Must-Have Accessories for a newbie togger?

Krydel

Krydel

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Ollie Adams-Liggins
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So, thanks to the help from people on this forum, i will be getting a Nikon D90 + Kit 18-105mm VR Lens :clap:

However, there is more to be purchased :thinking:

What would you recommend for a newbie togger (specifics, if applicable)- remember this is my first camera i have ever owned myself - never even had a point and click :eek:
So far i know i would like the following:

Tripod (which?)
ND Grad Filter (which?)
Polarizing Filter (which?)
Bag (which?)

Any other suggestions? Camera body armour or anything worth the expense?

Cheers for the ongoing support
 
Must have? According to who - the Jones-es?!

Establish what you think might be your area before spending lots of money[unless money no issue]. Bunch of grad filters aren't much use if you'll always be in the studio taking portraits!
 
Krydel said:
So, thanks to the help from people on this forum, i will be getting a Nikon D90 + Kit 18-105mm VR Lens :clap:

However, there is more to be purchased :thinking:

What would you recommend for a newbie togger (specifics, if applicable)- remember this is my first camera i have ever owned myself - never even had a point and click :eek:
So far i know i would like the following:

Tripod (which?)
ND Grad Filter (which?)
Polarizing Filter (which?)
Bag (which?)

Any other suggestions? Camera body armour or anything worth the expense?

Cheers for the ongoing support
Click to expand...

If you do a search in the Talk Equipment and Shopping sections of TP you will find a wealth of information to help you choose the right gear :thumbs:
 
Until you get used to the camera and lens I would possibly buy a tripod and a good photography book. Once you understand exposure, etc then I would worry about ND grads, etc

As far as a bag is concerned it depends what type you're after or if you intend expanding your kit in the near future. It also depends if you prefer a messenger type bag or rucksack or holster.
 
I would advise a CPL (Circular Polarising Filter) they make a huge difference, especially when shooting outdoors, and you won't regret buying one. Spend as much as you can afford as you generally get what you pay for quality-wise. It also acts as a protection for the lens. VR Lenses arn't as cheap as filters! ;)
Oh, and a spare battery! (if you don't already have one) so you can shoot with one whilst the other is on charge, or carry it round incase you run out. it also allows you to completely run them flat before charging, which prolongs life :)

Hope that helps.:thumbs:
James.

edit:
Remote shutter releases are also a good addition depending on what you are wanting to shoot. cheap as chips, too!
 
^^ Am i being dense? Whats the difference between a stadnard Polarizing filter and a circular one :bonk:

Also thought of Lens Hood (aren't too expensive are they?)

Shutter release may be a good idea as i like long exposure shots and the various effects they can bring. Cheers :thumbs:

As for books, i had my eye on "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson which seems to be recommended by a few people.

SDHC cards... how many photos is 8GB in JPEG-fine or RAW? The "Ultimate III" series from Sandisk are like £45 but the Ultimate II jumps down in price - is there a lot of difference? Or is it just a slightly reduced buffer/save time?

Cheers
 
jammy_c said:
Spend as much as you can afford as you generally get what you pay for quality-wise. It also acts as a protection for the lens. VR Lenses arn't as cheap as filters! ;)
Click to expand...

However, I wouldn't use it as an equivalent Protection UV filter as you will be permanently losing 2 stops of light.
 
Krydel said:
^^ Am i being dense? Whats the difference between a stadnard Polarizing filter and a circular one :bonk:
Click to expand...

There are two types of polarizing filters generally available, linear and circular. With the exception of how they interact with some autofocus and metering mechanisms, they have exactly the same effect photographically. The metering and auto-focus sensors in certain cameras, including virtually all auto-focus dslrs, will not work properly with linear polarizers because the beam-splitters used to split off the light for focusing and metering are polarization-dependent.
 
I would vote spare battery, memory, and a small bag that you won't feel self-concious walking about with the camera in.

After that, if you find you need them/would like them, then consider a tripod or monopod.
Filters are not really something that someone can say you need, until you have a specific need for a filter. The only filter that you could reasonably require is a polarizing filter, if, you know you are going to take a lot of landscape type shots (which I suppose is what you take shots of, once your subjects/models have gotten bored of your new toy. They always seem to bore of it before I do).
 
Flash In The Pan said:
including virtually all auto-focus dslrs, will not work properly with linear polarizers .
Click to expand...

I think this is a myth. Have you come across anyone who actually had a focus problem because of a linear polarizer (that said, for a person new to the subject, unless you know you need the difference that a linear polarizer has, then it is easier to stick with a circular). Linears work fine on my Canon
 
don't worry about extra equipment at this stage just get a couple of memory cards and get taking some shots.
 
Get a redsnapper tripod for starters. Then buy a book called understanding exposure by Bryan Peterson which is excellent.

No need for battery. My D90 one lasts ages, I think around 2500 shots.

If u are going to do indoor stuff the nikon sb600 flash is worth getting, or is there is not much difference in price the 800/900. This will make the biggest difference to indoor stuff.

At this stage a small lowepro rezo I think should do, though if u plant to get more lenses then the slingshot range is good
 
cambsno said:
Get a redsnapper tripod for starters. Then buy a book called understanding exposure by Bryan Peterson which is excellent.

No need for battery. My D90 one lasts ages, I think around 2500 shots.

If u are going to do indoor stuff the nikon sb600 flash is worth getting, or is there is not much difference in price the 800/900. This will make the biggest difference to indoor stuff.

At this stage a small lowepro rezo I think should do, though if u plant to get more lenses then the slingshot range is good
Click to expand...

Thanks a lot for that info, i thought i would need one indefinately, as the D40 w/battery that Dad has only takes around 500 shots he says before it dies out.

Thanks for another recommendation on the book - I went into my local library to see if they had it and alas no stock in whole of Worcestershire, looks like im buying it then!

Any particular redsnapper tripod?

Most importantly though, can you get a camera bag that is essentially a school bag with a compartment for your camera? I will be taking it into college for my photography course which i start in september and dont want to have to lug around more than 1 bag all day.

Cheers,
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by jammy_c View Post
Spend as much as you can afford as you generally get what you pay for quality-wise. It also acts as a protection for the lens. VR Lenses arn't as cheap as filters!
However, I wouldn't use it as an equivalent Protection UV filter as you will be permanently losing 2 stops of light.
Click to expand...

Yep, I agree totally.
But if you plan to keep the UV one on permanently for lens protection and stack the CPL on the end then be mindful of vignetting at extremes of focal length.

SDHC cards... how many photos is 8GB in JPEG-fine or RAW? The "Ultimate III" series from Sandisk are like £45 but the Ultimate II jumps down in price - is there a lot of difference? Or is it just a slightly reduced buffer/save time?
Click to expand...

As regards capacity; probably around the 2000-shot mark i'd guess. D90 owners would probably have more of a clue. not sure of the difference between the Ulti II and III but it's likely they are different classes. i think the II is a class 2 if I remember correctly. the higher the class number, the quicker the transfer and save rate. think it can also potentially affect your fps (frames per second) rate if it's too low for the camera. try www.7dayshop.com for memory.
 
Definitely batteries and memory cards.

Nothing worse than running out of either at the vital moment.
 
pbucks said:
Definitely batteries and memory cards.

Nothing worse than running out of either at the vital moment.
Click to expand...

I would second that. What happens if a battery doesn't charge properly. The cells /can/ fail without warning. A memory card can fail without warning too. I really would consider a backup. Batteries and memory cards are possibly the cheapest items you might end up with in your photographic kit when you progress further.
(ignoring a cloth and blower to clean a lens element)
 
I would think about spending some money on your computer and software TBH, a backup disk and photoshop (or PSE) if nothing else.
 
pearce_jj said:
I would think about spending some money on your computer and software TBH, a backup disk and photoshop (or PSE) if nothing else.
Click to expand...

Don't think i need to. Only thing i really need to upgrade is my rather average Acer AL2016WN 20" TN Panel :/

Rig is as follows:

Intel E8400 @ 4ghz
EVGA 55nm GTX260 SSC 216 Edition
4GB Corsair DDR2-6400 XMS2 @890mhz
MSI P35 NEO-F
Corsair TX750W
Seagate 500GB 7200.11 32MB Cache
Acer AL2016WB OFC

Rest is irrelevant.

I also have Photoshop CS4 so all sorted :thumbs:

I have a program called Photomatix too which is useful for HDR and tone mapping apparently.

As for backup disk, i can back everything up onto the network or my flash drive if need be.
 
In my cheap ALDI camera bag I always carry (or will do soon):

*Spare battery
*Spare Memory Card
*Mini Tripod (mine broke though from the weight of the camera so soon to be replaced with gorillapod SLR Zoom)
*Cheap £3 fleabay wireless remote (I cannot recommend this enough, so much fun if not for just surprising people by making the camera take pictures on its own)
 
coldpenguin said:
I think this is a myth. Have you come across anyone who actually had a focus problem because of a linear polarizer (that said, for a person new to the subject, unless you know you need the difference that a linear polarizer has, then it is easier to stick with a circular). Linears work fine on my Canon
Click to expand...


Not a myth. My old Minolta DiMage 5 has problems focussing with a linear pol fitted and is way off on exposure too. Whack a circ pol on and no such problems. Not tried on any DSLRs - I have circs to fit all my lenses and only one linear and that's now burried in the defunct kit box, probably up in the loft.

On the essential kit front, my vote is for a spare battery, extra memory, as good a tripod as you're willing to spend for and a lens cleaning kit (tissues, blower brush and fluid)! Next on the list would be a circular polarising filter and a bag to hold at least twice as much kit as you currently have, if not more.

As you use the camera and find yourself wishing you had other kit, note down what you feel you're missing most and keep a wish list going. Stick it to the fridge door so relevant people can see it so know what to get you for birthdays, christmas etc!!!
 
Maybe a Grip and spare battery? Tripod is a must as well as a nice 4gb sd card. Always keep a eye out for a nice second hand lens as well.
 
If you can afford it go for the Ultimate III memory cards.
 
Nod said:
Not a myth. My old Minolta DiMage 5 has problems focussing with a linear pol fitted and is way off on exposure too. Whack a circ pol on and no such problems. Not tried on any DSLRs - I have circs to fit all my lenses and only one linear and that's now burried in the defunct kit box, probably up in the loft.
Click to expand...

The original post I quoted from said 'virtually all auto-focus dslrs'.
I quite accept that an old point and shoot/bridge camera may have had approximations made which may make a linear polrizer affect the workings.


But it really isn't worth arguing over. Rather than perpetuate the idea that a linear polarizer /will not work/ with this camera, it would make more sense to say that unless you require the extra abilities from a linear polarizer, a circular polarizer will suffice.
 
Ok then, thanks very much for all your advice and suggestions, will definately pick some up.

As for tripod, if im going for a redsnapper, im guessing its "go for whatever you can afford at the time".

Oh, and i might buy a washer, bolt and some string ;)
 
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