Hey all of you seasoned photographers out there! I'd love to hear some ideas about what kinds of equipment and accessories I should consider as I start adding to my "tools". I have the DSLR camera with the kit lens, a telephoto lens, a gear bag, tripod, and monopod. I would like to purchase a good macro lens. There are just so many cool things out there, I'm wondering what I should add to my list next. Any suggestions?
A tripod and a good flash. Those two things will improve your photography immensely. Being able to keep the camera still when needed and to properly illuminate subjects without the on-camera flash will do more to help your photos than any fancy lens or gadgets.
I am a firmly in the the camp that if you need something you will know... you don't need to be told... ie. if you find your photos are too grainy in low light you need either 1) Better Body/Film, 2) Flash, 3) Faster Lens, 4) Tri-pod
Each solution has benifits and costs
1) Expenses, 2) Causes a Flash that your subject could notice, limited range, 3) Expense ($10k for fast tele lens or $300 for fastish 50mm lens) 4) You need to carry a tri-pod
Once you decide what your 'problem' is, we can likely guide you better... is your tri-pod too big? Doesn't pan? Doesn't quick release? We can guide you to solutions better... but a general what do I need now... seems like a waste of money and none of us need to waste money...
So look back over your past 3 months of shooting, what do you feel you want better control over? Grain/Noise? Zoom/FOV? DOF? Adding some magic?
You mentioned you wanted a macro... ok... that is a great start... anything that is not a macro is likely something you don't really want/hence may not use...
Macros:
I use a 300mm f/4 lens for my macro, well not a macro lens, it gets me to around 1:2 meaning something that is physically twice the size of my sensor will fit in the frame. About the size of 1/2 a dollar bill.
I also have extension tubes that let me turn my lens into true 1:1 if I need it (but I don't like the light loss, so I crop)
There are also filters that go on the front of your camera that will let you focus closer (close focus filters) they are rated +1, +2 ect.. the higher the number the closer you can get and they stack... +1 + +2 is roughly +3
The other thing to consider is a great 85mm or 135mm true macro lens... They will be butter smooth and would work as a long portrait lens as well as a macro lens... so you can use it for two things... more bang for your buck... you could also bird with them and if you get a really nice fast one (f/1.4 range for betwen $1k and $2k) you will instantly fall in love!
Add some x1.4 or x2 teleconverters and you have a great set of lighter weight equipement you can take hiking with you. A 100mm, 140mm and 200mm set of lens with tele converters will let you get many many nice photos
At 2.8 it is 'pro' glass and will be sharp edge to edge.
At $1k it would be a treat... but like your profile says this is about you... I am sure you have treated your kids to nice things now and then...
Also, at $1k it is more than you spent on your camera likely... but that is how it should be... GLASS is the most important thing in photography. After the photog and light of course....
@lisjam1 Consider an older flash if you want to save some, compatibility lists are easy to find. At the moment I use a big old speedlite, I don't get autometering but setting it manually is easy and the zooming works just fine.
One thing to say against a big obvious flash unit is that it makes your setup look very imposing to subjects, which can be a double edged sword, people afford you a little more room but subjects can be a little squeamish around it, same goes for bulky lenses.
A 50mm prime lens would be a nice addition as well.
At the end of the day you'll figure out what you need, I needed a flash more than a faster lens because a lot of gigs I shoot are badly lit and when shooting the crowd there's often no real lighting.
Although I love to talk (too much) I'll keep this one simple. It's a really, really broad question, but also a very good one. I'll list approximate prices, but don't quote me!
- 50mm f/1.8 lens. Good all-around landscape/portrait lens. $135 new.
- Remote. Necessary for shooting fireworks, long exposures, light trails, or star trails. $40 new.
- Strobe. SB-80DX if you have Nikon. Don't buy the cheap ones you find in Ritz, Best Buy, or Walmart because they are simply not worth it. $150 used.
- Gary Fong. Look him up. He has tons of accessories for strobes. At the very least, get the puffer and collapsible lightsphere. $25/$60 new.
- Lint-free, microfiber lens clothes for cleaning your lenses. $10 new.
- UV filter to protect your lenses from scratches. $20 new.
- Circular Polarizer Filter. This is a must if you enjoy shooting landscapes. $40 new.
- Rain cover. Always nice to have one around in case you want to shoot on a dreary day or get caught out in the weather. $40 new.
- Magic Arm. Not necessary, but it's invaluable for hanging your camera on a utility pole or difficult to reach places during a sporting event. $150 new.
- Visible Dust Dry/Wet Cleaning Kit. Great for cleaning your sensor if you get dust spots or streaks. $35 new.
That's about all I can think of off the top of my head. Of course, there are just so many cool "toys" out there we'd all love to have, but I think these were the first things I bought when I first got into photography.
@jasonbarnette I think you’ve hit the nail on the head in terms of what I was looking for. Thanks for also including why I might need each item. I wasn’t kidding when I said I’m a newby.!
@maola@ashleyjwilson@marubozo@cdford@bobg@killerjackalope@lynnmwatson@mrssmith Thanks so much for all of the input. It was really, really helpful. I’m still so new at this that it didn’t even know what a prime lens is and had to do some research. So, your comments have been very educational. I’m going to print this thread and try to prioritize a wish list! Thanks again!
@icywarm Thanks for taking the time to give me such a detailed response. I really am so new at this that I’m kind of stumbling around and still trying to get all of the lingo down. I’ll definitely keep in mind exactly what it is I want to accomplish and what accessories are going to get me there before going on a shopping frenzy. I do know that I love macro so buying a good lens is at the top of my list. Thanks for all of the advice on that. I’m printing this thread to keep for reference.
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Each solution has benifits and costs
1) Expenses, 2) Causes a Flash that your subject could notice, limited range, 3) Expense ($10k for fast tele lens or $300 for fastish 50mm lens) 4) You need to carry a tri-pod
Once you decide what your 'problem' is, we can likely guide you better... is your tri-pod too big? Doesn't pan? Doesn't quick release? We can guide you to solutions better... but a general what do I need now... seems like a waste of money and none of us need to waste money...
So look back over your past 3 months of shooting, what do you feel you want better control over? Grain/Noise? Zoom/FOV? DOF? Adding some magic?
You mentioned you wanted a macro... ok... that is a great start... anything that is not a macro is likely something you don't really want/hence may not use...
Macros:
I use a 300mm f/4 lens for my macro, well not a macro lens, it gets me to around 1:2 meaning something that is physically twice the size of my sensor will fit in the frame. About the size of 1/2 a dollar bill.
I also have extension tubes that let me turn my lens into true 1:1 if I need it (but I don't like the light loss, so I crop)
There are also filters that go on the front of your camera that will let you focus closer (close focus filters) they are rated +1, +2 ect.. the higher the number the closer you can get and they stack... +1 + +2 is roughly +3
The other thing to consider is a great 85mm or 135mm true macro lens... They will be butter smooth and would work as a long portrait lens as well as a macro lens... so you can use it for two things... more bang for your buck... you could also bird with them and if you get a really nice fast one (f/1.4 range for betwen $1k and $2k) you will instantly fall in love!
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/reviews/Canon-EF-100mm-f-2.8-L-IS-USM-Macro-Lens-Review.aspx
Here are my thoughts.. great macro lens...
Add some x1.4 or x2 teleconverters and you have a great set of lighter weight equipement you can take hiking with you. A 100mm, 140mm and 200mm set of lens with tele converters will let you get many many nice photos
At 2.8 it is 'pro' glass and will be sharp edge to edge.
At $1k it would be a treat... but like your profile says this is about you... I am sure you have treated your kids to nice things now and then...
Also, at $1k it is more than you spent on your camera likely... but that is how it should be... GLASS is the most important thing in photography. After the photog and light of course....
One thing to say against a big obvious flash unit is that it makes your setup look very imposing to subjects, which can be a double edged sword, people afford you a little more room but subjects can be a little squeamish around it, same goes for bulky lenses.
A 50mm prime lens would be a nice addition as well.
At the end of the day you'll figure out what you need, I needed a flash more than a faster lens because a lot of gigs I shoot are badly lit and when shooting the crowd there's often no real lighting.
- 50mm f/1.8 lens. Good all-around landscape/portrait lens. $135 new.
- Remote. Necessary for shooting fireworks, long exposures, light trails, or star trails. $40 new.
- Strobe. SB-80DX if you have Nikon. Don't buy the cheap ones you find in Ritz, Best Buy, or Walmart because they are simply not worth it. $150 used.
- Gary Fong. Look him up. He has tons of accessories for strobes. At the very least, get the puffer and collapsible lightsphere. $25/$60 new.
- Lint-free, microfiber lens clothes for cleaning your lenses. $10 new.
- UV filter to protect your lenses from scratches. $20 new.
- Circular Polarizer Filter. This is a must if you enjoy shooting landscapes. $40 new.
- Rain cover. Always nice to have one around in case you want to shoot on a dreary day or get caught out in the weather. $40 new.
- Magic Arm. Not necessary, but it's invaluable for hanging your camera on a utility pole or difficult to reach places during a sporting event. $150 new.
- Visible Dust Dry/Wet Cleaning Kit. Great for cleaning your sensor if you get dust spots or streaks. $35 new.
That's about all I can think of off the top of my head. Of course, there are just so many cool "toys" out there we'd all love to have, but I think these were the first things I bought when I first got into photography.
I'm thinking just the basic ideas with these two ideas. Great suggestions from everyone else.