KaoriFan

Sure, Pete will let you know when i get Visa returned, hope it is soon i go end of September, and no flights booked. Beijing looks great you will have great time there, Xi'an too, want to go there my self one day. Hope you post some photos when you come home. Package is the best way for the first time. package would be nicer for me too, if i was not going to see g/f's parents and family this time. saw the Paul Merton show, great show really enjoyed it, wish it was a longer series. it was an eye-opener for sure. the donkey penis shocked me, had no idea they ate that there. knew about scorpions and other things. going to download it online sometime, when i get free b/w. one more thing when going there. if you have travellers cheques or need to do anything official, best to have a few photocopies of your passport, as each time you change money or do anything official, they will need copy of passport for their records. how long until you go to China ? enjoy, Ian

one more thing, that could be a problem. You need to tell your bank when you are going to China, and make sure your credit card is unblocked. Some banks will block your card after first time of use in China, in case of a cloned card/fraudulent use. ja ne Ian

Hi Pete, I am off to China soon, and have done my Visa through http://www.chinesevisadirect.co.uk/pricing.htm (can't say if they are good yet, don't have my visa back, only sent it Monday) all you need is to send your passport, with completed Visa Application and then their own reference sheet. Also ask for their Chinese Survival Guide and Language Course CD (it's free). Straight forward, very easy to do i used Express service for extra peace of mind with the Postal Strikes on and off. Should have it back Thursday/Friday. Generally you only need Letter of Invitation if you are going for business, student or other work capacity. Tourist or visiting Friends you do not need one, but you do need to put down address and Tel. no of person/hotel you are visiting/staying with. I am more worried about booking flights, need to do that once Visa is returned. You can't post visa applications, but can use third-party agent with no problem. So don't have to visit Embassy. one more thing Visa's are normally for max of 30 days, but you can get them up to 90 for a tourist. Also, if you are in China with a 30 day Visa and you want to extend your time there over the max 30 days, go to the PSB office in the town you are staying and they have the option of granting another maximum of 30days. where abouts are you heading to?, i am going to Nanning. Ah, one final word of warning, if you like animals be careful going to the local markets (even some supermarkets), they have live animals on display for eating and it will get killed right there in front of you (not just chickens etc, but can be cats and dogs depending where you go). so best to avoid the street markets if you are a big animal lover. A western guy on a Nanning Forum said he wanted to make 'pets' with all of them, not eat them. so be careful. (I am avoiding the food markets like the plague) Also finally, if you are going to see a Chinese friend, get them to do any bargaining/haggling as you will get better prices on Hotels, and anything else. Seeing a 'Westerner' they always bump the price up. ja ne Ian

to clarify my words i am marrying Chinese woman and living with her in Nanning . going to stay with her in September and October as well. My words meant with USA throwing its weight around everywhere they always wanted to nuke communist countries, but since 9/11 it is middle east that wants to nuke us. (if i had my way nuclear weapons would be thing of the past). 90% of my friends are Chinese, TW, HK or Japanese. Personally, i have loved Asian culture and history (China and Japan) for over 20 years. now i have the chance to live there. Many in the west don't really know how beautiful a country China really is, they only know of Japan. I think since Bush has been in power world has got a lot more unsafe. The geo-political situation in the world is worse than when Clinton was in power. Blair since he followed Bush has also made the UK a haven for terrorists who want to destroy us. ----- as for the Supra: sure, i will keep you posted if i find anything out Nanning is a good option, as it is close to Beihai and practical for HK. Yes, agree that if you know the right people you get things moving more smoothly. even down to Visa extensions. true, i think a modded Supra will be problems, so will go with a standard TT. if you find anything out as well, appreciate knowing too who knows maybe we are the only two Supra's in Mainland ja ne Ian or should that be xie xie Ian

hi Graham, lol, i do worry about their driving (or lack of it). I have been scared to death of the lack of road skill in Manila, so know it is bad in Asia. if i do buy Supra, i will have to get from Japan, easiest option. first need to find if someone can handle doing work on it, as i am clueless on cars. hopefully, staying there forever, if things work out, fiancee is from Nanning and much of her family still live there. Fiancee loves England, and wants for me to keep roots here so i don't lose ties to my home, so we come here month or two each year just visit. Gonna buy two houses and a business in Nanning, and make loads of cash i have had it with the UK it's been wrecked by Blair. No law and order, only protect the bad guy, law abiding people get screwed. America will get us nuked one day as well, so if i am gonna get nuked may as well get nuked in China, like it's supposed to be, lol. Hi Nic, China, i agree is not my first choice to drive, but i would miss the Supra. If i had one, i can come to HK Supra meets Bus and Taxi are excellent in Nanning and low crime is great, less chance of getting robbed there than England. Getting a Chinese Driving licence won't be easy, i have to sit exams and write answers in Chinese, or you don't stand a chance. Road signs are a problem as well, it's not like Beijing, which is fairly westernized due to Olympics. maybe i can take test in HK as i am going there too, and see if i can use it in China. ja ne Ian

Well, from 2008 i could very well be spending most of my life in Nanning, China, and saying cheerio to UK . maybe only come back here 2 months each year to visit. So will sell Supra here, but really want to know if it is practical to import one into Nanning and drive in China? I know i have to learn Chinese to pass Chinese driving test. maybe i buy one of these as well, always fancied a T72 and no parking problems, park anywhere http://www.tanksforsale.co.uk/Tanks_Trucks_Jeeps_for_sale.htm ja ne Ian

gopher, lol

flash

if it's a damaged CD i have used Isobuster to recover damaged discs, quite successfully. http://www.isobuster.com/ may be worth a try, not sure if the version for download is the one where you can check the disc, but not recover it. may have to pay for the full version, or check torrents, emule, or newsgroups for a copy. OTOH, Kodak at one time in the past went their own way with their picture formats. not sure though, if they are using regular formats now. ja ne Ian

now that really is funny if water gets any higher will be like their season, sunk without a trace, hehe ja ne Ian

it's perfect timing for me, i have to send my passport application forms tomorrow, and really need it back in two weeks. At least i can use courier service for the Chinese Visa i need urgently. ja ne Ian

wow, just had really bad storm here on coast at Hastings, been going for the last hour, constant thunder and lightning, and heavy squally rain and hail. Anyone, north of here, be careful out there on the roads, visibility looked bad from indoors.

I am down near Hastings on the coast, and the storm we got here, started about 5.50AM and finished about an hour later, lots of thunder and some lightning. At first i thought someone was messing around with neighbours wheelie bins nice and calm here since around 7AM, even have cloud and some sunshine. ja ne Ian

Nikon all the way for me as well. Canon are better at sharpness at high ISO speeds (1600,3200), but there is not that much in it in real life. recommend you get hold of Bibble, CaptureNX or Picture Project, for the processing of images, picture project should be included with the camera. If you want a Nikon D40x, also check out the D80 or D200, depending in the cash you have. I picked up a mint Nikon D200 off eBay with MB-D200 at a great price. Always best to check eBay for Camera's as you can get a better model on eBay for normally the same price as a lesser specified model new. personal choice if you want Nikon and not Canon, i would go for a D80 or D200, as their is more of a upgrade system available with them. the D200 has a magnesium body, which i prefer than plastic. a 4GB CF memory card on my D200 gives 175 images at the top quality Jpeg + NEF settings, and most of these you can get at around 20GBP on ebay, or pay 100GBP in the shops an older D70 had great battery life, the D200 is not great on battery life, thats for sure. whatever camera you get, buy a few spare batteries and recharge them end of the day. nearly the end, you will find before long you want to upgrade from a fairly Auto DSLR body to something that offers more spec's, greater system options and more options for creativity, bear this is mind as well. I am off to China later this year for vacation and wanted all the options the D200 gave me. I would have been happy with a D80, but the difference in price was not great, so went for the better body. one final thing, if you only have certain amount of cash, and are not worried about all the features high spec camera offer, buy a great lens and a lower spec body. ja ne Ian

hi all. had an update email to my Giganews account last night, they now are going to 200 day Binary retention. always found them first rate and high completion rate now, if only Newzbin searched back that long life would be easier. ja ne Ian

check out eBay, you can get some great buys on there. last weekend I bought my D200 from there on Saturday, had it sent Monday, and arrived early Tuesday. Camera is like new so very happy. Sometimes eBay is the place to be for a bargain. There were/are quite a few D40's, or even D80's at great prices on eBay this week. Only thing now is the bidding wars to buy Sandisk Extreme III - 4GB CF cards. But won't buy them new, too expensive. 120GBP for a 4GB in shops, cost me 26 inc shipping from eBay. good luck, and happy hunting for a D40. ja ne Ian

nice photos, Toyota badge looks cool it's a pretty much straightforward camera to use, and get great results. battery recharging times are good as well, i charged two from near empty in one afternoon. enjoy

i agree about the focal ranges and normally go around with a bag of lenses, 28 - 70 or 85, 70 - 210, 24 or 28mm wideangle, you name it i have done it over the years. This is my first DSLR after using mainly pro/semi-pro gear for over 25 years. All my lenses are pre DX for 35mm, so want to update them all over the next few months the 18-200VR comes out top in so many tests, is an impressive lens, but i still like to split the zoom ranges. only problem is going around China the weight will be a problem. A few years ago, i did a 6500 mile journey around Western USA and Canada. took 2 SLR bodies (F90 size) and 2 zooms, plus flash and other things, was pretty much tired at end of it all. did have my fav AF lens the 28-85 Nikkor, excellent macro on it 2100+ shots later I arrived back home, My time is Nanning is mainly to see a close friend and then get out and about. not mainly a photo holiday, so thinking of a 18-70 or 18-135 for the next month or so. I do like Sigma AF lenses, still have the pre DX range AF APO's. appreciate the advice, thanks again. good luck on your future lens buying Ja Ne Ian

Hi Peter, thanks for the info, thats the same way of thinking i had for card and photos. I can't see point of going for a Extreme IV as the cost is crazy and i can get more Extreme III for the cost of one IV. Really looking forward to seeing Nanning, it is highly possible i will be living there next year or 2009, need to see about buying a Supra and driving it in Nanning cheers for everything, and the photos, all the best Ian

Yes, i would never buy a new camera again, too much money too lose on a new 'body'. Only ones i ever bought new was an EOS 650 and a F801 the day they came out, as i was in photographic retail back then. Since then all of them have been second user. My fav M/F lens a Nikkor 35-70 F3.5 bought second hand for 130GBP years ago. Guy had it before me was a roofer and dropped it from a roof. lens survived perfectly, but not actually sure how it survived so well Thats main reason i stayed with Nikon, the build quality. You sure have an 'eye' for great photos, and the 18-70mm is the most sensible size, maybe a 18-135, unless you have the cash for a 'vr' I am doing this as well. Sure, will try to get online from Nanning and post a few photos. looks a lovely place by night cheers again for the help, Ian

hi guys, finally, an update on the D200 situation. Yesterday i bought a D200 and MB-D200 for the sum of 700GBP, so very happy with that. was 2nd user, but only used 5 times as backup to a D2X. Very Happy with this purchase, and just need to sort a new lens for it, the 18-200VR is nice, but may go for the 18-70 temp. thanks Peter for the website and photos, helped me make my mind up and go for the D200. Just hope i can still afford to go to China, lol. Sent you a PM with my email for the photos, thanks so much cheers Tom, for your thoughts and advice too, what you said does make a lot of common sense to me. but, i have used mostly semi-pro stuff before and I needed a camera that was more suited to travelling (roughing it) around Southwest China so went for the D200 as it has the weather proofing, the MB-D200 as well, also i prefer cameras with a metal frame.Up until this D200, i still think the Canon T90 was the nicest handling camera i have ever owned, had two of them years ago. cheers for all the help and advice, really like being on this forum so friendly and helpful I think this is my last question, which is the best CF card to use, i will be getting 4GB or 8GB cards, maybe 10 of them, thinking Sandisk or Lexar. I take lots of photos, last time in the Western USA, took 1400+ transparencies and 700+ prints. nightmare carrying that much film, lol. Biggest decision if i want to stick with just JPEG Fine or NEF as well. Kenrockwell site seems to says JPEG is fine for most. Xiexie, Ian

Thanks Peter, for the Kenrockwell website link. found it very interesting the comparisons between the D80 and D200, and the Canon's. Hoping that the battery performance is better than everyone says, don't fancy carrying the MB-D200 as well with me. nice set of photos of your Supra, quality looks great from the D200. cheers Ian

i always like the feel of the Nikon range, going back to the days when Nikon was the best option if you had old manual focus Nikkors. Where the original EOS range (650/620) could not take FD's. Canon even back then had a good AF sensor, but i went for Nikon due to having old Nikkors and FA and FM2 bodies as well as AF. so true, i read about the Canon's being good in that respect. lots written about the Noise on the Nikon 'D" range (ex D2). could always use a VR lens as that gives you an extra 2 or 3 stops, in bad conditions. oh well, decisions, decisions, lol ja ne Ian

cheers for the free bump lots of good Nikon stuff on this website, use it as my reference for a few years now http://www.bythom.com may find it useful for some info Ja Ne Ian

haha, like them never seen those ones before, nicely done