Going to malta - How to invest my birthday money

Nicola.P

Nicola.P

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Nicola
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I am off to Malta in July, my first holiday abroad since I have been into photography, I have just received £200 for my birthday and am looking to use this for photography related things, preferably to use in Malta.

I currently have a Nikon D40X with 18-55mm, also the 55-200mm, a nifty fifty and a Sigma 105mm macro. I have UV and polarizing filters. I do have a tripod but it is quite big and bulky.

Any ideas on what else I would need that would be of use in Malta?

I went and spent an hour in park cameras on Monday and saw the following which I am tempted on:

* Cokin P filter ND grad set, Contains ND2, ND4 and ND8 with adapter totals around £65
* Cokin full ND (unsure which number to go for) around £18
* Lowepro cirrus 120 (to carry my camera + lens, 1 extra lens and my accessorys on everyday trips £26.43
* Velbon Ultra Max M Tripod (is very small but as I found out once open the legs just keep coming, I thought it was going to be taller than me! Not very sturdy ut is lightweight for carrying around) £94

Would these be a good investment?? :)
 
Personally id get myself a compact cam with underwater case and go swimming, maltas great for diving/snorkelling :)
 
Angus1 said:
Personally id get myself a compact cam with underwater case and go swimming, maltas great for diving/snorkelling :)
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Ohh hadn't thought of that!! Been to Malta before, the water around Comino is lovely.
 
I hope you love historic buildings - crystal clear waters & friendly people ..
Valetta harbour has a days worth of photo opportunites, there are numerous fantastic churches & you must visit Mndina (the silent city) and have cake from the cafe on the wall..
:woot::woot::woot::woot::woot::woot::woot::woot::woot::woot:
 
Shooting with ND's sure is worthwhile, but it takes a while to get used to them. Personally I'd improve your landscape skills with your polarizer first before investing in a set and use the money you'd spend on them elsewhere.

Definitely get a decent and comfortable bag, my Stealth Reporter has a big padded strap on it but even that makes my shoulder ache after a few hours. After visiting Crete late last year and buying a Lowepro Slingshot 200AW off a forum member here I can fully recommend them. http://products.lowepro.com/product/SlingShot-200-AW,2035,4.htm

It's very comfortable to wear all day, and access to your camera and lenses is easy and fast. With your kit, I'd recommend getting the 200AW over the smaller 100AW.

A lightweight tripod is always a plus, as you'll be the one carrying it round all day :lol: well worth the buy. :thumbs:

Hope something in my ramblings helps you out in some way :D
 
It is the bag I am most confused about. i bought a Crumpler Pretty Boy, but although it's nice it does stick out quite abit and is quite bulky. I also have the Kata DP465 (tink that numbers right) which is half photo half personal bits and although that's great it's abit big to lug around Malta everyday.

I want something small but comfortable.

Will need some of my budget for more memory cards as well.
 
So you're concerned about bulkiness? What about the 100AW then? It is essentially a backpack though.
 
How about a nice SB600.
 
7Day Shop doing deal on memory cards. And a spare battery would go a miss.
 
Spare battery would be a very good idea, as would some memory cards.

But I do like the sound of the compact/underwater idea.
 
I already have a spare battery.

Am going to look into the underwater camera thing as last time the fish were so colourful and the water so clear. Might even see if there is an underwater case for my existing camera, will see which is cheaper.
 
Good suggestions for locations already. Make sure you get to Portomaso Marina too. A mini Monte Carlo with expensive yachts, luxury apartments and boutiques, all set around a beautiful harbour. It's right next to the skyscraper between Sliema and St Julians.

Since it gets dark early, there is plenty of opportunity to get some nice night time shots. A remote shutter control would be a nice addition to your tripod for long exposures. The beach at St Julians is busy with traffic and you could get some nice light trails from the hill overlooking the beach. Or maybe some star trails in the clear sky over an old or ruined church. A remote shutter is only about £20-25 brand new, so money still to spend on your waterproof case or batteries or whatever.

Good luck!

Oh, I can recommend "The Edge" restaurant. It's under a canopy at the Radisson SAS in St. Julians. Overlooks the sea and service and food is excellent, and not that expensive either.
 
i think you'll struggle to find an underwater case for your d40x within budget.

i've got that tripod in my travel bag and it's excellent, it'll be perfect with your lenses and it's not too heavy. i've even been known to put my 300 f2.8 on it at times!
 
Valetta is worth a day or so photographing. I suggest walking there from Sliema so you get to follow the inlet with some nice scenic marinas and so on. Then do the Valletta tour and catch the bus back home.

Malta isnt the prettiest island by any means, its fairly flat and built up and its highest mountain is the landfill site but its ok for photographs. Get to Gozo and Comino as some nice cliff/water scenes there. Go scuba diving - its the best in the med (its actually got SOME fish).

If you want an U/W camera i suggest ebay as plenty of options. Get a powershot with case, get CHDK on it so it'll do RAW. A housing for an SLR will set you back £1500+ otherwise.
 
noah said:
i think you'll struggle to find an underwater case for your d40x within budget.

i've got that tripod in my travel bag and it's excellent, it'll be perfect with your lenses and it's not too heavy. i've even been known to put my 300 f2.8 on it at times!
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I think she was thinking of a underwater casing for a video camera. But I agree, they aren't cheap for a decent casing.
 
gnirtS said:
Valetta is worth a day or so photographing. I suggest walking there from Sliema so you get to follow the inlet with some nice scenic marinas and so on. Then do the Valletta tour and catch the bus back home.

Malta isnt the prettiest island by any means, its fairly flat and built up and its highest mountain is the landfill site but its ok for photographs. Get to Gozo and Comino as some nice cliff/water scenes there. Go scuba diving - its the best in the med (its actually got SOME fish).

If you want an U/W camera i suggest ebay as plenty of options. Get a powershot with case, get CHDK on it so it'll do RAW. A housing for an SLR will set you back £1500+ otherwise.
Click to expand...

Have to say I agree with gnirtS about Malta, though I didn't want to be the first to say it. There is some superb cliff coastline at Dingli on the south coast, and on the northern tip of the island, but I was underwhelmed in general.

Gozo is a bit more interesting - more cliff coastline and the most interesting thing I found were the Redoubt salt pans on the north coast of the island near Marsalforn.

If you go in spring or autumn you'll hear and probably come across the hunters shooting any feathered thing that moves.
 
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