Digital SLR accessories!

[Tacori E-ring]

So it seems many of us have gotten digital SLRs for the holidays (or recently). I thought it would be fun to post your favorite accessories and must haves.

 

[diamondsrock]

I have the D40. The uv filter for me is important. Not really for the UV factor, but to protect the glass on my lens. We have the 55-200 zoom, 50mm fixed and the kit lens. I don''t want them scratched. To me, the lenses are more of an investment than the camera body.

Also, we just got the Nikon 600 flash and what an incredible difference it makes from the standard flash. The pictures come out so much softer with less glare. I would like to get a diffuser as well. Those are pretty cheap.

A good bag is super important to protect the gear obviously.

I looked at the lens baby. I don''t really have a use for that as my fixed 50mm gives pictures with amaizng bokeh. Although the lensbaby seems pretty specialized for more artistic photos.

I bought a few close up filters for macro shots and have had mixed results with them.

Polarized filters are nice if you are shooting landscapes. I had one for my film slr but didnt'' use it much. It makes the sky more blue and cuts down on glare. It is useful but only in certain situations. In the right case, it can alter the photo dramatically in a good way.

I think an extra battery is nice, but I don''t have one.

How are you enjoying your new camera Tacori?

 

[Tacori E-ring]

DR, I am! I need to get filters...what brand do you have? Also I still need to get a camera bag and a cleaning kit. I was surprise how long the battery does last but like you think it might be nice to have a spare. I did get the Nikon 400 flash for x-mas but haven''t tested it out yet.

 

[puffy]

tacori how do you like the camera? have you gotten any action pics of T yet?
not sure if you wanted to invest more money on the camera, but for the flash, if you wanted to take continuous pics, which i believe you can''t do with the 400 or 600, you should look at getting the 800 or 900 in the future. but if not, i''m sure the 400 would be fine because ANYTHING is better than the standard one, which IMO really sucks!
and the extra battery pack, which i totally do without, but it''s nice that i do have one just in case. but like you said, the battery lasts so long, you really dont have to worry too much about it.
are you going to get any extra lenses?

 

[Tacori E-ring]

puffy, I was going to post a few pics but I have to resize them. I do like my D60. I have the standard 18-55mm and the 55mm(?)-200mm (which I use most of the time). What do you mean you can''t take continuous pics with the 400? Hmmm....My battery lasted all week and still hasn''t died. But I know how angry I will be with myself if I miss something BECAUSE of the battery. My mom gave me an amazon GC so for sure I am using it on camera stuff. I really need a bigger bag. Do you have filters?

 

[puffy]

tacori i *think* with the 400 and 600, you have to wait a few seconds in between pictures, but with the 800 or higher, you can just keep snapping away. i did this recently in hawaii when we put B in the water and after i uploaded the pics, it was like a silly flip book.
a camera bag is super important esp when we go on outings because we can put all the camera stuff together and it''s perfectly safe so we don''t have to worry about it getting scratched or dropped. DH dropped my D80 on christmas eve and i was pretty mad. it didn''t break or anything, just a few scratches. but he made up for it when he gave me a new camera for part of my christmas gift.
filters...i do have them, but don''t really use them as often as i thought i would. some pics i took in hawaii, sunset, sunrise and beach pics, were with the filter. i really only use the filter for that kind of stuff. i don''t think they are necessary, but nice to have, ya know?
getting camera stuff is so fun, but so easy to get carried away with. have fun!!!

 

[diamondsrock]

tacori, I am using the inexpensive Sunpak filter which I bought at Bestbuy. I really should invest in a good one, or two, or three, since I want the best glass I can get in front of my lens. Not that there's anything wrong with this filter. Some people are against filters and think they are not needed. They think that they distort the image or reduce it's quality. It's just a matter of opinion I guess.

Another good thing to have which also protects the lens from damage is a lens hood. We have one of those too. I find it awkward but some photographers don't leave home without them.

We have two lowepro bags (not sure if that's spelled correctly). I like the features and compartments they offer.

You must try a photo with the oncamera flash and then another with your extra flash attached. You will see the difference.

 

[Harriet]

I have another lens, but that''s about it. What I need is a light box for shooting loose gems. Any suggestions, anyone?

 

[~*Alexis*~]

I got the D40 for christmas and I don''t have any extras for the camera other than the standard package that came with it when FFI bought it.

Whats a must have and where did you all get your stuff??

 

[EricaR]

I do a lot of shooting outdoors, so a UV filter is #1 on my list. Actually, it is #2. A tripod is #1 and I need to pick one up in the next few days. I was hoping for a Ritz Camera gift card for Christmas, but instead I got REI. Luckily for me REI appears to carry tripods!

 

[diamondsrock]

Date: 12/31/2008 8:33:24 PM
Author: EricaR
I do a lot of shooting outdoors, so a UV filter is #1 on my list. Actually, it is #2. A tripod is #1 and I need to pick one up in the next few days. I was hoping for a Ritz Camera gift card for Christmas, but instead I got REI. Luckily for me REI appears to carry tripods!

I forgot to mention tripods! Very important to have one. Problem is remembering to bring the tripod when you go somewhere that you may need it.

 

[TravelingGal]

I love the Nikon 400 speedlight, but it does have its limitations. I don''t mind bouncing off walls though...works to just get some photos of Amelia. I would say an external flash is a must and I don''t regret getting the 400 because I will always carry it around with me. Maybe sometime this year I will get a more robust external flash like the 800.

As far as the continuous shooting goes, it seems to recharge in 1 or 2 seconds...I don''t have a problem with that since I don''t snap continuously, although I do snap quickly.

I have the crumper 4 million dollar house bag and if I get more into this stuff, I''d probably buy another crumpler. I really like the bag because it''s fun and not all that serious - but tough enough to protect your stuff.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Puffy, I bet those are cute of B!

Drock, I was told the filter was to protect the lens. People seems to love Haze filters but they are pricey (if I remember correctly). I have a lens hood but have never used it. Is protection what it is for? It came with my longer lens. When I went to Wolf just to try out the D60 he took a pic with and without the external flash and I did notice a difference.

Harriet, what is the size of your other lens? Hopefully someone will chime in about light boxes.

Alexis, I just have the standard kit too (well I got an extra lens and my ILs gave me the 400 flash for x-mas). I think they got the flash on Amazon. I got my lens kit/camera with B&H.

erica, yay for a tripod! I could see where you would need it...I on the other hand probably don''t.

TGal, glad you chimed in. I was looking at the 5 million dollar house bag. I think I would outgrow the 4 million too quickly.

Also, I was looking at my Nikon 35mm that is probably 30 years old and it has this thing that attached the lens cover to the lens body (with a string). I would love to find those for my new camera. Anyone know what I am talking about???

 

[diamondfan]

I now have a Panansonic lumix with a ten optical zoom for throwing in my purse. It works decently and is so small. You sacrifice things with a point and shoot but now I bring it with me so I get the chance for more photos than I used to when I did not take my camera with me because it was too big.

I LOVE cameras, have a Nikon Coolpix P80 point and shoot as well for travel. I have extra batteries and cards for each. I even have a table top tri pod which is nice to bring, it is fairly small and easy to take.

I also have a digital Rebel with lenses, tripod, filters...I love it but it is simply to cumbersome too take on trips nowadays. Fine for home use and kids sporting events and such. But not great for dragging around.

My son wants to get the Canon D60 with some accessories. He is very into photography and I thought this was a great starting off point for him at 13. I might like to upgrade my Rebel someday too, but camera stuff changes so quickly now.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

dfan, I 100% agree that having a good point and shoot is vital! There are times where that is just easier. What brand filters do you have?

 

[EricaR]

I picked up my tripod and one UV filter this weekend. Ultimately I''d love to have two UV filters, one for each lens, but the only ones they had in the store were $20 each and I cringed at paying that much when I''ve seen the exact same one online for $10.

I took some great photos over the weekend and am so in love with my camera.

 

[Harriet]

Tacori,
My other lens is a 100mm macro lens. I also have UV filters for my two lenses and a DVD on how to use the camera (indispensable, as you can tell from my previous photos

). I need a tripod and a bag and that should be enough, right?

 

[Pandora II]

A good tripod and a monopod - I always buy Manfrotto

A chest tripod is useful as well.

Remote control to minimise camera shake

Filters on all lenses to protect them (I buy Hoya)

Good camera bags - I always buy Kata (they are AMAZING) and come in a huge range of sizes. They're very light-weight as well.

Really good flash and diffusor set

Portable collapsible light reflectors - ebay

Soft box/light box - got a really good one on ebay for peanuts

Concave mirror

Extra battery and extra charger!

DH is the photographer, I tend to buy all the bits for him as presents... except lenses which he buys.

Next on the list are really good filters (Infrared/polarizing etc), ANOTHER camera bag, studio lighting and I'd have to check the list DH sent me before xmas....

We do have a ring flash for the macro lense, but I haven't found it that easy to use. I'm thinking of sending DH on a product photography course so he can learn to photograph my gemstones. They have a great one in Bangkok at AIGS specifically for gemstones...

 

[diamondsrock]

tacori, hoya is a well respected brand for filters and they have a wide range of prices for uv filters depending on how much you want to spend. I''m assuming the higher the price the better the quality, but honestly, I haven''t researched it too far.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Harriet, did you see this thread?

 

[Tacori E-ring]

I found what I was looking for. They are called Lens Cap Keepers. Here is an example if anyone is interested.

 

[MonkeyPie]

Yay for more camera threads!

I recently picked up the SB600 for my camera, a gift for my 1st anniversary. It came with a cap diffuser and I lovelovelove it. I can do a ridiculous amount of stuff with it that would have just been impossible for me before. Plus with my 50mm F2.8 Sigma Macro lens (which is manual focus on my D60) I can get some amazingly soft light. I''ll post some examples for ya''ll.

 

[MonkeyPie]

These were all from a shoot I did just last night. That''s my best girlfriend there

Also, it is DEFINITLY worth it to pick up a good bag. I recommend the Crumpler series if you have the cash, the Lowepro if you want to spend less. I currently carry a Lowepro sling bag and is so comfy, I''m not even aware it''s on. Plus it''s easy to get into in a hurry if I need to, and it can hold my camera body as well as four lenses (if I had four - I use one slot for my lens hood and diffuser), my flash, all my filters and a space for my keys, wallet, pen, and Model Releases. It''s the best bag ever.

 

[Harriet]

Date: 1/3/2009 12:50:20 PM
Author: Tacori E-ring
Harriet, did you see this thread?

Now I have. Thanks!

 

[marcy]

Great list of accessories. UV or skylight filters can save your lens if you drop them - I dropped my SLR twice and they land on their face and both times it smashed the heck out of the filter and left my lens without a scratch. It's the cheapest insurance you can have on a lens. I worked in a camera store for years and some customers who bought a filter later thanked me; some of those who didn't because they thought I was trying to get extra commission told me they regreted not listening to me. ETA: Hoya and Tiffiin are good filters. Hold them up to the light when you get them - if they look fuzzy or grainy that will show up in your photos.

My list is:

Filters
Extra battery
Zoom lens
Macro lens
Extra memory card
camera bags (big one to store everything and a small one that you can pack just your camera in)
Lens cleaning tissues or glass cleaner cloth
Tripod
Remote for your camera

 

[Harriet]

Thanks for the list, Marcy.