Originally posted by hll i am sure some suggestions from Australian folks will be very helpful for me...
i have k10d, 16-45, 50-135, gorillapod, metz 54 flash, 100 gb hdd for back-up....
i think i need a tele zoom like 70-300????? or??
any advice (not only equipment) would be very appreciated...
many thanks
halil
Er, what do you want to do, mate? Where are you going, what would you be likely to photograph? Australia is a vast country with a very wide range of exciting and beautiful things to shoot. It also has a huge spread of climates, from sub-tropical to arid desert and everything in between. Depending where you go at this time of year you could encounter humid heat, freezing cold, dust like you've never dreamed of, lots of rain, lots of sea spray as well as sublimely perfect weather. This will all give your camera gear a hard time, so above all make sure you have a good, weather-proof bag and a lens/sensor cleaning kit. Pack a small cloth bag that you can use to protect your gear when you're changing lenses if you encounter dust, which can be so fine it runs like water and seeps into everything.
You probably will want a tele-zoom of some sort to capture the abundant wildlife if you're heading to the Outback (and I certainly recommend you do). Speaking of the Outback, outside the major cities be prepared for lots of emptiness, especially in the central and western states, but in Queensland and New South Wales as well. Paradoxically, the empty parts often have the best places for photography. Whatever you do, if you go to the Outback, don't wander off on your own to take photos. You can get lost in the blink of an eye. Always have someone with you who knows the area. Note that if you have particular dietary needs such as hallal or vegetarian it can be hard to find in the small country towns. But don't let that put you off - the country towns can be fascinating and filled with interesting and wonderful people and crumbling buildings which speak of past struggles with a challenging continent. You'll get some excellent photographic opportunities.
Aussies are friendly, generous, straight-talking and practical people. You'll be made welcome. Gallipoli is very big here and there's a lot of warmth and respect for Turkish people.
Enjoy yourself, mate. Learn to say "No worries" and you'll be fine. Now I'll leave it to some of my compatriots to add their 2 cents' worth.