The Beginner needs help making first purchase. D70 is starting point.

[jessi_webb]

Hello,

 

I am a wedding photographer (amtr.) and have come to the point in time where I must go

digital. So the situation is this: I have about $2,000 to spend on making the leap.

 

I am going to start by purchasing the D70. From there I am curious as to what is:

 

---The best flash for indoor shoots? Anyone know of a great diffuser?

 

---Can I interchange my film Nikkor lenses onto my new D70?

 

---What is the best lens, in your opinion, for portraits? I would love to condense my

images.

 

--- Blink strobes.. thoughts?

 

---What else do I need to pick up on this shopping trip? Any goodies or tech bits that I

would maybe want to consider? Memory, filters, anything.

 

***In a nutshell I would say that I could use input on the priorities I should have for this

purchase.

 

Thank you so much for the help! I honestly do not know where to begin with the digital

realm, and need to learn quickly!

[richard_laepple]

Jessi, there is also a newer version of the D70 available, the D70s. It has some improvements, not very dramatic. On the other side with the original D70 you can save some $$.

<p>flash: SB-600 od SB-800 are the best choices.

<p>lens: the 18-70 kit lens is the best to start for general purposes. It has very fast AF-S and is absolutly quiet, maybe important in some situations. You can use your older AF-Nikkors. With manual Nikkors you have no metering with the D70/s. For portraits a simple and cheap 50mm/1.8 is great, also a 85mm/1.8 for longer distances. Of course the 18-70 is also a usable portrait lens at the longer end.

<p>What else? Perhaps a 2nd accu, compact flash cards, the ML-L3 remote control, a tripod. People who are totally new to digital often forget the computer equipment. A state of the art PC/Mac with Software like Photoshop is a must.

<p>Some guys here probably will recommend waiting for the new D200 coming out in a few weeks (or months) for ~1.600$.

[lex_jenkins]

What Nikkors do you have right now?

[ben conover]

Victoria's secret and not open for disscussion I assume.

 

Cheers

[david_h._hartman]

<em>I am going to start by purchasing the D70. --Jessi

Webb<br>

</em><br>

If you have $2,000.00 then sit tight and wait for the D200. Do

not blow your money now. The D200 is a whole lot more camera than

the D70.<br>

<br>

<em>The best flash for indoor shoots? Anyone know of a

great diffuser? --Jessi Webb<br>

</em><br>

Buy an SB-800 for this camera and accept no substitutes. For

small rooms the Nikon domed SW-10H diffuser that comes with the

SB-800 is great. As rooms get larger and distance to the subject

gets greater the most important thing is to separate the flash

from the camera.<br>

<br>

<em>Can I interchange my film Nikkor lenses onto my new D70?

? --Jessi Webb<br>

</em><br>

Maybe.<br>

<br>

You didnt ask but Ill ask for you<br>

<br>

<em>Can I interchange my film Nikkor lenses onto my new D200?

<br>

</em><br>

Yes.<br>

<br>

<em>"What else do I need to pick up on this shopping trip?"

--Jessi Webb<br>

</em><br>

For PJ style photos buy a Stroboframe Press-T flash bracket or

something similar. Buy a couple, maybe three SC-17 TTL cords. If

you can afford it by a couple of SC-17 cords and an SB-29 TTL

cord. The SC-29 TTL cord is the one with the ruby red flash

assist lamp built into the camera end of the cable.<br>

<br>

If it fits your style buy couple of stands and umbrellas for use

with the D200 and SB-800(s) using Nikons CLS (creative

lighting system).<br>

<br>

For memory start with a couple of 2GB SanDisk Extreme III or

Lexar equivalent CF cards and a couple of Lexar USB 2 Multi-Card

readers. Don't buy the cheap stuff.<br>

<br>

If you want to take photographs of people you need to see the

expressions on peoples faces. Reliable sources are saying

that the D200s viewfinder is better than the D2X. This is

hard for me to believe but I trust the source. The D70 and D70s

are worse than the N80. The viewfinder is the primary interface

with the photographer. Put your cash and or credit cards On Ice

and save for the future. Dont spend on the past (strange

coming from me).<br>

<br>

Best, not the other stuff,<br>

<br>

Dave Hartman.<br>

<br>

PS: normally I qualify statements with phrases like you

might consider but I just hate to see anyone with your

intentions and pursuits put good money down on a D70 or D70s with

a camera like the Nikon D200 coming soon.

[david_h._hartman]

Oops! SHB: "ruby red focus assist lamp"

[kentphoto]

Don't forget to get one of those fancy vests with all the pockets. Nothing says

"photographer" Like those fancy vests ! Oh, and hold out for the D200.