First time DSLR Owner- extras to buy?

[Forevryoung]

So I found the Pentax K110D with kit lens on sale. I've been thinking about getting it since December so I purchased it.

I'll be getting it on May 10th when I get to NY after the semester is over

I know I'll need a good smaller case for it as well as a larger bag because I have three lenses from my parents 35mm film pentax.

What other supplies do you guys suggest I purchase? I know I need a good SD card but I'm going to borrow one until a good sale.


I'm soooooo excited, I just have to make it through an exam, four assignments, client close-outs and final supervisor meetings Top that with 9 weeks till I'm 1/2 done with Graduate School!!!!!!!

 

[jann1033]

extra batteries, don't know what that camera uses but i have 3 sets of rechargables so i never have to worry about running out( one to use, one to charge and a spare) also enough memory so if you shoot all day you don't need to download to something else. I have 5 1/2 gb right now and probably could use 2 more for a trip to someplace like wdw ( used 5 1/2 on our last vacation)
a tripod or support system since the stabilization isn't enough for low light exposures/firework type shots or macro shots. i'd skip a really small case since personally i always take at least 1 or 2 additional lenses with me. a circular polarizing filter. the list can go on and on

 

[Forevryoung]

extra batteries, don't know what that camera uses but i have 3 sets of rechargables so i never have to worry about running out( one to use, one to charge and a spare) also enough memory so if you shoot all day you don't need to download to something else. I have 5 1/2 gb right now and probably could use 2 more for a trip to someplace like wdw ( used 5 1/2 on our last vacation)
a tripod or support system since the stabilization isn't enough for low light exposures/firework type shots or macro shots. i'd skip a really small case since personally i always take at least 1 or 2 additional lenses with me. a circular polarizing filter. the list can go on and on

Thanks!

Camera takes 4 AA's but I was planning on buying one of those small 15 minute chargers that take 2AA's and switching after 15 minutes to make the bag a little lighter. I have 4 rechargeable AA's already with a 30 minute charger. Need a few more batteries.

I'm going to wait until the memory goes on sale. I figured I need around 4gb to start (day trips until Disney in January) but I'm not sure if I should do 4 1gb cards or 2 2gb cards.

Good idea about the tripod, didn't think about that one.

I think I'm considering the smaller bag because DBF has a motorcycle and while taking everything would be nice, it's just not going to be practical sometimes

Thanks again

 

[Master Mason]

From everything I have read, those 15 minute chargers will kill your batteries, they are great for the speed, but your batteries won't last near as long.

As for the cards, if your going to shoot in RAW, I would get at least the 2gb ones myself. I can fill a 1gb card in 20-30 minutes at a baseball game with no problem, but ususally am ok with a 4gb card for the game. (I shoot a lot of burst mode to capture the action)

Things that I have that I use all the time include a monopod, an external flash, a card reader for my computer, image editing software, back up storage (i have an external drive and burn them to first CD's and now DVD's), a photo hosting site, (there are free ones like photbucket or paid ones such as smugmug, I have a smugmug site and love it)

 

[Forevryoung]

Thanks Master Mason regarding the battery tip- I guess I'll stick with my larger charger. I just want to get new batteries (the ones I have are a few years old).

I know my boyfriend can loan/give me some of his photo equipment until I have my own. I'm sure he has an extra tripod/monopod, SD card, card reader etc... He already told me that he would give me a camera bag or two (he has a million).

 

[handicap18]

SD cards are very inexpensive so you wont have to wait long. I currently have 10GB worth. Another lens. A good tripod. External flash. Another lens. Remote shutter release (wired and/or wireless). Plenty of batteries. Another lens. A good bag, maybe 2 (one for regular housing and 1 for light travel). Another lens. CP filter. ND filters. Grad ND filters. Another lens. External hard drive to store all the files and easily get them from one computer to another. Card reader is a good thing. Another lens.

Then after all that I'd probably get another lens.

 

[Master Mason]

SD cards are very inexpensive so you wont have to wait long. I currently have 10GB worth. Another lens. A good tripod. External flash. Another lens. Remote shutter release (wired and/or wireless). Plenty of batteries. Another lens. A good bag, maybe 2 (one for regular housing and 1 for light travel). Another lens. CP filter. ND filters. Grad ND filters. Another lens. External hard drive to store all the files and easily get them from one computer to another. Card reader is a good thing. Another lens.

Then after all that I'd probably get another lens.

So if I hear you right, you think she might want to get another lens

 

[Forevryoung]

My parents have 3 lenses from their 35mm Pentax which is broken- I'm welcome to use/steal them all- I know I'll be buying lenses but for now, I think I'm set.

Thanks Handicap18 for your list, I'm taking notes... Since you believe so strongly in additional lenses, which ones are "must haves" for a beginner? I don't want to overwhelm myself in the beginning (going from no camera to a camera and three bags of camera paraphenalia is daunting )

 

[JR6ooo4]

You hope to never need it but if you do, I sensor cleaning kit is nice to have ready to use instead of waiting for someone to service your cam or waiting for mail order delivery.

It is no fun finding out, the night before a trip, that you have many huge dust spots showing up in every single photo.

Mikeeee

 

[handicap18]

My parents have 3 lenses from their 35mm Pentax which is broken- I'm welcome to use/steal them all- I know I'll be buying lenses but for now, I think I'm set.

Thanks Handicap18 for your list, I'm taking notes... Since you believe so strongly in additional lenses, which ones are "must haves" for a beginner? I don't want to overwhelm myself in the beginning (going from no camera to a camera and three bags of camera paraphenalia is daunting )

It depends on your photography habits. What I might like could be completely different from another. I keep a regular zoom (18-135mm) for everyday stuff. I also have a 70-300mm telephoto. 50mm f/1.8 prime lens and a 90mm f/2.8 Macro prime lens.

I believe Pentax as an excellent 50mm f/1.4 thats not very expensive.

After that its going to depend on what you do. Some people like the 85mm f/1.8 for indoor sports. Others like a short (60mm or so) macro for closeup stills. An extra long zoom like Sigmas 50-500mm or an 80-400mm for nature and/or bird photography. Super wide angle (10-24mm range) for landscapes/archetchure (sp?). A 70-200mm f/2.8 is very good for indoor and outdoor sports. If you travel alot and like to photograph the insides of old building liks churches or musuems then a prime in the 20-28mm range that has an f/1.8 aperture is good to have. This will probably be my next purchase. Sigma has a 20, 24 and 28mm f/1.8. Depends on the deal I can find as to which one I'll get. This range is good for the indoor rides at Disney.

 

[ukcatfan]

Thanks Master Mason regarding the battery tip- I guess I'll stick with my larger charger. I just want to get new batteries (the ones I have are a few years old).

I know my boyfriend can loan/give me some of his photo equipment until I have my own. I'm sure he has an extra tripod/monopod, SD card, card reader etc... He already told me that he would give me a camera bag or two (he has a million).

The 30 minute charger is not much easier on batteries. Unfortunately, an eight hour charger is the best. If you use the fast chargers often, just realize that the batteries will need to be replaced in about a year. Check Newegg.com and Buy.com for good SD memory deals.

Kevin

 

[Forevryoung]

The 30 minute charger is not much easier on batteries. Unfortunately, an eight hour charger is the best. If you use the fast chargers often, just realize that the batteries will need to be replaced in about a year. Check Newegg.com and Buy.com for good SD memory deals.

Kevin

Thanks for the tip on the battery charger. I'm just impatient in general

I thought that the batteries should be replaced every year anyway?

 

[Groucho]

The "top three" Pentax lens recommendations are the kit 18-55mm, the 50-200mm, and the 50mm 1.4. (Which is not as cheap as the 50mm 1.8s of Canon/Nikon, but is of higher quality, more comparable to their 50mm 1.4s which are at least as expensive... you can probably get the Pentax one for somewhere around $200 new, and there are used ones floating around.)

Of course, what really matters is what lenses you'll be getting for free; once you know what those are, you'll have a better idea what should be next on your list. It goes without saying that it depends on what your interests are, too... for example, I still don't have a proper macro lens in my collection and am not dying for one, but others couldn't live without their macros.

 

[ukcatfan]

Thanks for the tip on the battery charger. I'm just impatient in general

I thought that the batteries should be replaced every year anyway?

I usually get over two years. I have been using rechargeable AAs for about seven years. It also helps to have a charger that has an individual circuit for each cell instead of one for all four. I found a cheap Duracell one that I have been using for a about six months now with no problems.

BTW... Welcome to the Pentax DSLR team. I am a K100D owner.

Kevin

 

[Forevryoung]

BTW... Welcome to the Pentax DSLR team. I am a K100D owner.

Kevin

Thanks, I'm psyched. I loved the way it fit in my hand from the start and I have a good feeling that it's the best introductory DSLR for me.

I haven't looked at my parent's lenses in years (way before I had a clue) but I know they have a telephoto and a fisheye (and it's coming with the kit lens). No more information than that until I see everything next week.

What's the best type/brand of SD cards for these cameras? Should I go with something like one of the faster Scandisk cards?

 

[GrumpyOne]

Make sure any battery charger you buy is dual voltage. I've known two people who went on trips with 110v only chargers and plugged them into US style 220v plugs in other countries. It'll say something like Input: 110-220v or 100-240v

 

[DebºoºS]

Dittos on having 2 camera bags. One to keep in the room with all of your stuff and a small one to carry to the parks.

 

[Groucho]

Fisheyes are fun but you won't get the full fisheye effect on your DSLR due to the crop factor - basically, the lens may be a full 180' fisheye lens but since the DSLR's sensor is smaller than 35mm film, it's like the picture is taken then the edges (where you really see the fisheye effect) are cut off. They're still fun (I love my Zenitar 16mm fisheye) but if you want full 180' of fisheye on a DSLR, you need a lens specifically designed for the smaller DSLR sensor. Pentax has a very nice one that's about $375-400 after $100 rebate, the same lens is sold for different camera mounts as a Tokina, though it is a Pentax design.

For memory cards, I'd go with whatever you see a good deal on. Most any 133x/150x "hi speed" card is a good amount faster than the Sandisk Ultra 2s, which are the usual "high end" cards. I use primarily a PQI and an Ultra card, each is 2 gb, and I have a couple Kingston 512m cards if I really get desperate (and a couple 256s if things get really, really desperate!)

 

[ukcatfan]

I use primarily a PQI and an Ultra card, each is 2 gb, and I have a couple Kingston 512m cards if I really get desperate (and a couple 256s if things get really, really desperate!)

My PQI died on me last week during the Believe show at Sea World. I had to resport to JPG to make sure I would have enough shots. I have not tried too hard to recover the shots b/c another guy with us gave me a copy of his shots from his Minolta 5D. I bought from Newegg, so I am going to give them a call and exchange it.

Kevin

 

[Groucho]

You may have to go through the manufacturer. My PQI was DOA and I exchanged it directly through them. Kind of a pain, but not too bad. It's worked perfectly since then... including its heavy workout at WDW, fortunately!

I assume that you're positive that the card itself is bad? You've tried formatting it in the camera and it wouldn't work? My DOA one gave "memory card error" when in the camera and wouldn't work in a card reader, either.