off to England

[ajo43]

Work is taking me to London for a week. So I'll pack the baby and the zoom lens and see if I can bag a snap of the Queen. If not I'll try get some half decent pics to post here.

More imporantly, is there any great camera store I should go and have browse through in London?

I don't have a flash yet - would London be a good place to buy one? It seems it would be hard to beat Birddog's mate Poon in Hong Kong for pricing.

Is there anyting else I should keep my eye out for that is good value in the UK?

Thanks for you help in advance.

[MHD]

where you flying via (Bangkok or Singapore)?
might be worth stopping over a night and shopping!

[gstark]

Andrew,

Where are you stopping along the way? Singapore or HK would each be better than London, I would expect.

If you have time, grab a day or two take the train/chunnel to Paris and pay a visit to the Dali Museum. Otherwise, London is full of great photographic opportunities.

And ...

Shaftesbury Ave every night: theatre, theatre, and more theatre, with Chinatown just around the corner.

Ronnie Scotts for jazz is just a couple of blocks off Shaftesbury, in the other direction, IIRC. (it's been 9 years since I've been to London)

When do you leave?

[sirhc55]

There is a great photo shop in New Oxford Street just down from the junction of Tottenham Road, Oxford Street and Charing Cross Road.

England is VERY expensive and I would go with what the others have said about getting one enroute

Cheers

Chris PS give my regards to Shaftesbury Avenue - lived there when I was a kid

[ajo43]

Thanks for such quick replies guys.

I think I'm going up through Singapore and back through Bangkok. No time for a stopover but there is always the duty free at the airport.

I'd love to get to Paris for the weekend but I don't think I'll get time.

The trap in London is taking tourist photos - Buck Palace etc. The challenger will be to capture something a bit more interesting. I've only got one free day so I'll be snapping furiously.

[gstark]

Andrew,

The duty free at Singapore isn't too bad, but if you're laid over there for more than a few hours, you can actually leave the airport and take a bus into the city. Just be sure to get back to the airport in time for your flight.

For London, avoid Buck Palace ... go to Hyde Park (there used to be an art market along the fence just outside the park), or wander down to the markets for some true local (and Cockney) colour.

[birddog114]

Andrew,
If you propose to buy the SB-800 at Singapore DFS then you better buy it grey here.
Friend of mine came back from Europe via Singapore with no stop over bought an SB-800 from Mr. Poon last week.

Even prices are so bad at many DFS at Hongkong or Bangkok International Airport

[ajo43]

Thanks for the tip Birddog. I think Mr Poon is the man

[plukaduck]

Andrew,

I was in Hong Kong the other day. The prices at the airport are rediculous to say the least. It is a safe bet to buy online before you go and you are able to test the SB 800 to get the best photos from it.

Cheers,

Darryl.

[ajo43]

Darryl

You've got a fantastic kit there. Do you use it all? Are you a pro?

I think mail order is the way to go based on everyone's responses.

Cheers

[birddog114]

Darryl

You've got a fantastic kit there. Do you use it all? Are you a pro?

I think mail order is the way to go based on everyone's responses.

Cheers

Ajo43,
You don't need to be a pro to have the gear like Darryl, just a serious photographer and you can have it.

[MHD]

And you need to have a job

Hmm... I might start a poll