Cheap(ish) D70 accessory...

[chim_knee]

I've got some family in the states at the moment and was thinking about asking them to pick something up for me given the USD/GBP rates.

I'm only thinking in the order of £100-£200... what would be the recommendation?

Currently I have:

D70 + 18-70mm kit lens
Sigma 70-300mm APO lens
Nikon IR remote release

I was thinking maybe the SB-600 or SB-800? Any other ideas/comments on that?

Cheers,
Phil.

[ehasler]

A good quality polarising filter, or decent tripod would get my vote.

[chim_knee]

ehasler said:

A good quality polarising filter

Oops I've got one of those, should've mentioned that.

ehasler said:

or decent tripod would get my vote.

I have a tripod at the mo it's half-decent (Velbon?) but I think it's more of a video camera tripod... not sure if this would make a difference though.

[Mad Dave]

I'd go for a Speedlight, definately.

[simpo two]

What do you need most? What do you want to that you can't?

[chim_knee]

What I'd really like most I can't get for the money I'm looking at... The 70-300 has a macro mode but I'd like a really great macro lens. Also, I'd like a very wide angled lens (the Sigma 12-24mm appeals) but I can't get either at that price.

Would you say anything in particular is "missing" from my list?

Cheers,
Phil.

[simpo two]

chim_knee said:

What I'd really like most I can't get for the money I'm looking at... The 70-300 has a macro mode but I'd like a really great macro lens. Also, I'd like a very wide angled lens (the Sigma 12-24mm appeals) but I can't get either at that price.

OK, for (1) you can get close-up lenses (dioptres) which screw onto the front of the 70-300 to give you good close-up performance for far less than a dedicated macro lens. Nikon ones are 5T and 6T I think.
For (2) you can get a wide-angle adpator that screws onto the front of your standard lens and reduces its focal length by 35-40%. The one I had used a Series 7 adapter to connect it to the filter thread. Not a perfect answer, but affordable.

[chim_knee]

simpo two said:

OK, for (1) you can get close-up lenses (dioptres) which screw onto the front of the 70-300 to give you good close-up performance for far less than a dedicated macro lens. Nikon ones are 5T and 6T I think. For (2) you can get a wide-angle adpator that screws onto the front of your standard lens and reduces its focal length by 35-40%. The one I had used a Series 7 adapter to connect it to the filter thread. Not a perfect answer, but affordable.

Are they pretty good then? Bare in mind this is for a totally amateur photographer.

I've always stayed away from these "alternatives" because my perception was that they are a compromise and would never work properly.

I hasten to add that my perception is based on nothing more than my upbringing of "only the best will do" and no hard evidence at all.

[simpo two]

chim_knee said:

Are they pretty good then? Bare in mind this is for a totally amateur photographer. I've always stayed away from these "alternatives" because my perception was that they are a compromise and would never work properly. I hasten to add that my perception is based on nothing more than my upbringing of "only the best will do" and no hard evidence at all.

Well you're right, but we are all limited by budget somewhere along the trail! Hence if you really want to do macro photography but don't have £300+ for a Micro Nikkor, then you have to compromise a little bit. I spend some time perusing the Nikonians forum, which is to Nikons what PH is to cars, and the option of 70-300 + diopters is commonly used and recommended by those who've tried it. This combo also gives you a good working distance, so that you don't scare off the cute insect etc by shoving a lens in its face.

The wide-angle adapter is more of a compromise I admit, but will tide you over until you have to loot for that 12-24. (And then you can sell it on eBay).

Every keen amateur photographer is in the same boat, wanting stuff they either can't afford or can't justify. We're all on various steps of the equipment ladder. So yes, if it's a choice of temporary compromise or zilch, I'd take the former. Or I guess you could sit tight saving the pennies until the heap is big enough