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What would you take to Borneo? Curious....


andalus

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In two weeks, headed first to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and then on to Borneo, Sabah, for four days, then back to KL for a couple weeks. I have a new DLux 4, also an MP with 50 Lux Asph, 24 3.4 Elmar, 135 Telyt APO. The real question is whether I take the MP and lenses and shoot slides plus the DL 4, or just the DL4. , which, of course, is easy to carry around.

Would you miss not shooting slides with an MP on such a journey? I usually shoot with Velvia 100.

 

Thanks in advance.

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Would you miss not shooting slides with an MP on such a journey? I usually shoot with Velvia 100.

 

Definitely! That is the prime reason, for me at least, to shoot with Leica and carry all that (comparatively heavy) gear around. If you are not likely to go that part of the world again soon, then don't miss this opportunity. I shoot Provia 100F BTW.

 

Andy

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The Digilux 4 is a fine camera, but I would never leave on such a trip without backup. By all means take your MP. It is made for such travels. I would regard the Digilux4 as the secondary camera for discreet and emergency use.

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My brother and teenage son traveled to Borneo last year to help at an internationally-run village for orphans. He doesn't have a Leica, so took a Ricoh R5 digital, and got some nice results. Road were shocking -- literally; fuel was scarce, electricity unreliable (tricky to recharge batteries), rainfall can be torrential depending on the season or there is lots of dust, and there are absolutely massive creepy crawlies, which the young locals loved.

 

If it were me, I would definitely take the MP and at least the 24 and 50 plus lots of slide film. The 135 could come in handy for wildlife. Freedom from batteries is a big plus in rugged conditions, besides that's what Leica excels at.

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Andalus -

 

Bring at least one spare battery for the D-Lux-4, and plenty of media, and backup with the M in case of D-Lux-4 failure. Then go to our site and read the Borneo trip notes and view the Borneo photos. That will give you an idea of what to expect and do. Sabah? Diving? We were always able to recharge.

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Been to Borneo about 7 times, always took my Nikon F3 and F90 as back-up. Going now I would take my M6 and the Nikon D80 as back-up. A lot depends on what you will do, but I reckon in 4 days tou won't do much jungle trekking. If you go in the highlands (Kinabalu) then of course the humidity is less than in the lowlands. In any case, don't get over-worried about the climatic conditions, carry a sealable plastic bag for emergencies and forget about the silica-gel.

Have fun,

Jean

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The least of the worries, I would say.

Although I never have been to Borneo, I have travelled extensively in the third world, and all nearly all venues where tourists come, carrying video cameras, digital cameras etc., have recharging facilities, if only a generator. Don't forget they need power for their own satelite phone, laptops and sometimes in dire cicumstances CB radio (yes- there are satelite Internet systems for remote places that are a lifesaver for jungle lodges and e-mail works over CB radio too! It is called Bush Mail). And they will have adapters. Not that one needs an adaptor that often in countries that have a colonial past, the standard International two-prong will fit the British three-prong as well, if one pushes down the little slider in the earth receptor with a ballpoint.

Be sure to carry a few spare batteries, topped up at every opportunity, just to be prepared to tide you over in the worst case. Three batteries? At least 1000 shots, maybe many more. Plenty of spare SD cards and plenty of film are more important, as those are often unavailable.

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Guest wls.shanghai

Salamat Datang :)

 

...why so much headache :rolleyes:

 

enjoy your trip with your MP

you can buy everything in Kota Kinabalu.

 

Regards

wls

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Remember you cant use filters in the (wet) tropics and a microfibre cloth is a must if your lens is going to be wet all the time.

 

Rob - I'm not sure I'm following you since I lived in Indonesia for several years and safely use filters...

 

Cheers,

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