Swan Lake, Singapore Botanical Garden on a Saturday morning, Leica D-Lux 5 zoom photos

Photos from an early morning walk at the Singapore Botanical Garden. Yes, this lake is in the heart of Singapore, just a few blocks from Orchard Road.


Blue skies and green foliage. The Swan Lake is filled with different kinds of fish, including large catfish some about 2 feet long. There are also turtles, many almost a foot long, and these may well be a decade or more old.


Of course this wouldn't be called Swan Lake without a pair of swans, which the Parks Authority maintains.


All the photos here were taken with a Leica D-Lux 5, and are unedited. I feel the images have the characteristic Leica sharpness and high contrast, while also having high color saturation.


This close-up of the swan was taken with the digital zoom close to max, which can reach up to 480 mm. For a compact camera, this is great, and as can be seen from the original high res photo, sharpness and low noise are very reasonably good.

I also like it how the Leica firmware specifies that you can go to digital zoom on Scene modes, but not in Program, Aperture or Shutter Priority modes. There are so many ways to adjust the camera, you need to be well versed with the features to get more enjoyment and to make the most of what it can deliver. Another feature I like is that you can set the zoom to advance in steps, from 24 mm to 28 mm, to 35 mm, to 50 mm, to 70 mm, to 90 mm. Of course you can also choose not to use steps and have a continuous zoom, but I like how advancing in steps makes it feel like you have a bag with 6 standard fixed focal length lenses.


Here's a another photo that demonstrates the zoom capability of the Leica D-Lux 5. At the wide angle end, you see this almost-panoramic shot that, if you look closely at the bottom-right quadrant, shows a family entertained by the two swans.


And here is a shot with the digital zoom, of the same family and two swans, taken from the same spot as the earlier photo. On the high res photo, the sharpness, contrast and color are very much acceptable and don't look digitized and forced.

What were we doing at the Singapore Botanical Garden early in the morning? We joined a prayer walk! It's a wonderful place to take in the grandness of God's creation, beautified by the Park Authority's patient and careful tending.

May all those who seek you be happy and rejoice in you! May those who love to experience your deliverance say continually, "May God be praised!" -Psalms 70:4
and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14 NASB)
If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. (John 15:7 NASB)

We prayed for Singapore, we prayed for the Philippines, for the leaders, for the people, for the church, and for individual concerns.

Looking for a place to spend to spend an early Saturday morning in Singapore? There's so much to see at the Singapore Botanical Garden.
Also, check out the McRitchie Reservoir Park.

At the Botanical Garden, make sure to check out the National Orchid Garden. It's worth it!

Happy nature tour!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Singapore

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