Travelling to SE Asia and Australia in the fall! Need advice!

[hidden-image]

Hey,

I'm looking for some advice on traveling to SE Asia and Australia for 4 months (grad present to myself :D). I'm trying to avoid having to take a bunch of equipment with me, as I don't want to have to lug everything around.

This is the equipment I own:

Canon Digital Rebel (300D)
Battery Grip BG-E1
4 GB CF, 512 MB CF, a bunch of other CF cards
2 batteries
Canon EF-S 18-55mm kit lens
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM lens
Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM lens

My main questions are:

Is it worth it to bring my kit lens? Or will my 24-105 lens be wide enough on the 1.6x crop frame rebel?

Is it necessary to buy a decent wide angle lens? If so, what would you recommend? (I'm planning on eventually upgrading to a full-frame camera in the future, which is why i just bought the 24-105 recently, so I probably won't be buying an EF-S lens)

Any recommended filters for the 24-105mm lens (77mm diameter)?

I'm most likely going to purchase 3 more 4 GB cards or some 2 GB cards...what would you people recommended?

Are two batteries enough?

Any recommendation for bags? I just bought a Camel Bak MULE http://www.trailspace.com/gear/camelbak/m.u.l.e./ recently for a good price, do you think I could pass that as a bag to hold my lenses or should I go with a professional camera bag? Either way, I'm keeping the MULE for hiking, etc.

Thanks in advance for all your help! Hopefully this is in the right thread section.

[SOK]

Is it worth it to bring my kit lens? Or will my 24-105 lens be wide enough on the 1.6x crop frame rebel?

That's a rather arbitrary question...but I can tell you that there's some pretty epic landscapes down here in Oz! You'd probably want as much width as you can manage...

Having said that, some decent software and a bit of practice stitching panoramas is a 'weight free option' that will save you $$$ and space in your bag!

CPL filters are a must. The sunlight in this region of the world can be pretty full on, and the resulting glare can be outrageous!

I usually go for more smaller CF cards (<4GB) rather than fewer big (>4GB) cards...sort of the digital equivalent of avoiding putting your eggs in one basket!

2 batteries has always been plenty for me. A bit of discipline is needed to keep both topped up, but I've never needed more.

Consider including some moisture-removers (Silica Gel or similar) in your pack. The northern tropics of Australia and basically all of S.E Asia have reasonably high humidity all year round - and in summer, it's a killer. Moist salt air is NOT something you want permeating your kit when it's packed!

My only other advice is: there is more to Australia than Sydney and Melbourne!!!! (Sorry, whenever I travel and tell people where I'm from, 9 out of 10 people assume you're from either Sydney or Melbourne. Grrrr!).

Have a top trip!

[hidden-image]

Hmmmmm...still torn on taking the 17-55, and may invest on a better wide angle lens. But having just spent $900 on the 24-105mm, and just having graduated, money spent on a lens could cover more than a few days in Thailand, for sure.

Never really tried stitching panoramas, just usually had the canon stitcher do it, with mixed results.

I'll definitely find myself a CPL filter for hopefully a decent price. Any particular make or model that you'd recommend?

I think I may follow your advice on the smaller cards...they're cheaper too.

Thanks for the tip on the moisture-removers! I'll definitely keep that in mind.

My friend and I are gonna be sticking to the East Coast of Australia, so Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane for sure. We're there for about a month and a half and plan to surf as much as we can. In fact, I'm going to Tofino, BC this weekend to go surfing. Any cities in particular I should check out in Oz too (east coast)? Worth it to check out NZ while I'm at it?

[SOK]

If you're sticking to the eastern coast of Oz, consider;

*The Great Ocean Road in Victoria - not far from Melbourne. Home of the 12 Apostles (very nice photo opportunities!)

*Tropical North Queensland. Hervey Bay, Airlie Beach/Whitsundays and Cairns (the unofficial 'capital' of the north) are all very picturesque and excellent gateways to the Great Barrier Reef. Unfortunately, the reef means that all the northern beaches are no good for surfing...not that you'd want to tangle with some of the tropical stingers in summer! Diving/snorkeling on the reef is safe (and spectacular!) all year round.

Sadly, I can't comment on NZ as I've never been there myself...however I'm yet to meet anyone who has a bad thing to say about the place. And it's undeniably beautiful - the Lord of the Rings trilogy was filmed there, if that gives you any indication of the landscapes!

[tag141]

worth it to check out NZ while I'm at it?

Don't come half way round the world and not check it out. It has to be one of the most picturesque countries going. South Island has so many opportunities to stop and photograph it's unbelievable. I lived there for a few years and now live in the unofficial 'capital' of the north. Easy to fly in to Queenstown from Aus and drive to the various places.

[RPCrowe]

I am an old Southeast Asia hand and I like a tele lens for shooting in that area. With a tele lens, I can get portraits of people without their realising that they are being shot.

I have found that the residents if Southeast Asia react to a camera in two different ways, each of which spoils a spontaneous image:

Older folks - they are usually camera shy and try to avoid being shot. This seems especially true regarding female subjects.

Young kids - seem to love their photo being shot and will ham it up for the camera. A few shots like these are cute but a lot of them in a portfolio gets very old.

Being that you are expecting to convert to full-frame in the foreseeable future makes it a little more difficult to choose w/a gear as does your desire to keep the cost down.

I have standardized on 1.6x gear and my standard travel kit is two cameras (40D and 30D) with a 17-55mm f/2.8 IS and a 70-200mm f/4L IS lenses. I have found that I can cover just about anything (macro and long tele uses excepted) with these two lenses. However, since the 17-55mm is an EFs lens, that choice would be ruled out for you.

Obviously, the least expensive route for you would be to go with your kit lens and use that (supplemented by panos) when you are in need of wide coverage. The kit lens can achieve decent imagery if stopped down and is certainly light in weight.

If you want better wide angle coverage, you may consider the 17-40L which is fairly slow at f/4 but, is usable with both 1.6x and F/F gear. It can be had reasonably. If you buy it used, you could always sell it when you return home and consider the money lost (if any) as a rental fee.

The nicest but, heaviest and most expensive option is the 16-35mm f/2.8L either the newer or older model. However, this option would probably cost beyond your allowable equipment funding.

I kind of like a bag that doesn't shout "I'M CARRYING EXPENSIVE GEAR!" when I move around in lower socio-economic areas. I have often used a Coleman padded cooler bag for my gear. I figure few thieves will rip of a bag that probably contains a sandwich and a bottle of Snapple.

[Road2Show]

<<snip>>

I kind of like a bag that doesn't shout "I'M CARRYING EXPENSIVE GEAR!" when I move around in lower socio-economic areas. I have often used a Coleman padded cooler bag for my gear. I figure few thieves will rip of a bag that probably contains a sandwich and a bottle of Snapple.


simple. I really like this idea. I will be spending 10 days in Cambodia in mid-July, and have been struggling with how to maximize the load and keep it secure. I will probably still have some of the think tank belt system with me since this will be a working trip and I need the "hands free" option at times. But, if I pick it right I can probably do the cooler with the belt bags inside for protection.

BTW, looks like my "kit" will be a 1DMKII, 24-70 and either a 135/2 or 70-200/4 (for weight) I'll also have a backup device, flash and fewother litle things.

Mike

[hidden-image]

Thanks for all the suggestions, everyone! The cooler bag is actually a great idea. I'll definitely look for one that could work reasonably well.

I'll have to look into how much flights are from Oz to NZ. We're gonna be spending most of our time surfing and partying while in Australia though, so it'll be hard to try and convince my buddy.

The 16-35 f/2.8L would probably be my choice if I had a 5D, but the 8 extra mm on my cropped sensor isn't worth the high price tag right now. I'm thinking of going with a Canon EF-S 10-22mm as it offers me that wide angle range for the rebel, and then sell it once I upgrade. I figure there's a bigger demand for this lens too as there is with the 17-55. I hope every lens comes out with IS from now on. Then again, I could always take my kit lens, as it weighs nothing compared to my 24-105, and has produced two of my best photos ever. Sooo many decisions.

Wondering if this is a good deal:

Someone offered to sell their Hoya Pro 1 D 77mm CPL filter for $150. Is it worth it to spend that much money on a CPL filter? And is $150 a good deal? I'm pretty sure its at least $40 cheaper at B&H than on Henry's, but I'm always confused with which Hoya filter is which with all the Super HMCs and Multi-coated etc. language

http://www.henrys.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ItemsDisplay?storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&departmentId=10408&categoryI d=10435&itemID=181163

[pendulum15]

To stitch use a piece of software called 'Autopano Pro' the best there is IMO

Also I would take all except the kit lens, which I would replace with a tokina 124

And I also perfer B+W filters as they are way easier to clean

[MegaTron]

I just spent about 4 months in SEA, 3 months in Cambodia, and about 1 month in Thailand. I brought all of my gear but I had a secure place to put all of it. Most of the time, I just traveled with an XTi, Tokina 12-24, Sigma 17-70, and 70-200 f/4IS, unless I knew I would be shooting something that would require a different lens. Most of my shots were with the Tokina. That combo was light (I did A LOT of walking around), and besides the 70-200 f/4IS (which I did not use much), relatively inexpensive, so if I banged it up while climbing a temple or something, I wouldnt feel so bad.

If you plan on doing a lot of landscape photography, then I would recommend something wider than 24mm, especially if you are visiting the temples such as Angkor Wat. The 17-55IS would be perfect. Id say that having a CPL is a must, but im not sure about the price.

Regarding security. Just dont leave your stuff out in the open. Put your stuff back in the bag before entering your hotel room, so people dont see you walk in with it. On the streets, you should be fine. I walked around with my SLR around my neck all the time. When sitting down to eat or drink or something, dont let your bag leave your site. I usually put my bag down around my feet, and wrap the strap around my leg.

[Grayheron]

I'll have to look into how much flights are from Oz to NZ. We're gonna be spending most of our time surfing and partying while in Australia though, so it'll be hard to try and convince my buddy.

Hi, As has already been said if you are going to Oz then you should come over to NZ we have some pretty good surf on this side as well.

Regards to stitching images together it has been my experance that you need to use a tripod or a soild support for the camera, the 10 - 22mm sounds like a better option.

Regarding the charging of your batteries you will need a socket adapter as we have a flat three pin configuration down here. cost would only be a few dollars. Enjoy your trip

[pendulum15]

Hi, As has already been said if you are going to Oz then you should come over to NZ we have some pretty good surf on this side as well.

Regards to stitching images together it has been my experance that you need to use a tripod or a soild support for the camera, the 10 - 22mm sounds like a better option.

Regarding the charging of your batteries you will need a socket adapter as we have a flat three pin configuration down here. cost would only be a few dollars. Enjoy your trip

Using autopano I have made saleable images from 40 handheld pictures at 100mm on my 70-200... It is a great piece of software, just use manual exposure and focus, and large apertures, and you will be fine.

But, for UWA little is better than a UWA lens truly

[Wilt]

My friend and I are gonna be sticking to the East Coast of Australia, so Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane for sure. We're there for about a month and a half and plan to surf as much as we can. In fact, I'm going to Tofino, BC this weekend to go surfing. Any cities in particular I should check out in Oz too (east coast)? Worth it to check out NZ while I'm at it?

If you have the time (>7days) go check out the entire South Island, NZ. Magnificent, especially the west coast, which is a World Heritage area!!!

[tag141]

I'll have to look into how much flights are from Oz to NZ.

Most budget airlines fly direct from Syndey/Brisbane to NZ. Check out Freedom Air (http://www.airnewzealand.com.au/), VirginBlue (http://www.virginblue.com.au/) and JetStar (http://www.jetstar.com/au/index.html). They are all trimmed down national carriers but who needs a meal and coffee on a three hour flight.

If you have the time (>7days) go check out the entire South Island, NZ. Magnificent, especially the west coast, which is a World Heritage area!!!

SI West coast is Hokitika/Wesport/Greymouth. I think the heritage area is Fiordland (http://www.fourcorners.co.nz/new-zealand/fiordland/) and there's no easy way to get from Hokitika to Fiordland. However, Fiordland is well worth it.

[Wilt]

SI West coast is Hokitika/Wesport/Greymouth. I think the heritage area is Fiordland (http://www.fourcorners.co.nz/new-zealand/fiordland/) and there's no easy way to get from Hokitika to Fiordland. However, Fiordland is well worth it.

OK, I should have said to check out the western side of SI! FWIW we found the central part of the western edge to be stunning, and we didn't have time to even explore the southwestern portion where the fiords are!

[yogestee]

I've been tripping around SE Asia ( Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand) since 2004.. I now live permanently in Laos.. The trick is to travel light.. SE Asia is hot and humid and you don't want to be weighed down with a pile of gear..

The problem you have with your current gear is that your lenses overlap too much..The Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM lens isn't quite wide enough on a crop body.. The Canon EF-S 18-55mm kit lens is a little too short at the long end.. Your Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM lens is good for lowlight situations.. For three years I only used a 350D/Sigma 18-200mm F/3.5-6.3 Non OS with outstanding results.. I have since bought a Sigma EX 50-150mm F/2.8 APO..

If you aren't going to buy anymore gear you current lens line up will do the job..But a good Circular Polariser filter is recommended..

A battery charger is a must and your CF cards will be enough..You can always get you images burned to CD/DVD in most cities quite cheaply if you run out of memory..

The Camel Mule you bought is fine and doesn't scream expensive camera equipment..Before you leave get it dirty so it doesn't look brand new..Use it as carry on luggage.. But in reality travel in these areas is quite safe if you take the normal precautions..

Pack your clothing etc in a backpack (about 75 litres is fine) and not a hardsided suitcase and ensure it is locked at all times..

Don't worry about Malaria tablets..Often the prevention is worse than the desease.. Use a good tropical strength insect repellent whenever you go out especially in rural areas.. Malaria mosquitos bite during the night,,Dengue Fever mosquitos bite during the day.. Get your HepA and HepB shots,,,Hepatitis is usually caught eating bad food..Tetanis, Typhoid and Rabies shots are also important.. Bring anti Diahorrea tablets because you will get a dose.. Usually because of change of diet..

I never travel without a MP3 player for obvious reasons..

BTW,,where exactly are you going?? And have a safe trip..

[Wilt]

I just checked, and on South Island the following areas of the island are all World Heritage sites...Te Wahipounamu - South West New Zealand (Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, Westland/Tai Poutini National Park, Mount Aspiring National Park and Fiordland National Park)