
