Malaysia!

[cmartinc]

Hi guys.

Me and the wife are going to travel around the globe from the cold, snowy northern Europe to the warm and not so snowy Malaysia in a couple of weeks. The plan is to travel around for a couple of weeks mixing cities, beaches and exploring.

I am planning to bring my M2 with voigtländer 35mm f/1.7 and a GW690II. The M will be loaded with Ilford HP5plus and/or Tmax100. In the GW690II I will be shooting a mix of Ilford fp4plus and portra 160.

Has anyone been over there rescently? Any insider tips for a fellow shooter?

/Martin

 

[tsiklonaut]

KL is pretty photogenic in some places, as is Penang (one of if not the best street food in the World!) but other than the crowded cities I'd definitely go to the east side of Malaysia, that's the proper Malaysia IMHO - very little tourism and a breah of fresh air. You'll notice once you're there 🙂 Cameron Highlights may be worth a detour as well, just for photos, although pretty touristy place.

Good choice of the cameras, although I'd just take just the proper 690 "Texas Leica" since their focal lenghts are pretty similar while the 6x9 utterly dominates over the little 35mm in IQ in every aspect, Fujinon's tonality is just amazing and can't be beaten by anything out of a 35mm camera. Also less similar focal length cameras will motivate you to take better shots as well.

Just me 2c,
Margus

 

[Paul Jenkin]

I haven't been to Malaysia but I suspect that the same issue may arise there as I've experienced in Sri Lanka - e.g using cameras in hot and humid conditions when straight out of a cooler and air-conditioned environment.

I found that I had a very misted / fogged up camera due to condensation forming the instant the camera went from my room to the street. We northern Europeans love our cool / dry climates but the difference can really screw with camera gear.

All I can suggest is that you take a couple of big packets of silica gel (to absorb as much moisture as possible whilst out and about) and allow your cameras to re-acclimitise every time you go out. Clean lenses very gently to remove condensation marks and avoid scratches - and let the kit dry thoroughly (ideally in sunlight) to avoid risk of fungus).

Hope you have a great time as it's one of those places that looks really special.

 

[benji77]

Malaysia has great food, a nice quaint feel to the outskirt areas and the people are relatively helpful and polite.

While in the city, please exercise caution with your gear, bags (especially ladies). Do not walk on pathways with your bag on the pathside, dont flash $$ and stay very alert. In trains, stay very alert.

Penang, Malacca, Ipoh, Cameron Highlands, Genting Highlands, KL are some of the many favourite places to visit.

If you are driving, dont speed (and if you get caught, look out for the tell-tale signs of bribery.) Paying the bribe is cheaper than the penalty.

 

[cmartinc]

Thanks for the inputs guys. I really appriciate it.

Benji77: I always take caution in healthy doses. I am suspisious by nature but not paranoid =)

We just booked a couple of nights on Langkawi so the wife can go swim and get a tan and all that girly stuff.

Margus: The m2 will probably function as a backup , mainly. Might use it in tempels and places like that because its stealthier =)

Martin

 

[aadi]

Penang is quite photogenic 🙂

 

[Rayt]

Put camera and lens in plastic bags when you go from air conditioned environment such as hotel or taxi to hot and humid surroundings to let the temperature of your gear rise without condensation fogging your lens and viewfinder. In the hotel put your camera bag in the bathroom as you sleep so it does not get as cold as the room.

 

[cmartinc]

Rayt. Good tips!

We are going to visit penag for new years eve.

Another question for inputs. Since I am bringing the texas leica and fairly slow film, max speed is 400 but most probably average is 100. To bring a tripod or not? For those low light evening shots. Pro is clearly that the quality lf the shots will improve and all other benefits a tripod brings. Cons.. I have to carry it and we will backpack. Even tho I hope the army has tought me something about carrying stuff around... problems problems problems...