Gear list and comments for the BUDGET Nikon photographer.

The following is a list of gear I think is a great start. I feel its even

sufficiant for the long term, if budget is an issue. Is there anything important

missing? There are always more lenses one can buy and better "stuff", however if

a line must be drawn, I think this is a good line, a line, one (me for instance)

can be happy with.

 

Camera: D40 kit w/ 18-55mm lens Cost: about $540

 

Lens2: 55-200 VR Cost: about $230

 

Lens3: 50mm 1.8 MF AIS Cost: about $60 (no metering w/ D40) Even with the

suboptimal-for-MF screen of the D40, I can still focus fine. If you hate

guesstimating exposure / redoing shots (hey, it's a digital camera, remember?),

get the AF (CPU) version for about $60 more.

 

Flash: SB-400 Cost: about $112. This flash is SMALL. I tested it vs. the built

in, and I am happy I bought it. It will also save you battery power.

 

Filters: 3 of multicoated UV, skylight or NC. Cost: about $26 each + shipping

at the big NY stores. (Here no scrimping)

 

Bag: Lowpro on sale, various. Cost: about $15-25. A small compact bag like the

EX140 is nice. Incredible what I can fit in there. It looks more like a lunch

bag than a camera bag. I have my camera, kit lens, zoom, 50mm, flash and a

polarizer. One problem is that it all only fits in, if the attached lens is the

zoom, not the 18-55. Also I have the 50mm and the flash in the unprotected (no

foam) pocket on the outside of the bag.)

 

Tripod: Amnova tripod, AT-12T. ~6.5lb. Cost: $40-70 incl. shipping. This is a

big heavy thing. I had to oil the legs a bit when I got it, because they did not

swing out easily (I like them easily swinging out) . And on close examination

you can tell its not perfect; there are some tiny burs here and there, the bag

is sub par (don't use it anyway) and you could just "tell" its not a "your

favorite brand here".

However, it locks well, the center can be removed and reversed, and also used

as a monopod (on this model). Even with the post extended, it's rock solid, and

reaches my full 6ft height with no problem. I don't know about their CF ones.

Eventually I will get a lighter CF one from benro or faisol, but that's in the

future. If you can handle the weight, this really is fine. In a year or so, Ill

report how it stood up to my decidedly not daily use.

 

Head: Bogen midi ball head (486rc2). For this system you really don't need the

maxi, really. I suspect not even if you get a "real" zoom. And the Miniball is

about the same price, so go for the midi. Cost: about 70$ incl. shipping.

 

Remote: PoGo version of Ml-l3. About $15 incl. shipping. Cheaper than the Nikon

one, works perfectly. Can also be reprogrammed.

 

Film: Kodachrome ASA25 (just kidding).

 

Software: The GIMP. Its freeware, however, it does have a learning curve. I

still use paint-shop-pro and LOVE it, however I have recently delved into GIMP

and am learning it. I like it. I think.

 

For some of these you can get free shipping (like from Amazon)

 

Summary and Total: For up to $1200 you can get yourself a very adequate system.

How about an FM2N, the 50 1.8 , then a 28/2.8 and 85/2 mf lenses, Nikon CS 5000 and some rolls of XP2 ?

 

Whatever you decide, forget about imitations and get yourself Photoshop CS3 and start learning, this is the most important element of any digital workflow.

Just a view, but the most important element of a digital workflow in photography is the pressing of the shutter button. What one uses in post-processing can't replace what one knows in capturing an image.

Also do your self a favour, and study what a polarizer can do to your water/window/foliage shots (or portraits). It doesn't cost a lot but it gives you more options.

"get yourself Photoshop CS3 and start learning, this is the most important element of any digital workflow"

 

For some people that may hold true, but generally I disagree. Strongly.

 

The most important thing after the photo has been taken is to add metadata (like place, people and star rating) and make backup copies of the images. Soon you will have 10.000 or 15.000 images. How are you going to find the ones you want to see righ *now*? By browsing? Good luck... Your computer will also eventually fail. You need copies of your images. The really good images can be photoshopped later, if you have a need to start composing images, but for general "development" you could use more efficient tools such as

Adobe light room or Apple Aperture or DxO Optics. Once these two needs have been catered for first, only then think about Photoshop. Besides, Photoshop CS3 is not "budget".

I love my mom, but we often don't get along. I come away from our conversations feeling alienated, since she takes the opportunity to answer my questions by telling me what she would do and what she likes, rather than listening to what I'm asking for or what I would like to see happen. Thus, I go elsewhere for advice.

 

The OP did not ask about a film camera, nor (for real) about film or software. I just think he is looking for some endorsement on a big decision, not what he should/ought to do.

 

OP, looks like a fine setup to me and though your future needs might expand, what you have listed here sounds great. Much pleasure with your photography and best of luck.

Given the limited budget, I think the camera and AF-S lenses are fine. I would probably opt for the AF-D version of the 50mm/f1.8 just to get metering with the D40 and AF capability for potential future DSLRs.

 

You are talking about a very small DSLR and some light lenses. I think your tripod is an overkill, but apparently you already have it.

 

Do you have to get everything all at once? If not, I would get the camera and a couple of lenses. Use them for a few weeks before getting the other accessories, as you might change your mind on the accessories once you are more familiar with the camera.

If you're going for a manual focus lens, maybe a 35mm f/2 would

be more generally useful than a 50mm f/1.8. I'm not sure of

current prices, but a 35mm f/2 (any would do, even non-AI, for a D40)

shouldn't be much more expensive. Although a non-AI 50mm f/2

would be the cheapest possible option...

A wedding is not exactly the place to "limit" your budget for equipment. If the D40 (6 megapixels) is going to give you better images than a D80 (10 megapixels,) maybe you should condider another line of work? Both camera bodies are in the inexpensive range of Nikon DSLRs, but with more pixels to edit in Nikon Capture or Photoshop, you should end up with better results with a D80 over the D40. (The D40x body is also in the 10 megapixel range.)

 

 

 

One wedding in a dark church with the SB-400 and you may have ended your business career. Same for the VR lens: out in the sunshine, the lens is fine. Indoors, with poor light, you might need something like a AF 35mm f2D or AF 50mm f1.4D Nikkor lens.

 

 

 

 

 

A wedding is not the place to have to explain "whooops!" to the bride and groom

<i>"A wedding is not exactly the place to "limit" your budget for equipment."</i><P>

 

Wrong forum? Who said anything about weddings?

GIMP's not a bad start on processing. Just remember that you always need to work in sRGB. Get the UFRaw plug-in and you can even process RAW Files.

 

Don't ignore the other processing tools out there, like irfanview, picassa, etc.

 

Don't forget to allocate some money for a few Gb of memory cards!

I think you have a good starting point.

I would get a 50mm AF. I started with a 24, 50 and 180 all AF. A 20 might have been a better choice.

I think the suggestion about organizing and rating very important.

Do set some funds aside for and extra battery and cards.

You've left one thing out. You need a pretty good computer with 2 to 4 GB of memory.

Fred Bonnett, "You need a pretty good computer with 2 to 4 GB of memory."

 

Well... Maybe not an absolute requirement for someone starting out on a budget.

 

My three year-old laptop with a Pentium-M chip and just over 1 Gb of memory does "OK" with basic operations in Photoshop CS2, and very nicely with GIMP. Sure, you can't make tons of layers and stuff, but for 6-8 Mp images you can get away with way less than a mega-hot computer.

Actually I posted this mostly in order to help others starting out in digital. Most of this list is as a result of reading here. I just put it in one thread.

 

I did forget to add the card. I got a 1GB sandisk ultra II.

Also a polarizer. (Man there is so much...)

The tripod is a bit overkill, however it was cheap. And for the money its a lot of tripod. Problem is, unless I get a real piece of rubbish, this is whats left, and still remain on a very low budget.

 

Most of my old N70 gear is on another continent, I was unable to bring it with me.

I like this combo to start you on your way. Don't let the megapixel police get to you..6 is plenty unless you are making giant posters..my son has a D50 6 megapixel and it takes some stunning pictures. Just get in the game and if later you want something else in the Nikon line ..and you will have the lenses to use with new equipment..the body can always be replaced with an upgrade. Enjoy!

Geoff Sobering - I never used a D40 or GIMP but, my understanding is that the D40 has a 10MP sensor not a 6 to 8 MP sensor. So a Nef image would be 16 to 17 MB and the corresponding tiff would be 58 to 60 MB. After short work on such a tiff the resulting image file can easily be 150MB.

 

Neophytes to digital photography often forget that the computer is an integral part of the "camera outfit". I'll stick with my original assertion - you need a pretty good computer with 2 to 4 GB of RAM.RAM.