Post your memorable St. MAARTEN PICS HERE!

[DrmnOfMaui]

We never take the normal cameras off the ship at SXM since it is always a beach day for us. These pics were done with the Olympus waterproof camera (720) , an armored waterproof, shockproof camera. Not the best pics but great at the beach.

 

 

My husband purchased a camera like that last year... we've really enjoyed it! We saw someone with an underwater video last year when we were in the Bahamas and it just looked really fun. He took it to Sequoia National Park this year when we visited and got some really fun pictures and video on the trails as well as in the rivers. Love the indestructability!:D

[rob51]

Hi everyone.......thanks for the info about Boolchand's. You have all been really helpful.

 

Rob

[Aplmac]

I just wanted to say that I did a spur of the moment purchase while I was there last year.

I had researched the price of a Sony Cybershot model that my daughter had recently broken

and the lowest price I could find in the States was $249.

At Boolchand's they sold me the identical model [new-in factory box with warranty] for $185

-and that included a memory card and carrying case!

Not having to pay sales tax also saves extra money.

So far it still works like brand new.

There's nothing wrong with the stuff they sell

and their prices are possibly the lowest in the Western Hemisphere.

 

If anyone knows of a cheaper place to buy camera gear, speak now!

 

 

..............................

 

 

Back in May 2007 (on our First Cruise) I bought a Canon Powershot A 630 from Boolchand's -$240

He threw in an extra card as well.

 

The very next day we stopped through St.Lucia

and there in Point Seraphine Duty Free complex was the same A 630 -at $399

 

That's when I knew.

 

 

.

Edited May 13, 2009 by aplmac

[Aplmac]

 

Water Taxi sign

 

 

Thanks for doing a close-up of the Water Taxi sign.

 

 

 

I just learned from it, that we may have jumped off the water taxi too early

i.e. at its first stop,here!

 

 

 

Didn't realize there's a second stop further down the town

-that you just stay on board for that second stop to mid-town.

 

 

 

No wonder when we got off

we found ourselves at the extreme Eastern end of the rather long Front Street

at a part I'd never seen before...somewhere up this end..

 

but like Wife says, we'd never have come across that nice Panama shop

where I bought a neat shirt for $55 (still can't believe I bought a shirt!?) :eek:

 

 

.

[oceanbums]

A few pics from St. Martin:

[Kcarp]

 

 

I have more if anyone is interested...

Yes, Please post more.

 

Thanks!

[kal]

Go here for a boatload of pixs. I'm working on the April/May 2009 set now.

[MDSue]

There's nothing wrong with the stuff they sell

and their prices are possibly the lowest in the Western Hemisphere.

 

If anyone knows of a cheaper place to buy camera gear, speak now!

 

 

..............................

 

 

Back in May 2007 (on our First Cruise) I bought a Canon Powershot A 630 from Boolchand's -$240

He threw in an extra card as well.

 

The very next day we stopped through St.Lucia

and there in Point Seraphine Duty Free complex was the same A 630 -at $399

 

That's when I knew.

 

 

.

I can't wait until I go back next year and buy my dream camera! I'd love a recommendation for a good overall lens to go with it [current choice Nikon D90, but could always change my mind]

[Kcarp]

Go here for a boatload of pixs. I'm working on the April/May 2009 set now.

Great webpage! Thanks kal

[Kcarp]

Man, this looks good!

 

[Aplmac]

I can't wait until I go back next year and buy my dream camera!

I'd love a recommendation for a good overall lens to go with it ===> its 18-105 mm. kit lens! ;)

[current choice Nikon D90, but could always change my mind]

Your Nikon D90 should come with the 18-105 mm. kit lens --not a bad optic.

 

I exchanged the 18-55 that came with my D60 for this 18-105 lens

so I have it and use it.

My only complaint is that, at the strong end of the tele (105mm. setting)

it bends straight lines like marine horizons.

Other than that it's okay!

 

 

18mm. is a reasonably wide angle that'll suffice

and at the other end, you'll find that 105 mm. is decently-strong

unless you are doing wildlife photography

-in which case you'll want something stronger(plus a tripod?)

 

 

If you buy the D90, and it comes with the 18-105

I wouldn't buy anything else just yet

-unless you want to do silly stuff like I do with ultra-wides.

 

Just wait awhile and see what happens,photographically.

You can always buy additional lenses later on.

 

 

.

Edited May 14, 2009 by aplmac

[rob51]

Hi aplmac.......haven't written you in what...oh geez, must be 2-3 days! Quick question for you....just like all your other fans. Think I already mentioned that I have the Panasonic FZ-18 superzoom with 18X zoom and Canon XTI for which a year ago I bought a Sigmz 18-200mm lens. In your opinion, do you feel I should stick with this DSLR, which I know is a good camera, or with my being in St Maarten the last week of May, go to Boolchand's and upgrade to a different Canon DSLR. I realize an upgrade may require quite a bit a money, in which case I may not want to change what I currently use. I know Canon recently released their t1j, or something like that. It has 15mp which I might be a bit of overkill, but also has full HD video recording. The video capability, at least in a DSLR is not that important to me. Any help would be appreciated.

 

Thanks, Rob:D

[Aplmac]

Hi aplmac.......haven't written you in what...oh geez, must be 2-3 days! ===> Yeaahh it's bin awhile.. :D

 

I have the Panasonic FZ-18 superzoom with 18X zoom and Canon XTI for which a year ago I bought a Sigma 18-200mm lens.

In your opinion, do you feel I should stick with this DSLR, which I know is a good camera,

or with my being in St Maarten the last week of May, go to Boolchand's and upgrade to a different Canon DSLR.

I realize an upgrade may require quite a bit a money, in which case I may not want to change what I currently use.

I know Canon recently released their t1j, or something like that.

It has 15mp which I might be a bit of overkill, but also has full HD video recording.

Sounds to me like you're relatively well equipped

particularly in the Tele arena

and if you need to burn off some of that excess ca$h,

maybe you should consider a new lens to add to the collection.

 

Macro?

Wide-angle?

A good flash to replace the little built-in things?

 

.

[rob51]

aplmac...wish I had excess cash like that to burn thru...u know, just because? I last year I bought a Canon Speedlite 430EX flash, so I am up to par with that purchase. I suppose if I were to purchase anything for the camera, it would be the 10-20mm wide angle that you recently bought. From what you have written its quite good. I can look at Boolchand's for this when in St Maarten soon. I just wanted to make sure the XTI was more than sufficient. I do remember your having said its the LENS, much more than the camera itself when it comes to better quality photo's. There is a national photo shore(Calumet Photo) located near me and I have taken 2 different photo classes there...they have really helped me with how to take different types of photo's, especially NOT to have the subject located in the center of the screen/viewfinder/rule of thirds....until I took either course, I had never heard of that before...sure does make quite a difference. Thanks again for you assistance. Keeping my XTI shall be my main focus with perhaps the wide angle that you currently have.

 

Rob:D

[CFuller]

aplmac,

Thanks for sharing the great photos. I too am a photographer (currently shooting the D300 and also have the 10.5). Will be in St. Martin on the 27th, and want to do as much shooting as possible. How do you get around on the island? I find the structured tours too limited for my taste, and was thinking about renting a car. What do you recommend?

[Aplmac]

aplmac,

Thanks for sharing the great photos. I too am a photographer (currently shooting the D300 and also have the 10.5).

Will be in St. Martin on the 27th, and want to do as much shooting as possible. How do you get around on the island?

I find the structured tours too limited for my taste, and was thinking about renting a car. ===> Or a taxi, per leg?

What do you recommend?

Last two times we went there

we simply caught taxis between Philipsburg and Marigot -and back of course

...after walking around freely at ea. town, taking pics while shopping!

i.e. No need to make a taxi wait on you...there's plenty around!

 

 

We didn't do an all-island tour since we live in Barbados,

so Carib.islands tend to be 'just another island' (ho hum)

 

.

[MDSue]

Your Nikon D90 should come with the 18-105 mm. kit lens --not a bad optic.

 

I exchanged the 18-55 that came with my D60 for this 18-105 lens

so I have it and use it.

My only complaint is that, at the strong end of the tele (105mm. setting)

it bends straight lines like marine horizons.

Other than that it's okay!

 

 

18mm. is a reasonably wide angle that'll suffice

and at the other end, you'll find that 105 mm. is decently-strong

unless you are doing wildlife photography

-in which case you'll want something stronger(plus a tripod?)

 

 

If you buy the D90, and it comes with the 18-105

I wouldn't buy anything else just yet

-unless you want to do silly stuff like I do with ultra-wides.

 

Just wait awhile and see what happens,photographically.

You can always buy additional lenses later on.

 

 

.

Thanks for your expert advice! I have wanted a good camera my entire adult life, I'm looking forward to finally making that purchase:)

I had another question: I know you mentioned in the past that you use photobucket to store your pics. I use webshots and can only post smaller pics and the quality doesn't seem as good as the originals. My only concern is that when i went to sign up with photobucket- part of the agreement states that they may share my email address with other companies [i haven't had that problem with my current service]. Do you think you get alot of junk mail or unsolicited emails by using them? I get enough advertising already> Thanks

 

Orient Beach- This is the biggest size I can post

 

 

overlook in St Maarten

[rob51]

Hey aplmac...I found the 10-20mm Sigma lens you have for $379. Its at a store named Calumet Photo. They have about 12 stores around the US and a couple in England. Is this a good price?

 

Rob

[Aplmac]

I found the 10-20mm Sigma lens you have for $379. Its at a store named Calumet Photo.

They have about 12 stores around the US and a couple in England. Is this a good price?

 

Rob

That sounds a very good price.

Sigma recently came out with a model of that lens that has a "faster" aperture

so your $379 model might be the 'slower' one like I have.

 

 

Do your research.

Go to sigma.com and see what different 10-20's have been made over the last few years

and be sure you're not buying some older model without the built-in autofocus motor? or something like that?

 

 

.

[Aplmac]

I know you mentioned in the past that you use photobucket to store your pics.

I use webshots and can only post smaller pics and the quality doesn't seem as good as the originals.

My only concern is that when I went to sign up with photobucket- part of the agreement states

that they may share my email address with other companies

 

Do you think you get a lot of junk mail or unsolicited emails

by using them? ===> No, but then you never know how/from-Who the spammers got your email address

Thanks for the nice pics!

 

 

My ISP -Caribsurf.com- has an excellent SPAM filter(when it works)

so I don't suffer with advertising SPAM at all, to be honest. :)

 

What you might consider

is providing Photobucket with a secondary email address (most of us have a few of those?)

sometimes setup for just such purpose as signing up for various internet accounts

-and let the anticipated junkMail go there, instead of to your 'real' email account?

 

 

If you have something like a hotmail account, God help you!

Any- and every-Spammer gets into those address data bases.

Set up an account with a small unknown provider

but do the Photobucket thing!

 

.

[rob51]

aplmac, Thanks for the info on Sigma lens's. I will access their web site to see if the lens for 379 is with or without auto focus. Will let u know...Thanks

 

Rob

[Aplmac]

aplmac, Thanks for the info on Sigma lens's.

I will access their web site to see if the lens for 379 is with or without auto focus.

My D60 camera body doesn't have the little AF drive-pin built-in

so I depend on lenses to have a built-in AF motor to do the AF work.

 

The fisheye I recently bought has no such motor,

so I have to remember to manually focus the fisheye when I put it on the body.

 

Until I get a D90, that is..

 

 

.

[rob51]

I don't know if my camera has the Pin your referred to, but I need to correct the price of the Sigma lens I mentioned last night....wrote price was $379...nope, correct price is $479. Is this a normal price or good one?

 

Rob

[Aplmac]

I don't know if my camera has the Pin your referred to, ===> Canon may be difrnt?

 

but I need to correct the price of the Sigma lens I mentioned last night..

..wrote price was $379...nope, correct price is $479.

Is this a normal price or good one?

 

Rob

Recently I saw it in the 500-550 range

so 479's not bad! ;)

 

Yes, sounds like a good buying opportunity. I'd go for it.

 

.

Edited May 16, 2009 by aplmac

[rob51]

aplmac....Thanks so much for your advice. You have been quite helpful and I wanted you to know I appreciate it.

 

Rob:D