«

Thanks for all the tips you all gave for my trip to Antarctica last
December.

I'm now off to (Malaysian) Borneo next month (mid March) and will be
undertaking various activities such as mountain biking, jungle
trekking, bamboo rafting, canopy walks, etc.

There will be some opportunities for dedicated transport for our
luggage (such as when cycling) but I am keen to keep everything to a
minimum as I will be carrying most of my gear especially for the
treks through the jungle.

My normal camera gear are:

Canon 40D

10-22mm f3.5-4.5 USM EF-S (just purchased this)

16-35mm f2.8 L USM

28-135mm f3.5-5.6 IS USM

70-200m f2.8 L IS USM

70-300m f4-5.6 IS USM

Canon 1.4x Teleconvertor

580EX E-TTL II Flash

Epson P5000

Velba Sherpa lightweight tripod

Gitso carbon-fibre tripod

I normally also carry various battery chargers, filters, lens hoods,
power socket adapters, etc.

This is a lot to carry especially if I carry my spare Canon 30D
camera.

Will I need external flash?

I will leave the Gitso behind as the Velba seems to be quite capable
for this trip.

As per my Antarctica trip, I'll probably leave the 70-200mm f2.8 L IS
USM lens behind as weight is even more of a problem on this trip! I
may get a Kenko 1.4 Teleconvertor for some of the jungle shots but
I'll likely need to manual focus (I can live with that).

What are the minimum set of lenses I'll need for the trip? With the
new 10-22mm lens I'll likely leave behind the 16-35mm lens so that
with save on a lot of weight.

(It's almost got to the point that I don't use the L lenses anymore!)

For this trip, in particular, the following have been recommended to
me:

Sunscreen
Sunglasses
Hat (I've got a Tilly hat so will use that!)
Insect repellent
First aid kit
Mosquito net
Sleeping bag liner
Torch
Boots, trainers and sandals
Leech socks
Holdall
Long sleeved shirt
Long trousers
Light-weight mac
Swimwear

I really, really do not want to take too much with me so am looking
at reducing the camera-related gear.

Should I buy a bunch of 8GB memory cards and not take the Epson
P5000?

Should I purchase one of those plastic waterproof covers for my
camera for rafting?

Should I get a small point-and-shoot camera as a spare rather than
using the 30D as the spare?

I'm likely to be without electricity for several days at a time so am
likely to purchase additional batteries for the camera...which does
tend me to look at getting memory cards rather than using the Epson
P5000.

Also, are there any photographic tips that you can provide about
shooting in the jungle, with subjects such as birds, orangutans, etc?

What sort of rucksack would you recommend? I've already seen the need
for float bags for keeping my gear dry in the event of falling into
the river! I don't think that I'm keen on the Lowe waterproof
bags...they're just so difficult to open/close and I know one person
who had managed to damage the waterproof closure mechanism. I'd
rather use a floatbag inside a rucksack.

Anyway just some thoughts and ramblings, but I'd appreciate any
advice.

Just need to check my vaccinations and anti-Malarial medications now!

Regards,

--
Kulvinder Singh Matharu

Website : www.metalvortex.com
Contact : www.metalvortex.com/contact/

Brain! Brain! What is brain?!

In article <>,
Kulvinder Singh Matharu <real-address-in-> wrote:

> I'm now off to (Malaysian) Borneo next month (mid March) and will be
> undertaking various activities such as mountain biking, jungle
> trekking, bamboo rafting, canopy walks, etc.

I've never been to Malaysia but my backpacking experience says to keep
your camera gear as light as possible. 2 or 3 lenses would do.

> My normal camera gear are:
>
> Canon 40D
>
> 10-22mm f3.5-4.5 USM EF-S (just purchased this)
>
> 16-35mm f2.8 L USM
>
> 28-135mm f3.5-5.6 IS USM
>
> 70-200m f2.8 L IS USM
>
> 70-300m f4-5.6 IS USM
>
> Canon 1.4x Teleconvertor
>
> 580EX E-TTL II Flash
>
> Epson P5000
>
> Velba Sherpa lightweight tripod
>
> Gitso carbon-fibre tripod
>

> For this trip, in particular, the following have been recommended to
> me:
>
> Sunscreen
> Sunglasses

Add straps on the ends to hold them on during rafting tumbles and during
biking and hiking.

> Hat (I've got a Tilly hat so will use that!)
> Insect repellent
> First aid kit
> Mosquito net
> Sleeping bag liner

Are you going up any colder mountains?

Also need sleeping pad.

> Torch

Could try LED ... you may not need to replace the battery once on the
trip.

> Boots, trainers and sandals
> Leech socks
> Holdall
> Long sleeved shirt
> Long trousers

zip-off nylon. Will dry overnight if you wash before bed.

> Light-weight mac

Macintosh computer? Too heavy.

> Swimwear

Water filter!

> What sort of rucksack would you recommend? I've already seen the need
> for float bags for keeping my gear dry in the event of falling into
> the river! I don't think that I'm keen on the Lowe waterproof
> bags...they're just so difficult to open/close and I know one person
> who had managed to damage the waterproof closure mechanism. I'd
> rather use a floatbag inside a rucksack.

If you put the lens in a floatbag you'll need padded covers around the
lenses to keep them safe from bumps and bangs, especially during a
capsize.

Kulvinder Singh Matharu wrote:
>
> I'm now off to (Malaysian) Borneo next month


Sounds fun. Here's what I would bring:

> Canon 40D
> 10-22mm f3.5-4.5 USM EF-S
> 70-200m f2.8 L IS USM
> 1.4x Teleconvertor
> lightweight tripod
>
>
> (It's almost got to the point that I don't use the L lenses anymore!)

I would rather 2 good lenses than a few. It doesn't hurt to be missing
some of the middle range.

> buy a bunch of 8GB memory cards
>
> get a small point-and-shoot camera as a spare rather than
> using the 30D as the spare

Maybe if the 30D stays in the bottom of the suitcase but not out hiking
every day, right?

I've travelled extensively across Malaysian Borneo over the years - you
can see my photos in the Malaysia section of my molon.de site.

Don't carry tons of stuff with you, especially if you are planning to do
trekking in the jungle. Every Kg matters.

I've climbed three times Mt Kinabalu and for that I only brought with me
the camera, enough batteries, enough memory cards and a light tripod
(and of course a polariser filter was mounted on the camera).

You'll obviously need some long lens (and a tripod) in case you are
planning to photograph wildlife.

Very important is to have a very good mosquito repellent. The one they
sell here in Germany (Autan) is perfect. The ones they sell locally in
Malaysia don't work (at least not the ones I have tried).

And lastly you don't need any fancy gear. Two lenses could suffice - an
zoom, for instance 24-120 (35mm equiv) and a telezoom for the wildlife
shots.
--

Alfred Molon
------------------------------
Olympus 50X0, 8080, E3X0, E4X0, E5X0 and E3 forum at
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/MyOlympus/
http://myolympus.org/ photo sharing site

I've been to Borneo a couple of times. I found it much less interesting
photographically than I had expected, with the exception of Mt. Kinabalu. If
you go to the orang sanctuaries you will need a very long lens, as tourists
are kept well back from the animals, which are in a quite artificial setting
(feeding platform, ropes, etc.)

Toby

In article <47a68f6a$0$242$>, Toby says...
> If
> you go to the orang sanctuaries you will need a very long lens, as tourists
> are kept well back from the animals, which are in a quite artificial setting
> (feeding platform, ropes, etc.)

Well no, these shots were taken with a 35-105 zoom:
http://www.molon.de/galleries/Malaysia/Sabah/Sepilok/
--

Alfred Molon
------------------------------
Olympus 50X0, 8080, E3X0, E4X0, E5X0 and E3 forum at
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/MyOlympus/
http://myolympus.org/ photo sharing site

"Alfred Molon" <> wrote in message
news: ...
> In article <47a68f6a$0$242$>, Toby says...
>> If
>> you go to the orang sanctuaries you will need a very long lens, as
>> tourists
>> are kept well back from the animals, which are in a quite artificial
>> setting
>> (feeding platform, ropes, etc.)
>
> Well no, these shots were taken with a 35-105 zoom:
> http://www.molon.de/galleries/Malaysia/Sabah/Sepilok/

I meant if you are trying to make it look like they are in the wild, i.e.,
excluding all the man-made stuff. You were lucky to have an animal so close
to the trail. That isn't always the case. We had two young ones playing on
the boardwalk, but we were not allowed to stop and take pictures.

Toby

? "Alfred Molon" <> ?????? ??? ??????
news: ...
> In article <47a68f6a$0$242$>, Toby says...
> > If
> > you go to the orang sanctuaries you will need a very long lens, as
tourists
> > are kept well back from the animals, which are in a quite artificial
setting
> > (feeding platform, ropes, etc.)
>
> Well no, these shots were taken with a 35-105 zoom:
> http://www.molon.de/galleries/Malaysia/Sabah/Sepilok/
> --
>
Sehr gute Fotos, bravo
The most exotic plave I've ever been is Germany, and Austria.I also seem to
prefer cats to orange utans.Meeeow!




--
Tzortzakakis Dimitrios
major in electrical engineering
mechanized infantry reservist
hordad AT otenet DOT gr

On Sun, 03 Feb 2008 10:36:45 -0500, TH O <> wrote:
[snip]
>I've never been to Malaysia but my backpacking experience says to keep
>your camera gear as light as possible. 2 or 3 lenses would do.

I'm tending to think that way too.

[snip]
>Add straps on the ends to hold them on during rafting tumbles and during
>biking and hiking.

That's a good idea!

>> Hat (I've got a Tilly hat so will use that!)
>> Insect repellent
>> First aid kit
>> Mosquito net
>> Sleeping bag liner
>
>Are you going up any colder mountains?

No, but a sleeping bag liner on its own should be ideal to use in a
hot climate, I think!

>Also need sleeping pad.

Sure.

>> Torch
>
>Could try LED ... you may not need to replace the battery once on the
>trip.

Thanks. I got one of those, a StormLight. Bought one in 2006, and
it's still got the original set of batteries in it and still going
strong. Will get new set of batteries anyway!

>> Boots, trainers and sandals
>> Leech socks
>> Holdall
>> Long sleeved shirt
>> Long trousers
>
>zip-off nylon. Will dry overnight if you wash before bed.

OK.

>> Light-weight mac
>
>Macintosh computer? Too heavy.

Funny Raincoat!

>> Swimwear
>
>Water filter!

OK. I was told to bring water purifier tablets. Would that be used
with the water filter or instead of the water filter?

[snip]
>If you put the lens in a floatbag you'll need padded covers around the
>lenses to keep them safe from bumps and bangs, especially during a
>capsize.

Another good idea.

Everyone else, thanks for all the tips. I'll also take some silica
gel as I think I'm going to get quite wet!

--
Kulvinder Singh Matharu

Website : www.metalvortex.com
Contact : www.metalvortex.com/contact/

Brain! Brain! What is brain?!

In article <>,
Kulvinder Singh Matharu <real-address-in-> wrote:

> On Sun, 03 Feb 2008 10:36:45 -0500, TH O <> wrote:
> [snip]
> >I've never been to Malaysia but my backpacking experience says to keep
> >your camera gear as light as possible. 2 or 3 lenses would do.
>
> I'm tending to think that way too.
>
> [snip]
> >Add straps on the ends to hold them on during rafting tumbles and during
> >biking and hiking.
>
> That's a good idea!
>
> >> Hat (I've got a Tilly hat so will use that!)
> >> Insect repellent
> >> First aid kit
> >> Mosquito net
> >> Sleeping bag liner
> >
> >Are you going up any colder mountains?
>
> No, but a sleeping bag liner on its own should be ideal to use in a
> hot climate, I think!
>
> >Also need sleeping pad.
>
> Sure.
>
> >> Torch
> >
> >Could try LED ... you may not need to replace the battery once on the
> >trip.
>
> Thanks. I got one of those, a StormLight. Bought one in 2006, and
> it's still got the original set of batteries in it and still going
> strong. Will get new set of batteries anyway!

Those LEDs sure are a great device for backpacking lights. I swear by
them.

> >> Boots, trainers and sandals
> >> Leech socks
> >> Holdall
> >> Long sleeved shirt
> >> Long trousers
> >
> >zip-off nylon. Will dry overnight if you wash before bed.
>
> OK.
>
> >> Light-weight mac
> >
> >Macintosh computer? Too heavy.
>
> Funny Raincoat!

See what happens when we try to interpret words used differently in
different countries!

> >> Swimwear
> >
> >Water filter!
>
> OK. I was told to bring water purifier tablets. Would that be used
> with the water filter or instead of the water filter?

I use pur aqua tablets in the US. But I seem to recall that they don't
work for some small but deadly viruses. Come to think of it, there is
some distinction between water "filters" and water "purifiers" regarding
which can remove high level viruses. It might be a good idea to read up
on some of this stuff on http://www.katadyn.com where they know a lot
more than me.

> [snip]
> >If you put the lens in a floatbag you'll need padded covers around the
> >lenses to keep them safe from bumps and bangs, especially during a
> >capsize.
>
> Another good idea.

I have some no-name pouches but I hear http://www.optechusa.com/
recommended by others.

> Everyone else, thanks for all the tips. I'll also take some silica
> gel as I think I'm going to get quite wet!

Good luck!