The Vulcan

I know fotofile sells rear LCD anti-scratch film, but from what I remember they cut a bigger film to fit the 5D LCD. Do they now sell one tailored for 2.5' size LCD?

Yep. "Screen Tech" 2.7"

I know it's almost 30,000 Baht extra which was out of question for me when I bought my EF70-200mm F/2.8L, but go for IS if you can afford it. It's well worth the extra 30,000 Baht in my opinion, unless you think you use that lens only under bright daylight or if you are willing to carry a tripod heavy enough to support both the EF70-200mm F/2.8 and 5D (or willing to trade high resolution for high ISO). I regret I didn't buy an IS version (now contemplating trading it in for IS). I might even choose EF70-200mm F4L IS USM over EF70-200mm F/2.8L if I have to buy one now.

EF70-200mm F/2.8L comes with a nice case, but it's not padded enough so I bought a LowePro case which is also sold at Fotofile.

Just returned from Fotofile with the non "IS" version even though the price differential is now a mere 23k!

I based my selection on the fact that I ALWAYS use a very sturdy monopod or tripod when shooting.with this weight of zoom. Incidentally, the revolving collar that comes with the lens creates a perfect balance with the 5D attached when using a monopod.

Got a few LowePro soft cases also.

Now just need to test the vignetting issue.

btw. for those that didn't know (and I was one) Fotofile now sell stick on rear screen protectors which I figure is a great idea. They also inform me that soon they will have the rear screen hoods in stock which will be a blessing.

Well, we'll soon know the answer to the pre-digital v digital lens issue as I've just dropped the bloody 80-200 zoom down the ravine in Khao Yai national park!

Off to MBK tomorrow to replace it with the new 70-200 2.8L as recommended!

p.s. i think I might also invest in a good lens pouch whilst I'm at it !

Images posted on my website whilst travelling predominately in Isaan. More to come later.

www.f4foto.org

Hope you enjoy

I've posted some images of the Elephant round up and the light show at Srikhoraphum Castle on my website for those that may be interested.

www.f4foto.org

Hope you enjoy

Bangkok Post http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?ac...w_post&f=30

By Supapong Chaolan and Nucharee Rakrun

Bangkok Post

The tourist mecca of Koh Samui was officially declared a disaster zone on Thursday after two days and a night of heavy rain inundated the Gulf of Thailand island and grounded all air service.

More than 1,000 tourists were left stranded at Samui airport as torrential rain battered the resort island and other parts of the South. The bad weather grounded planes on Koh Samui and at Surat Thani airport on the mainland.

Tourists and local residents struggled to return to hotels and homes along roads submerged under deep floodwater.

The air force was called in to help.

"We had to use our six-wheel trucks to help them. Otherwise they could not have returned to their hotels and homes on such flooded roads," said Flight Lieutenant Surapong Sarakul.

Surat Thani governor Winai Buapradit declared six tambons and 11 villages on the island disaster zones.

Soldiers were assigned to help people carry their belongings out of flooded areas.

Samui airport was turned into a temporary shelter for stranded tourists as Bangkok Airways, which has a monopoly on all flights in and out of Samui airport, cancelled all its 72 flights yesterday because of the weather.

A One-Two-Go airliner crashed while trying to land during bad weather at Phuket airport less than two months ago, killing 90 people on board, mostly foreign tourists.

Some tour operators did not appreciate the safety precautions being taken by Bangkok Airways.

"The company has not done the right thing," complained a frustrated tour operator on Koh Samui.

"It could have solved the problem by landing their planes on the mainland in Surat Thani province so we could transport people here by ferry and boat."

The island has suffered severe floods since Wednesday night when heavy rain fell across much of the South. After a brief lull, monsoon storms continued to slam the island late yesterday afternoon, hampering efforts to drain water from flooded areas.

Flood waters rose quickly to reach one metre deep in areas of Talad Dow, Talad Laemdin and Chaweng beach, said Koh Samui district chief Adisorn Kamnerdsi.

Chaweng beach road is a seaside thoroughfare often crowded with tourists and is regarded as a key part of the island's business zone.

Officials closed some sections of the main road around the island because of the flooding and at least 10 schools were also forced to close.

Mr Adisorn said local authorities would be able to bring the flooding under control if the rain stopped soon.

However, the Meteorological Department said heavy rain, caused by a low pressure front, would continue to fall across the South for the next two days.

Apart from Koh Samui, floods crippled movement in four districts in Surat Thani and seven districts in nearby Nakhon Si Thammarat province, affecting thousands of villagers.

Nakhon Si Thammarat was hit particularly hard, with over 24 centimetres of rain yesterday, officials said, and over 30,000 people were affected by the floods.

About 20 families in tambon Pakpoon of Muang district were forced to evacuate their homes, Nakhon Si Thammarat's disaster prevention and mitigation unit reported.

Provincial officials were also closely monitoring coastal erosion in tambon Laem Talumphuk in Pak Phanang district where strong waves were pounding the coastline and threatening to destroy some fishing communities.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Earlier story:

The tourist mecca of Koh Samui was officially declared a disaster zone on Thursday after two days and a night of heavy rain inundated the Gulf of Thailand island and grounded all air service.

The rain caused floods in several locations around the island. The water level on the main road was 30 centimetres this afternoon.

Hundreds of tourists were left stranded as weather conditions prevented aircrafts from taking off since late Wednesday.

Authorities were trying to pump water into rivers to alleviate the problem and prevent further flooding if rain comes again. Heavy rain is forecast in and along the Gulf tonight and tomorrow.

Surat Thani provincial office sent 170 soldiers to the island to assist locals and tourists.

Thank you all for your responses - very helpful.

"Nordlys" - you are correct in assuming pre-digital lenses and I fear this is the root cause of the problem.

Again, thank you all

I've just stepped up from a 20D to a 5D and am experiencing vignetting on my shots.

I'm using the old style "L" lenses i.e. Canon 28-80 "L" zoom and Canon 80-200 "L" zoom. Both these lenses are in mint condition.

Initially I suspected it was the lens hoods and lens filters; removed them and the problem is still there.

I suspect it may be the additional coverage I'm getting from the full frame 5D, or the limitations of the old "L" lens coverage

This problem was never evident on the 20D.

Has anybody any clues to this?

Thank you in advance

I see what your saying, however the price you have to pay is still visable, you can accept or walk away.

Which is exactly what I did and am urging others to adopt the same attitude until this scam is addressed.

And until such times as I see a valid explanation why Thailand feels it is justified in differentiating between its Nationals and Foreigners I will continue to do so.

Thailand is on a major campaign to attract tourists and this practice is totally counter-productive. How many visitors return home with tales of dual charging and deter others?

............ it is called demand and supply.

The mind boggles?

I look at it like this:

When I pack a pickup full of kids and family for an outing to a waterfall - say Nam Tok Ta Ton in Chayaphum - I am always pleased, that the entry fee of 200 Baht applies only to me: for the the kids and family I get a huge 90% discount.

Nice, how the Thai government helps me and makes this outings affordable

Regards

Thedi

This logic applies on the understanding that 200 baht is an acceptable entry fee. HOWEVER, if 20 baht is the acceptable rate then you're paying 10 times the norm!

Anyway, seems my post has served a purpose in identifying some local knowledge.

Would it not be a good idea to expand on this inside information and post a few more snippets of local information and maybe a mod could pin it for the benefit of future travelers?

Over to you locals.

Beg to differ Marcoh, but it's NOT the same all over Thailand.

I've just covered 9,500 kilometres and this is the FIRST time I've encountered such an exorbitant difference.

And how many tourists will be able to present a 5 year Thai driving license?

But, point taken, as I have now moved on!

Currently traveling the country and have arrived at Ubon Ratchathani.

Disgusted to see the extortionate charges made against Farrangs at the National park and various waterfall sites that they so recommend we visit.

We're expected to pay 10x (I repeat TEN TIMES) the Thai entrance fee i.e. 40 baht for Thai's - 400 baht for farrangs!

Needless to say I refused.

Hopefully you'll ALL register your protests by similarly refusing to pay.

http://www.gadgetrend.com/gps_nav.php

Check out this link

Thaivisa Approved by Thai Govt to provide Insurance services

BANGKOK: -- The Department of Insurance, DOI, has approved Thaivisa.com in conjunction with AA Insurance to provide insurance exclusively to Thaivisa members.

--thaivisa.com 2007-08-24

As in Automobile Association - the UK Insurers?

It's that time of the year again when the truck (D-Max) is up for renewal.

Who do you find to be the most competitive for 1st class cover?

Currently using Virayah but although always found them to be reliable, the premiums are starting to creep up a little too much.

ahhaa

but a great relaxing beach with nuthing around it and only in high tide you can swim,

mostly in eth afternoons you find thais looking for sea shells and crabs.

the sea shells they are small after saoking in fish sauce they open and you can eat.

Oh boy, can't wait to get there!

Thanks to you all for your input.

On my way over today, hopefully with a little more success

Am I missing something here?

Today I called in with my laptop to use the facility. To my dismay my lan port was malfunctioning and I was unable to connect through this route.

Ok, no problems I thought, I'll connect through their WiFi - wrong!

"So sorry Sir, only available through a monthly subscription"

"But I'm only here for the next few weeks, and as such I do not require an ongoing service"

"Sorry Sir, suggest you send your laptop to Bangkok and repair the lan port" "Then you can return and connect"

Despite my pleadings they refused to allow connection through the WiFi route and continued to insist it was only available via a monthly subscription contract

Why is their WiFi connection not available for hourly use?

And today we hear that it's all been thrown out due to the controversial inclusion of the "controlling management" clause.

Wrap ya mind around that one!

Are they any photography supply stores on Samui? If so where?

In a word - NO.

Far better to go to Bangkok. MBK is the place

Take a look at the photographic section in the main forum and you'll find a very useful list of retailers. I've just returned from there having a need to upgrade my equipment and the saving more than covered the flight costs.

Hi everybody,

I ve been willing to move to Thailand for the last years,and then always changed my mind at the last moment,with people telling me it was madness (which might be true in a way, but now decided to live what I want to live.) I need advices from people who did it already before me...

My situation is that I have 2 kids (aged 7.5 and 9), both french speaking (but just started english courses and smart!), Im by myself with them, but basically get a pension so wouldn t really need to work there (although I d rather do something). I ve been looking on the net about any school possibilities in Samui, and that s not very easy.

I ll be going to Mae Nam I reckon (if I can find a 3 bedroom house there)in september or october this year.I plan to employ somebody to help me in the house, does anybody know if it s easy to find somebody reliable, speakin english, and maybe with a driving license for that (or is it really a pipe dream?!)

Also, what kind of visa do we need? (we plan to stay between 6-8 months, for a start, and then we ll see what happens).

Any constructive advises?! :-) Thanks anyway to those who can help me on that one!

Frankly this sounds crazy.

Have you ever been to Samui? Thailand? Samui is basically considered lawless.

Is there any reason to believe this will be good for the kids?

Why did you dig this one up after 4 months?

I guess I have to eat my shorts, but I could swear I saw Beckham at Suvarnabhumi this morning, well, at least he looked very much like him.....but no sign of Posh though...

Keep ya shorts on Coconut:- Maybe a delayed flight?

Just received this as a posting alert from the admin centre!

Joe Cole, David Beckham holiday in Thailand:

http: //www.bahtsold.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1208

Ooops - much red-faced - my apologies

I hate this alteration to past postings.

What was wrong with the old style?