Discussion
I'm sure this is a regular question, so apologies if people need to point me elsewhere. But what suggestions would people make as to initial kit purchase. With all of the offers you see it's all too easy to get wrapped up in trying to buy everything. I for one can get too carried away and not concentrate on developing my initial skills before buying new toys to play with!
Aside from the body and initial lens, what else would be worthwhile given the kits/packages you can get? I'm assuming a good bad and memory card would be up there?
Aside from the body and initial lens, what else would be worthwhile given the kits/packages you can get? I'm assuming a good bad and memory card would be up there?
muppetdave said:
I'm sure this is a regular question, so apologies if people need to point me elsewhere. But what suggestions would people make as to initial kit purchase. With all of the offers you see it's all too easy to get wrapped up in trying to buy everything. I for one can get too carried away and not concentrate on developing my initial skills before buying new toys to play with!
Aside from the body and initial lens, what else would be worthwhile given the kits/packages you can get? I'm assuming a good bad and memory card would be up there?
I guess you have to decide what sort of photography you want to do, if you only shoot at trackdays / rallys then money spent on a tripod could really be spent on faster lenses, etc... however for landscape photography then a tripod would be an excellent purchase Aside from the body and initial lens, what else would be worthwhile given the kits/packages you can get? I'm assuming a good bad and memory card would be up there?
For memory cards, i'd just stick to big name brands like Sandisk / Lexar. I order them though amazon, £20-ish for a 2GB CF Sandisk Extreme card.
(I know you can get larger cards but i don't want a possible card failure to wipe out a days shooting. 2GB gives me about 220 shots...)
Cheers.
Hello,
I would suggest:
I would suggest:
- Rocket blower (for blowing dust off your filter/lens)
- UV Filter (stop your lens getting scratched)
- A decent bag
- A good sturdy tripod
- A credit card
- or a rich wife to pay for the lenses
Edited by hawkaye on Sunday 13th January 21:24
Lol, hmmm, rich wife...
Thanks guys - that pretty much was where my thinking was headed - as you say bag and cards. The tripod was next on my list in my thinking. As a learner, I have no idea on filters, so thanks for the suggestion on the UV one. Warehouse Express has a kit that pretty much goes down the route you've suggested, so looks like a winner!
Thanks guys - that pretty much was where my thinking was headed - as you say bag and cards. The tripod was next on my list in my thinking. As a learner, I have no idea on filters, so thanks for the suggestion on the UV one. Warehouse Express has a kit that pretty much goes down the route you've suggested, so looks like a winner!
muppetdave said:
I'm sure this is a regular question, so apologies if people need to point me elsewhere. But what suggestions would people make as to initial kit purchase. With all of the offers you see it's all too easy to get wrapped up in trying to buy everything. I for one can get too carried away and not concentrate on developing my initial skills before buying new toys to play with!
Aside from the body and initial lens, what else would be worthwhile given the kits/packages you can get? I'm assuming a good bad and memory card would be up there?
Good bad (and ugly), and memory are of course essential, and IMHO so is a spare battery. But as for building the more serious stuff, eg lenses, be guided by your needs not wants. I have never sat there wondering 'What do I need now?' - it's becomes obvious when I want to do something the current kit can't do.Aside from the body and initial lens, what else would be worthwhile given the kits/packages you can get? I'm assuming a good bad and memory card would be up there?
muppetdave said:
As a learner, I have no idea on filters, so thanks for the suggestion on the UV one.
B+W or Hoya tend to be decent manufacturers, the multi-coated ones are best. For wide angle shots you may want to pay extra for the 'slim edged' filters, can help reduce / stop the vignetting effect
Cheers.
Thanks fpC - I'll bear that in mind, although I think I'm a long way away from even beginning to understand all that! ;o)
Simpo - yes exactly my thoughts and why I wanted some assistance on what would be best to form a basis - as you say it will gradually become clear. Some of the other deals in my price range with the Canon could give me a second lens, but by my reckoning I would be better off learning and exploiting the standard first before getting anything else.
Hawkaye - yeah - seems to be the camera of choice, and being popular good to learn from others too!
Simpo - yes exactly my thoughts and why I wanted some assistance on what would be best to form a basis - as you say it will gradually become clear. Some of the other deals in my price range with the Canon could give me a second lens, but by my reckoning I would be better off learning and exploiting the standard first before getting anything else.
Hawkaye - yeah - seems to be the camera of choice, and being popular good to learn from others too!
muppetdave said:
Simpo - yes exactly my thoughts and why I wanted some assistance on what would be best to form a basis - as you say it will gradually become clear. Some of the other deals in my price range with the Canon could give me a second lens, but by my reckoning I would be better off learning and exploiting the standard first before getting anything else.
Boring but true One theme that boils my piss is 'I've just spent £5,000 on kit - how do I stop the flash popping up'
Edited by Simpo Two on Sunday 13th January 23:25
lol, trying to avoid that desperately. Although I don't have £5k to blow I'm one for trying to get as much as I can. I've spent some time reading and trying to learn with no equipment before buying anything - now I feel I need something to just play and practise with!
edited for very poor spelling!
edited for very poor spelling!
Edited by muppetdave on Monday 14th January 10:36
muppetdave said:
Thanks fpC - I'll bear that in mind, although I think I'm a long way away from even beginning to understand all that! ;o)
Simpo - yes exactly my thoughts and why I wanted some assistance on what would be best to form a basis - as you say it will gradually become clear. Some of the other deals in my price range with the Canon could give me a second lens, but by my reckoning I would be better off learning and exploiting the standard first before getting anything else.
Sounds like a good plan Simpo - yes exactly my thoughts and why I wanted some assistance on what would be best to form a basis - as you say it will gradually become clear. Some of the other deals in my price range with the Canon could give me a second lens, but by my reckoning I would be better off learning and exploiting the standard first before getting anything else.
Also allows you to decide whether to spend a lot or loads on your second lens 
Filters seem to have another language of their own
I'd just get a semi-expensive Hoya / B+W UV filter. I got a Hoya 'Super HMC Pro' 67mm (that's filter size) for my 17-85mm lens, cost about £35-40.
Cheers.
Yup, I'm dreading the money pit I have just entered. Just as I was hitting order my IT guy wandered in - turns out he bought an EOS 400 also about a month ago - only he has a telephoto lens - think that might be coming to Le Mans with me. 
)
Can't wait to receive it - although randomly Warehouse Express had an early order cutoff today, so won't get it until Weds now(
)Can't wait to receive it - although randomly Warehouse Express had an early order cutoff today, so won't get it until Weds now
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