I'm not quite this crazy

Even when you get a nice DSLR body, there are a lot of additional expenses…

Optimus Prime Lens

I mostly shoot indoors, in suboptimal lighting.  Because of this, I wanted to get a fast, sharp, prime lens.  I am limited to AF-S lenses, but the Nikon 35mm f/1.8 G AF-S DX fit the bill perfectly.  This has become my primary lens, and it doesn’t break the bank (a smidge less than $200).  It even uses the standard 52 mm thread.  Unlike the kit lens, the 35mm has a manual override, and it produces a nice bokeh for portraits.  The only thing missing from this lens is VR, but the lens is already so fast and sharp that I don’t usually miss the VR (plus that would make this lens bulkier and heavier).

Eventually I’d like to buy a wide-angle lens for landscapes/architecture and a super-zoom in the 18-300mm-ish range for convenience while traveling, but these lenses are several hundred dollars and wouldn’t get that much use right now.

+1 to speed

At first I wasn’t sure if I should get a smaller flash for my hotshoe, since the SB-400 looked very convenient.  However, after chatting with Tochi about it, I decided that the more versatile SB-600 was the way to go.  I’ve already encountered many situations where I wanted to bounce the light off a wall or behind me, and the SB-400 is defeated by something as simple as taking a vertical shot.  I really think that the SB-400 is only useful as if you already have a better flash like the SB-600, sorta like how a netbook is really great as long as it isn’t your primary computer.  Yes the SB-600 is a bit bulky (and it doesn’t quite fit in the pouch with the Sto-Fen diffuser on T__T ), but it’s super-duper useful.  I’m still trying to get the hang of using it as fill flash outside, but for indoor shooting, the SB-600 is awesome.

Stocking stuffers

In addition to a cheap 8 GB SDHC flash card, I also got a few other things.  I already had a Nikon Lens Pen (foreshadowing?) from before I got the DSLR, and it is perfect for getting smudges and dust off the lenses.  However, I picked up 3 Hoya HMC Haze UV(0) Filters, so that I could just leave them on all my lenses without worrying too much about the lenses getting dirty or scratched.  It might be the multi-coating, but I’ve yet to notice any drop-off in image quality with the UV filters on.

I also picked up a Hoya Circular Polarizing Filter (that I barely know how to use), and a really cheap Close-up Filter Pack.  The close up filters are pretty neat, and while I don’t do much macro-photography, the lenses are cheap and nice to have.  I did notice that although the close-up filters are supposed to be stackable, once you screw on more than two filters, vignetting occurs.  Also, the depth of field is very shallow, so obviously the filters are no replacement for a real macro lens.

Rounding out the doodads is the wireless remote control.  This thing is really awesome, and cheap.  Instead of always having to rush into group portraits within 2 seconds (or waiting an eternity of 10 seconds), you can get situated comfortably and then subtly press the remote control’s button.  The only disadvantages of the remote are the fact that it is line-of-sight with the front of the camera (not a huge deal), and it’s small, light, and black, making it very easy to lose.  The remote is a godsend, because without it, it’s very hard for me to get in pictures/group shots.  The D5000 is complicated enough that random people on the street and/or Bunky get intimidated by the controls and inevitably take very blurry or oddly composed shots.

Not as cool as a real holster

Finally, I got myself a Lowepro Cirrus TLZ 25 Holster Style Case for when I only want to bring my DSLR and a single lens (I can sorta pocket the prime lens in my jacket).  I’m glad I got the larger case, since it’s already pretty tight with the 55-200mm lens on.  The case looked really awesome, but it was a little disappointing in practice.  The front pocket is tight like the pockets on the the front of girls’ pants, and the only thing I can fit in there is the lens pen, and even that juts out.  I want to eventually get a backpack like the Lowepro Flipside 300, but I’m going to check the bags out in a store first (if possible).

I think I’ve gotten most of the basics (I already have a cheap tripod), and I don’t plan to go all out on expensive lenses, especially when I still have to learn to use the lenses I have.  I think most future purchases will be little gadgets or bags, but for now my wallet is in recovery mode.

Throw some D's on it

With the birth of Kiwi, it was time to get a little more serious, and so I replaced my Canon S5 with a Nikon D5000.  Although I was always a Canon guy before, the camera is excellent.

The S5 was a great training tool, but even the first few pictures on the new DSLR immediately showed a tremendous improvement in image quality.  The body was not quite as large as I was expecting, although it certainly is heavier and clunkier than any point & shoot, even before you screw a lens on.  As kind of an upper-entry-level offering the D5000 uses more on-screen menus to select settings; this isn’t too bad (I got used to it with the S5), but sometimes changing the ISO on the menu is slower than I’d like.  Also there is no in-body autofocus motor, and so I’m mostly limited to AF-S lenses.  Also, I have to mention that having a side door dedicated to the flash card is so much better than the S5′s questionable decision to have the flash card go into the battery compartment.  That was a terrible idea…

Not as bad as you'd think

One of the main features of the D5000 that set it apart is the swiveling LCD screen.  At first I was concerned about the bottom hinge design, since it obviously is much less useful than a side hinge.  You have to adjust it prior to putting the camera on a tripod, and even then the tripod blocks most of the screen.  I thought this would bother me a lot, but actually it doesn’t.  The reason?  Well, Live View on DSLRs sucks.  It’s sooooooo slow to autofocus that it’s pretty much useless.  So really the only disadvantage of the bottom swivel is that it is useless for self-portraits using a tripod.  I can see why some consumers prefer to have a better/larger LCD rather than the swivel.

Kit lens

The bundle I got came with a couple lenses and a camera bag.  The kit lens is a Nikon Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 DX G AF-S.  It’s a pretty good lens for the most part, though it didn’t come with a hood (and cannot use the hood that came with the 55-200mm).  On the plus side, at least it has VR to reduce shake, and it’s the standard 52mm thread size so that I only need to buy one set of filters.

Be nice if I could get out of the house to use this

The other lens that came in the bundle is the Nikon Nikkor 55-200 mm f/4-5.6 DX ED AF-S.  This lens also has VR and by all accounts is an excellent lens.  Unfortunately, I have yet to go out with this lens, because my picture-taking is confined to my apartment, thanks to newborn Kiwi.