300L on Thailand trip?

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Archive 2009 · 300L on Thailand trip?

Khun Hans
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p.3 #1 · 300L on Thailand trip?

Is that the way of Americans look at the 'rest' of the world?
Hans

Nov 22, 2009 at 03:35 AM

timpdx
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p.3 #2 · 300L on Thailand trip?

no, those of us who actually have a passport know better. You aren't going to be "killed" over a lens anywhere in SE Asia (unless you are shooting a Myanmar general, then again, it cost me all of US$20 to wander around a Cambodian "Air Force" base.

but, no, Americans who have actually left the country know better, Thailand is safe, as long as you don't leave your gear lying around in a unattended hotel room or something.

Kompong Chhnang "Air Base", Cambodia (and, no, I don't have any press creds, just the $20 that got me in a few years back) I think Cambodia only operates helicopters in terms of an air force. Anyways, even military "situations" can be handled over there.

Nov 22, 2009 at 05:08 AM

Khun Hans
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p.3 #3 · 300L on Thailand trip?

Great story and fantastic Gallery,Timothy .
Hans

Nov 22, 2009 at 05:44 AM

Rodney O
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p.3 #4 · 300L on Thailand trip?

Khun Hans,

I apologize for the words of anorphirith. Though it is perhaps better to echo the comments above that most of us who travel have a much more accurate view of other countries.

I have enjoyed Thailand a few times in the past. You have a fine country and generous people. I would be happy it visit again and certainly would take my bigger glass if I were going to have time for wildlife photography.

Rodney

Nov 22, 2009 at 06:02 AM

Lars Johnsson
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p.3 #5 · 300L on Thailand trip?

I went there 2½ months with my 800/5,6 and six other lenses this year. And have done that with different lenses the last 25 years, without problem
1. it's not a poor country
2 there is a lot less people robbed or killed in Thailand than in your own country

Nov 22, 2009 at 07:54 AM

Khun Hans
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p.3 #6 · 300L on Thailand trip?

Rodney O wrote:
Khun Hans,

I apologize for the words of anorphirith. Though it is perhaps better to echo the comments above that most of us who travel have a much more accurate view of other countries.

I have enjoyed Thailand a few times in the past. You have a fine country and generous people. I would be happy it visit again and certainly would take my bigger glass if I were going to have time for wildlife photography.

Rodney

Rodney
I know that's not the view of you Americans. I probably overreacted in my second sentence.
Lot's of American buddies here. Even my best photo buddy is from USA. (Though he only shoots Nikon gear

) (Copy to him)
I'm not Thai myself but that comment was just not fair and is not true at all.
Let's get back to the topic.
Take it easy

Hans

Nov 22, 2009 at 08:50 AM

SloPhoto
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p.3 #7 · 300L on Thailand trip?

anorphirith wrote:
I'd never bring a lens like that to a "poor" country
you can either have it stolen, which is the best outcome
or they hurt/kill you then steal it
a lens like that is more than year of income for them

On the suggestion of Lars and others, I went ahead and carried around >5k worth of stuff 90% of the time while I was there (1 month).

Never once was I worried about my gear. Thailand is a great place to go and photograph.

Now the few days I spent in a more expensive part of Shanghai, China on the other hand.....

Nov 22, 2009 at 09:14 AM

Rodney O
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p.3 #8 · 300L on Thailand trip?

Hans,

Rodney

Nov 22, 2009 at 06:19 PM

anorphirith
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p.3 #9 · 300L on Thailand trip?

I've been to Togo, Africa, got my camera stolen I also had guns pointed at me many times
I've been to Beijing & I got 200$ stolen on the first day (from very clever con artists)
I've been to japan I brought all my gear and not problem whatsoever
-I never been to Thailand, maybe it's the exception
-I'm going to Colombia in January and I'm probably going to bring a $100 Kodak retina from the 1960's
-I'm certainty NOT from USA, neither have their culture, I have traveled to ~10 countries, I'm speaking purely from experience
-I'd love to bring my 200mm f/2L to Colombia. But big white lenses bring too much attention and I wouldn't risk it
-My comment was partially based on Tommy Oshima's post from when he was in THAILAND:
"This series of shots are the last images from the lens I loved for years.
The Camera and the Lens was snatched by a motorcycle robbery 30 minutes later I shot this last roll of film.
I was lucky, I pulled out the the film so here I can show you these images"
the camera was a Leica M and the lens a Noctilux 1:1 ..... at LEAST $8K lost
-Thailand IS a poor country !!!!

I'm not crazy, not racist, not narrow minded, I just take precaution to protect my hard earned investments and my life, although I probably didn't word my original post nicely enough

Nov 22, 2009 at 06:22 PM

Lars Johnsson
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p.3 #10 · 300L on Thailand trip?

anorphirith wrote:
I've been to Togo, Africa, got my camera stolen I also had guns pointed at me many times
I've been to Beijing & I got 200$ stolen on the first day (from very clever con artists)
I've been to japan I brought all my gear and not problem whatsoever
-I never been to Thailand, maybe it's the exception
-I'm going to Colombia in January and I'm probably going to bring a $100 Kodak retina from the 1960's
-I'm certainty NOT from USA, neither have their culture, I have traveled to ~10 countries, I'm speaking purely from experience
-I'd love to bring my 200mm f/2L to Colombia. But big white lenses bring too much attention and I wouldn't risk it
-My comment was partially based on Tommy Oshima's post from when he was in THAILAND:
"This series of shots are the last images from the lens I loved for years.
The Camera and the Lens was snatched by a motorcycle robbery 30 minutes later I shot this last roll of film.
I was lucky, I pulled out the the film so here I can show you these images"
the camera was a Leica M and the lens a Noctilux 1:1 ..... at LEAST $8K lost
-Thailand IS a poor country !!!!

I'm not crazy, not racist, not narrow minded, I just take precaution to protect my hard earned investments and my life, although I probably didn't word my original post nicely enough

The most funny (or maybe sad) part of your post is ""I'm not crazy, not racist, not narrow minded ""

Nov 22, 2009 at 06:30 PM

Sven Jeppesen
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p.3 #11 · 300L on Thailand trip?

Khun Hans wrote:
anorphirith wrote:
I'd never bring a lens like that to a "poor" country
you can either have it stolen, which is the best outcome
or they hurt/kill you then steal it
a lens like that is more than year of income for them

Because it is more than a year of income they steal and kill

Is that the way of Americans look at the 'rest' of the world?
Hans

+1 Because it is more than a year of income they steal and kill

Nov 22, 2009 at 08:35 PM

abam
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p.3 #12 · 300L on Thailand trip?

'I am going for a 2 week trip to Thailand on november 27 with my girlfriend. The trip will be focused on nature and wildlife adventures with some odd days on the beach and in the cities.'

i have no pity for you if you take all that gear with you instead of enjoying your girlfriend and the adventure unhindered. (<<<i speak from experience.) you'll be doing her a disservice if you play photo dork the whole time. (<<<again, i speak from experience.)

Nov 22, 2009 at 08:43 PM

Lars Johnsson
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p.3 #13 · 300L on Thailand trip?

abam wrote:
'I am going for a 2 week trip to Thailand on november 27 with my girlfriend. The trip will be focused on nature and wildlife adventures with some odd days on the beach and in the cities.'

i have no pity for you if you take all that gear with you instead of enjoying your girlfriend and the adventure unhindered. (<<<i speak from experience.) you'll be doing her a disservice if you play photo dork the whole time. (<<<again, i speak from experience.)

But maybe his girlfriend also like nature, wildlife & photography

Nov 22, 2009 at 09:11 PM

Adam L
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p.3 #14 · 300L on Thailand trip?

anorphirith wrote:
I've been to Togo, Africa, got my camera stolen I also had guns pointed at me many times
I've been to Beijing & I got 200$ stolen on the first day (from very clever con artists)
I've been to japan I brought all my gear and not problem whatsoever
-I never been to Thailand, maybe it's the exception
-I'm going to Colombia in January and I'm probably going to bring a $100 Kodak retina from the 1960's
-I'm certainty NOT from USA, neither have their culture, I have traveled to ~10 countries, I'm speaking purely from experience
-I'd love to bring my 200mm f/2L to Colombia. But big white lenses bring too much attention and I wouldn't risk it
-My comment was partially based on Tommy Oshima's post from when he was in THAILAND:
"This series of shots are the last images from the lens I loved for years.
The Camera and the Lens was snatched by a motorcycle robbery 30 minutes later I shot this last roll of film.
I was lucky, I pulled out the the film so here I can show you these images"
the camera was a Leica M and the lens a Noctilux 1:1 ..... at LEAST $8K lost
-Thailand IS a poor country !!!!

I'm not crazy, not racist, not narrow minded, I just take precaution to protect my hard earned investments and my life, although I probably didn't word my original post nicely enough

I spent 6 months backpacking through the poorest countries in South America just recently. With me, I took two DSLRs, 3 L lenses, and two non Ls.
Gear on show, not taking paranoid precautions etc.

Guess how much got stolen?

Nada.

I'd be more worried about walking through some parts of London than going to a "poor" country with my gear.

Nov 22, 2009 at 09:34 PM

anorphirith
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p.3 #15 · 300L on Thailand trip?

different people different places different experiences
what I learned tell me not to bring $$ stuff
what you learn tells you differently

Nov 22, 2009 at 09:52 PM

Adam L
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p.3 #16 · 300L on Thailand trip?

That's very true. Ignore my post then

Nov 22, 2009 at 09:55 PM

Lars Johnsson
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p.3 #17 · 300L on Thailand trip?

Adam L wrote:
anorphirith wrote:

I spent 6 months backpacking through the poorest countries in South America just recently. With me, I took two DSLRs, 3 L lenses, and two non Ls.
Gear on show, not taking paranoid precautions etc.

Guess how much got stolen?

Nada.

I'd be more worried about walking through some parts of London than going to a "poor" country with my gear.

+1 yes it's a lot more dangerous walking in the big cities in a "rich country", than in the countryside of a "poor country"

Nov 22, 2009 at 10:18 PM

sandmarc
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p.3 #18 · 300L on Thailand trip?

But maybe his girlfriend also like nature, wildlife & photography

Thats the way it is

She also likes taking photos as long as she has a long L lens to play with!!!
I see no problem from a safety side bringing expensive stuff to Thailand. The tais are known to be kind and friendly. Besides my girlfriend is a police officer and I am just short of 2m, 100kg well trained and we have full covering insurance.
Thanks everyone for the input. The 300L will have to take a flight

Nov 23, 2009 at 06:46 AM

pixelman
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p.3 #19 · 300L on Thailand trip?

Be sure to show us some nice shots after this rambling discussion of the tools. Have fun.

Nov 23, 2009 at 01:22 PM

voltaire
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p.3 #20 · 300L on Thailand trip?

Is the 100-400 an option at all? If you feel you need to take the 300, labor is so cheap in Southeast Asia that you can hire people to help you. I went to Cambodia last September, had a porter who helped carry my gear but of course I wasn't backpacking at all and these were day trips.

Safety is subjective and you don't have to be in a rich or poor country to get mugged. Its just taking precautionary steps and after that its all about timing. My camera was stolen in Barcelona from my camera bag that was on my shoulder, someone unsuccessfully attempted to do the same in Prague the following year, and in Cambodia no attempt was ever made on my gear. I have insurance for all my gear and it covers domestic as well as international travel.

Hope this helps. Enjoy Thailand.

Nov 23, 2009 at 09:08 PM

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