I have a nikon d50 dslr camera.

I have a 18-55 mm lens.

I have a 70-300 mm lens.

I have a great crumpler camera bag.

I know I would like a midrange lens, a tripod...what else can be on my wish list?

What kind of filters? other lenses?

links would be great!

do you have a polarizer? with a digital you'd want a circular polarizer (filter.) i like hoya filters, personally. if your lenses are different diameters at the end or if you change lenses quickly (w/o time to change filters back and forth) you may need one for each.

a UV filter is a *need* for each lens, as well. you can stack filters, a UV plus a circular polarizer is the minimum i'd suggest.

you can get a *good* circular polarizer for about $22, but you can spend up to $100 if you want pro quality (again, hoya is the brand i learned to trust.)

an external flash? i've got a speedlight :)

will you help me find what i need on Digital Cameras, Camcorders, TV's, Home Theater, DVD Players, Apple iPods (http://www.bhphotovideo.com) ?

what do each of these do?

u/v filter?
polarizer?
external flash?

what about a macro lense and a wide angle?

I find I'd most need a macro - think of all the excellent close ups you'd be able to get of cute babies.

julie, you should read some here: HOYA FILTERS - The Difference is Clear (http://www.hoyafilter.com/)

that will describe what the different filters do.

an external flash just helps you better light various situations. i don't use mine often but that's more a function of still learning to use it.

what about a macro lense and a wide angle?

I find I'd most need a macro - think of all the excellent close ups you'd be able to get of cute babies.

wide angle...nah..not yet.

macro...what would you use a macro lens for? closer than the 18-55 mm lens i have now?

tracey why don't you often use your speedlight?

tracey why don't you often use your speedlight?

because i honestly know very little about it. that's the honest answer. i was never trained in flash photography so i'm teaching myself. i have had one before with another camera (SLR) i used to have but it didn't have half the capacity or mode adjustments as this one and i'm just slowly getting my training wheels going.

ask your mom...i used it tonight and had to take like 15 shots of her because the lighting was off. of course it was better WITH it than w/o but it still was rough. i am not confident with it like i am without it, yet i realize that there are situations that would benefit from my having it so i'm learning it. that's why i bought it but it intimidates me, honestly.

so...mostly because i'm still learning it. i would *never* use it on a shoot i've been paid for because i'm not confident with it.

A macro lens will let you focus much more closely (maybe at 12" vs. 4', depending on lenses of course). A speedlight is a great idea--just got my first for my new Canon and love it. Also, a good, FAST prime lens...I believe the Nikon 50mm F/1.8 is around $125. Or a fixed ap zoom...the Tamrom 28-75mm F/2.8 fixed aperture is a very good lens for the price ($330-ish). I would assume the 18-55mm you have does not go wider than F/5.6ish at around 50mm...I love my fast 50mm for really nice bokeh on up close shots. :D

Also, a good, FAST prime lens...I believe the Nikon 50mm F/1.8 is around $125.

the nikkor 50mm F/1.8 is designed for their film SLRs so it shoots differently (just slightly but it matters to some) on their dSLRs. the d version is a 50mm F/1.4 and is around $385-399.

I'm not aware what the difference actually is, being that I shoot Canon :P, but I'm not surprised that there's another version. The f/1.8 is really popular due to the price being so reasonable (we have a similar deal in the Canon camp...there are two 50mm lenses available...one is under $100 and one is $350 and really only marginally better). Of course on an APS-C sensor 50mm translates into 80-something, which I think is the perfect length for portraits. :) I think the real difference in using any of the primes is the larger aperture though!

no, i was wrong. sorry. the place i had been had the non-D version of the 50mm F1.8 AF nikkor, they instructed me incorrectly (as i found looking online)...i've since located the 50mm F1.8 D AF nikkor for around $120-130.

:o

and from what i read, they are made the same way (craftsmanship)...and there are negligible differences in photo quality btw the two (F1.8 to F1.4) so it really makes more sense to spend less and get the F1.8...

doh.

I love my fast 50mm for really nice bokeh on up close shots. :D

what were you saying here?

no, i was wrong. sorry. the place i had been had the non-D version of the 50mm F1.8 AF nikkor, they instructed me incorrectly (as i found looking online)...i've since located the 50mm F1.8 D AF nikkor for around $120-130.

:o

and from what i read, they are made the same way (craftsmanship)...and there are negligible differences in photo quality btw the two (F1.8 to F1.4) so it really makes more sense to spend less and get the F1.8...

doh.

where did you find it for that price...the friend i'm doula'ing for in jan want to buy me a gift...

bestbuy has it for $140. Nikon - 50mm f/1.8 AF Nikkor Lens - 2137 (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7650516&st=nikon+lens&type=product&id=1134699413522)

it says it is not available in stores but the North Point store in Alpharetta carries it. they have a high-end digital imaging department with a lot of really nice stuff. it is the only store in the company with such a department, nationwide.

that said, i saw it on ebay (new from a seller with great fb) for $120ish.

what were you saying here?

she's referring to the blurring that occurs when you have a fast lens (like the F1.8) with a wide aperture at a short focal point, such as you would find to be the case with the F1.8 50mm lens we're discussing. the subject would be crisp and clear yet the background faded and blurry.

think about the "child" mode on your camera. know how it focuses nicely on the child and blurs the rest? like that only moreso. bokeh is the blur.

Bokeh - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bokeh)


ETA that when reading about bokeh (google it for more info...wiki is odd in that anyone can post on it) and seeing certain mm lenses, it's important to note whether they are referring to a digital or film SLR format. the effects they produce differ at the same mm.

thanks tracey! i was thinking it was a typo b/c i've never heard that word! LOL!

thanks tracey! i was thinking it was a typo b/c i've never heard that word! LOL!

:hug: hope it helped :) i thought it a typo too the first time i read it :lol: odd word, that.

bestbuy has it for $140. Nikon - 50mm f/1.8 AF Nikkor Lens - 2137 (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7650516&st=nikon+lens&type=product&id=1134699413522)

it says it is not available in stores but the North Point store in Alpharetta carries it. they have a high-end digital imaging department with a lot of really nice stuff. it is the only store in the company with such a department, nationwide.

that said, i saw it on ebay (new from a seller with great fb) for $120ish.

just bought it from wolfcamera.com for $119....had some money burning a whole in my pocket evidently. :lol:

so dear santa, sorry but i already bought what i was asking for...wanna send something else? haha!

Ooooh, have you played yet?

My dh hates the word "bokeh" but I think it sounds cool, LOL!

it's not here yet...shipped but not arrived. i can't wait!

bokeh bokeh bokeh!

oh i decided what i want...is the nikon 18-200....but guess what. i can't get it b/c it's not in stock anywhere!

they have it on ebay but i am skeered to buy on ebay!