DPChallenge: A Digital Photography Contest You are not logged in. (log in or register
 

DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> Essential Accessories for a new dSLR
Pages:  
Showing posts 1 - 25 of 39, (reverse)
AuthorThread
06/05/2006 09:27:31 AM · #1
Hey all, i'm planning to get a canon 350D (digital rebel xt), and i was wondering what acecssories would be essential to buy with the camera. So far all i can think of is a camera bag. Was wondering if i should get something cheap for now (as i'll only have the walkaround lens for at least another 6 months or so), or should i just get a backpack with partitions (eg lowepro type thing)?

Any other accessories needed? are extra batteries a must?
06/05/2006 09:56:29 AM · #2
Bag, UV filter for the lens, second battery, lenspen to clean the lens, small notebook to take notes, pen with which to write notes. :)

Those are the basics.
06/05/2006 09:57:55 AM · #3
A compact Flash card would come in handy. You might wanna buy a cardreader too.
06/05/2006 10:20:52 AM · #4
A polarizing filter
06/05/2006 10:23:01 AM · #5
A tripod...
06/05/2006 10:25:17 AM · #6
A Canon 50mm 1.8

:)
06/05/2006 10:25:34 AM · #7
Tripod - You can get a cheep one that will do a good job for about $20
Remote - Remote for 350D/XT $30
Hurricane blower - Cleans sensor dust $10
06/05/2006 10:27:24 AM · #8
Definatly get the accesory kit if you have a little extra cash. I just got mine last week, and it's amazing. Comes with the battery grip, UV filter,and the Low Pro/ Canon bag. I've got big hands, so The battery grip is almost a must personaly, i love it though.... So much extra battery life... and the camera seems alot more comfortable to hold.

I second the tripod as well.... and ofcourse the CF card
06/05/2006 10:41:43 AM · #9
Tripod. A good one is a worthwhile investment, but better to at least have one than none. Just looking quickly, here's one for $80 that looks half-way decent. I have this setup and I highly recommend it if you have the funds. Not everybody likes the grip-action ballhead though and you can save some $$ by just getting a simple ballhead.

For a bag, Amazon has a Canon backpack for $37 with free shipping. I had this one for a while and it's a decent bag for the price.
06/05/2006 10:41:45 AM · #10
There are very few "must" items for general photography. "Musts" arise in the context of specific types of photography.

Given your plan to delay lens purchases, I guess that you are on a budget. Good ways to leverage the fun and usefulness of your camera cheaply include:

extra battery (you can shoot for longer without worrying about running out of juice, though you'll rarely do this if you keep the first charged up between shoots);

extra memory cards (you shoot for longer);

cheap tripod (a cheap £20-30 tripod is better than none) to give you quick access to long exposure and low light photography (and, if you wanted it, a remote trigger);

macro adapter filter (pending a proper lens) to give you quick access to the realm of the tiny;

polarising filter to make colours pop on bright sunny days;

extra lenses and serious accessories such as flashguns as you can manage them;


06/05/2006 11:06:52 AM · #11
I'm "very" new to photography, and my first post here, but here are my thoughts.

Get yourself the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II. Cheap and fast.

If your on a budget (which as a student I'm guessing you are), you might want to consider dropping the kit lens and going for something like a 28-300mm lens instead.

Don't forget you can get "education" versions of most software, including the Photoshop range.

Tripod, tripod, tripod :) $25 for a cheap one. Good to start with.

Big CF card for RAW shooting. I got a fast 4GB for $107.

I've shot 500+ pics in RAW on one battery charge. Just remember to recharge it when you get home so your not stuck in the field without juice. Btw, time ran out for me, not the battery or card for that 500+ day. I don't consider a second battery a must have, but I don't do much chimping. I've yet to drain the battery.

UV filter, $5 and it protects your lens.

Remote switch is a good idea for zoomed shots. You can use the delay function instead, but if your subject can move in the 10 sec delay, it will move :)

I've only had my Rebel XT for a couple of months and LOVE it.

Maybe if you told us what you like to shoot atm we can add further advice. Landscape, buildings, nature, people, sports, indoor, outdoor, anything and everything....?
06/05/2006 12:01:36 PM · #12
A second battery? It seems like the battery on my 30D lasts way longer than it did on my Olympus.

I also recommend Canon 50 mm f/1.8.
06/05/2006 12:03:12 PM · #13
Originally posted by Guyver:

A Canon 50mm 1.8

:)


Ditto that... best investment you will ever make
06/05/2006 12:06:28 PM · #14
Whats so great about that lens?
06/05/2006 12:12:00 PM · #15
It's under $100, and it takes nice sharp pictures. It makes a good portrait lens.
06/05/2006 12:12:16 PM · #16
Originally posted by ChikaZAWa:

Whats so great about that lens?


Super Fast, Super Sharp, Super Cheap!

A must have at $75.00
06/05/2006 12:12:49 PM · #17
Originally posted by ChikaZAWa:

Whats so great about that lens?


Ok I'm a P&S user, but I've heard only good things about the lens. Very good for low light photography, portraiture, and very good quality glass. Am I right? ;-)
06/05/2006 12:13:09 PM · #18
$72 on Amazon. Fast light sharp.
06/05/2006 12:13:33 PM · #19
oh... ok =)
06/05/2006 12:15:52 PM · #20
UV filter! Dropped mine last week and the cracked filter saved the lens.
06/05/2006 12:17:45 PM · #21
Tripod, tripod, tripod...

Remote cable.
06/05/2006 06:34:38 PM · #22
Originally posted by fotomann_forever:

Originally posted by Guyver:

A Canon 50mm 1.8

:)


Ditto that... best investment you will ever make


85mm f1.8 if you have the dinero

atleast 4gigs of memory

backup battery

good flash

Message edited by author 2006-06-05 18:35:23.
06/05/2006 06:54:23 PM · #23
a nice bag for all these accessories?

I use the Lowepro MicroTrekker 100, nice and small, and counts as a man purse for carry on luggage :-)
06/06/2006 12:58:55 AM · #24
Hey all, thanks for the quick responses. I'll be using the camera initially for a bit of everything, as I'd like to have a go at everything before settling down to one particular area. In the future, though i think i'd like to give macro photography a go...

Anyways, i've been going through the suggestions, and so far this is what i've come up with. How does this sound?

Stuff needed with camera purchase
- 1GB CF card (quite cheap, and can later upgrade to a 4GB one, then i'll have a spare 1GB, already got a reader)
- Backpack style bag (lowepro backpacks look nice, but are their cheaper alternatives that are good?)
- Tripod (already have a cheapo one, so will stick with it for now)

Stuff ASAP when money comes in
- macro lens rings
- sensor cleaning kit
- polarising filter
- Cannon 50mm f1.8

Stuff i'm not sure about
- battery - seems most people are managing with one battery per shoot, so i guess this can wait
- handgrip - don't have big hands, shouldn't be a problem :P
- UV filter - i've heard conflicting things about buying cheap UV filters... some say it's not worth putting a cheap filter on a lens... what do you guys think?

How does this sound to you guys? does it seem like a good way to go? later obviously i'd add in proper lenses etc etc
06/06/2006 01:31:28 AM · #25
Originally posted by diablo2097:


- UV filter - i've heard conflicting things about buying cheap UV filters... some say it's not worth putting a cheap filter on a lens... what do you guys think?



Ugh, please do not put a cheap UV filter on anything. The ones you'll buy from non-camera places (and probably from regular camera places as well) are probably non- or single-coated and WILL degrade your image.

I'm not really a fan of them in general (I think lens hoods are much better, and those will actually improve your images), but if you don't use hoods and constantly drop your camera face-down onto rocks, I suppose you could go for a multi-coated one, like a Hoya HMC/Super HMC.
Pages:  
Current Server Time: 03/28/2024 04:24:11 PM

Please log in or register to post to the forums.


Home - Challenges - Community - League - Photos - Cameras - Lenses - Learn - Prints! - Help - Terms of Use - Privacy - Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2024 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 03/28/2024 04:24:11 PM EDT.