Essential Accesories

[blackears]

I just purchased a Nikon D60 w/ the 18-55MM and 55-200mm lenses...what essential accesories do I need such as neck strap, back pack case, tri-pods, or anything else I might be missing...and which of these two lenses are used the most? We have about a month to go, so time is growing short....Thanks,

 

[JR6ooo4]

Park tickets?

Mikeeee

 

[MarkBarbieri]

The only essential accessory is a memory card. Everything else that you need comes with the camera. The rest are nice to have. Here's what is typically in my bag when I go on a trip.

1) Polarizing filter - They are a nuisance at WDW because you are constantly going from situations where they are useful to low light situations where they are a major impediment. Still, if you want the best possible outdoor shots, you reallly want one.

2) Tripod - Critical for great fireworks shots. Depending on the tripod, you may also need a head (I prefer ball heads) and mounting plates (an L-bracket is great).

3) Good strap - I prefer a hand strap, but most like a good neck strap. Optech makes a really comfortable neoprene strap.

4) Portrait grip - This mounts to be bottom of a DSLR giving you a second set of buttons and a grip for using when taking portrait orientation pictures. Mine is actually built into the camera, but when I had cameras that didn't have them, I usually always brought one.

5) Bubble Level - Fits into your hot shoe to show whether your camera is level.

6) External Flash - The built in flash on a camera is ever so close to being useless. If you want to use flash, you need an external flash (and it should be bouncable). Even better is an off camera flash cord or some other way to get your flash off your camera. You may also want modifiers - diffusers, gels, etc.

7) Close up filter - Turns your lenses into macro lenses.

8) Cleaning supplies - Stuff for cleaning lenses and sensors.

9) GPS - for geotagging images

10) Laptop - You need some place to dump, review, and backup your pictures. It's great when you can do this each night.

11) ND filters when you want a longer exposure or graduated ND filters when you are shooting in part sun / part shade conditions.

 

[My2Girls66]

Definitely a neoprene neck strap! So much more comfy than the one that comes with the camera.

 

[DVC Jen]

either have more than enough memory cards to get you through your trip (probably more than you ever think you will need) - OR - have a way to get them onto a laptop, or saved to another media.

Personally we take my card reader, DH's laptop and a ton of DVD's to which we burn my raw files.

 

[handicap18]

You can never have enough memory cards (I have 10 2GB & 4 1GB cards) and I also have 4 batteries (I have a battery grip that can hold 2 batteries, though I don't use it as much any more because it doesn't have a shutter release,,,, Nikon didn't make one for the D50 {or the D40, D40x nor the D60 I believe, but there are 3rd party ones).

For x-mas I finally got a "real" tripod. I had been using the inexpensive ones that are found just about everywhere, but it really wasn't very sturdy. I got a Manfroto tripod and ball head.

Get yourself a remote shutter release.

I have a Tarmac Adventure 9 backpack that holds all my equipment together in 1 place, though it is kind of big to use in the parks. I'm looking into getting a smaller bag for day trips where I wont be bringing all my stuff.

I have a few filters, but don't use them much. Its probably a good idea to get a circular polarizer. Thats the one I use the most. I also have a UV filter (rarely use) and 4 stop ND filter (occassional use). There are many other types, but that is up to the individual and their shooting style.

I also have 2 external hard drives (actually 3, but 1 I don't use for storage) to use as additional backup for all the image files. They build up pretty quickly especially when shooting RAW.

After the 1st trip to WDW with my D50 I got an Op/Tek neck strap. SOOOO much better than other straps and makes the strap that comes with the camera feel like nails around your neck. Its definately worth the $20 or so.

Make sure you have an online account to share the pictures with friends & famile (and the DISboard) Some you can use as additional backup storage.

Did I mention making sure you have plenty of backup storage (external hard drives, online storage, CD's, DVD's).

As for which lenses will be used most. That depends on you and your shooting style. Some people like shooting at the long ends, other perfer the wide angle. On my previous trips I mostly shot at the wide end. Most of the long end shots were at Animal Kingdom.

Once your more familar with your camera and your shooting habits, other accessories will be more obvious than others for your style.