Category Archives: Product Reviews

I think therefore I buy. Verdict and justification of my purchase

Product Reviews

Canon 450D

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Canon 450D

I have been resisting the temptation to get a DSLR camera for a long time. Finally I gave up and bought a DSLR camera, Canon 450D. I used to have a film SLR camera when I was in high school, so I am not new to photography. I just have too many other hobbies such that I could not afford to spent any time or money in picking up photography. Well, the camera is not for myself, it’s for my wife. She lost her pocket camera and she want to get a DSLR like her friends, so I buy her a Canon 450D for her birthday present. I compare quite a few of entry level DSLR cameras. I rule out brands other than Canon and Nikon at once. For DSLR camera, there are the top two brands with most support in term of lens and accessories. Then I narrow it down to the choice of Canon 450D and Nikon 90D, since I don’t want to get last year’s model. In the end, Canon is cheaper than Nikon, so I go for the Canon.

I just take a few test shots using the camera. It is quite light. The body is not too big. It fits my wife’s small hand better than the more professional models with bigger body. The kit len is pretty decent. It is a 18-55mm zoom len with image stabilizer. The only complain is the aperture is not big enough, only F3.5. I haven’t take serious photos for many years, so I have forgot most of my photography skills. So I also bought a book on how to become a good photographers using 450D in 7 days. It has lots of illustration on how to use the camera. I guess the only way to become a good photographer is to practice more.

Since the camera is for my wife, I bought her a nice purple camera bag, which is her favorite color. Somehow she think the camera bag is blue, although it says the bag is purple in the tag. I can’t really tell whether the bag is purple or blue, it’s kinda in between. But if the tag says it’s purple, it must be purple.

Product Reviews

Liger belt

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Liger belt

I have been wearing the same belt for 13 years.  I bought the belt in the university bookstore in my first year.  It has made of leather and has a small university logo at the end.  Over all these years, the belt witness my growth in waist size.  I am slowly moving from one the belt hole to another closer to the end.  The belt is surprisingly durable and still survive as one piece under my daily abuse.   Although it is pretty much out of shape, the lining in many places are coming out and the leather surface lost of its texture.  The belt is way past its life cycle but I don’t want to throw it away because a belt is very personal item like your wallet.  I use the same belt everyday and I don’t know what belt should I get as replacement, so I keep just using it.  Finally I made up my mind and buy myself a new belt.

My new belt is a Liger belt made by Maxpedition.  It is literally the king of all belts.  It is the strongest belt you can ever found.  The belt can take over 2000 lbs of tensile strength and 300 lbs of hole pull strength.  The belt is made of composite fiber material that looks like leather.  The bucket belt including the hook is cast in one piece using aircraft aluminum.  The belt is so strong that it will never get out of shape and yet it is still flexible enough to wear comfortably.  Cleaning the belt is very easy since the material is abrasion resistant, you can just rinse it in soap and water and let it dry.  It is a perfect match for my 511 tactical pants.  The belt is so low profile that I think it may even goes well with a suit.

If I change my belt every 13 years, the next time I will buy a new belt will be in 2021.  I have confidence in my Liger belt can last until then or even longer.  The belt is pretty much indestructible.  Maybe it is the last belt I ever have to buy.

Product Reviews

Respro Techno Mask

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Respro Techno Mask

I have to work in Bangalore for another month.  This time, I am well prepared.  Other than my month long supply of instant noodles, I also bought a Respro Techno Mask from Mountain Equipment Co-op.  The mask can filter out hydrocarbons, sulphur dioxide, lead oxide, smoke, and sub-micron particulates.  It also has two valves for easy breathing and better ventilation.  It may seems too heavy duty to wear it in commute.  But given that Bangalore is so polluted, it is better to get the most powerful face mask I can found.  Wearing the mask makes me look like an funny month alien.  I don’t care how odd I look, as long as I am safe from the Bangalore air.  I don’t want to get sick.  Coughing for 2 weeks is not fun.

Product Reviews

Nike ACG Hiking boots

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Nike ACG

In English, there is an idiom, as comfort as an old shoe. It is a known fact that an old shoe is most comfortable to wear. However, old shoe wears off, eventually you can’t wear it any longer. So, what is the most comfortable shoe other than your old shoe? Of course it is a new shoe that is exactly the same as your old shoe!

I have been wearing the Nike ACG hiking boots for many years. It has been so long that I couldn’t keep track of how many pairs I had, probably 8 or 10 pairs. On average I wear out a pair every year, so I need to get a new pair every year. Shoes are on sales at Foot Locker, buy one and one half prince. Since I will need a new pair every year, why don’t I buy an extra pair and save it for next year? Not only I got a great discount, but also save me the trouble to shop for shoes next year.

I wonder what should I wear if Nike discount the ACG hiking boots. I guess I don’t have to worry about this question for the foreseeable future. I heard from the sales at Foot Locker, Nike ACG hiking boots are one of their best sellers. It would not make much business to discontinue a popular model.

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Product Reviews

Guns and Ammo Magazine

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Finally, I am able to find some firearm magazine in Save On Food, thanks to the tips from Jackson.  I am too cheap to buy an issue, so I just stand there and read all four firearm magazine they have.  What interest me is not only the articles, but also the advertisement.  Too bad that those magazine are published in the States, many firearms in the magazines are prohibited in Canada.  Out of the four magazines, one magazine focus on hunting and rifle guns.  I want to try hunting at least once, but I am not a very outdoor person, and I don’t know how to dispose the moose even if shot one.  Another magazine is targeted  law enforcement readers.  It has police stories and review on various police equipment.  Another one is focus on ammunitions, talk about how to reload cartages yourself, the ballistic of different bands of bullets, etc.  There is only one firearm magazine for general reader, the Guns and Ammo Magazine.  It has product review, columns, history of classic firearms, shooting and cleaning tips and lots of advertisements, a perfect firearm guide for beginner.  Even better is that the magazine publishes all its articles on their website.  It like hitting a treasure chest of firearm knowledge.  I have learned operating theory of firearms from the safety course, now I need to get familiar with different bands of gun manufacturers and gun models.  Just like people need to get some fashion sense to buy decent clothes, a self respectable gun owner should acquire some firearm sense.