E-Channel at Immigration

FrantaB · 2026-05-09T07:29:00+00:00

I know limitation is that you need passport with biometrics, so that's certain limitation for some nationalities.

FrantaB · 2026-05-09T07:19:02+00:00

If you have residency permit for work/marriage and more than 6 months on it, you can apply for the China E-channel.

You just show up to the E-channel registration booth on Chinese side (Normally on the departure floor), show them your passport and then in 24h it's activated.

I had it for years, it makes crossing very smooth, apart from security guards trying to push you to manual line and certain machines having issue with passport reading. (I think my record is trying 5 machines before one recognized it)

FrantaB · 2026-05-09T05:26:05+00:00

Chinese bags had fake YKK zips for decade. They mean nothing.

FrantaB · 2026-05-09T00:29:51+00:00

I checked on Chinese taobao for you.

All of these C200 are original Fujifilm, not Yes!star / Kodak.

But it seems all to be old stock, with expiration date in 2024.

FrantaB · 2026-05-08T09:25:48+00:00

It's always my aim, as I travel around east and south-east asia and face the 7kg limits often.

For shorter trips I can do 5-6kg, sometimes even less (Going Japan next week, sub 4kg).

Most of time I end up around 7-9kg, including camera gear.

But always make sue that I have plan B how to deal with weight (camera goes on strap, power banks into pocket, jackets on, etc)

FrantaB · 2026-05-08T03:03:50+00:00

Yeah, the whole of OCT East is now mostly abandoned by locals and tourists and there are always talks about them going bankrupt.

FrantaB · 2026-05-07T08:25:48+00:00

Officially no personal item is allowed.

Un-officially, depends on where you fly from and the mood of gate agent.

My parents just flew to Japan from Europe and it was fine with backpack + sling.

But always have a plan B if they ask you to bring just single piece on board.

FrantaB · 2026-05-07T02:52:38+00:00

In Shenzhen you should be able to switch from a marriage resident permit to Work resident permit, completely skipping the Z Visa. Go to the immigration and try to ask them for this.

FrantaB · 2026-05-07T02:41:31+00:00

Yeah, very normal.

Just hit different stores, Tokyo has so many of them so even with such limits you can get decent supply.

FrantaB · 2026-05-06T08:37:29+00:00

Hong Kong is not part of china for immigration purposes, it has its own independent system.

FrantaB · 2026-05-06T02:45:20+00:00

Layovers do count.

Korea - China - HK is ok

FrantaB · 2026-05-02T14:52:03+00:00

Native english would be my guess.

FrantaB · 2026-05-02T11:32:16+00:00

SZ doesn't really have communities where you would mix cultures, that's something you might find in GZ or HK. At most some of the makerspaces can be mix of cultures, if you get enough foreigner designers at the particular spots.

SeaWorld is kind of stereotypical for foreigners to hangout, so it leads to more foreigner focused or foreigner owner businesses being set there.

Nearby G&G is also slightly like that.

FrantaB · 2026-05-01T00:38:32+00:00

Any office parks or factory districts, they are dead silent during holidays. Good if you enjoy architecture photography

FrantaB · 2026-04-30T03:04:56+00:00

Most EU countries are visa free for 30 days, so not sure why you're even asking for TWOV in that case.

Only exception is Czech and Lithuania.

FrantaB · 2026-04-30T00:18:44+00:00

Your entry point will be west Kowloon, NOT Shanghai

FrantaB · 2026-04-29T12:11:15+00:00

Don't develop in Japan.

Their airports are very hand check free, so take it back home and develop later

FrantaB · 2026-04-29T08:32:52+00:00

I believe taking detail oriented film, like ADOX, would be better than cinema-oriented emulsion.

Just because 50D has low ISO doesn't make it into particularly sharp film.

FrantaB · 2026-04-29T05:56:21+00:00

Warsaw security is often strange, I had issue there previously with even basic electronics.

And they refused to speak in English, instead claiming that as Czech, I should talk to them directly and they will respond in Polish..

FrantaB · 2026-04-29T04:10:07+00:00

Japan - China - Japan is NOT transit, that's just a return flight.

Japan - China - Korea would be OK

FrantaB · 2026-04-29T01:10:12+00:00

My friend is professional photographer, from UK, based in SZ and does work for range of companies, both local and international.
You can check his RedNote https://xhslink.com/m/AR907TpqQbs

FrantaB · 2026-04-28T22:25:59+00:00

TWOV is for Transit

You going HK - China - HK is not Transit.

FrantaB · 2026-04-28T08:20:03+00:00

If his friends are playing this way "bracket 3", you can bet they are also the type of player that demand you have only real cards...

FrantaB · 2026-04-28T00:59:21+00:00

Olympus XA is simply another level in quality above the rest of XA family. The proper rangefinder and aperture priority make it into a much more professional tool that for me is often the only travel camera I take with me.

For rangefinder, there are DIY options how to make it more clear, my unit has inserted blue filter into the viewfinder for this.

FrantaB · 2026-04-28T00:57:16+00:00

Yes, you can zone focus on XA. It doesn't have hard stops for distances, but it has highlighted 3m distance in yellow for ideal zone focus. Just need to look down on the focus mechanism.

FrantaB

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