Setup for taiwan trip

[zoossh]

This trip is an organized trip by a tour agency. Places to be visited includes the night markets, Pu Li (scenic location), Kaoh Siung, some theme park, memorials, and since its a band trip...music exchange with 2 local schools.

hmmm.... would you have time on your own of the urban sides? walking around is the best way to get good stuff, and this is where organized trip will affect that.

yah, band trip, sounds like you will get lots of chances for portraits.

1. What to bring? I currently have a Nikon D80, 18-200VR, 50f1.8, SB600 which i intended to bring there. Should i bring the 50f1.8? How about tripod...advisable? I'm bringing a Lowepro CompuDay.

check out my thread in the signature. considerations on travel, outdoor and streets are about the same. country does affect little, your preference decides out.

in my opinion, 50mm f/1.8 is good for portraits and fast lens. it doubles as a near macro too.

tripod, bring a light one if you want.

bag wise depends on your preference.

2. When you alight the tour bus for tours, do you bring everything out with you? If not based on my setup, which should i bring out. How about flash?

except for bag and tripod, bring everything out. you are still leaving the bag and tripod behind as a risk, but they may be worth the risk as they can be optional and bag can be more easily replaced. flash, up to you, as it is not unlikely to be useful for midday shoot unless you are familiar with fill flash.

3. What is the weather there like? Any tips on camera care (other than the obvious) specific to taiwan? I intend to wear a jacket and hide my camera inside when not shooting...good idea?

weather is volatile. and if you need to go up mountains, it can get colder. if you can hide camera inside jacket, by all means, if you can. mine is too big and looks awkward.

 

[tkbonz]

Hey thanks for such good advises. Based on your link and my personal preference, I think that i should settle for a waist pouch for essential items like wallet, passport, small water bottle, tissue...blah blah, and I'll just sling my cam using the neck sling.

Will be leaving my bag on the bus...no point carrying such a big bag when it is not easily accessible.

Also see if i can forego the water bottle and try if can put my 18-200 inside to use the 50mm...hmmm...

But the carabiner thing sure looks very useful, will get one to hook my shopping up.

 

[tkbonz]

Oh for the flash right, it is mainly for group shoots of my band...80++ ppl. Its not some rock/jazz/group bands, its a symphonic band...

I'll use the flash only for school exchange...if not i should be leaving it in the bag and not carrying it around with me during day tours.

Oh...and for shooting the yummy food there as well.

 

[zoossh]

Hey thanks for such good advises. Based on your link and my personal preference, I think that i should settle for a waist pouch for essential items like wallet, passport, small water bottle, tissue...blah blah, and I'll just sling my cam using the neck sling.

Will be leaving my bag on the bus...no point carrying such a big bag when it is not easily accessible.

Also see if i can forego the water bottle and try if can put my 18-200 inside to use the 50mm...hmmm...

But the carabiner thing sure looks very useful, will get one to hook my shopping up.

why not forego the water bottle. you ain't that likely to get that thirsty in that weather and on coach trips. besides i think you can buy drinks quite easily.

 

[tkbonz]

Mm...sure, can forego dat bah. Did you go to Ching Jing farm before? I heard it is beautiful with sheeps roaming around...sounds like a great photography location!

 

[zoossh]

Mm...sure, can forego dat bah. Did you go to Ching Jing farm before? I heard it is beautiful with sheeps roaming around...sounds like a great photography location!

most beautiful part of taiwan for me so far, but only went up once. but i shot that place with a compact. haven't learnt dslr at that time.

most of the pics is in one of the thread but links are lost and i haven't find the energy to re-edit them and repost.

but here's one of my fav

 

[tkbonz]

Wow...i also saw on other's flickr on Pu Li and Cing Jing, breathless. Hopefully weather will be good when I'm up there.

I'll be visiting the farm: CingJing Nong Chan (farm) and also a boat ride on the Sun Moon Lake. Any interesting there to take note?

 

[zoossh]

Wow...i also saw on other's flickr on Pu Li and Cing Jing, breathless. Hopefully weather will be good when I'm up there.

I'll be visiting the farm: CingJing Nong Chan (farm) and also a boat ride on the Sun Moon Lake. Any interesting there to take note?

well, you may not have the luxury to be there at the right timing or explore at your will, so vary your expectation accordingly.

around the farm, there are many places with very nice minshuku, and a swiss park. when i last went, the lumber area are closed. you can see some bee farms around that area too. i went 3 yrs ago, and i'm afraid places have changed. you can buy a local guidebook on the farm when you are at kaoshiung.

 

[tkbonz]

Sure, i'll take heed when I'm there. I wanted to take wideangled landscapes of snow-peaked mountains with rolling meadows...haha...not sure whether have the chance.

 

[Guni_hoon]

I think the last i went, it was pricier than that.

the price for indoor was NT350 in apr 07. the 91st storey outdoor observatory was closed that day when i went due to bad weather.

 

[zoossh]

Oooo... seems likne many people heading out to Taiwan.

boredphuck u stay in Taipei or you are there just for holiday?

I'm heading there next month.

Suppose to bring my other half to Tai Chung, and Nantou He Huan mountain area for photography. Can advise if any public transport goes there?

you can try calling 144 (if i didn't rem wrongly) for help. try to look for nantou keyun (coach company) or caotun keyun and ask for buses going to puli.

unfortunately these buses are meant for locals travelling between towns (including towns within 30-50km from tourist attractions) but not the attractions itself. you may need to catch a cab from puli, but things may change with time. i'm there 3 yrs ago.

 

[Guni_hoon]

Wow...i also saw on other's flickr on Pu Li and Cing Jing, breathless. Hopefully weather will be good when I'm up there.

I'll be visiting the farm: CingJing Nong Chan (farm) and also a boat ride on the Sun Moon Lake. Any interesting there to take note?

i was at puli in apr this yr, drove from taroko gorge to puli. i dont hv the impression any scenic abt it, looks like I missed all the happenings.

we drove past qing jing farm, and i feels it was overcrowded and commercialised by all the farmstays and hot springs. saw many coaches parked along the roads.

have fun.

 

[zoossh]

i was at puli in apr this yr, drove from taroko gorge to puli. i dont hv the impression any scenic abt it, looks like I missed all the happenings.

we drove past qing jing farm, and i feels it was overcrowded and commercialised by all the farmstays and hot springs. saw many coaches parked along the roads.

have fun.

it is big enough to isolate wide angles as well as zoom into human and sheep activities. you can even hug a sheep if you want. i went during xmas and have seen the trees all decorated, so it was very very beautiful for me at that time. if humidity and temperature is right, can even move from qingjing up to hohuansan to catch snowing. but one need to be tune to weather changes and move up fast. those moving in from hualien and taichung will not be able to get to the peak fast enough compared to those already at qingjing.

 

[Guni_hoon]

to add, if you have time in puli, try the 紹興酒蛋/紹興冰棒 sold in the puli winery introduced to me by my taiwanese friend. i liked the ice cream very much. the winery was restored after the major earthquake.

 

[Guni_hoon]

it is big enough to isolate wide angles as well as zoom into human and sheep activities. you can even hug a sheep if you want. i went during xmas and have seen the trees all decorated, so it was very very beautiful for me at that time.

yes, if we are refering to qing jing. but TS also says puli is scenic? it is a city/town to me.

 

[zoossh]

there used to be a display of a wine bottle of chen shuibian and his wife whose legs was paralysed due to political sabotage during the white terror period, which i think is something like wine fermented with love. but these years have changed so much and with chen shuibian getting less and less popular, so dunno if that bottle is still there or not at puli winery.

 

[zoossh]

yes, if we are refering to qing jing. but TS also says puli is scenic? it is a city/town to me.

puli region, i guess, not puli itself.

most towns are the same there.... like most HDB flats are the same here.... so one is not going to find some extraordinary and unique architecture there, unless one have a really keen eye to isolate interesting spots.

 

[tkbonz]

to add, if you have time in puli, try the 紹興酒蛋/紹興冰棒 sold in the puli winery introduced to me by my taiwanese friend. i liked the ice cream very much. the winery was restored after the major earthquake.

Hopefully can go there... cause this trip with my school are all secondary school kids...go winery??? They can only go there see bottles and the production. But i can go and havoc:devil:

the price for indoor was NT350 in apr 07. the 91st storey outdoor observatory was closed that day when i went due to bad weather.

Ooh...quite ex. See how lor, if near hotel I would want to take a look.

we drove past qing jing farm, and i feels it was overcrowded and commercialised by all the farmstays and hot springs. saw many coaches parked along the roads.

Aiyoh... I dislike overcrowded and commercialised tour locations. Somemore i going during school holiday period:thumbsd:

Looks like this trip (in terms of photography) is not what I would want it to turn out to be. No more cing jing...but chao3 nao4 (noisy)

 

[happydog]

im here for a holiday. just went to camera st. bought 2 lens and some other stuff for my friend. if u using canon then dun waste time. pentax users will like shopping here though. if u dun mind grey sets then its fine. 70-200 f/4 IS is 1500 only.

Hi Boredphuck. thanks for sharing the info. I was in taipei in oct for holiday but did not have time to visit the camera street.

Hope u have a good time.

 

[happydog]

im here for a holiday. just went to camera st. bought 2 lens and some other stuff for my friend. if u using canon then dun waste time. pentax users will like shopping here though. if u dun mind grey sets then its fine. 70-200 f/4 IS is 1500 only.

Hopefully can go there... cause this trip with my school are all secondary school kids...go winery??? They can only go there see bottles and the production. But i can go and havoc:devil:



Ooh...quite ex. See how lor, if near hotel I would want to take a look.



Aiyoh... I dislike overcrowded and commercialised tour locations. Somemore i going during school holiday period:thumbsd:

Looks like this trip (in terms of photography) is not what I would want it to turn out to be. No more cing jing...but chao3 nao4 (noisy)

Hope uy have a wonderful time and take lot of pics in your free time. Btw, it is cold in taipei when u go up to the mountains.