Where Would You Go?

Well, I have been to Africa a few times as well as working out of Latin America and the Caribbean doing drug interdiction as a US Customs pilot. One of the purposes of this trip is to go to countries I have never been to before: Vietnam, Malaysia, India, Israel and Northern Europe.

And as far as aux lenses for the X100F I have noticed a disturbing habit on my part of getting a camera system and vowing to keep it light and simple and somehow I end up with a lot of gear. This has happened a couple times to me in the past. I would get some model of the Leica M and planning to just have the 35/90. Don't know how but presently I have seven M lenses. I want to keep the FujiX100F in its native form. Part of the appeal of the X100 is its size, its fixed focal length and its versatility. Adding more lenses defeats that and I own the MP240 for that roll. Presently, the MP240 will go along with 25, 50 and 90 focal lengths.

And Oftheherd: Not really into digital as half my Leica gear is an M5, have a mint Nikon F with 55 Micro Nikkor, and a MF around here somewhere and I am still taking lessons on how to use LR. However, for travel when I am trying to go super light with only a carry on and small camera bag for a six months, digital and technology offers distinct advantages.
 
If you've got the GR III coming, consider the upcoming 21mm adapter, assuming it comes before you leave. This, coupled with the GR III's in camera cropping, will give you the equivalent of 21, 28, 35 and 50 in a very small but high quality package. I use the 35 and 47mm crop in my GR quite a bit and it is fine. If you're after the smallest and lightest package, this is it.

Differently from other cameras, the cropped raw files are actually cropped, and not 'cropped' inside the metadata of the raw file, if that makes sense. With the Olympus #-M5, in-camera crops to 3:2 or 16:9 result in exactly the same raw file, but it contains metadata which the raw processor interprets as a crop. The Olympus full file can be retrieved if desired, but the GR produces a properly cropped raw file, instead.
 
These might not be concern to everyone, but when traveling, am appreciating simplicity one brand of camera(s) give: colors in all shots are made with same (or very similar) processing, thus having same look (also with raw shots after camera profile has been applied). It also cancel the need for several sets of batteries and chargers = good thing :)
 
I’d only bother with the add on lenses for the x100 if they went wider (24mm at least) and longer (70mm at least). A 28mm and 50mm don’t add enough to a small simple 35mm to bother IMO.
Ricoh has it sorted better, a 21mm adapter is a lot wider than 28mm.
 
Well, I purchased the X100F as my backup to my MP240. I will not be getting a GR3 as I decided I wanted a viewfinder, 35 FOV and built in flash. I had owned the original X100 and loved it. My present thought is to keep the X100F small and uncluttered. I have a 25 Biogon which will be on the MP240 where needed.
 
If you’d posed that question in the 1950’s, the resounding answer would be a Stereo Camera! And now today that’s Still an option. I’d suggest a TDC Colorist.
 
I appreciate all the suggestions. I don't have to be back in six months or even a year. I have been looking at volunteer opportunities in Nepal, India, and Thailand for 3-6 months and may do something along those lines.

I know several people have suggested a 21. I have owned several but never really clicked with that focal length. In fact, my last one (21f4 Skopar) I gave to a new street photographer (an Army guy) who only had a 50 on an M3. He loves it. I really liked the 24 on my SLR so I believe the 25f2.8 Biogon should do great. Some reviews say it is the sharpest lens Zeiss makes for a Leica M mount.

I was out shooting with the X100F today and its capabilities are blowing me away. The auto focus and auto exposure are nice but the film simulations are absolutely AMAZING. I really like the Arcos and Classic Chrome. I paid $1000 used from B&H and what it really shows is how much we are willing to pay for having a Leica fetish.
 
Choose the volunteer work carefully (maybe some here know to recommend one?). Some volunteer organizers are just glorified tourist agencies, and volunteer pays at every turn during the exotic feelgood trip.
 
Yes, I know about the "volunteer" organizations that charge a couple thousand dollars for room and board. I am looking at Habitat for Humanity which seems pretty legitimate.


My trip is shaping up with a departure toward the end of September. The first couple countries on the list are not places to visit during the summer if you have a choice. So here goes and if anyone has comments or things to do in each location, please put it here.


First, Tokyo and Kyoto Japan for 10-14 days followed by a week in Seoul. Then down to the Philippines for a month of scuba diving and exploring WWII historic locations. From the Philippines, it will be over to SE Asia traveling overland from Singapore to Thailand and then Vietnam or going to Vietnam and traveling in reverse order to Singapore. Next, I am thinking a month in India (and India is wide open for suggestions). So, I am not at all religious but the history of Jerusalem requires a visit and perhaps Petra. Then to Europe and train travel especially though western and northern Europe (France, Germany, Netherlands etc) coming back to the US about March of 2020.



I can linger or shorten any portion of the trip as I plan on buying the trip segments as I go. Buying a prepaid ticket is a bit cheaper but there are plenty of penalties if you change the dates or destinations. I still hope do the trip with one piece of carry on luggage.


Camera equipment is still up in the air. I fantasize about taking a Leica film camera but since I plan on doing a blog digital is just so much easier. Presently, a MP240 with 25/50/90 and a FujiX100F which will fit in a Hadley Small.
 
I have no experience in Asia at all. My experience in visiting many European cities is that you will want a 21mm, your 25mm or a 28mm. I usually shoot 90% of shots in cities with a 28mm. You will get use out of a 35 or 50mm too, but not as much as you will need the wider lenses. I have rarely used a telephoto in Europe, with the exception of a Danube cruise, where I got good use out of a 40-150mm Olympus zoom on a micro 4/3 camera shooting villages, castles and vinyards from the ship underway between cities. In the rare instances where you want a telephoto, a 90mm may not be long enough.

YMMV, but I am in the camp of "if you own the good stuff, use it." That having been said, Asia may be a different game than Europe. I never hesitated to take my Leica stuff to Europe and never had a problem.

I have lived and travelled widely in Germany. The Harz Mountain region is nice, if you have seen the main places in Germany. Also, consider Prague, which is about the most beautiful city I've seen. It has a great variety of architecture from the 14th century through Communism, great people, food, dink, etc.

You will have a blast, no matter where you go and what equipment you bring.
 
Philippines?

Philippines?

I have a chance to go to the Philippines in July. Ten days will be devoted to diving but can add a week before and even a week after the trip. Someone mentioned diving with whale sharks and I think that is on the agenda.

I was in the Philippines a lot in the early 1980's while a pilot in the USMC and the carriers were docked in Subic Bay. Most memorable mission was helping move a village which was going to be inundated by a new flood control project. I got to carry a water buffalo in a sling under the CH46 about 15 miles over the jungle. I have often wonder what the water buffalo was thinking.

Anyway, am looking for places to visit and photograph. I know July is rainy season but may pick up a GOPRO 7 for diving and action video.
 
I spent a lot of time in the Philippines but most of my free time was spent in the pursuit of cold San Miguel beer and... other things.

However, I am impressed that you were a CH46 pilot. What a workhorse of a helicopter. One of my collateral duties when I was stationed on the USS Beaufort (ATS-2) was Helo Control Officer. The Beaufort was a very small ship and we did a lot of VERTREPS in the persian gulf. To make a long story short, those CH46 pilots were amazing! Our stern would be bouncing around pretty good but those pilots would hover their CH46 so low the cargo handlers on the flight deck could have reached up and shook hands with the helo crew members. Yes, very impressive.

Mike
 
There are aerodynamic advantages to the tandem rotor design. The last Marine CH46 was put in the boneyard about three years ago. Now the only tandem helo still flying to my knowledge is the Army CH47 which is the Army's heavy lifter.

And yes I know all about SML's and "other things." When at Subic in the early 1980's, I was 30 years old, a bachelor, my roommate was our flight surgeon and everything could be cured with penicillin. I understand the airfield (Cubi Point) at the old Subic Bay Naval Station is now FedEx's air hub in Asia.
 
Does anyone know how hard it is to get find film (color print) or get it developed in either Manilla or Cebu? I enjoy film but I have either a MP240 or X100f for ease of travel.
 
Between 2009 and 2012 I spent a totally of probably about 2+ months in the Philippines. I don't think I would trust my film development there, and I would definitely get a lead bag because their airport baggage scanners are pretty old.
Outside of Manilla the food was horrible
Make sure you drink some Red Horse and not just San Mig.
I spent time in Dumaguete, can't recommend it. Cebu and Manilla were cool and there are lots of amazing small islands in which you can experiance some of the best scuba diving
 
Was just swimming with those whale sharks 3 weeks ago . Absolutely spectacular, they're in Donsol . Water was barely 5 meters deep and it seemed all I could do to stay out of their way . Easy to keep up with if you rent flippers there. Would love to have had a go-pro with me. I think we we're extremely lucky that day as we saw 4 different ones in a couple of hours (they make it clear there are no guarantees of seeing them). Arrive early for best chances . Quite the country to get around. Peter
 
I'm local. Will respond in a bit :)

July will be monsoon season. We've had a bit of rain as early as now but expecting the annual typhoons to come later.

Whale sharks: Strongly advise to avoid the whale shark watching in Oslob, Cebu because they engage in unsustainable practices. Donsol is better in that respect.

Film developing: local fujifilm outlet in Manila accepts color developing. I can send you addresses via pm. Black and white developing takes a while (3 to 5 days) and is serviced by independent labs. There's been a resurgence locally brought about by the young crowd.

For scuba diving, there's a ton of sites just a couple hours drive from Manila. Anilao, Batangas comes to mind.
 
Bill Clark-one of my friends who retired as a colonel from the Marines met his wife at a bar in Olongopo. Been married over 30 years. Sometimes economic circumstances may force women into work they might otherwise choose to avoid. I will not throw stones at her or other "sex workers" I have met.

Moto Uno and Bucs-my friend suggested Donsol as he was diving with them in January.

And my last trip to PI was during the 2016 election. I watched the results from a beachfront resort in Subic and wondering what the hell happened. I managed to do some scuba diving in Subic-lots of wrecks. This trip I want to look at the Bataan Death March and Corrigidor..

I have another friend who was at Subic in 1991 following the eruption of Mt Pinatubo and I was curious as to how the base turned out. He told me he left and there was still a couple inches of volcanic ash on everything on the base as the US Navy turned it over to the Philippine government. Clark is being used as an international airfield but has very limited flights in and out. Flying into Manilla sucks due to ground traffic to get out of the city. As I stated earlier Cubi Point is now FedEx's Asia aviation hub. And JEST (Jungle Environment Survival Training) on the base is now a hostel, go figure.
 
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