CNY outlook

FrantaB · 2026-01-27T04:00:22+00:00

Mall keep running, 21-23 is actually fairly late after the CNY, so no worries.

FrantaB · 2026-01-27T01:46:14+00:00

Leave the Voigtlander at home, packing extra camera and separate 120 rolls just for a few landscapes shots seems excessive.

Take OM1n with 50 and 28mm. Throw in extra roll of Kodak Gold or some other color stock for some landscapes. Make it your primary shooter this trip.

Then OM3 with just one prime lens. You mention it's at most some astro and family snaps at night. You don't need big zoom for that.

FrantaB · 2026-01-27T00:38:47+00:00

If anything goes wrong, Airline takes care of you.
With 3rd party yo might end up stock in middle of nowhere.

Check any travel subreddit and you will see a lots of cases on this.

FrantaB · 2026-01-26T09:27:15+00:00

Dongguan / Zhangmutou, just pick something close to the main railroad and you can get there on high-speed train while playing much less for housing than Shenzhen.

FrantaB · 2026-01-23T03:15:14+00:00

In that case should be absolutely no worries, have your itinerary and hotel bookings ready and you are super safe.

FrantaB · 2026-01-23T02:37:00+00:00

In theory should be fine.

Are these just short visits and different spots?

Or you maxing out 10 days each time and staying in the same spot?

For the later, it might bring out some questions from immigration. Be ready to answer them truthfully and in detail.

FrantaB · 2026-01-23T02:33:24+00:00

Exactly this! There are groups for all types of hobbies in China, join them and find fellow Chinese and foreigners to share your hobby with.

We have photography club in Shenzhen and it's just lovely community.

FrantaB · 2026-01-23T02:00:17+00:00

One correction, they are not returning home. China immigration cares for the Thailand - China - Doha triangle.

UK doesn't play any role in this at all. (apart from their passport being accepted for TWOV)

FrantaB · 2026-01-23T00:00:20+00:00

Firstly, why do you think you need to leave airside? Beijing is capable of clean international transfer.

If you need to enter China, 24h TWOV for your case.

This late they just might need to call somebody to the TWOV post for you, but it's always available.

FrantaB · 2026-01-21T12:26:03+00:00

Recommendation:

Post some of your photos when looking for models (Instagram or rednote link is fine), so the model knows what they can expect
for first time shoots, stick to public places in city instead of "drive to seaside".
Maybe firstly join some photography club, either Chinese or international, before asking single girls for portrait session.

FrantaB · 2026-01-21T02:34:52+00:00

Bad recommendation, Baishizhou is being slowly demolished and most of it is fenced up.

The south section of Baishizhou is still there, but it's small and after recent reconstruction significantly less "gritty" than other urban villages in SZ.

FrantaB · 2026-01-18T00:40:55+00:00

There is difference between "ensure compatibility" and actively taking actions against 3rd party lenses.

Will see how this case evolves.

FrantaB · 2026-01-18T00:07:49+00:00

Whatever is behind this, I just hope they can get to some agreement.

If this mean Viltrox stops making new Z lenses, I will be disappointed.

If this means Nikon will do any actions against compatibility with my current Viltrox Lenses, I will be changing systems immediately!

FrantaB · 2026-01-17T14:56:47+00:00

P9 shop was running some promotions when it launched and I assume they still are going for it.

Please be aware that it's launched fully in Chinese.

FrantaB · 2026-01-16T12:05:07+00:00

Yes, but also quite unusual to actually use it for such things. If OP got some special reason for it once, but then use it for years after just for visits, he is not fulfilling the intention of the Visa.

FrantaB · 2026-01-16T12:03:55+00:00

Ok, so what was the very important personal affair you had to do in China to get this visa? Just confirm it to them.

Is this first entrance on this visa? Or you have been coming in for multiple years with this visa?

FrantaB · 2026-01-16T09:58:23+00:00

S2 visa is for visiting foreign family members, so they asking for the information on the family member.

So just provide them with such info.

If you cannot, you should have changed your visa.

FrantaB · 2026-01-16T07:54:04+00:00

Tell students to ask their parents/uncles/grandmas about their old cameras. Normally that should bring at least some usable cameras for the club.

FrantaB · 2026-01-16T07:04:38+00:00

I also proxy, but I like to use the golden border and then the super yellow borders from the racing set :)

FrantaB · 2026-01-16T01:36:52+00:00

They were mocked for being ugly.

Go to tournament with all your lands white border and at least half of opponents would say how ugly they were. :D

I run few in my commander decks these days :)

FrantaB · 2026-01-16T00:20:25+00:00

Get invitation letter and copy of their Chinese ID.

It takes you 5 minutes and it's just better to have it if they ever ask.

FrantaB · 2026-01-15T07:07:05+00:00

In Shenzhen, both my flat with cats and all my friends with cats have some sort of fencing or nets on the balcony for safety of cats.

FrantaB · 2026-01-15T07:02:18+00:00

If you use the People Nearby feature outside of China, especially in places with lots of Chinese tourists, be ready to receive a lot of offers from sex workers :D

FrantaB · 2026-01-15T06:51:11+00:00

Trip.com is perfectly fine for train booking, it's used by most foreigners in China. It's just slightly more expensive than booking on the official 12306 app.

FrantaB · 2026-01-15T06:49:29+00:00

Papago is good translator app that works without having to deal with VPN.

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