Philippines & Japan 2023: Some Technical Notes from the Trip

Cameras #

I was traveling with family, which made this an interesting trip from a photographic viewpoint—there was less time to wander about and immerse myself in a scene. More snapshots and grabbing things on the move. Here’s my album from the whole trip.

Stills #

I used my iPhone 11 and my Fujifilm X-T30 (with a 35mm lens) during the trip, with the iPhone used for wideangle shots and the Fuji acting as a 50mm-equivalent short telephoto. This worked ok, but I quickly found that 50mm was too tight for a lot of the shots I wanted to take (landscapes, cityscapes), whereas the iPhone 11 lacked the editing latitude even when shooting in RAW.

I think next time I would actually flip the equation: go back to using the Fuji X100 series¹ for the bulk of shooting, and pair it with an iPhone Pro (or Pro Max for even more reach) for the occasional telephoto framing. Either that, or just go all-in on on the phone camera. I do still prefer the both the shooting experience and output from a dedicated camera, but even I can see the difference on both fronts is shrinking.

Video #

Video, on the other hand: it’s not even a question. My X-T30 takes very nice video, but it’s not terribly useful in the field because the camera is not stabilized. I used it for a few videos where I could position the camera in one spot. But for everything else I used my iPhone, and it’s…perfectly fine, even for a four year-old phone. I’m consistently impressed with how Apple hit the Goldilocks zone for video—it still blows my mind that you can get stabilized, 4K video in your pocket.

Editing #

I process both photos and video using Darkroom, which allows me to edit on my phone, iPad, or laptop. It does a good job with video, too, which means I can tweak curves/color just as easily as for photos. Editing on my iOS devices was important, because I decided to travel without my laptop.²

Cell Service #

eSIM for the win—we used Airalo’s Asialink option which gave us data connectivity in the Philippines and Japan. It doesn’t give you a local phone number, but we found Whatsapp to be a decent workaround for VOIP calls.

Carrying things #

I used an Amazon Basics 20-in hardside suitcase (fine, unremarkable). Luckily summer travel meant a lot of lightweight clothing. I wanted something that I could carry on but I think in the future I would opt for a larger suitcase and just check it.

For my carry-on gear I used a Bellroy Venture Backpack, which appears to be discontinued. I liked the hook attachment for the top flap, and the low-profile water bottle pockets. The main compartment opens fully, which made packing/unpacking very easy. I fit a packing cube with a change of clothes, my camera, and my iPad and all my chargers. Downsides? It’s a bit heavier than I would like, and the sternum strap can be annoying—it tends to latch when you take the backpack off, making for a rude awakening when you try to put the backpack on again.

For walking around I used a 9L Bellroy Venture Sling. It’s pretty big for everyday use, but I chose it because I could fit a camera, a small 12 oz water bottle, and a packable windbreaker. I’m pretty happy with it although I wish the strap got a tiny bit tighter, for less movement when it’s not fully loaded.

We were on lots of tiny bangka boats in the Philippines, so I’m glad I packed a dry bag. We should have picked up properly-sized snorkel gear for our kids—they would have enjoyed the Balicasag island excursion in Bohol far more if they weren’t using the one-size-fits-all snorkels.

Audio #

At work I prefer over-ear headphones with a proper wired connection. But for this trip I took a chance and used a pair of Apple’s Airpods Pro—and I have to say that for travel they worked great, and they saved me a lot of space and weight in my backpack. I tend not to use them around the house, but for quick commutes to the office they’re quite handy.³

Finally: don’t forget earplugs! I have a decent pair from Loop, and forgot to bring them the one time I really needed them.