15x vs 20x Macro Lens: Does more magnifying factor means better?

Before I go into the comparison between the 2 lenses, I'd like to introduce a new lens which I recently bought online. I know I said I don't really enjoy carrying the lenses around nor are they very convenient to use, but I recently was back into Macro photography again. I just love the details when you get close.

Anyway, let's get back to topic.

The lenses doesn't have a brand but the packaging looks quite ok, other than its a little squashed during delivery. This lens cost me about SG$12.
 

The lenses came with a huge and solid protective case with sponge inside that prevents the lenses from moving around hence reducing chances of them bumping around.

The lenses are huge and quite heavy, especially when compared to my previous ones. About how well it works and how easy its to use, I'll talk about it in the comparison below.

15X Vs 20X Macro Lens

Both the 15X and 20X lenses that I use in this comparison doesn't have a brand to them. They're probably some cheaper Chinese knock-off but I can assure that they're at least of acceptable quality and can take nice photos.

Focal Length

First, I'd like to mention that the reason why I wanted to get a new 20x macro lens is because the 15x one requires you to get close enough to get a sharp image. Also, it has a very narrow view.

The 20x macro is advertise to have more focal length, and larger view. And now I'm going to test that out.

Note: Distance is gauged with a ruler and could have some discrepancy.

Object 5cm away from lens
15x lens	20x lens

Object 3cm away from lens
15x lens	20x lens

Object 2cm away from lens
15x lens	20x lens

Object 1cm away from lens
15x lens	20x lens

As you can see the 20x lens does well at 5cm but it cannot capture the details as well when it comes to closer distance.

Weight, Size and Ease of Use

Weight (plus casing)
15x lens	20x lens
Less than 47g	~47g

Diameter of Lens
15x lens	20x lens
~2cm	~4.5cm

Ease of Aligning Lens
15x lens	20x lens
Average	Difficult

I've slight difficulty aligning the 15x lens to my phone camera even when it's clipper has the circle "carved out" for easier alignment. So it's no surprise that I had a much harder time trying to align the 20x lens which clipper is so wide and doesn't carve out the circle for alignment.

Conclusion 

To be honest, this is quite difficult. I enjoy the longer focal length and slightly larger view of the 20x lens however it's bulky and heavier to carry around. I guess in the end it all boils down to how much detail and how close you want to get to the subject.

The 3 months Tummy-Flattening Challenge! 20 July Update: Distance covered by 3 deliveries.

An update of what happen today. The reason of this update is to let you have some understanding about how much distance and steps are covered on days when I make deliveries. Although I've mentioned in my previous posts that deliveries wouldn't affect the results of this challenge very much, I'd still like to fill you in with the statistics.

As I've mentioned in my previous post, My Experience as a Parcel Walker with World Marketing Group (WMG), delivery jobs are usually about 2-3 parcels per day and within the neighbourhood (less than 2 bus stops).

Today I received 3 parcels and they're all within my neighbourhood, with the furthest, just a bus stop away.

I've downloaded an app, call Stepz, which I use to record my distance covered and number of steps I walked.

Just ignore the goal progress because I was too lazy to
change the default setting of 10,000 steps per day.

I started with 1,442 steps and 1km covered. (I've no idea how they were counted because I didn't move around much except going for breakfast with my family).


Today, I've to deliver to 3 difference blocks, and one of them is the block I'm staying in. During one of the delivery, the recipient happen to stay on a lower floor (3rd floor), so I took the stairs instead of the lift.
 

Anyway, just a health tip. Going down the stairs is bad and straining for the knees, so I always take the lift down even if the recipient stays on low levels.

This is the stats at the end of the day. These stats includes me walking 2-3 blocks down to buy dinner and a stopping over at supermarket to get some things. If my memory didn't fail me, I was at about 2,700ish - 2,800ish steps after my last delivery.

So this actually means that making 3 deliveries would take about 1,300 steps (2,800-1500, rounded up) and the distance covered is roughly about 1.4-1.6km. Of course there will be days which I've to deliver to blocks that are slightly further away but I believe the stats shouldn't be too far from these.

When I got home, I was pretty tired, but I still did 1 minute of Plank Exercise and 22 sit-ups.
The Plank is really a killer! Just 45 seconds of it and my whole body is shaking like mad! 1 minute is the maximum time I can handle for now.

Ok, that's my update for today (20 July). The next update won't be too soon, but I'll try to update again on a day I've got delivery jobs so that you not only get update about the challenge but also have a feel of how its like working as a Parcel Walker.

The 3 months Tummy-Flattening Challenge!

I guess that we before we get started, we need to get realistic. It's not quite possible to miraculously have a flat tummy just after 3 months! The aim of this challenge is to keep me motivated and also see how much could be achieved if I were to keep up with my planned exercise schedule.

I would admit, I'm not fat or very overweight, but I DO have a tummy! It's bulging and sometimes people would mistaken that I've a baby bump! I've people putting (insert nutritious food) into my bowl and say, "It's good for the baby."

 WTF!!

  

That is one of the main reasons for this challenge. I want to stop being mistaken for having a baby bump and also, my parents have been quite concerned about my lack of activities. What's more, I hate to admit but getting fat does makes me feel bad about myself. 

Anyway, let's get started! 

These are my measurements before the challenge (actually I've tried it for about 3 days now), but to make things easier, the 3 months would start today and would end on October 20.

 

My waist is about 73.5 cm and my lower belly (which bulges the most) is about 76cm. My aim is actually about 70-71cm for my waist and around the same for my lower belly. I don't know if I can achieve this in 3 months but that is my aim for now.

I've picked 3-4 exercises that would help with reducing tummy and strengthen the core.

1) Mountain Climbers (Minimum: 30 times)

Source

2) Crunches and Sit-Ups (Minimum: at least 15 times)

3) Planks Exercise (Minimum: at least 45 seconds)

Source

4) Leg Lifts (Minimum: at least 12)

Source

I may not do all of them, but I'd pick at least 2 to carry out (on lazy days) and 3 or all of them when I'm feeling more hardworking. I won't be forcing myself to do a certain number of sets, but I'll make sure I hit the minimum I set for myself. The minimum might be raised when I feel I can do more.

I wouldn't be doing any other form of exercise other than delivering parcels which I'd be walking but it probably wouldn't be longer than 40 minutes (usually). The days I'll have parcels to deliver is not fixed so it shouldn't be taken much into account. I don't think it would affect the challenge very much anyway, since its usually for a short distance and time.

I also won't have any diet change plans for now.

For this challenge, I wouldn't be checking back in so often, but I try to do a weekly update on how things are going on or when I need to make changes.

Wish me good luck and I hope we all stay healthy!

Why you should not let hardworking people design a product!

Oh, before you start reading, I wish to make it clear that there is nothing wrong with hardworking! It's a virtue and should be rewarded.

However, hardworking may not be useful in all situations. I guess we all agree on this, right?

Well, I wish to share a story with you. It's my personal experience, actually.

You see, my dad is a retiree. So he has lots of free time which he spent ... erm... trying to solve some problems in the house.

And the No.1 problem was brought up by my mother - our messy charging station. 

I guess the image illustrated the problem quite well. Well, I came up with something that is a rectangular box which would run from the box and is as long as the width of the table. At both ends of the box, holes should be drilled to let the cables enter and exit. "Tracks" should also be made to separate the cables (limiting 2 cables to one hole). After using the cables, they can be easily pushed back into the box and hence no more messy long cables! 

A rough illustration I did back then.

However, my dad has other ideas and since he is the carpenter, he gets to decide. He started on his project to solve the messy cables and then finally finished it in roughly 4 days.

He made a 15 cm deep box that extend out of our original cable box and made a small "slit" with a circular opening on one side to slide the cables in. It looks really nice actually but with a few problems.

1) The "slit" with too narrow (which he refuse to file it wider, fearing the cables would fall inside the box) and pushing the excess cable into the box is difficult. Look, we've a few 1.5 and 2 meters cables that really is a chore to stuff back in.

2) The longer cables get tangled up inside the box. Pulling the cables out is not that smooth as well, because of reason 1 and the cables tangling inside.

3) To remove any cable that is not the first one from the round opening, you'll have to remove other cables first. Pray hard that the cable furthest away from the round opening doesn't spoil or then ...

Look, I'm not complaining (ok, maybe I'm a little) but I see my dad working hard on the solution and I appreciate that. And to be honest, the box does looks very nice and sturdy!

But then I guess he was just too hardworking. He really don't mind stuffing the cables back into place every single time after using, even if it takes more than just one push. And by more than just one, I mean 5-10 pushes. And I mean it!

But honestly, for lazy people like me. I really don't want to be stuck there stuffing and pushing the cables in. It just takes too much effort! And now, even my mum always leave the cables dangling because it gets really annoying!

There, I think I illustrated my point.

Hardworking is not a bad thing but if you're designing something for people to use, you've to know that people are lazy and they want a solution that makes things easier, not harder.

KZ ED16 Triple Driver Earphone Review

Specification:

 

Product Name: KZ ED16  In-ear Earphone

Brand: KZ

Model:   ED16

Earphone type: In-ear

Impedance: 8Ω

Earphone sensitivity: 98dB/mW

Frequency range: 20-40000Hz

Plug Type: L curved

Cable Length: 1.2m±3cm

With cable: Yes

With mic: Optional

Can replace cable: Yes (2pins 0.75mm)

Drivers: 1 DD 2BA

 

 

Packaging

 

The KZ is known for their simplistic packaging that just fits and protect what is to be contained, without all the flare and hu-ha.I've no problem with this, as well, the earphones are the ones that I care about.

Accessories

Although I don't mind a simple packaging, I do kinda mind that the earphone comes with almost no accessories except for 2 pairs of replacement earbuds. SERIOUSLY, Not even a pouch!?

 

Fit/Build

 

These earphones fit really nice in my ears and they're very comfortable. The earhooks is of memory cable that can be adjusted to fit my ears. I very much prefer the adjustable earhooks as most generic ones don't really fit my ears that much.

I know most people prefers angled plugs over straight plugs because a straight plug puts more strain on the jack. However, I'm not sure I'm affected by this because I'm using an lightning to 3.5mm adaptor cable hence my earphone jack is "free to swing".

The cable has this silicon and rubbery feel that I don't really like. Plus it feels weak and flimsy. I also don't really like its design. But the reason I hated it the most - it tangles ALOT! It tangles "all way round", in a way that the earhooks tangles with the cable while the thinner (left/right cable tangles with each other. It takes quite some efforts to un-tangle them as the earhooks just hooks up to something else during the process!

The 2 pins connectors are made of plastic casing. They're tight and holds the earbuds firmly.

The Y-spilt is made of plastic but seems sturdy enough and it have extra stress-relief.

As for the microphone, I love that the button is clicky and works well with my iPhone.

Sound

Bass - Surprisingly the bass was much better than I expected. Although it's not the most energetic, it was very much present, lively and reasonably deep enough. But obviously, won't be for bass lovers.

Mids and High - Love the clarity and crispness. The female vocal sounds really sweet and pleasant in the songs I enjoy.

Noise Isolation & Microphone

I tried this on a short 20 minute bus ride home and I'm not satisfy with the noise isolation. Noise isolation is ...not too good. I can be on 40-60% volume on my iPhone and I can still hear quite some of ambience noises.

The microphone, on the other hand is quite clear and picks up vocal quite well. Conversation while shopping outside is definitely possible.


Pros
- Comfortable
- Adjustable earhooks
- Y-spilt seems strong and protected
- Angled plug
- Mids and high
- Cheap (I bought this for SG$18)

Cons
- Little accessories
- Cable feels flimsy and is ugly
- Cable tangles too easily
- Bass is not as energetic but not too bad
- Noise isolation isn't that good. 


 

Overall score: 4.5/5	Microphone: 4/5