R E V I E W S
With the advent of digital photogaphy, it just seems like everyone is always talking about the latest technology, the latest release, and all those nifty things that are accessories with that camera or this camera.
And once you get a digital camera, then comes the agonizing part of accessories. Some things you definitely need like memory storage cards for your camera, extra batteries (whether recharge-able AAs or the lithium kind), lens cap/hood, a camera bag, and, depending on your type of shooting & camera, a tripod. And some things you definitely do NOT need, but feel that you need (all to make you a better photographer!--this is where the ME WANT trap comes into play; I affectionally call this, the dragon's hoarding.
You Do NOT need all the accessories under the sun to make you a better photographer!
Manufacturers definitely encourage this type of thinking because it means that you're spending money on their products. For me, money that you use to buy things is money you don't have to do other things.
However, reading many a digital forum, the process for selecting the "right" kind of this or that becomes an agonizing situation, even for those who are doing massive amounts of research prior to making their purchase.
You can do research until you're spinning ideas and thoughts in your head, and you can ask everyone and anybody about their opinions on this or that. And everyone has their own ideas and opinions about what is best, but then again, what is best for them is not necessarily the best for what you want.
In order to save your sanity, not to mention your wallet, you really need to take a step back and logically and systematically analyze what you need versus your desire for the niftiest new toy! And try to determine whether you need this new toy NOW or can you honestly hold off until some later time? Some questions to ask yourself:
Once you start shooting and using your camera, I suspect that you'll find yourself gravitating towards one specific area or another. And once you find that you're gravitating towards one area or another, THEN you can honestly step back, look at the work you're doing, and figure out exactly what you need to get.
Reading a lot of various photography forums, the one thing I definitely learned: Get a quality tripod. Do your homework, your research, and spend the money on the tripod and the corresponding head. Be honest with yourself and your equipment.
-- If you're going to be doing a lot of travelling and weight is a concern, then a carbon-fiber tripod might be for you.
-- If you're going to be just doing studio work, why buy a more expensive carbon-fiber tripod when something heavier and less expensive will work?
Do your research first, and buy a quality tripod the first time around. I guarantee that you'll spend less money if you do it right the first time, versus buying something, then realizing later you need something different, then getting something new AGAIN in the future. Here's a nifty article on that subject.
There are some 3rd-party manufacturers that make some good quality lenses at a fraction of a price that the big-named brands do. Some of the differences are barely noticeable to the average person. Don't rules those out.
I wrote a brief article on my current lens selection, and why I chose them. Maybe this will help you decide what you want to get, and why.
No sense wasting money buying a lens or other accessory that you'll never end up using! Remember, you do NOT need every nifty accessory for your camera all at once! You can spread your purchases out over time. No sense in putting your bank account into shock!
IMO, it may be best to start getting a 1Gig memory card, and then buy more as needed. I say 1Gig, because once I started shooting, the original one I purchased (512) was not even enough to hold a day's worth of RAW files. You'll find out soon enough what you're going to need or not need in terms of memory cards. And with the prices of memory cards going down each day, the 1Gig cards are cheap, cheap, cheap!
If you're shooting in studio, it's just as easy to upload your storage cards into the computer and then go back to work. Or, even better, use your computer in conjuction with the camera to take the photograph (digital cameras only).
If you're going to be travelling or out for a day or two of shooting, accessories, like external storage systems, may be useful. But, again, you have to be honest with yourself. Are you shooting less than 200 photographs? Then your memory cards or an extra one or two might be the best way to go. Or are you going to be shooting several hundred and hundreds more of RAW files or maybe you're going away for more than two days? Then an external storage device is going to be the way to go.
Of course, then it's a question of whether an external storage device is best versus just getting a laptop. Again, without knowing exactly what you want to do, it's hard to answer that question. However, laptops are generally heavier, require their own bag (or an integrated laptop/camera bag), and have a slew of accessories on their own. So think on it carefully.
The camera bag really is an in-person experience to find what fits you and your equipment best. Go to your local photography shop that carries more than one brand, and *try* several out so you can get a feel for the different bags. Bring your camera equipment, and see if it will fit or if its too big. Make sure you get enough room for additional purchases (such as lenses) that you'll be making in the near future. Don't plan on getting a bag that will have room for things you will buy 2-3 years from now!
And figure out whether or not you'll want extra space for memory cards, your wallet, an MP3 player, or a book. When I first bought a camera bag, I was so enamored with the idea of getting a bag for my camera, that I forgot to think about all the little extra things I'll want to carry around, because once I had the camera bag, I really didn't want to carry around my purse too!
Also, realize that there is no single Do-It-All Camera Bag. You'll eventually need to get at least two.
I have two bags: one for just around town (Tamrac Velocity 7), and one for when I'm travelling (Kata R-102). If you think you'll like one, buy it before the weekend (keep your receipt), and bop around town with it. You'll find out quickly enough if you like it or not, and then you can return it if it doesn't work for you.
The BEST thing you can do to save your sanity and your wallet, is to be HONEST with yourself and BE CONSISENT with your type of photography. Get the necessities first: memory cards, lens cap/hood, batteries, cleaning kits, camera bag.
Look at bigger purchases, such as quality tripods or additional lenses, in the near future, when you've done your research on them. And figure out if you can live without something for the next year, or whether it is truly a NEED versus a ME WANT syndrome.