Help with my Hong Kong shopping list

[Vicareyus]

Hi all
Im off to Hong Kong end of Nov for a week with the wife - me for business, she for pleasure. But, of course, I view this also as a great photo taking opportunity (see different thread on suggested sites for photos) and a great buying opportunity!

What I'd like some advice on is buying in HK - I know this has been covered a bit elsewhere and on other websites, but any advice appreciated. Anyway - am keen on putting on my shopping list the following:

1. Sigma 70-200 f2.8 (can't afford the Nikon) - thoughts?

2. Sigma teleconverter - I like the idea of 2x but opinion seems to say 1.4x better quality?

3. The Nikon flash - I think the 800 version discussed on this board

4. A decent tripod - people say "Manfrotto, manfrotto, monfrotto..." I just want something that won't blow the budget but that is easily carried but still secure.

Would appreciate all opinions if not too much trouble on these items (But dont tell my wife!!). Also any thoughts on where to shop for best value (and not too unpleasant an experience).

Thanks!

Vic

[MCWB]

Wing Shing (Photo supplies?) are good, they're on Sai Yeung Choi street in Mong Kok. There's another good store in Mong Kok as well, also with Shing in the name, but I can't for the life of me remember what it is... Mong Kok is where the cheap prices are at, but if you're staying on HK Island, Stanley street in Central might be more convenient for you. By all accounts, the shops along Nathan road in Kowloon seem pretty dodgy for photographic stuff. If you're after PC gear, the Golden Centre at Sham Shui Po is the place. All of these places are easily accessible by MTR.

[birddog114]

This link is posted on our forum while ago, but don't know about its accuracy.

http://www.bubbachan.com/photoshopHK/shophk.htm

I think you PM Deano, one of our member, who's currently working in HKG and he may help you out.

[MCWB]

Great link Birddog! Here's another (lots of reading here, and a few pics of Wing Shing so you know what it looks like ): http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fet ... _id=000GnZ

[birddog114]

1. Sigma 70-200 f2.8 (can't afford the Nikon) - thoughts?

2. Sigma teleconverter - I like the idea of 2x but opinion seems to say 1.4x better quality?

3. The Nikon flash - I think the 800 version discussed on this board

4. A decent tripod - people say "Manfrotto, manfrotto, monfrotto..." I just want something that won't blow the budget but that is easily carried but still secure.

Hi,
1/ If you go to HKG, why settle for the Sigma 70-200? The Sigma 70-200 has some incompatibility with few Nikon body same as their telecoverter, that what I heard from few Nikon guys playing with Sigma and some of them needed to re-chip,Go for Nikon.

2/ With Teleconverter, you can go with Tamron, cheap and fully compatible with all Nikon lenses and bodies.

3/ SB-800 is the way to go, if I'm not wrong someone just bought it at $430.00 from HKG (at the shop).

4/ Tripod, looking for Gitzo Carbon Fibre, hope it's fair price there. CF it's lighter and sturdy with your 70-200 and a decent ballhead as well.

[Vicareyus]

thank you both for these helpful comments. Your suggested websites offer much info - thanks!
Vic

[Vicareyus]

Thanks Birdog - I'll have to find somewhere to try the Nikon 70-200VR out before I go (love the idea of VR too!)...

[birddog114]

Thanks Birdog - I'll have to find somewhere to try the Nikon 70-200VR out before I go (love the idea of VR too!)...

Once you come next week, pick up the bag, I'll let you try my 70-200VR with both teleconverter TC-14EII and TC-20EII and show you the Gitzo 1325 CF tripod and ballhead

[Vicareyus]

thats really nice - thanks and I look forward to that

[Deano]

Vic,

I've been on assignment here in Hong Kong from Melbourne since May and this is where I got my D70, lenses, flash and tripod, bags etc.

One of the interesting things in HK is that shops selling the same type of thing will be clustered together. This makes comparing prices very easy as you just walk down the street. One other thing is that the shops are small and they don't have room for an out-the-back (as in "let me check out the back"). This means that sometimes you may have to wait while they get stock from the store room down the street. This can be from 10 minutes to 2 hours or sometimes next day.

I do most of my camera related shopping at two places.
Wan Chai Computer Centre. This is close to where I work and is two floors of a building chocka block with little shops selling all sorts of computer and other electronics. The place I go to is called Coxell and they have good prices.
Stanely Street - Central. This street has about 6 to 8 camera shops in 100 metres and has a better range of stuff including the accessories.

There is also Mong Kok on the Kowloon side of HK which I hear has good pricing. One area to avoid is Nathan Road in Tsim Sha Tsui (TST) which caters mainly for the tourists and will attempt to charge like a wounded bull. For example the 24-120 VR lens which I got for $3700hk was $4500hk in TST.

Here is what I have bought recently and prices as far as I can remember;
Nikkor 24-120 VR $3900hk with UV filter
Nikkor 50 1.8 D $900hk
SB800 $2450hk

The exchange rate is about 5.7 at the moment so these translate to far cheaper than in OZ.

Check this link for prices. I'm not sure how reliable these are but at least a guide.
http://www.ygdragon.net/index.php?page= ... aprice.htm

Let me know if I can help any further.

Cheers
Dean

[Deano]

Two more thoughts;

Don't bother with duty free. The prices are not better than you get at retail.

An alternative to the Nikon SB800 is the Sigma 500 something something (make sure you get the iTTL version which is compatible with the D70). Where I paid $2450hk ($430aud) for the SB800, I was quoted $1580hk ($280aud) for the Sigma.

OK, three thoughts. I was looking at a Gitzo CF tripod (the 1228) and compared it to a Velbon 640 CF in the shop and walked away with the Velbon for $1850hk ($330aud). I think it is good enough for the D70 with 24-120 VR or 70-300 ED. You will need a decent head on top of this price though.

Cheers
Dean

[Vicareyus]

Hi Dean,

Thanks for the info. I'll be staying on the Kowloon side at the Intercontinental (the one right on the water - I havent been before but Im told it's really nice 5star), and my meetings are at the POW Hospital on Kowloon side, so no drama I guess to go to Mong Kok.

Have a few days either side of mtgs to have a good look around. I'm sure there is so much to photograph - I love lanscapes, scenery (Big Buddhas, views, bit of countryside in the outer areas) but also just the "hectic life" type shots Ive experienced elsewhere in Asia when Ive travelled. I particularly like photos that contain the contrast of the modern (eg buildings, etc) alongside the old (traditional ways of life - eg laneways with stalls, people going about their lives, etc).

Should be fun!

Vic

[bago100]

Vic
I think you are honed up on photo shops enough now
I'm not sure if you hav been to HKG before but just in case you haven't
Make sure you buy the Octopus transport pass available from any railway station - Great value and the trains literally cover all of Hong Kong and are clean and safe, day and night.
Couple of really good websites for you
http://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/mus ... ndex.jhtml
also
http://www.virtualtourist.com/vt/
The latter has a good forum where locals answer your questions
And, if you want someone to carry your bags - I'm available! and to chaperone your wife, my wife is available.
and we'll travel economy class too
Cheers
Graham

[Vicareyus]

Thanks Graham
No, havent been to Hong Kong before so looking forward to it. Thanks for websites! certainly could use a fellow photo enthusiast. along..and I really will need to have someone like your wife to distract my wife whilst I'm making my "modest"!!! purchases!

Birdogs offer of the new Lowepro microtrekker will be essential to hide the new goodies from her!

Vic

[MCWB]

And, if you want someone to carry your bags - I'm available! and to chaperone your wife, my wife is available.

But you'll need someone to carry your bags too... which is where myself and my girlfriend come in (she's originally from HK).

Grab an Octopus card at the airport (if you're catching the Airport Express train in?) as suggested, and marvel at how much easier it is to use than Sydney's public transport system!

If you're into big buddhas, there's a massive one on Lantau Island, very spectacular indeed, many great photos to be had.

[Deano]

Vic

As far as actualy using all this new equipment goes...

One of the difficult things to do is get those amazing cityscape photos you always see of Hong Kong. This is because of the haze. I have not seen many really clear days since I have been here. This may change as we get further into autumn, not sure.

One good photo op is from the Peak at night. You can walk the circuit around the peak in 45 mins plus photos stops and get the Hong Kong at night shots.

Check out my megre efforts here http://www.pbase.com/deanroberts

Cheers
Dean

[Vicareyus]

Dean
Liked your photos. In particular Tin Hau temple with the old man - nice composition. And the one of 3rd Oct with three people leaning over harbour with HongKong in background - "carpe diem!".
Vic

[gstark]

and marvel at how much easier it is to use than Sydney's public transport system!

I'm sorry, but I must object to your use of the the words "Sydney's public transport system" . There's no such thing.

[MCWB]

Replace "system" with "nightmare" then.

[bago100]

One thing I forgot to mention was this:

Buy a book called "Top 10 Hong Kong" published by Eyewitness top 10 travel guides.

This book is about $20 but it is fabulous. It tells you what the top 10 things to see and do in HKG are and then breaks HKG into districts and tells you what the top 10 things are in each district.

Also includes top 10 places to shop in each district, top 10 nightclubs, top 10 cheap eats, etc.

It's about 4 inches by 6 inches in size by 160 pages including maps and so on. Easily carried and referred to.

Hope this helps

Graham PS - But it here. When we went to HKG in July, I left it at home and tried to buy another one over there without luck. Luckily, I did a heck of a lot of research before leaving and could remember what to see and how to get there. There is a wooden clock shop on HKG Island that I missed, that is really worth a visit apparently. Next time!

[Vicareyus]

thanks Graham, Ill have a look for the book you mentioned. There are so many guides around, but always better to get one that you know has been a help to someone you know!