You can purchase a rain jacket for your camera or use a zip-lock bag with a hole cut in the bottom..

Be sure to take a power converter..

FINE PRINT: I reserve the right to be wrong. Should you prove me wrong, I reserve the right to change my mind...

What part of Thailand are you going to? I was in Phuket over Christmas - beautiful place to visit and take photos!.

Sorry, I digress, back to the matter at hand - the bag - now people will recommend what they have and use obviously so I suggest you look around, try them out on your back to see what feels comfortable/easy to use. Also work out how you would put your kit in it and if that works for you..

I personally have a Lowepro Slingshot 200 AW and I love it. It fits my D80, 3 lenses, flash and cords/batteries etc etc. It also has an all weather cover (hence AW) that covers the whole bag in wet weather. Comfy and padded while still providing me easy access to the camera without having to take it off my back. I can also slide my tripod in the loop on the side so it carries that too..

There are heaps of great brands out there, try a few and pick what's right for you:.

Http://lowepro.com/.

Http://www.crumplerbags.com/Cart/index.php?catId=22.

Http://www.thinktankphoto.com/.

Http://www.tamrac.com/.

Have a great trip!.

FallingphotogirlSydney, Australia.

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Sp00d wrote:.

However, I am visiting Thailand for a month, in the rainy season,and this is a whole new ballgame for me. I would like some adviceon the following if possible:.

- Are the lenses I have sufficient for amateur photography in mostsituations? Up close human images, wildlife shots, landscapes andvistas etc..

The range will do. However, from what I've seen the quality of the Canon kitlens is dismal. If you do have the budget see about replacing it. A tamron 17-50 for example but perhaps canon does have something decent in it's lineup..

- What bag should I buy that is up to some wear and tear, can carrymy gear, but wont cost me the Earth?.

Crumpler's got a few nice bags. So does lowepro, the slingshot or the Rezo 140 AW comes to mind. I own the latter and it serves me well as my "small" bag. Has a raincover you can pull over it and enough space for a body with medium lens on it and a telezoom..

- What DO photographers do when it rains? I appreciate my camera isfar from expensive in the grand scheme of things, but on my budgetit was expensive, and I prefer not to have rain ruin it. On theother hand, I would love to be able to not worry about rain and beable to take shots in wet weather. Is there a reasonably cheapsolution to do this? (I don't mean a carrier bag wrapped around mycamera!!).

Don't knock the carrier bag solution. I always have one in my camera bag. Perfect for sitting on when doing nature shot and it can be used as a raincover. The big camera shops also store raincovers, both heavy duty and light, almost disposable models..

I'd advice you to also get a few bags of silicagel and store one or two in your camera bag..

- What tripod recommendations do you guys have for an amateurphotography that wants something cheap and ligthweight, that can beput up and taken down quickly? It doesnt have to last me 10 yearsand be made of carbon fibre, but I would like it to last a month .

There's quite a few lightweight aluminium ones available. Start around 40 euros or so..

I have done a little research, but the huge range of accessories onoffer, and prices, leaves me a little daunted. I would say mybudget is around the same as the camera, ie the lower end of whatis possible to spend. However, I dont mind spending a little moreif the extra features/quality warrant the expenditure..

Don't forget a rocket blower and microfiber cloth..

Hope this helps.Don't wait for the Nikon D-whatever, have fun now!http://www.flickr.com/photos/j_wijnands/..

No real suggestions for a bag except 1) buy one you can grow into 2) in the UK there are thousands - many of them used - on Ebay.I bought three bags each for less than 20% of their likely new price. I figured if they did not suit I could always sell them on. I struck lucky being happy with two out of the three..

Re a tripod I think the Manfrotto Modo would suit you - well designed - light weight. It was not substantial enough for my heavy duty needs but I enjoyed using it. In the UK they retail for around 45-50..

Here is the one I sold a monthg or two back:.

Http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320106693378Chris Elliott.

*Nikon* D Eighty + Fifty - Other equipment in Profile.

Http://PlacidoD.Zenfolio.com/..

Sorry for the late reply!! I'm going for a month, so plan to travel all over, and also go to cambodia. Thankyou for all the suggestions. I have decided on the manfrotto tripod and have narrowed it down to 2 bags..

Thankyou also for reminding me about the blower and cloth! I would never have thought of those ..

Make sure you buy the genuine 'Rocket' brand. A lot of the cheaper ones contain all sorts of nasties and will deposit muck on your sensor and lenses rather than cleaning it off..

Rob.

Everyone, everywhere, has to do everything for a first time. There is no failure in failure, only in failing to learn...

How did you hang your tripod on the side loop of the Lowepro 200? I have a Manfrotto 055 and 488RC2 ball head which does not fit through the loop..

Fallingphotogirl wrote:.

What part of Thailand are you going to? I was in Phuket overChristmas - beautiful place to visit and take photos!.

Sorry, I digress, back to the matter at hand - the bag - now peoplewill recommend what they have and use obviously so I suggest you lookaround, try them out on your back to see what feels comfortable/easyto use. Also work out how you would put your kit in it and if thatworks for you..

I personally have a Lowepro Slingshot 200 AW and I love it. It fitsmy D80, 3 lenses, flash and cords/batteries etc etc. It also has anall weather cover (hence AW) that covers the whole bag in wetweather. Comfy and padded while still providing me easy access to thecamera without having to take it off my back. I can also slide mytripod in the loop on the side so it carries that too..

There are heaps of great brands out there, try a few and pick what'sright for you:.

Http://lowepro.com/.

Http://www.crumplerbags.com/Cart/index.php?catId=22.

Http://www.thinktankphoto.com/.

Http://www.tamrac.com/.

Have a great trip!.

FallingphotogirlSydney, Australia.

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Hi Jarratt,.

I'd take a photo to show you but I just sold my old tripod and am still waiting for my new one to arrive. I had a el-cheapo tripod before and I just used to slide one of the legs into the loop - worked really well for long walks etc... hope that helps?.

Jarratt wrote:.

How did you hang your tripod on the side loop of the Lowepro 200? Ihave a Manfrotto 055 and 488RC2 ball head which does not fit throughthe loop..

FallingphotogirlSydney, Australia.

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Ok, I got the slingshot 200AW bag. It's very nice and perfect for my needs. Also bought an aquapac bag and instead of a rocket I got a giottos Q.ball. The tripod I bought was the Manfrotto Modo 785SHB over the 785B simply because it was smaller and lighter, and also 5 more so therefore it MUST be better.....right? However, It doesn't extend fully to even my chest height, so I'm wondering if it's worth sending it back and get the 785B and putting up with slightly more weight for another 35cm of height. I've never had a tripod before so I'm nopt really sure how much height is enough. Is it usual to stoop down for a shot?.

Apart from the height issue the tripod seems really nicely put together, and DOES fit into the loop on the slingshot bag by putting one leg into the loop as fallingphotogirl said .

ANy comments on the tripod issue (or non-issue as the case maybe)...

Hi,.

I can't answer your question regarding tripods, I don't tend to use one, But I spent around 4 months travelling around S.E.A in 2001 visiting Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia (inc Borneo) and Singapore during the wet season. So I can offer some advice with regard to wildlife mainly..

If your serious about viewing wildlife take some binoculars if you can, you will regret it if you don't! When visiting National Parks (or other wildlife sites) make sure you're out in the jungle at sunrise, wildlife is most active from then (about 7.00am I think) untill around 9.00am and then things quieten down untill late afternoon (depending on the weather), gibbons for example normally only sing at dawn so that's the best time to look for them. Also either naturally or because of hunting most mammals are nocturnal or crepuscular (active dusk and dawn) so don't be surpised if you don't see too much. On night drives/walks opportunities for photography are limited so a good pair of binoculars will be more useful than a camera..

I visited many National Parks in Thailand for birding/wildlife but saw relatively little,.

(Malaysia was much better especially Borneo) the highlights were a big bull elephant and lots of sambhar (deer) on a night drive in Khao Yai NP (no photos) and lots of beautiful dusky langur monkeys in Khao Sam Roy Yot NP mainly around the hq at Khao Deang and near Laem Sala beach. I got some great shots (slides) with my Sigma 70-300 I'm afraid I can't send any due to problems with my pc..

The 70-300 on a 300D should be ok for wildlife including some birds if your close enough, though photographing monkeys or large birds like hornbills in the treetops inside the forest is difficult with AF there are always branches or leaves in the way. You may have to use manual focus and switch the lens to macro to lock the zoom at 300 otherwise when you point it skywards it will start to zoom out of it's own accord (at least mine used to). The lens would also be good for zooming in on carvings and other details on temples in Bangkok or of course at Angkor as well as candid shots of people. When not trying to photograph wildlife I mainly used a standard zoom, though a much older one for a Canon Eos 35mm and was very happy with the 2 lenses..

Obviouslly in the rainy season it will rain!! this can cause problems I visited Chiaw Lan Lake in Khao Sok NP in southern Thailand a huge and very beautiful resevoir surrounded by jungle covered limestone mountains/cliffs and where you stay in a very basic floating hotel. A great place for wildlife viewing by boat, in theory however of 2 boat trips 1 was cancelled due to rain and on the other I saw nothing, a possible jungle trek was also cancelled too wet, went canoeing instead (left the camera behind) again saw nothing. Also in Khao Sok after a very long and wet days solo jungle treking, stupidly took my camera in a Lowepro daypack on a night walk and got caught out in a major downpour my waterproof a cheap poncho was useless and my small umbrella didn't help much, my pack got very wet and my camera was ruined..

I had to buy a new camera in Kuala Lumpur I also bought a lightweight Malay army issue poncho from a camping shop. This kept my pack and my new camera perfectly dry in subsequent downpours. Backpacks are usefull for travelling but for wildlife you often need to be quick on the draw so I now carry 2 Dslrs in pouches on a waste belt, if it rains I sling the poncho on then if it's only light rain I can still take photos. In heavy rain I doubt you'll want to take many pics, if your happy shooting one handed a travel umbrella is useful in towns/cities if it's not raining too hard. Also as I am sure you're aware from other posts watch out for the humidity your camera wont like it.

One last point when jungle treking don't wear waterproof goretex type boots or you will get water inside them and get trench foot, wear light weight canvas or similar is better, sandals are useful for crossing streams but are not advisable otherwise (I saw loads of snakes!!).

I am happy to offer any other advice you might need.

Have a great trip and enjoy the leeches!!.

Robbo..

I doubt my trip will be that hardcore as the purpose of it is not for photography/wildlife viewing. Also, the thought of leeches makes my skin crawl!!.

Sounds like you had a nice time though..

I am still undecided on the tripod and am running out of time..

Things I like: Weight, price, folded size..

Things I dont like: Max load, max height..

Should I go for the 785B instead? Or ditch the modo for something else altogether? It isnt even rated for SLR use, which kinda scares me!..

Hi sp0od,.

I got myself a 785B (arrived today! ) I was worried about the max load too but heard from many people that the weight is underated and can easily carry 2kg of kit - I had 1.4kg on it all day today and it was fine. YMMV and I know it is is not up to standard for certain types of shooting, it is not very heavy so is not going to be as stable as a more expensive 'better' tripod but I like that it goes low and is a good height for me. I will be carrying mine around a lot so wanted it to be light..

I know it is by no means a pro 'pod and I have only had a day to play but I think it will suit my purposes for now, especially as I will be doing ALOT of travelling this year. But I will most probably be getting another one at some stage..

Sp00d wrote:.

Things I like: Weight, price, folded size..

Things I dont like: Max load, max height..

Should I go for the 785B instead? Or ditch the modo for somethingelse altogether? It isnt even rated for SLR use, which kinda scaresme!.

According to the tag that came on my 785B, it is not rated for SLR either. Here is the tag that compares both:.

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Also for Jarrat, here is my tripod on my 200 AW:.

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FallingphotogirlSydney, Australia..