Essential Extras - and why

[Xenedis]

What extras do you find essential for your photography and why?

Here are some extra items well worth considering, especially if you're a dawn/dusk seascaper:

1. lens cleaning cloth;
2. lens cleaning pen;
3. air blower;
4. plastic bags to cover the camera in the rain or near the ocean;
5. towel; and
6. headlamp for low-light.

[bigdazzler]

Here are some extra items well worth considering, especially if you're a dawn/dusk seascaper:

1. lens cleaning cloth;
2. lens cleaning pen;
3. air blower;
4. plastic bags to cover the camera in the rain or near the ocean;
5. towel; and
6. headlamp for low-light.

insurance ??

(is it too soon to joke johnno ?? .. sorry mate)

[Xenedis]

insurance ??

Touché. :-)

(is it too soon to joke johnno ?? .. sorry mate)

It's all good; I can look back and laugh now.

[bigdazzler]

All good mate ... you got the II now, even if the bankbook is a bit lighter

[Xenedis]

All good mate ... you got the II now, even if the bankbook is a bit lighter

It certainly is, although I have run into some extra money lately, which covered the cost of the new camera, so it's all good.

I'd rather not have had to buy a new camera, but at the same time it is nice to have a newer model which has better resolution and more features than my previous model. I'd had that since 2006.

[Xebadir]

Looking back on it and my experience. I would say KISS is the ultimate for someone starting out.

Starting Kit
Camera
Prime or moderate zoom...personally if I could go back I would have just bought a prime with a body.
Filter....the best lens insurance out there...have broken more than one of these and saved the lens....60 dollars of security.
Bag (I was made to regret not having the proper bag....ended up shattering a lens that way...and busting my other kit lens...protect them...as premiums hurt).
Memory Card
PP software....even if its only elementary.

Additions once you decide you want a bit more/versatility
Spare battery.
Cleaning Kit
Tripod (but depends on what you shoot...for my stuff a tripod was very necessary, and was soon followed by a remote).
Additional lenses....I shot with a 70-300 for years after the accidents above, then finally stepped out and went to a wide followed by a 50 prime...and spent the period after that cursing myself for not buying the prime sooner....your first lens needs to be flexible, but simple enough that you can appreciate what you are doing....and preferably tough.

When you decide a particular field or outgrow:
Upgrade to something sans the kiddy settings.
Fast glass..be it telephoto/prime/wide or what have you.
Ego


But seriously. I really think there is alot of merit to starting off with a single lens, and learning it completely...it makes you adapt to the conditions and what you are trying to capture, and I feel helps improve your versatility later on. While there are all those nice toys out there...you can get too much too fast and find yourself gear heavy without a purpose.

[bigdazzler]

Filter....the best lens insurance out there...have broken more than one of these and saved the lens....60 dollars of security.

oh here we go ... this old chestnut .. wheres kiwi ??

[Xebadir]

Removed for transgressing into photo-religious debate.

[Kym]

oh here we go ... this old chestnut .. wheres kiwi ??

Lol...its true...maybe im just a lucky bugger...but I had a lens fall...smashed the filter but the lens itself was fine. Take it for what you want but Ill only remove my filter under pain of death...or loss of shot quality. As a side note...try shooting without a filter in a thunderstorm and tell me how your lens goes after you get water on it for the umpteenth time :P.

Maybe its an urban legend...but my 70-300 is still going strong after a fall that should've broken it...and I ain't tempting fate.

Mod note: DO NOT DERAIL THIS THREAD DEBATING THE PROTECTIVE vs IQ VALUE OF UV FILTERS - YOU MAY END UP IN THE SIN BIN (Temporary Ban)

Summary: Filters can be useful in harsh conditions, a lens hood may have more protective value, if you feel better with a filter use one, if you don't then don't.
No more debate on this religious argument.

[bigdazzler]

Mod note: DO NOT DERAIL THIS THREAD DEBATING THE PROTECTIVE vs IQ VALUE OF UV FILTERS - YOU MAY END UP IN THE SIN BIN (Temporary Ban)

Summary: Filters can be useful in harsh conditions, a lens hood may have more protective value, if you feel better with a filter use one, if you don't then don't.
No more debate on this religious argument.

my lips are sealed

curious as to how you could possibly justify banning anyone for discussing the topic though ?? YOU asked US what WE consider ESSENTIAL. Some people may consider a UV essesntial, some may not. Are we not allowed to disagree with each other now ?? FWIW I didnt plan on commenting again on UV filters but the threat of a ban seems a little silly to me Kym ... Not really necessary given the tongue in cheek comments made above.

[kiwi]

I disagree Dazzler, A UV filter is essential, otherwise my coffee cup would cause a nasty stain on my table.

But Im not going to debate it's merits on the lens. I respect Kym's wishes here

[Kym]

my lips are sealed

curious as to how you could possibly justify banning anyone for discussing the topic though ?? YOU asked US what WE consider ESSENTIAL. Some people may consider a UV essesntial, some may not. Are we not allowed to disagree with each other now ?? FWIW I didnt plan on commenting again on UV filters but the threat of a ban seems a little silly to me Kym ... Not really necessary given the tongue in cheek comments made above.

Forum Rule #20

I'm simply trying to avoid 100 useless posts on a very minor item in this thread.

Please continue the senseless debate in this other thread

@Xebadir - its not your fault - your new

[bigdazzler]

Forum Rule #20

I'm simply trying to avoid 100 useless posts on a very minor item in this thread.

Please continue the senseless debate in this other thread

@Xebadir - its not your fault - your new

I know .. I wasnt gonna encite a mass-dabate (?) over it ... was just being a little cheeky. The UV one is always a fun one to poke the fun stick at.

I know .. its my fault .. im not new and should know better. Im sorry