Digital Photography and What Works for Me

Nikon D80 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera (Body only)


Buy new: $739.49
/ Used from: $645.00

I purchased the D80 body only first thinking I was going to borrow a friend's arsenal of Nikkor lenses. Lens compatiblity played a huge part of my decision, although I did like the lesser weight of the D40x.

Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX Nikkor Zoom Lens


Buy new: $114.95
/ Used from: $90.00

I can see why this lens is usually with a DSLR at initial purchase. A great lens to start with. I have been using this lens for about 2 months and enjoy the quality and build. Photos are as sharp as I expected and the zoom range is what most people will use.

Nikon 50mm f/1.8D AF Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

By far my favorite lens. Very sharp photos and great for landscapes and portraits. I love using this lens in low light, it captures the natural essence of a photo.

Tamrac 5273 Expedition 3 SLR Photo Backpack (Black)


Buy new: $49.95
/ Used from: $140.20

The backpack may seem small at first but can really pack a lot of punch. My DSLR and all my lens fit snug. Trust me you want that. Everything is secure and safe when traveling. It's waterproof and highly durable. Lots of accessories available as well. The only fall back is that you want to travel with a light weight tripod or monopod.

The Digital Photography Book, Volume 1 by Scott Kelby



Buy new: $13.59
/ Used from: $10.90

Scott Kelby really let's you know how to take better photographs. While this shouldn't be the first book you read about photography, it is still a must have in your library. You must know some basics about photography to really apply his advice but his recommendations are the same ones he shares with the pros.

The New Joy of Photography by Kodak


Buy used from: $0.01

I know this was written in the 1970s, but the application of this book is still current with today's photography industry. Most pros have this book in their library, including me.I recommend this to anyone interested in photography at any level with any type of photography equipment.

Sunpak Ezee Pod Floor-Standing Monopod


Buy new: $29.99

A great monopod. While tripods aren't allowed in gardens, museums and churches, monopods are! Weird huh?

PROMASTER SYSTEMPRO 2N TRIPOD

Very sturdy and durable. You may need to carry it by hand, but you won't complain when there are strong winds and you want to go out and take some great photographs.

Sandisk Ultra II SDHC 4GB SD Memory Card (SDSDH-4096, BULK Static Pack, No Reader)


Buy new: $20.85
/ Used from: $25.00

Probably the only one you'll need. It holds more than 500 at full resolution.

IR Remote Control for Nikon D80 D70 D70s D50 N65 ML-L3


Buy used from: $34.99

Amazing remote. A must have for sharp photos.

Nikon 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6G ED IF Autofocus VR Nikkor Zoom Lens


Buy new: $500.45
/ Used from: $375.00

A great walk around lens. It's VR and takes remarkably sharp photos. I like the mid range, because it gives me a good reason to pick up a wide angle lens next!

Tags: monopod, d80, nikondslr, lenses kit

Nikon DSLR for Weddings

D70 Digital Camera (Body Only)


Buy new: $1,288.99
/ Used from: $400.00

This is a lot like the D50 that I use. it's a great camera to start with and when you buy a better one, it's a great second body to have around. During the ceremony I shoot two cameras. On this one I put the 18-50mm sigma f/2.8 and set it to around 1/60 shutter and 800-1600 ISO, depending on ambient light.

Nikon D300 DX 12.3MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)


Buy new: $1,755.81
/ Used from: $1,675.00

Unless you shoot for Sports Illustrated or National Geographic, this is all the camera you'll ever need. During a wedding ceremony, I put the sigma 50-150 f/2.8 on it and set it at around 1/150th shutter, f/2.8, and ISO 1600-3200, depending on ambient light. It's great that it captures 6+ frames per second.

Nikon MB-D10 Multi Power Battery Pack for Nikon D300 DSLR Cameras


Buy new: $229.00

The D300 gets phenomenal battery life, but if you're going to shoot all day you don't want to take chances. Get this grip for the extra battery power, but also get it because it gives you a vertical shutter button and command dial, and ALSO because it gives you an extra 2 shots per second in burst mode (bringing you up to 8!)

Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 EX DC HSM Macro Lens for Nikon DSLR


Buy new: $449.00

I once shot an entire wedding day with just this lens. It's that handy. It's perfect for indoors because it's fast and it's wide. It's a lot cheaper than buying the equivalent Nikon-brand lens, too.

Sigma 50-150mm F/2.8 APO EX DC HSM Telephoto Zoom Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras


Buy used from: $728.00

Normal to telephoto zoom at a fast f/2.8. What's to hate? Shooting a ceremony in a dim church is always a challenge. You usually have to use f/2.8. But at 150mm you also need a shutter speed of 1/150th of a second... that's when you need to use a high ISO and hope your camera deals with the noise. That's where the Nikon D300 comes in, yo.

Nikon 50mm f/1.8D AF Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras


Buy new: $110.90

Every Nikon DSLR owner should have this lens. It's ninja-sharp and it's super cheap. Just buy it. Trust me. I don't use it a lot for weddings, but if I did I'd probably try using it for some of the one and two-person posed shots.

Nikon SB-800 AF Speedlight Flash for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras


Buy new: $321.83
/ Used from: $309.08

I won't repeat the wealth of information the other kind reviewers have already given. I'll just focus on why I decided to cough up the extra $100 to get the SB-800 instead of the less powerful SB-600.

Compared to the SB-600, the SB-800 has the following extra features:

1) Much more powerful, as reflected in the GN.
2) Slightly faster recycle time with the standard four AA batteries. It also comes with a battery holder that holds a fifth battery which cuts down recycle time by 1/3 to 1/2.
3) The SB-800 has non-TTL auto and auto aperture modes. (More on this later.)
4) In wireless remote mode, the SB-800 can act both as the master and slave, whereas the 600 can only be a slave.
5) It comes with a useful diffusion dome, which won't even fit on the SB-600.
6) The SB-800 package also includes two colored gel filters.
7) The SB-800 can do repeating flash (in the same exposure), for a strobe effect.

Basically, both the 600 and 800 support Nikon's latest flash technologies, i-TTL (supported by the D70 and D2H only) and CLS (creative lighting system), in addition to all the TTL (through the lens) flash modes Nikon introduced in the past. The 600 is really a prosumer-level flash that's either TTL or manual, whereas the 800 is pure pro-grade with a lot of modes and options. The manual, evidently written by a Japanese manual writer, attests to its sophistication; understanding the manual will really require a Ph.D. in yoga so you don't stress yourself out.

The 800's auto modes are what won me over in the end. The auto modes can set the flash output automatically on Nikon bodies that do not support any TTL (through the lens) mode. On those bodies, with the 600 you'd have to resort to manual, which is simply a pain in the butt, not to mention prone to error. The two non-TTL auto modes on the 800 are auto aperture and auto. You'll need to study the manual very carefully to figure out the difference; I still haven't, but I'm already enjoying the auto aperture mode. The availability of auto modes also means the 800 can be used on a wide range of Nikon bodies than the simpler 600.

If you are deciding between the 600 and the 800 like I was, ask yourself the following questions:

1) Do you have an extra $100-$150 to spend? If yes, the 800.
2) Do you plan to use the external flash a lot? If yes, the 800.
3) Do you have Nikon bodies (usually older manual ones) that do not support TTL (you can find out in the camera's user's guide)? If yes, the 800.
4) Do you plan to do a lot of wireless flash photography and take full advantage of Nikon's Creative Lighting System? If yes, the 800.
5) If you want to get a diffusion dome that fits the flash, get the 800.

In the end, I think the SB-800 is a better long-term investment than the SB-600, despite the higher price. It's much more powerful and flexible, and even though it's an overkill for me right now, I imagine when my flash photography improves (and I'm trying very hard right now), it'll prove a very worthy investment.




Gary Fong P1 Clear Lightsphere II Inverted Dome Flash Diffusion System.


Buy new: $39.95
/ Used from: $27.50

Gary Fong's Lightsphere is the coolest diffuser. Put it on your flash, aim the flash at the celling, shoot pictures that use flash but don't look like you're using a flash. Seriously, this makes your flash twice as useful as before--plus it's cheap! Don't skip this.

Domke F-3X Super Compact Camera Bag, Canvas, Sand.


Buy new: $100.50

I almost cheaped out on my camera bag, but after using the Domke super compact, I'm really glad I didn't. This bag is so wonderful that I'd wear it as a hat if I could. It's perfect for carrying one DLSR, a couple of lenses, plus some do-dads.

Domke F-2 Original Bag (Sand)


Buy new: $116.25

This is as swell as the super compact, but it holds two cameras and a few lenses and some do-dads. Hey, you have two cameras. Whatcha gonna carry when you need to haul them both? This bag. The other one is for when you're just shooting one camera.

Tags: d80, wedding photography, dslr lenses

Average couple's camera set up

Crumpler 3 Million Dollar Home Photo Bag, Color: Dark Brown / Oatmeal / Pale Olive


Buy new: $42.50

I bought this Crumpler bag for the FujiFilm FinePix. It fits everything I need and more for a digital SLR style camera with extras.

FujiFilm FinePix S5000 3.1MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom


Buy used from: $145.00

I got this 4 years ago to replace a Kodak digital, this is a great camera, i recommend it to anyone looking for a great midrange option.

Fujifilm 2 GB XD Flash Memory Card (Retail Package)


Buy new: $28.99
/ Used from: $47.01

Good Card. Used with Finepix S5000.

Energizer e2 Charger for AA & AAA Rechargeable Batteries with Car and Home Adapter & 4 AA Batteries


Buy new: $25.90

Great charger.

Energizer NH15BP-4 ACCU 2500mAh Rechargeable AA Batteries (Four-pack)


Buy new: $12.51
/ Used from: $3.29

We have 3 sets of 4 just in case, they last about a day with heavy use (600-1000 pics on the FujiFilm). They stopped holding a charge after about 2 years of good use almost daily. I recommend these to anyone wanting long lasting quality batteries. They pay for themselves in about a week of use.

Crumpler 6 Million Dollar Home Photo Bag, Color: Dark Red / Red / Dark Blue


Buy new: $105.50

I bought this Crumpler bag for the Nikon D80. It fits everything I need and more for a digital SLR with extras.

Nikon SB-800 AF Speedlight Flash for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras


Buy new: $321.83
/ Used from: $689.08

Great Flash, I'm glad I spent the little extra and got this over the SB600. The battery life is excellent and the cycle time is great even without the 5th battery. I recommend this flash very highly.

Nikon D80 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera Kit with 18-135mm AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens


Buy new: $995.00

I just bought this one for my wife, we out grew the Finepix, this is the perfect camera if you want to spend the money.

Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 G ED-IF AF-S VR DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens


Buy new: $679.88
/ Used from: $625.00

Great Lens. This is our second.

Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S VR Zoom Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras


Buy new: $479.00
/ Used from: $410.00

Another good lens by Nikon. This is our third.

Transcend TS4GSD150 4GB 150X Secure Digital Card


Buy new: $44.75
/ Used from: $52.99

Excellent card with great write time between pics.

Joby GP2-00EN Gorillapod Flexible Tripod for Digital SLR Cameras


Buy new: $39.95
/ Used from: $95.84

Nice tripod, versitile and sturdy, It holds up to rugged use and dosn't loose strength after multiple uses.

Crumpler The Bundle-M Medium Basic Photo Shoulder Bag, Color: Black

We bought this Crumpler bag for the Our son's camera. These are great bags, I recommend them to everyone.

Polaroid iZone 300 3.2MP Slim Design Digital Camera


Buy new: $46.99
/ Used from: $52.50

We have this one for our son, it's black, this is a decient cameras for kids just starting out. He is 6 years old.

SanDisk 1 GB Secure Digital SD Card (SDSDB-1024, Bulk Package)


Buy new: $8.35
/ Used from: $2.50

We got the Poloroid camera a 1GB SD card. These are good cards for what they do.

Fujifilm FinePix 2400 2MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom


Buy used from: $100.00

We have this one for our daughter, she loves it and carries it all the time. It is very easy for her to use and figure out. She is 8 years old.

Fujifilm 512 MB XD Type M Picture Card ( 600002308 )


Buy used from: $12.90

Good Card. Used with Finepix 2400.

Adobe Creative Suite CS3 Design Standard


Buy new: $1,149.99
/ Used from: $1,386.01

This is the best imaging suite out, I recommend that everyone get it. It's a pain to learn but once you get it, the things you can do are amazing.

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 1 Mlp Retail Ue 1U


Buy new: $337.28

great for raw and multiple photo editing

Nikon DSLR Stuff For Travelling

Nikon D80 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera (Body only)


Buy new: $739.49
/ Used from: $645.00

Is my first D-SLR. Does everything I want it too (and I'm sure a few things I don't know about yet).

Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 G ED-IF AF-S VR DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens


Buy new: $663.95
/ Used from: $725.00

Fantastic 'walk around' lens. 11 power zoom. Perfect for travelling, when you only want to carry one or two lenses.

Hoya 72mm DMC PRO1 Digital Multi-Coated UV (Ultra Violet) Filter.


Buy new: $41.75
/ Used from: $107.37

I am one of the photographers that thinks you need a UV filter as protection for every lens. This is a good one.

Joby GP3-01EN Gorillapod SLR-Zoom Flexible Tripod for Digital SLR Cameras


Buy new: $49.95
/ Used from: $42.00

Sometimes you don't want to carry a full tripod. This supports up to 2 kg (more than most cameras)

Lowepro Slingshot 200 All Weather Backpack (Black)


Buy new: Too low to display
/ Used from: $72.00

Absolutely perfect bag. Allows quick access, lots of room for my camera and lens with hood attached. Plus room for a flash, a couple extra lenses, portable hard drive... and an extra pouch on top for putting a lunch or rain jacket.

Nikon 50mm f/1.8D AF Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

Very nice indoor lens (because it is very quick in low light). Much cheaper than the f/1.4D lens. Great for portraits. Don't pay more than 120 for this.

Nikon SB-600 Speedlight Flash for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras


Buy new: $181.54
/ Used from: $175.00

Powerful enough for what I need.

Wolverine FlashPac/7160 160 GB Portable Digital Pictures and Data Storage


Buy new: $189.99

Shooting in RAW eats up a lot of memory. With this along you can shoot uninhibited. Works with only a plug adapter all over europe (110 - 240V).

Nikon Micro Fiber Cleaning Cloth


Buy new: $10.01

You definitely need a microfiber cloth to wipe off any stray dust or rain drops that might get on your lens.

Bogen Manfrotto 055XPROB Pro Tripod Legs (Black)


Buy new: Too low to display

Very nice tripod legs. Not light... but then again they are very steady.

Bogen-Manfrotto 486RC2 Compact Ball Head with RC2 Rapid Connect System


Buy new: $70.00

A fantastic ball head. Also has horizontal rotation, for all those panorama shots.

Camera Grip / Hand Strap (simulated leather) for SLR camera Nikon / Canon / Minolta / Fuji


Buy new: $15.99

I vastly prefer the handstrap to a neck strap. This is a personal choice, and up to the individual. This one attaches to the neck strap loop on the right of the camera, and screws into the bottom threaded tripod hole. A threaded hole on the handstrap allows attachement of tripod or baseplate.

Apple MacBook Pro MA896LL/A 15" Laptop (2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2 GB RAM, 160 GB Hard Drive, DVD/CD SuperDrive)


Buy new: $1,835.28

I am an Apple person. I love the reliability and power. I use this for work, as well as photography.

Apple Aperture 2.0


Buy new: $189.99

I use Aperture for editing my photos. Generally I don't do much 'photoshopping' of photos... I just crop, rotate and perhaps adjust exposure and saturation. Another option is the Adobe Suite of programs.

Sto-Fen OMEY Omni-Bounce Diffuser


Buy new: $8.66
/ Used from: $94.46

For the flash, a diffuser is great for giving a soft (and more diffuse) light.