Very huge tree in Thailand

[pauljost]

Darrin,

Those are awesome tree pictures.  I wish that I could visit them.  

My brother once big tree hunted for champion Ceibas by helicopter in Costa Rica in a helicopter with Jim Fowler of (Marlin Perkin's sidekick in the old television show, Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom).  My brother climbed a few of the bigger ones when he lived there about 20 years ago.  Now, he watches out for big trees in remaining virgin forests of Ecuador where the Amazon rainforest meets the Llanganates Mountains cloud forest near the Rio Pastaza.  He's found some big tropical trees including some really big Mahogany that have so far avoided poaching, but nothing as amazing as that Thai tree.

Anyway, there are sources for the Nikon Forestry 550 or 550A S in Malaysia:
http://www.yamiya.com.my/store/product. ... 445&page=2
http://fotokem.m3asia.com/index.php?pag ... &Itemid=26

I see that they range for US$400 to US$600 (RM1314-1988, Malaysian Ringgit) so they are expensive depending upon your financial state.  Other local Asian dealers are listed at:
http://www.nikon.com.my/dealers.php
http://www.nikon-asia.com/distributors.php

Reference:
http://www.nikon.com/products/sportopti ... /index.htm

You may want to compare the price of the unit above with the cheapest laser rangefinder that you can afford paired up with a Suunto PM5/360PC clinometer:
http://www.ejmotiwalla.com/Codes/Maxpho ... ws/pm5.htm

Paul

[Shorea]

Guys, THANKS for all your recommendations. Unfortunately I didn't know rangefinders would be quite expensive, so I have to start saving up now - In addition to getting the upcoming (if it ever comes out) Sigma DP3 I've been eyeing for a long time :D

I did realize that in closed canopy situations, like in the tropical rainforest, finding the true height of the trees could be a little tough, as the main canopy layer would often obscure a clean view of the crown of the emergent trees.

There's this place in Taman Negara, or the National Park, where there's several tall trees found in the small area and the area is a very beautiful spot near a river intersection which is crystal clear, and there's HUGE fishes there (it's a fish sanctuary where the fishes are fed and the rangers told me some of the fishes are 10 kg), which I've noted.

Here's a picture of one tall tree I took, from about 6 years ago. If the tree is still standing, it must be around 50 meters or more.



An interesting tidbit that gives me some hope of locating an exceptional tree one day somewhere in Peninsular Malaysia: The Changi Tree of Singapore

http://habitatnews.nus.edu.sg/heritage/ ... itree.html

Now, if such a tall and huge tree could be found growing in tiny Singapore Island, what are the chances of finding one in Taman Negara which is 7 times the size of Singapore, and is covered in dense, primary growth? That's what I've been hoping for a long time...

[pauljost]

Darrin,

I would think that you could find a different rangefinder without a built-in clinometer for well under 500 Ringgit, and if there is a local auction site like eBay, you may find one for even less.  Golfers often sell them used.  I'm not sure what a decent clinometer would cost in your local market but should be also around 500 Ringgit.  Yes, they are expensive, which is the reason that some in our group don't have them yet!!

Good luck,

Paul

[James Parton]

Darrin,

You might pick of the Nikon 440 rangefinder on ebay for half the price on what it would have cost new.

James

[Kouta Räsänen]

Paul,

How tall trees has your brother found in Costa Rica / Ecuador?

Kouta

[pauljost]

Kouta,

Sorry for the delay on this one....  if I recall correctly, my brother said that he had the tallest kapok/ceiba's over 50m in Costa Rica  based upon using his 100m climbing ropes all the way to the ends? and more recently, possible mahogany in the 30-40m range in Ecuador.  He got a laser only recently, but ground fog / low clouds, and frequent rain have limited it's use.  He works in the cloud forest on the mountain ranges bordering the Amazon basin rain forest in the area with the highest annual rainfall in Ecuador.  I recall seeing some tall looking eucalyptus in plantations when I was there over 10 years ago.

Paul