The FreeiPodGuide Forums

doylnea · Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2008 10:01 pm Post subject: Essential Accessories?

I'm taking a 2 week trip in about 8 days, and plan to take my D40 along for the ride. I have the D40 kit from the Amazon deal a few months ago:

D40
2GB SD card
18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens
55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED IF AF-S DX VR Zoom Nikkor Lens
nice carrying bag.

Anything else I should pick up in the next couple of days? One thing I'd like to buy is a lens cleaning kit, if such a thing exists, and maybe a remote.

Bonus points for online links Wink

theysayjump · Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2008 11:02 pm Post subject:

Unless you're taking a laptop or will have access to a computer to export your pictures, I'd strongly suggest getting another memory card, at least 4GB.

You can get a really cheap, easy to use remote from Amazon. I got one for Christmas, works wonders. Get it with the little lense pen cleaning system. Really handy and very compact:

http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-Wireless-Control-Digital-Cameras/dp/B00007EDZG

You can get some really expensive cleaning kits so it depends on your budget. I don't have anything to clean my cam besides the above pen, so David is probably your best bet on that one, but a blower should be on the list.

dmorris68 · Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 6:04 am Post subject:

Yeah, I recommend a Rocket blower, they are by far the best blower out there. Puts the little cheap azz Wal-Mart cleaning kit blowers to shame. I have the Medium model. I don't use a pen, just the Rocket blower, micro fiber cloth (keep it clean!), and pre-moistened eyeglass cleaning wipes (you can buy a box of 50 at Wally for something like $3). Oh and all my lenses have UV filters attached full-time, so I'm never cleaning the lens directly, only the filter. If you scratch a filter, it's a cheap replacement. So that's an accessory I'd strongly recommend for each lens.

I also have an assortment of other filters. If you're going to be shooting outdoors a lot, you might want a polarizing filter. However they can be a pain when shooting multiple shots because they have to be adjusted each time to rotate your lens. Most of the time I don't even bother, but they are indispensable if you're shooting over water that has a glare, for example.

I have the Nikon wireless remote, but be advised that it's not ideal for long exposure type shots, where the cable release works better. The IR sensor is on the front of the camera, so you have to point it at the front to fire it. It's more suited to self portrait type stuff where you're going to be in front of the camera anyway. In a pinch though you can set the shutter delay, point it at the front of the camera, and then get out of the way before the shutter fires.

Ditto on getting a bigger card, although the D40 is 6MP so you might get away with only 2GB. I use a 4GB in my D80, but I shoot HQ JPEG+RAW at 10MP, so I only get about 280 shots or so. I then dump off to my laptop which is always nearby. However I'll be picking up another 4GB card to have as a spare, just in case. I've also thought about one of these external HDD's with the LCD and card reader, made specifically for dumping photos from a flash card.

hehehhehe · Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 7:29 am Post subject:

I also recommend putting on the UV filters to protect the lenses, that's what I use too, and a microfiber cloth. I also have a skylight filter. I had heard good things about that cleaning pen though, and might get it if I need to clean any of my lenses.

If you're gone for 2 weeks, I think you could definitely use more than 2 GBs.

I'm going to get a rocket blower too, I noticed a piece of dust through the viewfinder this weekend and wished I had one of those blowers. It could be just on the viewfinder piece but I didn't take the time to look.

theysayjump · Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 8:03 am Post subject:

hehehhehe · Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 10:29 am Post subject:

doylnea · Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 10:35 am Post subject:

Hrm, 2 filters, a rocket blower, and some cleaning wipes seem like essentials.

Could someone recommend a couple of filters for the lenses above? I intend to use them for protection of the lenses, more than anything else. However, I'll also be shooting a fair amount of ocean and water shots, so maybe a UV filter would be good too.

Wonder if Amazon would get all that here by Friday...As for the memory card, even at highest JPG spec, I'm getting 1000 shots on the card. My SO has a 1GB card as well that we'll take along.

However, I wonder if a higher-speed card would allow more photos to be taken in burst mode, or at least faster taking of photos?

Thanks for the advice.

hehehhehe · Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 11:21 am Post subject:

I got these:
http://www.amazon.com/Tiffen-52mm-UV-Protection-Filter/dp/B00004ZCJG

They work fine, but if you are pointing a shot towards the sun you may have to remove the filter to avoid glare. I haven't had any problems with them.

There is also the Nikon neutral clear filters but they are kind of expensive, as are some other brands.

I have several of these that I got in a deal:
http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-Micro-Fiber-Cleaning-Cloth/dp/B0007M6GI6
These are nikon branded but you can probably get the same thing unbranded and cheaper at a camera store.

You'll have no problems getting the above filters and cloth by Friday thru Amazon with 2 day shipping, but the rocket blasters on Amazon are sold by adorama and I don't know how fast they could get it to you. I was looking earlier because I wanted to order one like I said. They're in NYC so it shouldn't take that long for you.

Are there any photo stores you could go to in your area? You might save money on shipping and still get the stuff you need, but maybe you got some amazon gc you wanted to use...

dmorris68 · Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 11:42 am Post subject:

doylnea · Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 12:45 pm Post subject:

Thanks all! I 'll see what I can put together in the next hour or so.

doylnea · Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 5:16 pm Post subject:

In a decision that really pained me, I bought a Sandisk Extreme III 4GB SD card at a B&M MicroCenter this evening for $47 OTD. I literally cannot remember the last time I a) paid full price for anything electronic, b) paid tax on anything electronic, c) paid more than I could have paid online or d) bought something I knew I didn't really need.

However, as I wrote before, this is the only opportunity I'll have to take these photos for the foreseeable future, and being able to take essentially as many photos as I want, and take them in burst/continuous mode, makes up for the extra $7 I spent.

Good grief I am one cheap bastard, but I do appreciate all of your help and advice.

Now, how important are those filters? They didn't sell them at MicroCenter.

CollidgeGraduit · Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 5:38 pm Post subject:

dmorris68 · Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 6:28 pm Post subject:

$47 OTD at a B&M shop for that card is a very good price. I paid over $80 online for mine less than a year ago. I don't believe I've seen them online recently for much below the price you paid.

Yes, I'd say filters are very important for lens protection. Not so much for image adjustments since technically you could simulate most any filter effect in post-processing (i.e. Photoshop).

I wouldn't get a skylight filter for protection, that's what UV filters are for. At least I've never heard of using skylight filters for full-time protection, but maybe some folks do.. I'd be afraid it might effect other types of shots, but I don't own a skylight filter so I don't know for sure. All I know is UV filters are always suggested as the standard "lens protection" filter.

doylnea · Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 6:46 pm Post subject:

I have to be honest, stopping at MicroCenter on the way home from my sport was an afterthought. I found the card at the bottom of a stack, behind a pole (hello store employees hiding for themselves) marked $51. There was a sale in their ad for about 6 bucks off; with tax it ended up being $47. Knowing that if I bought one of the two cards I'd scoped on eBay would cost $40, and the numnuts seller probably wouldn't ship for two days, saving the $7 didn't seem so worth it.

I tried one camera shop tonight for the UV filters, and they told me any size filter would fit my lenses. I walked out...heh.

dmorris68 · Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 6:58 pm Post subject:

hehehhehe · Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 11:13 am Post subject:

If you're still looking, Best Buy carries filters, if you have one near you. At least my local one does.

doylnea · Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 11:30 am Post subject:

hehehhehe · Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 1:02 pm Post subject:

This is the one they have, and you can check out the reviews at amazon. At least you'd be able to check for any defects before you buy.

doylnea · Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 6:07 am Post subject:

thanks heheh - I biked over to Best Buy last night, and bought one. There was literally 8 open 57mm filters, all on sale for $7.99, but all of the 52mm were new, and thus $9.99. As everyone says though, $10 is still cheap protection for (relatively) expensive lenses.

ajasax · Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 12:09 pm Post subject:

Definitely get a circular polarizing filter. Makes your pictures look 10x better. Especially in broad daylight situations of landscapes.