Nikkor 18-200mm VRII Lens Review

The purpose of having a DSLR, apart from the fact that it can produce images with stunning quality, is providing its user the ability to change lenses at will. Maybe a wide angle lens for landscape and architectural shots, a portrait lens to capture the cute baby laughing, a telephoto lens for your wildlife and sports shutter bug needs; and not to forget a low light lens, plus a prime or two. But imagine carrying all of those lenses just so that you don't miss a shot any time. (and not to mention changing lenses all the time and risking environmental effects on you camera sensor) You'd probably end up carrying equipment which would totalling to about 20lb in just lens weight. Ouch! Though each lens is unique in its own way, lugging around all that weight can really bog down the whole experience. So what to do instead? Carry one lens which has all the focal range you'll ever need, gives you great optical performance and is reliable - and that my friend is the the AF-S DX Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II. This versatile lens for the DX format Nikon DSLR's gives you no reason to switch lenses again. Lets have a look at some of the specs and what the lens has to offer.

Fireflies Music Festival 2012

The eternal drums of Fireflies

Fireflies MusicFest has been the most amazing music event in Bangalore in the recent years, and this year is no different. Set in the Fireflies Ashram on Kanakpura Rd. roughly 30km from Bangalore, an open air amphitheatre with the stage below a huge peepal tree. What's wonderful about this event is that its not a corporate sponsored event, so you find no banners all around and no TV stations flashing their cameras. Its a long one though. Starts at 12 on a sunday afternoon and ends 10 at night. The music spans a variety of genres from folk to rock and the artists are from all around. The bands that took part in the event: Vaiyali, Agam, Filter Coffee, La Pongal, Saifa Gharbi (Algerian Sufi Singer), Shabnam Virmani, Something Relevant, OTO 3, Om Viloma ft. Amit Heri and Talavya.

Auroville Half Marathon 2012

Ran the half marathon which was organized by Auroville community and conducted in Auroville, Pondicherry on the 12th of Feb '12. Its a different run considering the one's I have done so far. Why so? 'cos for most part you are running on dirt tracks, uneven surfaces, and sometimes on paths which are no more than one feet wide. You'll also hit pavement or black top every now and then but its gonna be there for short stretches only.

Mangalore Half Marathon 2012

The first edition of Mangalore half marathon organized by Life is Calling and sponsored by NITTE University Mangalore, took place this year on the 29th of Jan. There were roughly around 110-115 runners in the half marathon category, and another 150 in the 10k and 5k runs. Quite a small turn out for such an event, I was expecting at least around 500 to be in it, buuut ... well maybe next year.

Starting ... again

Weird to be starting a blog again. The blog that I first managed (anandjosyula.blogspot.com - now long gone), was a personal log. Fortunately or not, after passing through the phases of life it was de-resolutionized . The most likely reason I reckon is a broken heart, which resulted in a massive devaluation of self worth. But now, after what seems like a reasonable recovery time, enough to pick up few of the broken pieces, with renewed interests and a better understanding of self I set forth again. As the man said - "To be or not to be. That is the question"... I guess I chose "to be".