As I already mentioned in Part I & Part II of this camera kit series.  I have settled on the Nikon D700 and since purchasing it around 4 months ago I have not read a single review of any cameras or even inquired about Nikon’s newest models and the likely replacement for the D700.  I am 100% happy with my D700 and the camera gear I have kept for my kit which I travel with although I am often unhappy with my photography but that’s what learning and improving your skills is all about.

On a side note:  Even though I am happy with the D700 I am anxiously awaiting the replacement that Nikon has yet to announce.  Nikon just announced the D7000 which is a lower end model replacing the ever popular and great D90 and it looks fabulous.  The features and specs on the Nikon D7000 are any indication the future Nikon D800, D700x, D700s or whatever they decide to call it is going to be a must buy investment.

D700 with (optional) Battery Grip

D700 Digital SLR

As mentioned before I have chose the D700 and love it.  Although for me, the D90 was a slightly “funner” camera the D700 is a better piece of serious equipment which requires a little bit more know-how to get the most out of it.  Since I have upgraded to the D700 I have found the learning curve has caused me to miss more shots than the D90 but the more I use the D700 the easier and more fun it gets to use as well.  Not to mention the quality of my photos is increasing dramatically in the process.

My Current Lenses

Nikon Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8

When I first test shot this lens in the camera store on a D700 I knew immediately I wanted to buy it.  In addition to taking crystal clear photos this lens allows you to get very close to your subjects which lets you take photos from unique perspectives.  Especially while taking tourism photos, I would estimate 95% out there who are taking photos with point and shoots and SLRs would not be able to get.  I find the drawbacks to using this lens are minimal.  Even though the lens is heavy it balances perfectly with the D700 which has even allowed me to get some great shots holding the camera with 1 hand.

Nikon Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR

This enormous lens is a lens I love to hate.  While it’s one the best lenses and an absolute delight to use it is by far the worst lens to have when you’re not using it.  When I first started using this lens I would use it solely for far off objects while I used my super-wide for most other things.  I have slowly started using the 70-200mm f/2.8 VR for more of a wide variety of photos, especially controlling depth of field which gives the photos a very professional look.  The VR works flawlessly and has allowed me to get ultra sharp shots even while being sloppy and not holding the camera steady.

Nikon Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 D

In the first few months of owning this ultra compact lens I barely used it.  Leaving my camera bag behind numerous times and missing out on the opportunity to get some fabulous shots has caused me to appreciate this lens a lot more.  Now instead of leaving my entire camera bag at home or the hotel, I bring just the D700 & this lens.  I don’t have a point-and-shoot other than my cell phone camera but the D700 along with this lens allows me to get far superior shots in low light than any point and shoot although during the day the advantage is lessened, especially for shots of landscapes.

Nikon Nikkor 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5

A lens I essentially got for free this is my only “non-professional” lens in my camera bag.  The focal range is handy for numerous situations and it is light enough to be a “walking around” lens.  Even though this lens is perfect for walking around while touring new places during the day I tend to only use it for its ‘macro’ ability (close up photography).   I also use it for nighttime cityscapes in which I am stuck in a location and cannot get the right shot w/ my 12-24mm ultra wide or my 70-200mm telephoto.  While the shots look great when attached to a tripod, I prefer not to use this lens handheld at night as I would have to crank up the ISO which would yield noisy shots.

Nikon Nikkor 105mm f/2.8 VR Micro

At the moment I haven’t decided if I want to lug around this 1+ pound lens in my camera bag because macro photography is not my #1 passion.  That says nothing about the quality of this lens which is absolutely superb.  The photos are very sharp and the colors seem better than most other lenses.  I purchased the lens with the thought it would make my macro shots a lot better but the truth is the lens has really just shown me how very difficult macro photography is.  Taking photos of flowers is one thing but if you want to get a shot of a honey bee’s eyeball like I do, there is much more to it than simply pointing and shooting.

My Essential Accessories

Nikon MB-10 Battery Grip

I was hesitant to buy this as I had just spent a lot of money on the D700 body and Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8 lens.  I was considering a knock-off battery grip but figured I may as well get the Nikon quality version and I’m glad I did.  It took me a while to finally use the battery grip but once I started, I almost never take it off.  In addition to the ability to use another battery, Nikon’s professional powerful battery, and a bunch of AA batteries, the battery grip allows you to get 8fps (frames per second) during continuous shooting with AA or Nikon’s pro battery.  Even though the aforementioned perks are nice, they are not the reason why I recommend a Nikon battery grip to anyone who owns a digital SLR.  The second shutter release and navigation button make shooting a lot more efficient and comfortable.  Switching from landscape (horizontal) to portrait (vertical) is seamless and allows you to frame portraits perfectly almost every time.

Nikon SB -600 Speedlight

I bought it used from Craigslist.org for $200 as opposed to buying the newer and more power SB-900.  While it has the same ability to be used remotely as the SB-900 it has less range and a slower recharge rate.  Like the expensive SB-900 the SB-600 can be used attached to the D700’s hot shoe as well as remotely on a stand.  Since I bought the SB-600 speedlight I have only used it a handful of times and look forward to learning more about flash photography in the future.

Nikon SB-900 Speedlight

Even though I have not been using flash very much as most of my subjects are landscapes and cityscapes, I wasn’t quite satisfied with the rate at which the SB-600 recharged its flash and I really want to get into portrait photography more so I decided to plunk down another few hundred bucks to get Nikon’s flagship flash.  At the time of this writing I haven’t really used the flash much but I will tell you if the instruction manual of 200+ pages is one indication, the flash is very complicated to the untrained photographer.  I have found the built in white bounce card to be very useful so far.  Using the SB-900 in combination with the 105mm Macro lens has produced very satisfying results and has made handheld macro photography a lot more fun but I’m still learning.

Lens Pen & Cleaning Kit

Anyone that owns an SLR knows the frustration of not having the right cleaning supplies to clean their equipment.  Camera equipment is very expensive and should be taken care of properly and I carry a standard lens cleaning kit with lens paper and cleaning solution, a bulb blower and a couple microfiber cloths.  I also have a lens pen which has a brush on one end, and a wet sponge-like cleaning pad on the other.  The lens pen is a must have for anyone with a digital SLR in my opinion.

Kata 123-Go-30 Camera Backpack/sling

The first camera bag I had was a compact, quick release shoulder sling which went over one shoulder.  While I liked the style the constant weight bearing on a single shoulder was causing pretty bad shoulder pain.  I found myself at Funan It Mall in Singapore where I saw a good selection of camera bags.  What attracted me to this bag was the versatility of being to switch from a right or left shoulder sling to a backpack as well as being able to fit all my gear.  The bag is built nice and is comfortable but it is lacking a couple things.  Although there is plenty of room for the aforementioned equipment, there is no way to attach a tripod or a compartment for even a small laptop computer.

Digipod BH-55Q Tripod

After spending thousands of dollars on lenses and camera equipment I really didn’t want to spend too much on a tripod.  I ended up going to Power Buy a retail electronic store chain in Thailand and buying a Fancier tripod which was on sale for 2000 baht.  The tripod was actually very good and although it worked okay it wasn’t designed for a heavy camera/lens combo.  On the first day of a Hong Kong trip, I ended up going tripod shopping.  Although I tested out many tripods ranging from Nikon to Manfrotto I settled on the Digipod based on the recommendation from the knowledgeable guy at the camera shop.  The things I like about the Digipod tripod is the twisting leg adjustments which allow you to quickly extend the entire leg with a single turn.  The coin tightening, sliding medal plate is also far superior at attaching to the camera body than the finger twisting quick release plates of other tripods.  This allows me to shoot portrait orientated long exposures without the weight of the camera/lens moving under its own weight ruining the shot.

One of the Few Mistake-Free Shots I've Taken

General Photography Tips:  Learn from my Mistakes

Just because I’m not a “professional photographer” doesn’t mean you can’t learn some helpful tips from the numerous mistakes I have made.  If you are just starting out with a digital SLR you will initially make mistakes but if you keep these basic ideas in mind, you can minimize your mistakes and be taking cool travel photos soon.

Always Take the Shot

Your camera does no good if it is sitting in your camera bag or hanging around your neck.  Whether you are tired from a whole day of tourism and taking photos or simply aren’t 100% sure if the shot will be cool, there is no point to not taking the shot.   When I say “take the shot” what I really mean is “take a bunch of shots.”  Take a few shots of each subject from different angles and vantage points so you increase the likelihood of getting a pleasing photo.

If people are involved don’t be timid.  If it really bothers you, ask the subject if they are okay with being photographed.  Owning an SLR gives you the advantage of being able to take hundreds if not thousands of shots so don’t be afraid to use them.  Sure, there will be some that you will not use, in fact I would probably say 90% of your shots will end up in the recycle bin on your desktop but if you never take the shot, you will never know whether or not it was good and you will not learn from experience.

Keep Going

This tip goes along with the above “take the shot” tip.  When taking photos of landscapes and cityscapes there is no worse a feeling that getting home and realizing that you should have walked a little further down the street or hiked a little further up the hill to get the shot you want.  If you want to use your DSLR to its maximum potential and be completely satisfied with the photos you take go as far as you can go when trying to get a shot.  Whether this is leaning a little further over the edge of the cliff, climbing up a few more flights of stairs or simply walking around, trying to find a better vantage point, keep going while shooting photos until you hit the proverbial brick wall and you will be happy with your photo shoot.

Try not to Fall Victim to the ‘All or None Principle’

One reason for the popularity of point-and-shoots is because carrying around a camera bag is often a burden.  I can’t count the number of times I’ve complained to myself or friends about carrying around my camera bag while profusely sweating in the extreme heat and humidity of Southeast Asia.

There have been times I wish I had a point and shoot and there are times I wished I’ve had my digital SLR gear but I can honestly say EVERY time I was without a camera I felt like I was missing out.  Whether you leave your bulky digital SLR at home and pack your point-and-shoot it is always better to have your camera than none.  My thinking in the past was “all or none” meaning if I didn’t bring my whole camera bag I would bring nothing.  Just because you have a whole camera kit doesn’t mean you have to bring your entire set of lenses everywhere you go.  Taking a small prime lens such as a 50mm f/1.4 out will significantly lighten your load as well as force you to be more creative which will improve your skills as a photographer.

Always Reset Camera to Default Settings

About an hour before writing this I was served a painful reminder of this.  I had my D700 with the Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 d lens hanging out my Bangkok taxi’s window on the way to the airport to fly to Phuket and took a few shots of a large group of a few hundred Thai soldiers before they were to invade a fortified protester encampment.  What I didn’t realize is I had my ISO set on 200 which caused all the photos to be blurry and I had to delete them.  If I had did what I’m recommending I would have had some once in a lifetime shots.  Every time you change the settings on your camera most importantly ISO and exposure compensation make sure you reset them back to your desired default settings so you don’t miss an important, once in a lifetime shot.

Conclusion

I will reiterate.  If you’re not a professional photographer who gets paid for your work you likely don’t need a Nikon D700 or even any digital SLR.  Most casual photographers probably don’t want a digital SLR as point-and-shoots and even cell phone cameras get better every generation and are far more convenient.  Those of you who obsess about taking the very best photos and are constantly looking for that perfect shot can rest assured the Nikon D700 is one of the best digital SLRs in its price range.

View a Stream of my Most Popular & Interesting Photos (according to Flickr) on Flickriver

Nikon D700 Full Frame Digital SLR Camera Body

Even though I was completely happy with my Nikon D90 and lens collection I decided to make the investment and go for the D700.  For me, the decision was made because I simply had to do something about my obsessing over my camera so I decided to get what was the very best option I could afford.

The primary models I was considering in the relatively new full frame digital SLR were the Nikon D700 and the Canon 5D Mark II.  I literally read dozens of reviews of both cameras and found no clear-cut winner.  The primary arguments for the Canon is it trounces the Nikon with overall resolution which can make the final cropped image more useful and of course, has full 1080p HD (High Definition) video capabilities.

The primary advantage of the Nikon D700 was its high ISO ability and build quality.  It was the latter which led me to finally make a decision.  While some reviews explained how the Nikon “fits in your hand better” it is no excuse for going in and actually testing the camera.  I could tell when I first picked up the D700 it was perfect for me.  It really feels like it belongs in your hands and everything is placed exactly where it should be.

In hindsight holding the D90 for long periods of shooting, my fingers were always sore while after using the heavier D700 for just as long I have never felt a single pain in my fingers!  Picking up the Canon felt a lot lighter and the interface didn’t seem right.  It could have been due to my previous use of the Nikon D90 more than anything but in my case, the D700 was a clear-cut winner.

Nikon vs. Canon:  Making Your Choice

Nobody can take away from the quality of Nikon and Canon digital SLRs as they both are capable of taking great photos.  Like all sensible online reviews stated, your primary choice may be a predetermined one.  If you already have lenses for Canon or Nikon it would be a wise and less expensive choice to get a digital SLR body which uses your current lens collection.

On a side note to this story, there does exist an adaptor which allows Canon digital SLRs to use Nikon Lenses although I did not read much about them.  I’m not sure if Canon has any adaptor which allows use of Nikon lenses on their cameras.  From what I read, one of the primary reasons for this adaptor is the first lens I bought for the Nikon D700.

Nikon vs. Canon is not the only battle you should be aware of.  Multiple brands make competitively priced Digital SLRs that have the image quality that rivals anything Nikon or Canon makes.  Brands such as Sony, Pentax, Samsung, Olympus DSLRs are a viable option.  Even though 3rd party companies such as Sigma and Tamron make lenses that fit most camera brand mounts, with long running optics companies like Nikon and Canon you have a wide variety of lenses at your disposal especially with the D700s full frame sensor.

The Lenses I have used with Nikon D700

Full frame lenses are both an advantage and disadvantage of using full frame cameras.  The advantage is you are able to use a wider array of lenses dating back to all 35mm film cameras.  This means you can pick up lenses for very cheap online and even at your local garage sales for use on your Nikon D700.

You can also use all the lenses for Nikon’s DX lenses, the 1^st generation of digital SLR cameras although a crop factor of 1.5 will be factored in.  If you use ‘DX’ mode you will be shooting at less than 50% of the camera’s resolution which is stupid when you think you just paid over $2000 USD for the new full frame sensor.

The disadvantages of owning a full frame camera is if you want to buy one of the new lenses from Nikon & other third party manufacturers which were specifically designed for use on full frame digital SLRs you’re going to be paying a premium price.  Nikon’s new lineup of lenses branded with a big gold ‘N’ which signifies a special “nano crystal” coat which supposedly reduces lens aberrations are all very expensive.

Nikon Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8

The physically impressive Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8 super-wide angle lens was raved about by almost everyone who reviewed it online.  Since I was already in love with super wide angle shots, this lens was a no brainer and I bought it along with my D700.  The lens is remarkably sharp, does not distort very much and works well in low light.  The only drawbacks to the lens are its inability to use filters and its size.  The inability to use filters is important for protection and creative control of exposure.  If you treat your equipment like bumper cars, this lens may not be a good idea because one bump of the bulbous front element and you could be looking at an expensive repair from Nikon or an even more expensive replacement.

Nikon Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 D

The 50mm f/1.4 D is about 3x as expensive as the Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 D and differs little.  The obvious better f/1.4 low light performance is the only reason to own a f/1.4 over a f/1.8 so unless you shoot in the dark a lot, the f/1.8 will do just fine.  I used the 50mm f/1.8 D on both the 1.5 cropped D90 and the full frame D700 and found very little differences in their performance.  I actually prefer the 50mm f/1.8 D because it’s lighter and seems to focus better.  Overall, depending on your budget and shooting needs, almost all pros recommend carrying a 50mm prime lens.

Nikon Nikkor 70-210 f/4-5.6 D

A friend of mine in San Francisco had this lens with an old film camera.  It was almost in brand new condition and he lent it to me for a couple weeks of shooting.  The lens was the first push-pull model I used.  The first few shots I took with this lens and the D700 I noticed the photos taken in broad daylight were very sharp and had nice colors.  The lens became almost useless as the day grew longer.  Anything handheld not shot at a very high ISO had the effects of dreaded camera shake as the lens was without either VR (Vibration Reduction) or a low maximum aperature.  I would recommend this lens for anyone who wants a cheap lens for shooting during the daytime or solely on a tripod at night.

Nikon Nikkor 35mm f/2.0

The friend that lent me the aforementioned lens from his old Nikon film camera also had this 35mm f/2.0 prime lens.  As with the majority of prime lenses (fixed focal length) this lens was very sharp.  I actually liked 35mm focal length a lot.  It seemed as if 35mm was around the same focal range as your own eyes which is good for scenery but not as good for portraits and other applications.  Since I already had the 24mm of my 14-24 f/2.8 for scenery I felt that I would’t use a 35mm prime lens very much although I do recommend the lens for anyone who likes to shoot a mixture of scenery and portraits and likes a light, fast lens.

Nikon Nikkor 35-70mm f/2.8

I purchased a copy of this old professional mid-range zoom from Amazon for around $250.  At the time of purchasing I didn’t realize 2 things:  1.  It was a push-pull lens and 2.   it was not the D lens.  While I have read multiple reviews downplaying the importance of Nikon’s ‘D’ distinction which has to do with the lens sending distance information to the camera I found this lens was very poor at autofocusing, especially in low light.  The focal range I believe is more for studio work or portraits when the subject is almost always to be within a 3-15 feet away.  Although this lens would also serve well for people who enjoy shooting scenery I would recommend it (as well as lenses with the similar mid-range focal ranges) only to people who shoot events such as weddings, parties and family get togethers.  When there was enough light, this lens was as sharp as they come with very little distortion.

Nikon Nikkor 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5

This older Nikon mid-range do-it-all zoom was the biggest surprise out of all the lenses I have ever owned.  It surprised me likely because I bought a flawless copy of it off craigslist.org in San Francisco for almost free!  I bought 3 lenses for $60 which I ended up selling the other 2 for $115 so I essentially got this gem for -$55!  What makes this interesting is I originally considered purchasing this lens in a camera store in Bangkok which they wanted over $200USD!  The lens is a light weight, plastic feeling versatile lens.  My most favorite thing about it is its close focusing ability which allows you to literally put the end of the lens a couple of inches away from the object you are photographing.  Close focusing requires you flip a switch to “macro” mode after the focal range goes past 70 which is a minor inconvenience but does not take away from the value of this lens.  The lens is also great for scenery and is sharp when taking my favorite shots which happen to be low light night shots.  I would recommend this lens to anyone who can get their hands on one and who hasn’t spent a ton of money on more expensive Nikkor lenses.

Nikon Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR

This is the beast of Nikon’s common lenses which is used by most professional photographers.  The lens is literally “built like a tank” with solid steel construction with no external moving parts on the outside during zooming.  The lens is big, bulky and heavy but the photos you take with it speak for itself as they are very sharp and allow you to control depth of field with precision which creates very pleasing bokeh (the out of focus area).

The telephoto zoom focal range is great for capturing a wide variety of images especially animals, sports competitors, portraits, far off scenery as well as being one of the journalist’s favorite lenses.  Although it has been replaced with the VRII version which has Nikon’s ‘N’ Nano crystal coat and costs a whopping $2200+ USD it still holds its own as one of the very best lenses money can buy.

Nikon Nikkor 105mm f/2.8 VR Micro

Before I was to leave San Francisco for Bangkok I decided to take advantage of the plentiful supply of photography equipment on the SF Bay Area Craigslist one more time.  While I had fun with the 28-1055 (above) with macro capabilities, I wanted to see how a “real” macro lens would fare.  I had to choose between a popular 90mm Tamron macro lens but the fact that the lens barrel extended and retracted during focusing, had me choose the Nikkor although it was over 2-3x as expensive.  I searched Craigslist every day and it took 3 weeks before I found one of these Nikkors for sale and I snatched it right up.  I had the idea that I would sell it if it didn’t ‘blow my socks off’ and after using it a few times I still haven’t decided.  There is not doubt that for someone interested in macro shots this is a great lens.  The problem for me is while I like macro photography, to get the shots I really like (bug’s eyes) it takes more than just a macro lens.  Since I have started using the bounce flash of the Nikon  SB-900 speedlight my results have gotten a lot better but again I have only used this lens a few times so I can’t really say much about it.

Developing a Camera Kit – Part III:  The Winners; My current Camera Kit

One of Singapore’s Most Popular Tourist Attractions

When I mentioned Singapore to family and friends one of the first things many of them said was, “I heard they have a great zoo” or something to that effect.  I’m not the biggest fan of zoos and wouldn’t usually go but I had to see what makes Singapore Zoo so special.  I was chatting with the cab driver on the way back from the airport and he told me that the zoo and night safari were literally next to each other so I thought it would be a good idea to go there on my first night in Singapore.

Getting to the Singapore Zoo

I saw that the zoo lied in what seemed to be the north central area of Singapore according to the Singapore tourist map I got at the airport.  I  just had explored the area around the Esplinade and was near the City Hall MRT stop so I thought the MRT would be the best and cheapest method of transport to the zoo.  I was right about cheap, but MRT was not the best way.

In addition to buses which as usual I was too lazy to try to figure out a taxi would have been a smarter way to get to the zoo.  I figured if I take the MRT for $2 to Marsling I could save money and time as opposed to the taxi especially if there was traffic.  It turned out that even after the 17 stop, 30+ minute MRT I still had to take a taxi from Marsiling to the zoo so I wasted valuable time.  If you are traveling in Singapore and have to budget your time more than money, taking a taxi is the by far the best way to go, especially if you are with a group.

Singapore City Hall MRT Station - 3:20pm Thursday

Arriving at Singapore Zoo

Upon arriving at Singapore Zoo you are greeted with a few food and souvenir options before the ticket counter.  I was very hungry so I grabbed a slice of pizza and a Tiger Beer.  The pizza was a very tasty tandoori chicken pizza which really hit the spot.  After the brief sit-down meal and relaxation I was ready to get a ticket for the zoo.

As advertised in the Singapore tourism map there was a 3-for-1 deal for the zoo, night safari, and Jurong Bird Park.  I thought it was a pretty sweet deal because it was valid for 30 days from the date of purchase and only cost $45 Singapore Dollars ($32.29 USD).  I also found out that the night safari was literally right next to the zoo and only required about a 2 minute walk.

Tandoori Chicken Pizza from Singapore Zoo

Exploring Singapore Zoo

I wondered how Singapore zoo set itself apart from other zoos and it was apparent in the first few minutes why.  Walking a walk in Singapore Zoo is like walking around in any other zoo as there are cement paths and signs with information about the animals.  What makes Singapore Zoo so special is the design of the animal habitats.

For most of the zoo, animal exhibits blend in with the surroundings.  You don’t see many pronounced cages and/or totally artificial looking things in and around the animal exhibits.   I have never been to the Bangkok zoo but I heard that some animals are basically in small cages with their arms hanging out one side.  The Singapore zoo had me wondering many times how the animals don’t escape as it seems you are in there with them.

I walked around for around an hour snapping some photos.  After I was there for an hour I knew it was close to closing time because I only saw maybe 1 or 2 people walking around.  Little did I know the zoo closed at 6pm which gave me only an hour to explore it.  Again, the ticket was good for 30 days but I really wanted to finish both zoo and night safari on the same day being so far from my hotel.

Momma and Baby Chimp at Singapore Zoo

Off to the Night Safari

I escaped the zoo around 6:30 ish and headed directly over the the night safari which was very close.  I had just went to the Chiang Mai, Thailand Night Safari a few months earlier so I expected more of the same.  People seemed very excited to be there as there was a sort of night club atmosphere complete with a couple restaurant/bars in addition to the standard souvenir shops.

I should have read the fine print because the tram ride was actually not included in the 3-for-1 ticket I purchased.  There were 2 walking exhibits as well as the fire show but what’s a safari without riding in a vehicle?  The tram ride ticket was another $15 Singapore ($10.70 USD) but I felt compelled to at least compare to the Chiang Mai night safari.

Since I already had my beer and pizza I was not hungry but I didn’t really want to wait in line so I went over to the left where a worker was sitting at a booth with a couple of glass cases.  I started talking to a young lady named Cassandra who was overseeing the tarantula and scorpion cases.  I chatted with her about an hour inhaling fumes from the fire dancers (photo at top of post) as I was waiting for it to get dark because it’s a night safari, not a dusk safari although the tram line was packed even when it wasn’t dark out.

About to enter the Singapore Night Safari Tram

Night Safari

The tram ride part of the night safari was a bit of a disappointment.  I could tell they were rushing due to the pressure of having so many people and tram rides every 15 minutes or so as opposed  to the Chiang Mai night safari where there was only a single tram ride.

Even though I had better, top-of-the-line camera gear than the previous night safari I barely got any good shots.  Even with the Nikon D700 and the Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR & Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 D two great low light lenses, I couldn’t keep pace with the driver who never let the tram come to a complete stop.  In hindsight, if getting some good shots was a priority I should have probably went on the tram when there was more light.

The tram ride seemed like it was over before it began but I still had 2 walking exhibits to attend.  I ended up skipping the walking exhibits as I noticed the 9pm fire show was beginning.  They had dancers going crazy on the stage as well as a crazy Japanese tourist which they brought up.  The Japanese tourist became part of the show which was pretty interesting so I pushed my way past 100 or so onlookers so I could get some photo opportunities.

After the fire show I went to check the live animal show.  It was hosted by this talkative Indian woman and included a wolf, boa constrictor, serval, and some amazing recycling otters, YES, recycling otters.  Although the show was mildly entertaining and the animals were well trained, it was a bit disorganized and again, seemed rushed like the tram ride.

Fire Dancers (Find Crazy Japanese Tourist)

Overall Impression

I’m sure my experience at the Chiang Mai, Thailand Night Safari caused the Singapore Night Safari to lose some of its luster.  I’d be willing to bet that the people who created the night safari in Chiang Mai, used Singapore’s as a model.  The night safari was a good experience and I would definitely recommend it for anyone who hasn’t been to one before.  If you have been to a “canned” night safari before or have been on a real safari, you may want to skip the tram ride and just go to the zoo.

Below you can see a slide show with some of the animals I had a chance to photograph during my brief tour of Singapore Zoo and the photos that came out halfway decent during the very dark and camera flash prohibited night safari.  I went on another day to the third related Singapore wildlife place which was included in the 3-in-1 ticket which you can read about as well.

Places to Visit in Singapore:  Jurong Bird Park – Coming Soon

Learning the Hard Way

On my previous photography posts about choosing a digital SLR camera and the Nikon D90 I was a true Bangkok camera shopping rookie.  I had only been to MBK and the larger and newer, obviously more expensive retail malls.  In only a few months I have went from becoming a rookie to almost a professional when it comes to getting the best deals in Bangkok.

Primary Shopping Options

Besides the shops in the major shopping malls such as Central World and Siam Paragon where you can expect to pay full retail prices there are 3 primary options where you can find wholesale prices on brand new camera equipment including the top of the line digital SLR lenses from Nikon and Canon.

The three shopping locations are MBK which I have posted about numerous times.  While MBK has a whole tech floor and numerous camera and lens shops, I found the prices to be more expensive than the next two places I will mention.  MBK does have one of the better camera shops in Bangkok for gear such as filters and second hand equipment.  The shop’s name is photofile and there are 2 locations in MBK, the main store being on the first floor.  I will talk about selling SLR camera lenses later in this post.

The 2^nd shopping option is an IT mall named Fortune Town.  Fortune town is located near the Fortune Hotel near the Ratchada area of Bangkok off of Ratchada road.  I have only been to fortune town twice.  The first time I was there I bought the Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 lens at a small camera shop for a price which I thought couldn’t be beat as it was lower than the cheapest price I could find on Hong Kong Ebay.  It turns out I went to the 3^rd shopping option for lenses and found out I was wrong.

The 3^rd and best place in Bangkok to buy digital camera lenses, not to mention all electronics including digital SLR camera bodies, computer parts, laptops, cell phones is Pantip Plaza.  Pantip Plaza is an IT mall located in Pratunam area of Bangkok.  It can be reached by a 10 minute walk from Central World and is an experience to say the least.

Bangkok's 3 Primary Camera & Lens Shopping Options

Pantip Plaza

Pantip Plaza has a bustling hock shop atmosphere that some people like while others hate.  It is much like most other shopping areas in Bangkok, the only difference being as you walk in you will have hardcore porn DVDs shoved in your face.  As you ascent the 5 floors via escalator you will get more hardcore porn DVDs shoved in your face but if you’re looking for the best prices on Digital SLR and camera lenses this is your place.

I have read a lot and talked to numerous people about Pantip Plaza and heard many mixed reviews.  Some claim that stores in Pantip sell tainted products, products with their expensive components replaced and counterfeit products.

While I haven’t experienced any of this, I wouldn’t doubt it.  There are some smaller camera shops in Pantip that I wouldn’t fully trust but other shops such as AV Center where I buy all my equipment seems to be 100% trustful.

I mentioned I had bought the lens at Pantip and the appraiser at Photofile scoffed at me and offered me a lowball price.  Whether he was just an elitist who wanted to continue to offer absurd prices for stuff you can get for much cheaper elsewhere or he knew what he was talking about I don’t know for sure.

Looking down from the Top Floor of Pantip Plaza

AV Center in Pantip Plaza

Pantip Plaza has numerous specialty camera shops, the best I have found to be AV Center.  AV Center is actually 5 or 6 separate stores located throughout Pantip Plaza.  Each store has almost identical prices and equipment.  Ask one of the AV Center stores for a lens and they don’t have it, they will likely have it on another side.

At least 3 of the 5 AV Center stores are big with equipment on display but I would consider the primary AV center store is in the middle of the 3^rd floor and can be viewed from any escalator.  There is a nice showcase with all the equipment, multiple employees and some space to move around.  The prices are offered pretty much as low as they go.

As with buying anything throughout Asia, always try to get them to knock down the price.  With high-end camera equipment at AV center and the already low prices, they will usually knock down the price a couple hundred baht which isn’t much but will add up if you keep buying from them.

Camera Lenses & Gear I Bought at AV Center and was Fully Satisfied

Nikon D700 DSLR Body
Nikon MB-D10 Battery Grip for D700
Nikon Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8 Lens
Nikon Nikkor 10-24mm Lens
Nikon Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 Lens
Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 HSM

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One of Many AV Centers in Pantip Plaza

Selling your Unwanted Digital SLR Lenses in Bangkok

Photofile at 1st Floor of MBK

As you can tell by my list of lenses, unless you’re made of money, you will be needing to sell lenses as well.  You may want something a little better, lighter, more versatile which better suits your needs.  As you can probably tell by the list of the lenses I have bought in just the first few months of owning a digital SLR camera, I have had to part with lenses as much as I’ve bought them.

While craigslist.org is not the megasite it is in much of the USA, especially San Francisco, there are people who look at Bangkok craigslist for deals on used equipment.  I have learned from experience, since some camera stores are so cheap, don’t expect a quick sale.  Whoever responds to your ad will haggle to no end which may not be worth it as meeting them across Bangkok may also be a challenge.

I found 2 camera stores in Bangkok that buy used lenses and Digital SLR bodies but any store that sells second hand equipment may be willing to buy but it is worth it to get estimates from all the places.  The primary store is Photofile in MBK.  They sell equipment for much more than the stores in the IT malls and it turns out they buy lenses for more as well.

Photofile will offer you top dollar if you have the box, all accessories and a warranty card for your equipment.  The second place was a small camera shop in Fortune Town.  I asked them to give me an estimate when selling a lens and they offered me 4,000 baht ($120 USD) more than Photofile for the same lens but also offered 2,000 baht ($60 USD) less on another lens.  The moral of the story:  Get multiple Estimates if you want to get back the most for your used SLR lenses while selling them in Bangkok.

When buying a lens in Bangkok you should note that when you get a cheap price 99% of the time you will NOT get the Nikon 5 year manufacturer warranty.  You will likely get the 1 year in-store warranty which I would not have too much confidence in.

Being Cheap

Most people I know want cheap prices.  If you have no problem buying retail, spending 25% more when buying camera equipment or anything go to any store in Central World or the Siam Centers.  I have priced SLR lenses in Taipei, Hong Kong, Singapore and the USA and the prices in Bangkok are the cheapest I’ve found for new equipment.  If you’re looking for the cheapest prices in Bangkok, possibly in the world, just go to AV Center in Pantip Plaza, test, buy and admire your photography.

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