Singapore & Tioman Island

[Olsen]

Flies from Oslo to Singapore next week, together with my wife, my sister and brother-in-law. We will stay two nights here:

http://www1.hilton.com/en_US/hi/hotel/SINHITW-Hilton-Singapore/index.do

Before flying with Berjaya Air (https://www.berjaya-air.com/ ) to Tioman Island. http://wikitravel.org/en/Tioman_Island

The landing at Tioman Airport is not for the faint hearted: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vw6iGTRXVC4 The landing here seen from the ground: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C90vHJtO2QE&feature=related

We are going to stay here for about three weeks: http://www.berjayahotel.com/tioman/index.asp

This is a trip we have taken many times before. But not last year. This time we are going to try out Singapore Sands http://www.marinabaysands.com/SandsSkypark/Sands_Sky_Park.aspx on the return, where we are going to stay for well a week.

I'll will be bringing my 1Ds III 24-70 mm 2,8L, 200 mm 2,8L II with both the 1,4x and 2x converters, a flash or two and a Epson 5000 for file back up storage/viewing/sorting. I'll do some bird and wildlife photography, which really is my hobby. But most of the files will be landscape - Tioman is stunningly beautiful, people/family, the architecture of Tioman and Singapore.

Since we haven't been to Singapore & Tioman since 2009 - and that we have experienced the longest and coldest winter in many years, we very much look forward to this trip. Not the least we are looking forward to eat the local food. Both at many of the local restaurants on Tioman, as well as the world famous food culture of Singapore! Hum!

 

[Spoks]

Olsen,

Have a nice trip. - Wish it was me. We had minus 8 degrees C this morning and well a meter snow.

Do your brother in law bring any camera?

 

[35mmdelux]

I love short landing strips. Enjoy.

 

[Olsen]

Spoks,

How are you! Have not seen you around for quite some time. Do you still live in Stavanger? Or was it Bergen?

No. My brother-in-law is not a photographer, but my sister is. She brings with her a Nikon SLR with a small zoom. I don't know the exact model.

35mmdelux,

We have some hilarious small and windy airfields here in Norway too, which for many years were frequented by Wideroes Twin Otters. - All small communities here want their own airfield, you see. I have done quite a few trips with these in bad weather (we almost only have 'bad weather').

I have landed several times at this airport, now closed: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=km4WPTUI_O4&feature=related

Wideroe uses Dash-8 today.

But landing at Tioman Airport is like 'landing in a drawer' with a Dash 7.

 

[Spoks]

Olsen,

I live in Asker with my girlfriend. I moved to Stavanger in January 2010. Worked then for a few months in Bergen while living in Asker. I waved to you at Flesland Airport, but you did not seem to see me, sometime last spring/summer.

I read here somewhere that you have sold your M8 and bought a 2.hand M9. I wonder how much you got for your M8? Is it realistic that they will sell for 10.000 NOK in the near future? That is about what I am willing to pay. I am using a G10 a lot. It gives a lot of RF feel and takes remarkable pictures. Very much satisfied with that. I am using a 32GB card that has enough capacity for what I expect to expose through a summer.

For me it is a bit either or. Should I keep my M-lenses and go for a M8? Or should I sell the ZM lenses and buy a small digital SLR? Or something.

Regarding that youtube film from Værøy Lofoten. It was a military, from NorRAF, Not a Wideroe plane. Twin Otter that crashed there. Rumour went that the pilot had been drinking. _Remember?

 

[Olsen]

Spoks,


When did you see me at Flesland? Where? I can't remember exactly, but I flew thru Flesland at least four times last year. If I remember right.

Have you seen this M8 for sale? http://www.foto.no/cgi-bin/bruktmarked/visAnnonse.cgi?id=148825&merkeid=6

12.000 NOK is cheap! I sold mine for 15.000 NOK to a guy at the University in Bergen. We met here in Oslo, though.

 

[Spoks]

I still think that 12.000 NOK is too expensive for a M8. My hope is that I could get one for less than 10.000 NOK. It is obvious that they now have fallen in price. While 18 - 15.000 NOK was common just a few months back 12 - 13.000 NOK now seems more common. There is a stready stream of M9 for sale here in Norway too. Have you noticed?

 

[Olsen]

Spoks,

I think that the Leica M8 has kept it's value quite well. Say, compared to my 1Ds III. When going to Singapore I could try to investigate what M8s go for down there.

Wonder if anyone here at RFF knows the street price of a 2.hand M8 is in Singapore.

Then I could buy one for you. I know what to look for....

 

[Spoks]

Olsen,

I have to think about it. - I could give you a call tomorrow. I feel possibly it is a bit risky.

I see from your travel plan that you are going to stay in Singapore for well a week. That should be enough to look around for some camera gear. And that you are going to stay at this new Singapore Sands with this swimming pool on the roof that goes all the way to the edge of the building. I take it that you are not afraid of heights!

 

[rizraz]

I saw one for sale in clubsnap.com, a Singapore photography forum. It is going for SGD3500. I think that will be somewhere around NOK15,000++. Leicas are still sold at a premium around this region. 🙁

 

[Spoks]

rizraz,

Thanks for the info. All Leica equipment are sold with a premium too, here in Norway. The group of Leica users is small and quite transperant. 3,500 S$ is more like 16 - 17.000 NOK due to the very strong Singapore Dollar. 10.000 NOK would be more like 2150 S$.

 

[Olsen]

rizras,

Do you know of any shops in Singapore that sells 2.hand Leica gear?

 

[Olsen]

Anyone here from Singapore who knows where to buy 2.hand Leica equipment in Singapore? Is there any local 2.hand sales web list including camera gear, like Ebay, in Singapore?

 

[craygc]

Do you know of any shops in Singapore that sells 2.hand Leica gear?

There's a few in Peninsula Plaza and across the road in the shopping mall attached to the Peninsula Hotel. In general, 2nd hand camera equipment here is more expensive than Honk Kong or the USA.

 

[rizraz]

rizras,

Do you know of any shops in Singapore that sells 2.hand Leica gear?

Olsen,

like craygc wrote, check Peninsula Plaza and also the surrounding areas, there will be the best bet. I live in Kuala Lumpur but usually go there to stock up on my films or drool on the items there whenever I visit my mum across the border.

 

[rizraz]

Olsen,

one more thing..... closest MRT station for Peninsula Plaza will be City Hall. If you just jump into any taxis, just say Peninsula Plaza, they should know where to go.

 

[Olsen]

Thank you, folks!

I know well where Peninsula Plaza is. - I regard myself as a regular customer of Cathay Photo. I think I know what shops you refer to. Last time I checked my impression was that prices were more expensive than here in Norway. But while we shopped 2. hand camera gear in shops just 10 years ago, we don't do that anymore. We shop at local photo web sites that have a 2.hand sales column. Like this one: http://www.foto.no/ Here you can sort out all Leica gear for sale (or inquiries for purchase) and find adds like this: http://www.foto.no/cgi-bin/bruktmarked/visAnnonse.cgi?id=149104&merkeid=6

All free!

 

[Olsen]

And Craygc,

Some awsome night photos you have taken of Singapore by night! Very good! I will stay 6 nights at Marina Bay Sands Singapore on the return leg from Tioman, for the first time.

Spoks,

I am scared of hights like hell! But my wife isn't! But that last week we stay at Marina Bay Sands I have some business to attend to and will be busy. While my wife stays by the top floor pool, I guess.

 

[Spoks]

Olsen,

Craygc's pictures should be a great inspiration for you to take good pictures. Both from and of the Singapore Sands Hotel. It looks very spectacular.

Have a nice trip!

 

[Spoks]

Wonder how Olsen is doing. He is supposed to have come home this weekend, but I have neither seen or heard from him.

Are you around, Olsen?