Review Objectives

1. This is not a technical, performance-centric review. If you want noise numbers and resolution numbers, this isn't the review you want to read. IMHO, there's no point in doing tests when other websites have already done them. Might as well steal charts or something. Everyone does it anyway.
    
2. Reliability and usability under the use of a demanding (and careless!) idiot are the predominant themes of this review. If you read about me doing something extremely dumb, like washing lenses, it's all okay. I wasn't born with common sense.
    
3. There will be really stupid side stories where I share my pointless tales of travel and regale everyone with amazing stories of how I sank a boat full of terrorists from Swaziland.
    
4. I will also look at their general performance but as long as it doesn't touch on the technicalities. Yes, I know engineering students love this part, but I'll try to shy away from this.
    
5. There will be loads of pictures. This is a photography-orientated trip. If you don't like my pictures though, you are free not to comment. But if you like them, you are most welcome to say I'm awesome.

Tips For Travelling

If you travel, especially on a budget, here are a few tips I've found to be very useful. They could really help you get a little extra out of that no-frills holiday.

1. Take Half the Clothes & Double the Money – I read this in the toilet of the YHA in Hervey Bay and its accuracy can't be stressed enough. Lay out all the money and clothes you have. Then double the money and halve the clothes. Bring a credit card as a last resort.
    
2. Take Half the Lenses & Double the Memory – This is one of my own adages. Get one good all-rounder lens that will allow you to shoot or a lens you feel you shoot best with, and maybe an extra lens. No, you are probably never going to use that 400 mm elephant lens to shoot landscapes so leave it at home. Take twice the memory cards you have instead. If you have 32 GB worth of storage in flash cards, take double.
    
3. Prepare for the stupid. You wouldn't expect rain in the Sunshine Coast but it happens. Small things like rain coats, extra toilet paper, cups, scissors, knives, torches, assault rifles and such are easy to carry and extremely useful. I always bring my scientific calculator on my travels. Who knows, I just might need to do complex numbers and vector calculations on the road. LOL!
    
4. Footware and Clothing. Often neglected by women all over the world. You just can't get them to be practical and stop dressing just to look their very best. Utilitarian footware and clothing should always be worn. It should be something that can be used over a large variety of terrain. I wear GSG 9-styled boots and khakis. The boots keep me comfy and dry. As a bonus, they act as "image stabilizers" on uneven or soft ground. One final tip is to buy new footware that are as tight as possible. Your feet will break them in while keeping nasties out.
    
5. Alternative Power Sources. Going on the road for long periods of time will drain your batteries faster than a true Malaysian can hog a buffet line. Car adapters for mobile phones and other electronics are cheap and will save you a shitload of trouble. Extra batteries are always great to bring along for the ride too.
    
6. Maps. You WILL get lost if you don't have a map, and getting lost wastes time. I bought a Navman and split the cost with my fellow adventurers. That came up to about AUD 50 per person - a steal of 14 days. Getting a map or its digitial equivalent is one of the best investments you can make while travelling to shoot in unfamiliar territory.
    
7. Bags. Good bags that suit your style of shooting are always a boon. I prefer one large bag for most of my gear, clothes and other stuff, and a smaller one (which is far easier to access) for my camera and other photographic essentials.
    
8. Deodorant. When you are backpacking, a bath or shower is not something you can count on regularly. So bring loads of your favourite deodorant and spray it anywhere that stinks. Sure, it isn't as good as bathing, but sometimes, bathing just isn't an option.
    
9. Research. Before you go somewhere, it's best to find out the shooting conditions over there. This is common sense, I guess. Of course, get to know the customs, habits and other things too. For example, in Malaysia, when people try to cross the road, we drive faster so we can pass them before they block our cars with their slow asses. In Australia, one stops for pedestrians even if there is a green light. Amazing.
    
10. CDs. Bring lots of them. Often neglected on a road trip, CD are trip-savers. Burn loads of CDs with agreeable tunes. Whenever your fellow adventurers start becoming mean and all sour, pop in a CD to change the mood. Always does the trick, if you ask me.

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