New Zealand Wanderings – One week to go

This time next week I will be busy doing all the last minute packing for my New Zealand Wanderings. It is exciting that there is only one week to go. This last week has been busy as gear has been arriving for the trip.

New Zealand Wanderings – One week to go

It is amazing how quickly trips can sneak around. It seems like only yesterday when we started planning it and we had 6 months to go.

If I am honest I have to admit I didn’t do a lot of the planning with where we are going. That was pretty much left up to my friend who is travelling with me. I worked out accommodation and that kind of stuff.

Another thing that I have been busy doing is organising lots of gear for the trip.

It is great to see how much I was able to borrow. At this stage I am not taking very much of my own gear, which is nice.

Fujifilm Australia

Camera

This is not the first time I’ve borrowed gear from Fujifilm Australia and I’m so happy to be able to borrow the X-T3 for this trip. It is the first time I have used this camera. I’m really excited to see what I can do with it.

Like any new gear, there is a learning curve. I have to work out how Fujifilm do their cameras and how I can customise it to how I want to use it, or need to use it.

As I’ve stated previously I am excited to see how I will go with the camera and only it on my trip. Well, that is besides my friends Fujifilm X-T20 which I have also borrowed. People have told me that their menu system is hard, but I really haven’t had any problems with it so far. If I do find something I can’t work out, the manual is great.

Lenses

With the camera came three lenses.

• Fujinon XF10-24mmF4 R OIS Lens
• Fujinon XF100-400mmF4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR Lens
• Fujinon XF18-135mmF3.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR Lens

When deciding which lenses to borrow I knew I wanted to cover as much ground as possible. I’ve used the XF10-24mm before and I absolutely loved it. It seems like the perfect lens for fantastic scenery I will see in New Zealand.

When you look at the image above you don’t really think it will be that big, but it is massive. I can’t wait to see what I can get with it. I’ve heard really good things about this lens, so it will be really good to see what I can capture with it. The only lens I’m worried about not having is a macro, so hopefully this will cover some of that as well. We are going to be going to some wildlife sanctuaries there, so it will definitely come in handy for those places.

So happy with the gear from Fujifilm Australia. I will be reporting back on how I find it.

Wacom Australia

When I went to Tasmania last time Wacom Australia loaned me the MobileStudio Pro 13 for the trip. They have once again loaned me the unit for this one. It makes working on my images so much easier. If I take my laptop I would have to take my Wacom Intuos pro as well.

The MobileStudio Pro is like a combination of my laptop and tablet. I can take less gear. On top of that I can use it anywhere which is a definite advantage. Last time I was working on photos in the car as we moved around. I’m certain I will do that again.

Blonde Robot

Blonde Robot are a wholesale distributor in Australia and are located near me here in Melbourne. They carry a large range of products and I’ve borrowed things from them many times in the past, especially Tamron Lenses.

When I approached them about the trip they were more than happy to loan me a camera bag for me to use and a tripod.

Peak Design

Who hasn’t heard of Peak Design? They have been around for a while and they started in 2010. They have an interesting story and it is good to look it up. I remember hearing about them when they were first starting out and using Kickstarter to help them.

Over the time as I have got more serious about photography I have never had an opportunity to use one of their bags. So when Blonde Robot suggested I use one, I jumped at the chance. They seem to be bags from a company that has really thought about what photographers need. So many pockets.

I will be taking the Travel Backpack 45L with me to New Zealand. It is a new bag from them and I’m looking forward to testing it out.

Within the bag, I will be taking the Camera Cube Large, plus the small one so I can alternate between them depending on where I’m going. I also have the Tech Pouch Black.

Again, I will be reporting back on how I find the bag.

Both cameras have the Peak Design Slide Lite camera straps. They are incredible. I have been using them for a couple of years now. Love them.

3 Legged Thing

This is a company that makes tripods, if you hadn’t figured that out. It is another company that I’ve been hearing about for the last few years, but have this is my first opportunity to try them.

3 Legged Thing is a British company and their tripods look funky and cool. They are a bit different from the typical tripods you see.

Blonde Robot have loaned me the Billy tripod from 3 Legged Thing. It looks like the perfect tripod for the Fujifilm system along with travelling.

They also loaned me two L brackets, the Ellie for the X-T3 and another one that is more standard for the X-T20. I’m all set there. Love L brackets, they make moving your camera around on the tripod so much easier.

We are almost there.

Samyang and Benro

Maxxum Pty Ltd are the Australian distributors for Samyang Lenses and Benro tripods and bags. I approached them because Samyang have lenses for Fujifilm cameras. They have loaned me two fisheye lenses for the trip, the 12mm and the 8mm. I might have to see if I can get some astrophotography in while I’m there to try out the fisheye lenses. They are also fun to use. I have one myself, but it is for my DSLR.

Since I am travelling with a friend, I went for a second tripod. My friend is looking for a new one, and it seemed like a good time for her to try ones that I think are good. So I will also be taking the Benro FGP18C with the B1 ballhead. I know Benro make good tripods, I’ve been using one for a couple of years now. Love it.

Finally

No serously, I think that is it. So much stuff. There are other things, but for the gear, that is it. I hope I remembered it all.

So exciting to be travelling, but also to be trying out new hear. I can imagine I will come home not wanting to return any of it.

While I am in New Zealand, my plan is to blog each day. To keep you updated with where I’ve been, but also to report back on how I am finding the gear to use. I hope you will be as excited as me.