m_adams1

<p>Anyone out there used one of these?</p>

<p>They seem to be adding more modules (28-300 just announced) and certainly the 50mm offering seems to produce outstanding results.<br>

As a travel solution with a bit more flexibility (and a VF!) than many it seems to be a reasonable plan. I'm curious to see if anyone has tried one for any length of time and what they thought of it.</p>

<p>Never had it when I used film......!</p>

<p>I don't specifically WANT one without it - it just wouldn't bother me much if it was missing. The D3 for example has all kinds of fancy JPEG Expeed stuff - which is not really needed for tiny review images - and I never shoot JPEG for actual use.<br>

A very simple JPEG to show composition and highlights etc would be fine, but no need for expensively developed systems to do it.</p>

<p>I'm looking for such a camera - I actually would prefer one that ONLY shoots RAW and does not waste space and money on JPEG image engines etc.</p>

<p>I want top image quality, no lag fast focus and good build - and a viewfinder!</p>

<p>So far:<br>

Leica X1<br>

Sigma DP2s (if I can find one!)<br>

Ricoh GXR<br>

Maybe Canon G11 also.</p>

<p>Any others? I want an alternative to my D3's for a trip to India. (I'm taking the Nikons too but don't want to carry them on every walk I take - but would like to retain good image quality.)</p>

<p>You could gain a day by flying into Christchurch and then connecting through to Invercargill same day if the flight times work.<br>

You can miss out Hamilton without much regret as well!</p>

<p>Worth noting is the fact that this is a working solution primarily, rather than a transportation solution. TT split their gear along those lines quite deliberately.<br>

I am considering one for a project in India. Personally I cannot abide backpacks for working from for numerous reasons - too hard to change gear, too sweaty in hot climates, can be awkward in crowded places etc.<br>

I will transport my gear - probably inside TT Modulus bags in a Pelican 1510 with the foam removed. When I go out for the day I am thinking of taking the Speed Racer, augmented by Modulus components as needed.</p>

<p>As an alternative I am discussing with the best luggage maker I know the possibility of a one off custom photo conversion of one of their bags.</p>

<p>So what is the best way to carry it when working? India is a new destination for me: I have shot in Cambodia, Laos and Thailand before but was using Leica M6 gear which is a lot smaller and lighter. That is not suitable for this trip as I need good digital images etc.<br>

There are so many bag options that I am almost in overload! So far:</p>

<p>Think Tank Urban Disguise 35 or 70<br>

TT Retrospective 20 or 30<br>

Domke F1x<br>

Boda Lens Bag (although that would give me no space for bodies)<br>

Something Billingham (but a bit heavy and obviously expensive)</p>

<p>I'd welcome any suggestions from those who have done it!</p>

<p>If I carry one less body, that essentially means one body only.</p>

<p>If that one body should fail...... somehow doubt I'll find too many Nikon repair agencies in rural India. That would be my biggest concern there.<br>

Yes, I have insurance, but it only covers the Pacific region. NZ insurers have not quite got the fact that photographers work around the world. I am trying to get them to quote me for extending the cover worldwide but it is proving an uphill battle so far. My travel insurance would cover it but to nowhere near the replacement cost.<br>

OOI, a Pelican case loaded with that lot weighs 13.5kg. <br>

Since my wife is travelling (nominally as my 'assistant' - only way to get my pass stamped for the trip) I will probably just split the gear between 2 bags for carrying on and pack anything over that deep in my check in or in the pocket of my coat.<br>

Anyone have any thoughts on a good non-descript working bag once I am there? </p>

<p>It's on trips like this that I see the point of the Leica M9.....!<br>

<br /></p>

<p>Don't worry about seasickness: the water is not open sea and is very calm. More like a lake.<br>

There are no hotels in the Fiords - and they are quite some drive from the nearest habitation. If you are not going out on a boat you may as well leave them out altogether unless you plan to charter a helicopter to get you out there. There's next to nothing of the true majesty and wildlife visible from the Milford terminal and Doubtful cannot be accessed without a boat or chopper ride.<br>

Real Journeys run the boats if you want to Google them.</p>

<p>Singapore Airlines have advised me to check it in as "Fragile". This apparently means that it will be hand-carried throughout the airport (ie no conveyor belts, flippers, chutes etc) to and from the plane. Since I am flying only one sector at a time they claim it won't get lost! It must of course be appropriately packed in Pelican cases or similar.<br>

You can also insure for true value, the cost of which I am waiting to find out this afternoon - will post here FYI. The lady thought it might be 1% of economy fare but needed to go and check. That would be pretty cheap - about NZ$20 - so if that is correct I'd certainly do that.<br>

It gives me one more bag to lug around whilst travelling though that I could do without.</p>

<p>Simple: I would not have flown.<br>

I can't work without my gear and if it had been lost or damaged there would have been no point in my being at the other end of the flight.</p>

<p>Hi Allen<br>

Certainly that is an issue. Last time I travelled long haul I flew to Canada and took my Think Tank roller with all the above plus a 200-400 Nikkor! It weighed just shy of 18kg (that's about 40lbs for those not yet on metric) but fortunately it looked so uninteresting and blended in so well that no one ever batted an eyelid.<br>

I can't really use that for this trip as India does not suit that sort of bag at all. I was asked to check the TT roller in once on a flight to Australia with all the same gear in it. I said I would be delighted to do so if the airline gave me written acceptance of the risk to my gear worth $50,000.<br>

They relented and let me carry it on.........!</p>

<p>I plan and guide photo tours in NZ as part of my photography business.<br>

You will need 4 days just to see Doubtful and Milford if you do the overnight option for each (which I recommend) although Doubtful is my personal favourite for clients as it is less busy. Milford is like a factory farming operation at the terminal!<br>

Be careful not to over-estimate your travel distances each day: the roads here are not very good and the Kiwi drivers a little less well trained than many. 80Kms per hour average is a good basis to work on. There are no freeways/motorways - almost all roads are only one lane in each direction with occasionally 2.<br>

That is a lot to fit in to a month. I presume your list is not in order, as it would be a very long day indeed to drive from Abel Tasman to Lake Tekapo! I reckon that would be at least 10 hours of driving.</p>