Bulky vs Compact i Photography in SE Asia

<p>Hi all,<br>

Very excited about a new posting in Bangkok. It has got me wondering about the appropriateness of slugging a D700 with 14-24, 24-70 and 70-200 around. They are obviously bulky, and although as a white man I am not pretending to think I will "blend," 3 kg of bulk at any given time doesn't really help the matter. So I suppose two questions:<br>

1. What are people's experiences with bringing good, but bulky gear like this around SE Asia? Places to avoid its use? Or shoot away? My concern is actually travelling with my small kids, so focusing on swapping lenses in busy places just doesn't appeal to me either. Of course using these lenses would be preferred as they are the best!<br>

2. If discretion was my middle name, and I just wanted to enjoy sight seeing with family while not sacrificing any image quality and camera manual functionality does it get better than the Fujifilm X100T.... Its where my research seems to have taken me.</p>

<p>Id' really appreciate your thoughts on using bulky vs. compact in Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Phillipines etc<br>

Thanks in advance.</p>

 

<p>There is always a compromise whatever you choose to do.<br /><br />I carry heavy photo equipment when I go to photo trips, with the understanding that I may spend an extensive amount of time on one location. The other photographers in the group would do the same.</p>

<p>If I travel with non-photographers and they are not that interested in photography, I would most likely carry a decent all-purpose zoom - such as 18-300 or 28-300. Or a compact camera because I don't think it is fair to impose on the others' time and enjoyment of the trip.</p>

<p>Re heavy/bulky equipment in Asia. In my experience, there was no problem. If you don't travel with a group or trusted locals, it would make sense to avoid more notorious areas. I would advise using a backpack instead of a photo-roller - just in case some airport may want to check in your roller bag. It never happened to me in Asia but I had a scare one time on a connection flight to East Africa when they required me to check in the roller as luggage. I got off of it but not before a lot of talking and subtle "threats" that I would hold them responsible if the equipment were lost or damaged, and my photo trip would be ruined, etc. But that only occurred once in my travels. Think using a backpack would also allow you to interact with your children better.</p>

<p>As I had responded on another post, my utilization rate of a 3-lens travel kit has been roughly 70%-25%-5%. That has held up for heavy DSLR primes or f2.8 zooms or even lightweight RF primes. I want to enjoy the experience and not have to think about what lens I should use. So, I am going to save myself the trouble when I leave for SE Asia next month. I plan to primarily use my D800e and Sigma 35/1.4 ART and will probably pack a 28/1.8 AFS OR 20/1.8 AFS for the rare occasion when I may need it.</p>

<p>I second Mary's suggestion to use a backpack instead of a roller. I use a Thinktank Airport Commuter. </p>

<p>SHOOT AWAY! I have been lugging bulky gear around Southeast Asia for 6 years and never regretted it for a moment. I carry my gear in a nondescript backpack. I have never had a problem or been concerned about having a problem anywhere that I have visited in Thailand, Lao, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Malaysia. My suggestion would be to involve your children in your photography - having them take shots with point and shoots, teaching them about photography, help carrying some of the gear, holding your off camera flash etc. Minimize your impact on others by learning to take your photos quicker. Share with others why you fnd something interesting and share the results immediately with them.</p><div></div>

<p>Its always a personal thing and your views are often shaped by what you've done before and what you want to do. However, from my own personal experience, which involves living in multiple countries across Asia (including Bangkok) for the last 16+ years along with regular travel in the region (and always photographing), the SLR kit would not be my recommendation as the setup to regularly carry around. And it obviously differs from Allen's view :)<br>

I started with SLRs and the full range of focal lengths in Asia as you suggest above but very quickly got rid of everything and replaced it with smaller camera systems. In Asia generally, you can easily photograph with mid to short focal lengths most of the time without wishing for more reach - personally, I use a 35mm prime (full frame FoV) 95% of the time; and 21mm and 75~90mm the rest.<br>

My recommendation would be your Fuji X100 and/or maybe another mirrorless with interchangeable lenses to fill the gaps. Go light and go small (especially if you have kids in tow)</p>

 

<p>Although it's been a long time since I was in South East Asia, it was not unusual to see tourists with bulky slr gear, lenses, etc. There are, I would expect, still some places where care would be appropriate when it came to opportunistic street crime but the tourist hot spots will not be without all kinds of people and all kinds of cameras. However, these days, you don't give up a lot with the good small aps-c cameras. My thought would be, having the bulky gear is fine but on a regular basis, out with the family, etc., the small gear is a lot easier to deal with. If you are going to be there for a while then you could get a better feel for use of the really good/big/bulky gear and would have it when you wanted it.</p>

<p>More recently on travels in the US and Europe, I certainly saw plenty of dslrs out and about as well as smaller cameras, phone cams, etc.</p>

<p>Being that children are involved in this whole affair....it becomes a personal decision/reality. That said, I may be an old coot, but I always take FF with me....and I intend to take it with me even on extensive travels. It's all relative. It's up to you to what degree you wish to compromise.</p>

<p>Yet, 2-3 small primes could easily substitute for the heavy zooms, but it's ultimately your decision how you manage all this. Also, some lenses such as Tamron 90mm, you have a portrait lens and a macro in one package. You could further reduce the overall package (weight) by having a beanbag for support vs hauling a tripod.</p>

<p>Anyway, your decision.</p>

<p>Les</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Life seems simple with your dilemma: Whatever you'll do will feel "wrong". - IMHO 3 great zooms shout for 2 decent cameras. you could also compromize the other way(s) around and go out with either your extreme zooms and Fuji in the middle or just 1 zoom +/- Fuji.<br>

Sometimes the appetite kicks in while you are eating... So if your employer pays moving houses to Bangkok take the chance to bring Nikon <strong>and</strong> Fuji. Maybe walk one zoom at a time or keep the Fuji more accessible than the bagpacked Nikon but fire away.<br>

I have zero Asia specific travel experience but: if you are a tourist with a camera, the camera itself doesn't matter. <br>

I have no clue what your employer expects from you. - Are you a backoffice nerd? Are you meant to represent? Will you be "slugging a D700 with 14-24, 24-70 and 70-200 around" under employer's & key customers' noses? - I would seek advice from a benevolent coworker in that field.</p>

<p>I'd see the previous thread asking almost the exact same question about a trip to India. I'd go for a 70-200mm f4 myself and forget the 14-24mm,<em> </em>I guess it would depend a bit on how long you are going for. You can always take all your stuff and only use what you want, when you need it. </p>

<p>I have always lugged the same type of kit when I travel, be it to hot and humid places like SE Asia or nearby in freezing Canada. I carry the same type of set up - 3 types of zooms. I use a sling case so I can access my camera quickly and I don't have to have a DSLR hang out of a bag around my neck when it is not in use. <br>

Is it heavy? Yes. Does it deter me? No. I just consider it a workout. It is like hauling my ass out of bed before sunrise while on vacation. You have to suffer to create something of value some times.<br>

Is it worth it? You be the judge:<br>

https://www.flickr.com/photos/phil_marion/sets<br>

Could I have achieved the same shots with a P&S - probably not. With a mirrorless? Yes but I don't need to buy a whole new set of expensive gear when the only thing stopping me is a bit of sweat. If photography is your passion then a bit of weight shouldn't deter you. However, if photography is a mild interest/hobby then maybe a lighter set of gear is the route to go.</p>

 

<p>You should not have to worry about being discrete with your equipment, but PLEASE be aware that many people in SE Asia do not want their picture taken for cultural reasons or because of "tourist fatigue" in the region. Same can be true in temples. Be sensitive, respectful, and ask permission.<br>

What you carry is of course based on your needs as a photographer. If it were me, I would not take three 2.8 zooms unless I knew I needed them for specific photographic goals. </p>

<p>Scroll down just one subject line and see the previous post from the past couple of days on traveling to India with the same lenses you propose and with family.<br /><br />If you are going on a trip with the purpose of doing serious photography, whether working or as a committed amateur, the equipment is the same regardless of where you go. There's not one set of lenses for SE Asia and another for Europe and another for North America. IMHO, the three-lens outfit you are proposing is ideal for just about anywhere. I don't want to bore people by repeating them here 24 hours laters, so read my posts in the India thread for the details on why.<br /><br />That said, it really comes down to how serious you are about taking pictures on this trip and how much time you will have available. Swapping lenses isn't the issue -- that takes seconds. Waiting for the light to be right, going early or late when crowds are out of the way, waiting for the "decisive moment" when something happens, are all what counts.<br /><br />When I go someplace to shoot pictures, that's what I do and I carry the appropriate equipment. When I go on vacation with the family and photography is secondary and I'm only going to have time for snapshots, I take a good point and shoot (Canon Powershot G15 most recently) and leave the work gear at home. </p>

<p>Thanks for all the responses, I thought I responded, but I guess the post didn't make it through. Two comments come to mind.<br>

1. Yes backpack is a good call, and as I will be travelling often, it definitely boils down to fitting the essentials in a discrete backpack.<br>

2. The choice is personal and only I know what I am willing to compromise. There are arguments for both camps, I will test the waters and see what an appropriate solution is. From what I gather people are not bothered carrying around large camera equipment in SE Asia. This was the essence of my post which makes the bigger setup sound like the way forward. <br>

Thanks again for input.</p>

<blockquote>

<p>I gather people are not bothered carrying around large camera equipment in SE Asia</p>

</blockquote>

<p>I think you should change that to "<em>some</em> people". If all you have are big expensive lenses then you naturally feel obliged to take them as that's what you have and you can rest assured you can, potentially, take every possible shot you can conceive of. I have given up this way of shooting many years ago and find it much more pleasant, and, I think, more productive of better images, but only you will be able to decide. I wager that after a few weeks you will know what you prefer.</p>

<p>I can't imagine enlisting my children as photographic assistants, to be honest, I would have disliked that as a child and I think most would not be all that interested (and I have nice kids too).</p>

 

<p>If your main reason for the trip is for photography then take whatever you think will get the job done.</p>

<p>Our family (wife and two young kids) went to Thailand and Cambodia back in 2013 and even though I have a D800, a D600, the three holy trinity plus a lot more, I took a V1, 11-27mm and 18.5mm (50mm FOV).</p>

<p>In the time that we were there I saw only one guy with what looked liked a D4 and an f2.8 large zoom. This guy looked completely out of place. He also looked really tired.</p>

<p>Here is what you can do with just the V1 and the 18.5mm prime:<br>

http://issuu.com/studor13/docs/hol_cambodia/1</p>

<p>If I were to go now I would take an "extreme wide" zoom for the V1 such as the 6.7-13mm, and I would beg, borrow or steal to get the 32mm f1.2.</p>

 

I think ou should be careful in crowded places in South Asia such as India.