Thailand holiday. Fuji vs Canon debate

futureal33

futureal33

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Afternoon all

Im off to sunny Thailand in January, and have long been pondering what kit to take.

First off... the trip is NOT a photography trip. That being said, my girlfriend knows what I am like, and that photographs of the 2 weeks will be a big part of it for me. I want to document our time there, but I dont want photography to take over the whole trip. Pretty standard I guess!

We will be drinking alcohol most days and probably spend most of our time on our feet, especially in Bangkok / Chiang Mai - returning to the hotel only at night.

In my head, these are the kind of photographs I want to be getting
  • Bangkok - street scenes. Street food. Rivers and boats / waterways life. Temples. Sunsets from our hotel 25th floor bar. Floating markets
  • Chiang Mai - elephant sanctuary day, pictures with elephants etc, temples, jungle treks (nothing too intense!), food, markets. general shizzle
  • Phuket - landscapes mainly
As well as this, I would like some photos at night of nights out / meals out - nothing too fancy, just pictures to look back on.

Now for kit... Im lucky (or stupid) enough to have a choice of equipment to take.

I am heavily invested in Canon kit which I use for weddings. Owning most L lenses from 24mm primes through to 135mm primes.
I also own a bit of Fuji kit, which I like, but am not as confident at using as the Canon stuff. As daft as it sounds I can't figure out the EVF and my pictures constantly come out under-exposed
I own Fuji X100T, Fuji X-T1, 16-50mm lens and 35mm 1.4 lens.

Packing wise... Im taking a very large backpack for clothes (hold luggage) and will have a second backpack as cabin luggage which I would keep cameras, tablet etc in for flights / days out.

As stated above, I dont want photography to take over the trip and the last thing I want is all my kit to be a burden...if it is, chances are I will just leave it in the hotel safe and not bother...I know what I'm like! But obviously I do want nice photos from the trip.

If I was taking fuji. I think I would take X100T which would come everywhere with me. And the Xt1 + 16-50mm as a walkaround camera. Not the most exciting combination, but it would work.
If I was taking Canon, I think I would take 24L, 35L, 50L, 135L - which is obviously considerably more bulky than the Fuji stuff.

Just looking for feedback / advice from other people who have been on what they found most useful, or recommendations on what to do!

Its also going to be pretty hot over there when we go, so I will be mainly packing lightly and not taking all my kit with me every day
Thanks!
 
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I went to Thailand 2 years ago and I spent my time with my 6D and 40mm f2.8 on the lens pretty much all the time, I also had my 24-105L but this hardly left the hotel room. I love this combo for travel as it's so light. From your kit I would take the x100T and XT1
 
When we went to Thailand about 6 years ago, I chose not to take my Nikon kit (D700, 24-70 lens etc.) and went and purchased a Pansonic GF1 (it had just been realeased, so I paid too much for it), along with the 14-45 kit lens, 20mm pancake lens and 45-200 lens. I didn't regret it and was pleased not to have to lug the Nikon kit around and some of the images taken have done well in my local camera club competitions.

So take your Fuji kit with you and enjoy your holiday and take some nice photo's. Use the time to learn how to use the Fuji's.
 
Can't really advise you too much on kit, I prefer mirrorless myself.

My GF is Thai :D we've been twice in the last couple of years and are going again next year. Like you I don't want photography to take over but I want some nice shots so I take mirrorless, A7 and GX7 and a compact too for days when even a small mirrorless set up is too much as I'd much rather use a compact camera than a phone.

It is hot... opening the door of an air conditioned car to get out is like opening the door to an oven here :D and it's humid. The first time I went I only took my GX7 and a compact and one day I got a series of slightly OOF shots from my GX7. It's never happened before or since and only happened at one place (the BIG Buddha on the hill, just in case you go there....) so I have to just put it down to the humidity affecting the camera or fogging something up. You might want to keep the possibility of humidity having an effect in mind and check your gear and shots from time to time. Had no problems with my A7 though even when we went to see the big Buddha again :D

Another thing I noted was that even on days when it didn't seem to be particularly sunny there was a lot of glare and exposing to the right wasn't a good idea even with my A7. This is one area in which mirrorless could have an advantage as you may be able to avoid blowing your highlights in strong light by keeping an eye on the in view histogram.

Hope you both enjoy it :D
 
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Your woman sounds like mine in that she gets bored waiting for me to take the shots I want.
So I bought an X-T1 as a better class holiday camera. I take the kit lens 18-55 and 10-24 plus 8mm fisheye.
Watch the histogram and no real problems. Quality is more than good enough; so much that I'm about to ditch the Canon gear altogether.

Wouldn't fancy carrying the Canon gear around on hols. Just too much effort.
 
I carried a 30D and 17-70mm round Thailand didn't think it was an issue one thing I do wish I had with me was a rugged compact the jungles up north can be really wet and I would have loved a camera snorkelling on ko phi phi!
 
I bought a Fuji (X Pro-1) specifically for travel and walkabout use.
I only have 2 lenses, the 18mm and the 35mm, and find they are enough for me.
The whole outfit is small, light, and unobtrusive, with great IQ.
Job done.
 
Take the fuji, leave the canon gear at home. Figure out how to get the correct exposure with it before you go.
 
Stick with the Fuji gear. If you had a crop body Canon I'd say take it and a walkabout lens as well as a compact.....but a large full-frame Canon? Nope.
 
X-T1 and their 18-135 covers 90+% of my wants and 99% of my needs, especially as a holiday camera. Trust the meter and it'll give you good exposures - if it isn't, it's gone wrong!

IMO, the only area where my DSLR is better is doing night exposures, where the optical VF allows better focussing on stars and the like. Oh, don't forget the little flash for the X-T1 if it's all you've got - not the best flash in the world but better than nothing!
 
Nod said:
IMO, the only area where my DSLR is better is doing night exposures, where the optical VF allows better focussing on stars and the like.
Click to expand...
Interesting as my CSC are better than I remember my DSLR's were, they certainly show more stars than are visible by eye.
 
I'd go with the Fuji kit for your (amazing) holiday, both compact and versatile. Have a fantastic time and I can't wait to view your captures. Take care.

Merry Xmas to you.

Regards;
Peter
 
I recently had a similar dilemma - touring Japan with very little luggage and a partner who didn't want to hang around too long while I took photos. I left my Canon gear behind and bought an Olympus 4/3 camera for the trip and have no regrets! Unless it's specifically a photography holiday, my Canon kit will stay at home in the future. I took the 12-40 2.8 lens (24-80 equivalent) and bought the 9-18 (18-36 equivalent) out there.
Have a great time!
 
I would take the X100, and consider leaving it at that as you don't have a long lens for your X-T1 yet.
As Timmy mentioned : figure out why you underexpose : with my Fuji it is ALWAYS the damned EV dial got nudged to minus something. Damn that dial.
 
Bebop said:
I recently had a similar dilemma - touring Japan with very little luggage and a partner who didn't want to hang around too long while I took photos. I left my Canon gear behind and bought an Olympus 4/3 camera for the trip and have no regrets! Unless it's specifically a photography holiday, my Canon kit will stay at home in the future. I took the 12-40 2.8 lens (24-80 equivalent) and bought the 9-18 (18-36 equivalent) out there.
Have a great time!
Click to expand...

I've been thinking of using a standard zoom but I only have the kit zoom and find it limiting in northern England as I'm often struggling against a falling shutter speed and a rising ISO. Having a f2.8 rather than the pedestrian f3.5-5.6 kit zoom would help but those f2.8's are expensive...
 
I think I would take just the X100 and consider getting hold of the wide converter.
 
If you don't take you're fuji, given what you've said, you need to consider selling it soon after you get home.
 
I went to Thailand years ago on an job, 2x Nikon F4 bodies 1x F3T lens 20mm to 300mm two converter 2x 1-4x,an Leica M6 with 35 50 &90mm lens and a very big Billingham bag :D

And stacks of film Kodachrome 64 plus some Kodak Tri-X B/W and 2 different lots of Ektachrome :)
 
I've just come back from Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. Took my Nikon D700 and a trio of zooms. Got some great pictures but at times its a pain with the heavy gear, SE Asia is generally hot and humid (Chiang Mai's not too bad) and the gear weighs you down. I hardly used my 70-200, the 24-70 covered most of what I shot with the exception of the temples in Angkor where the ultra wide came in useful. I'd take the XT1 and the 16-55 and leave the rest at home, wouldn't bother with the prime either, I took 2 and never used them! If I wasn't so heavily invested in nikon I'd get the Fuji system tomorrow!
 
005269 said:
I've just come back from Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. Took my Nikon D700 and a trio of zooms. Got some great pictures but at times its a pain with the heavy gear, SE Asia is generally hot and humid (Chiang Mai's not too bad) and the gear weighs you down. I hardly used my 70-200, the 24-70 covered most of what I shot with the exception of the temples in Angkor where the ultra wide came in useful. I'd take the XT1 and the 16-55 and leave the rest at home, wouldn't bother with the prime either, I took 2 and never used them! If I wasn't so heavily invested in nikon I'd get the Fuji system tomorrow!
Click to expand...

After lots of travelling (which is why I'm into photography) including SE Asia and used to use FF Nikon kit which I loved but this year I switched to m4/3 and have no regrets at all.

So, in your position I would take the XT1 and kit zoom plus a fast prime (or X100T) for things like night markets, it will cover all your needs.

I also agree with what has been said that if you don't take your Fuji kit you may as well sell it.
 
Travel light and small, makes the days easier when it's hot and busy. Also less conspicuous
 
I haven't been to Thailand but did a couple of weeks in India in October & November. XT1 all the way for me; 90% of the time with 10-24 and the rest either 35 or 18-135 depending on context. Very rarely carried more than a single spare lens though.

Tbh I find it slightly odd that you say you're not going "for photography", but are still considering taking that amount of Canon gear - this is what Fujis are best at. And you'll only learn to get the best out of a camera by using it loads.
 
I took my 5D mk3, small manfrotto travel tripod, 14mm wide, 24-105 and 70-200 with 2 x tc. Barely used the 70-200 but when I needed it the extra reach was great, had a published image using that lens combo. Most of mine were shot with my 24-105 on. Took the lot in a small backpack with pockets for bottles of water. Didn't have an issue anywhere, most of the time in town I just walked around with my 24-105 and 5d only.

I also had a canon d30 (small compact underwater) for the beach shots.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/byker28i/albums/72157644152005842

So when in Chiang Mai, visit the monk chat club and spend some time talking, visit the womens prison outreach - great cafe, china town is great as are the night markets. Check out the night market that pops up in different areas, not just the same street.

If you're doing the elephant, be a mahood for a day, as against the watch the elephants painting and football type thing, they will ask for your camera so they can take photos of you as you look after the elephants, trek to the waterfall. They took over 300 photos on mine, including lots of selfies :)
 
Byker28i said:
I took my 5D mk3, small manfrotto travel tripod, 14mm wide, 24-105 and 70-200 with 2 x tc. Barely used the 70-200 but when I needed it the extra reach was great, had a published image using that lens combo. Most of mine were shot with my 24-105 on. Took the lot in a small backpack with pockets for bottles of water. Didn't have an issue anywhere, most of the time in town I just walked around with my 24-105 and 5d only.

I also had a canon d30 (small compact underwater) for the beach shots.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/byker28i/albums/72157644152005842

So when in Chiang Mai, visit the monk chat club and spend some time talking, visit the womens prison outreach - great cafe, china town is great as are the night markets. Check out the night market that pops up in different areas, not just the same street.

If you're doing the elephant, be a mahood for a day, as against the watch the elephants painting and football type thing, they will ask for your camera so they can take photos of you as you look after the elephants, trek to the waterfall. They took over 300 photos on mine, including lots of selfies :)
Click to expand...

Patara elephant farm?
 
I'd just take the x100T. It's a personal preference of course and many would suggest the zoom for flexibility but I find my photography infinitely more enjoyable when I'm not carrying the world with me and when my feet do the moving rather than a zoom..
 
woof woof said:
Interesting as my CSC are better than I remember my DSLR's were, they certainly show more stars than are visible by eye.
Click to expand...


It's not the images that are the problem, it's achieving focus on the stars that is! The EVF and rear screen are so noisy that I can't see the stars, let alone focus on them! The D750 on the other hand allows me to get the stars as sharp as possible with its OVF, even without resorting to live view and zooming in.
 
That is strange. The last time I used mine at night was when we had the big moon. I'll check again tonight but I don't remember having problems with either of my newer CSC's, the G1 is useless at night though.
 
We had a big trip in October and I took a bit of both so that I had my 5D3 for landscape and a smaller camera for record shots. Big BUT - we had a car so didn't have to carry stuff all day. So, if you are staying in secure accommodation, maybe you can mix and match or just take the Fuji stuff and make the most of that set up. Carrying a big bag full all day will be uncomfortable even if you can bench press your own body weight!
 
I'm going to Thailand in January too and have bought myself a G7x just for the trip. I wanted something small to go in my pocket and it's perfect for what I want. I couldn't think of anything worse than lugging a big bag around all day when it's hot and humid.
 
Thanks for the replies.
I just struggle with the EVF and metering looking disconnected. Ie, the EVF image looks perfectly exposed, but the meter is showing under exposure... So I adjust the exposure settings to get the meter looking right, but then the EVF image is clipping like crazy! Also the EVF brightness and rear screen brightness seem totally different too, which makes things even harder to judge.

Does anyone else have this issue?
 
You can adjust the evf brightness while holding it up to your eye and going into the menu. It's independent of the screen brightness
 
woof woof said:
That is strange. The last time I used mine at night was when we had the big moon. I'll check again tonight but I don't remember having problems with either of my newer CSC's, the G1 is useless at night though.
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The moon isn't a problem but the stars are! Too much noise to pick them out from. I was at least half cut when I tried last time and haven't tried since. Must see if I can get a method sorted so I can get some dark sky star shots next year (no light pollution in South Crete.)
 
Nod said:
The moon isn't a problem but the stars are! Too much noise to pick them out from. I was at least half cut when I tried last time and haven't tried since. Must see if I can get a method sorted so I can get some dark sky star shots next year (no light pollution in South Crete.)
Click to expand...
As I typed I just knew someone would say this... I shot more than the moon!

It's not a problem that I've noticed with my newer CSC's but I do seem to be able to get on with CSC's better than some.
 
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Ulfric M Douglas said:
Like frod said : adjust it!
Click to expand...
I dont see how I can adjust it? The EVF is clearly showing over-exposure, yet the histogram looks great...take the picture and it comes out dark on the rear screen and in Lightroom? Its like all 4 elements are different:
EVF, Live Histogram, Rear Screen.... final image file
 
Try adjusting the shadows to -1 or -2 and see if that makes things easier for you or turn off preview pic effect to see what the raw image will look like in the viewfinder.

EDIT: As to the question of bringing a DSLR or the Fuji, bring the Fuji. I used to have a Canon 7D with 17-55 2.8 that I took to Malaysia and as soon as I got back home I decided to sell all my Canon gear because I found myself not taking pictures due to the weight I had to lug about.

If I got the chance to go again tomorrow I would bring only my X100T in a heartbeat and know that I wouldn't regret it for one minute.
 
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