hughden

Just my personal opinion. Hope that helps.

Thank you for your feedback. I had checked AV a couple of days ago and saw the same set and price as fotofile.net. I'm also not happy about the addition of a lens I'm not really interested in. Seems no body only options available. I live in Chiang Mai so can not go to AV Camera in person to see what they can do for me. Do you think they may be able to 'modify' the lens options if I contact them via website/e-mail?

That's what I did, and they quoted 25,900 with just the kit lens.

The G3 is a fine camera. I didn't upgrade from my GF1 because:

1. I would liked to have more definable controls buttons available.

2. The body is a bit plastic compared to the GF1

3. The price in Thailand includes two lenses, one of which is the 45-200mm which I don't like (bought it and sold it and got the 100-300mm which is much better). AV Camera were prepared to do a deal with just the kit lens for 25,900 baht which is what I would go for if they are still offering that (ridiculous of Panasonic to introduce a new model and then hike the price with a two lens deal). I also find Khun Mana at AV Camera a nice guy to deal with and they have a lot of M4/3 gear in the shop.

4. While pondering the G3 I bought a Fuji X100, for no other reason than techno-lust!

Now there is the GX1 coming soon and in many ways it offers less than the G3 for more money; but those of us who love the GF1 (well, me at least) are attracted by the construction and the controls, although I would have liked the G3's internal viewfinder and articulated screen.

I did persuade a friend into getting the G3 (so I could play with it) and it is a fine machine with good IQ and the viewfinder is excellent.

The 20mm F1.7 is a classic must-have lens, to which I would now add the Olympus 45mm F1.8. I also covet the Olympus 12mm, but that is serious money.

The GH2 is a good but more expensive option, personally I don't like the form factor; but it is the best for video.

The NEX-7 looks like an amazing body; but the NEX lens choice is pretty feeble right now.

Just my personal opinion. Hope that helps.

There's a huge choice, but as you are upgrading from a compact, you want something that's easy to use at first so you can start shooting straight away. Any entry level DSLR from Canon or Nikon will be good, but the Sony range is worth a look as they have a new systems that makes them slightly lighter and faster to use for action shots. (quick focus system, no mirror).

But consider the size and weight of any DSLR. For me, they are just too heavy to carry around all day, especially if you are also carrying a couple of spare lenses.

So if I were you, I'd go for a Panasonic Lumix G3. (The GX1 is very nice, but it's not available here yet and you'll need to add another $200 on top for the separate electronic viewfinder, and the G3 comes with this built in).

The kit lens is good to get you going, but look at the excellent Leica lens for macro (it's a bit expensive) and the nice, light and good value 45-200mm Lumix lens for sports/action. (The 20mm f1.7 lens is a real cracker, but not ideal for macro or action)

You may read a lot about sensor sizes and image quality in reviews, but unless you are going to do huge enlargements or need to shoot at high ISO (in low light) there's no need to worry about image quality, as any Micro 4/3 camera such as the G3 or entry level DSLR will have MUCH better image quality than your compact.

The G3 is a great choice, but annoyingly you can only currently buy it in Thailand with two lenses, which pushes the price up to 35k. As for image quality, I know someone who sold an image from a GF1 through Getty for $11,000; and I have also sold GF1 images (for a lot less money!) through stock sites; so M4/3 gives you perfectly acceptable IQ in a small package.

Another lens worthy of consideration is the recently announced Olympus 45mm F1.8. Stunning photos and a bargain at 12,900 baht.

There are plenty of interchangeable lens cameras that aren't DSLR these days. They are typically smaller and lighter than a DSLR. They all have their pros and cons relative to each other and to DSLRs, but I have a Lumix GF1 and am happy with it. There is now the GX1 as it's natural successor.

Some people swear by DSLRs. I doubt I'll ever buy one again though.

I agree. Why buy a bulky DSLR when you can get a much smaller interchangeable lens camera which takes great images? I have a Canon DSLR, and a Panasonic GF1. The Canon stays in the cupboard unless I really need it for sports photography; while the GF1 with a collection of lens can be carried everywhere.

By all means check out the DSLRs, but have a look at the likes of the micro four thirds cameras from Olympus and Panasonic and the Sony NEX range.

"So you're registered with Amazon UK using a Thai mailing address as your main address, and you pay to download to your Kindle using a Thai credit card." Yes.

I don't use a proxy server.

Just checked my Amazon account, I don't see anywhere where I am required to record my actual home address. My default marketplace/ 1Click address is my address in Thailand, and I have various other addresses recorded for when I send Amazon gifts to friends and relatives. My registered credit card is from a bank in Thailand.

They have been happy to send me physical books for years, so no surprise to me they have no problem supplying electronic books. I was a little concerned when I bought the Kindle from the USA that I would be forced to purchase from the USA Amazon Store, but there was no problem ordering from the UK instead.

Given that Amazon have set up a service to send Kindles round the world, it wouldn't make sense if they then refused to sell you the books to read on it (which is where they make their profit).

Have a look at the discussion here.

Thanks for that.

Is there anyone here who downloads to their Kindle in Thailand from Amazon UK - and who is also registered with Amazon UK as a customer who is resident in Thailand?

In other words, have you given Amazon UK a Thailand address as your MAIN address?

At the moment Amazon UK have a UK address for me, although this may change soon. So I'm wondering if I give them a Thailand address if they will stop supplying me, including Kindle downloads (if I go ahead and get a Kindle!).

Thanks.

I am resident in Thailand with a Thai credit card. I bought my Kindle on-line from Amazon USA, and I buy books from Amazon UK; all with my Thai credit card and Thailand address. As P_Brownstone said, there is an issue with selling music to different countries; but books, both physical and electronic are not a problem. I have been buying books from Amazon UK for as long as I can remember whilst living in various Asian countries and using Asian credit cards.

My wife bought a Sony Vaio about three years ago and hated it; so we sold it and she bought a Macbook. Never looked back and now we have an iMac, a Mac Pro, and the original Macbook is still going strong. A different level of quality and usability.

That's my GF1 update sorted then.

The EP-2 and the EPL-2 were discontinued in June and were replaced with the EP-3 and the EPL-3. I have seen both of the new models in Big Camera, but it no doubt varies depending upon which branch you visit.

The Canon announcement was for a video camera:

http://www.dpreview.com/news/1111/11110310canoneoscinema.asp

About $20,000 if you fancy one.....

Stunning, as always.

I had a similar experience in Big C extra in town today(Old Carrfour) basically many normal items were not available and not just foodstuffs so I guess it depends on where the central distribution center is for these companies. Left with my food shopping list untouched and went up the road to foodland !

That's just because they have no idea od stock control and re-ordering.

Indeed, I am sure that a very large and very profitable supermarket chain that manages a complex supply chain across Thailand has no idea about stock control and re-ordering.......

Or maybe, just maybe, it could be the result of disruption caused by the floods.

Incredible camera, but as I have said many times before... just what is it you want your camera for? Do you intend to market your photos? If so then it's a great step forward. But, if it's just to show pictures to your family and friends then what's the point.

I have the 1D III and it has paid for itself many times over as a sports event camera. But that's all I use it for. For everything else it is heavy overkill and it stays in the cupboard; and a Panasonic GF1 is more than adequate.

Go to the Formula 1 website (http://www.formula1.com/) and you can view all the times for all the sessions in local time.

Race is at 1300.

<br>

<br>so they are not the same price everywhere<br>

<br><br>Same price in North America only <img src="http://static.thaivisa.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif" class="bbc_emoticon" alt=""><br><br>I bought my ipad 2 directly form apple website in May, delivered by post to my Thai home from China.<br>

Did Customs tag you for any more money when it arrived by post? I am looking to buy a kindle through Amazon, shipped from the US, and I worry that the $139, plus shipping at about $25 will vastly increase once Customs gets wind of it. Were you lucky or no??

When you order a Kindle from Amazon they will charge you a deposit of around $40 to cover import duty. A few weeks after you take delivery, you will get a credit for any difference between the $40 and the actual charge. I received a refund of $10.

If you buy items from the Thailand Apple store, there is no duty to pay; irrespective of where the goods are despatched from (usually Singapore).

I have never felt threatened in Thailand using any photo gear. The advantage of using long lenses for street photography is that you are further away from your subject and perhaps less likely to be spotted; the downside is that you are carrying bigger gear and are generally more obvious.

My wife and I went shooting on beach road in Pattaya where the hookers are not that keen on being photographed. My wife was shooting with a 100-300 lens on a Panasonic GF1 and was using a Fuji X100. We both got the shots, although the retro-looking Fuji with its silent shutter attracted the least attention. My wife was only hassled once when I ladyboy asked her to stop taking photos.

My friend just bought a Mirror-less Nikon from Calumet Photo in Los Angeles. Full size sensor. He works for the studios and said it is an amazing camera. Will post more details as I get them. They are not available as of last week to the general public.

The new mirrorless Nikon, announced last week, has a very small sensor.

And you will have yet another choice on 21st September when Nikon announce their mirrorless offering!

New Nikon released:

http://dpreview.com/news/1109/11092120nikonlaunch.asp#press

Some impressive features, let down by a small sensor and pathetic selection of lenses. No match for micro four thirds or the NEX.

Hughden your right about that Voigtlander, my colleague has one for his EP1 and I must say the bokeh is brilliant. A bit pricey mind.

There are a ton of decent lenses for m4/3rds. I have been considering getting that Panasonic 100-300mm lens which is equivalent to 200-600mm, now sure its quite big, I have held it, but there's nothing smaller with this much reach.

http://www.photographyblog.com/reviews/panasonic_lumix_g_vario_100_300mm_f4_56_mega_ois_review/sharpness_1/

Looks pretty good, just wondering how it compared with the 45-200mm

I had the 45-200mm and found it underwhelming. Sold it and got the 100-300mm which is a great lens.

Given the location, probably video related?

Sure, "in theory", "oiling the wheels" might help in your case but, in reality, the Sukhumvit Test Centre, near to the Chevrolet dealership, is for testing vehicles (including motorbikes) and not for processing driving licences. To obtain a Thai driving licence, you would have to go to the Department of Land Transportation Office behind the Regent's School on the Rayong Road....... that is if you live in the Banglamung Area. If you live towards Laem Chabang, then the appropriate office in Ao Udom is where you should go.

Maybe he is referring to Sukhumvit, Bangkok.

Google; there are plenty of articles. Neither wins.

Olympus PENs have sensor based stabilisation, Panasonic use lens based stabilisation, because they produce cameras that are aimed for video and stills, and sensor based stabilisation is not good for video, apparently.

But with most cameras with sensor based stabilisation you can turn off the stabilisation when you use the video function or when you take photos using a tripod.

True, but then video shooters would complain about a lack of stabilisation!

Google; there are plenty of articles. Neither wins.

Olympus PENs have sensor based stabilisation, Panasonic use lens based stabilisation, because they produce cameras that are aimed for video and stills, and sensor based stabilisation is not good for video, apparently.