Advice on peripherals

I'm in the UK hence prices in Pounds sterling.

I have recently bought a DSLR. No, I'm not going to tell you which one it
is, because you will just laugh at me. Oh, O.K. it is a Sony 100 alpha with
18-70 lens kit. (feel free to laugh now)

I bought it because I am now retired, and I plan to take macro photos of
plants, fungi and insects. I did some photography back in the 1970s, but
family, work and low income intervened, and I took a long break...

I also bought (on sale - arrived today) a Sigma 70-300 DL lens. Yes I know
this is old technology. It works O.K. with my camera.

***My question is: what do you think I should buy next?***

I have a shorlist:

1. rucksack to carry it all in (£85-160). I already have an ordinary
rucksack, but I'm not too sure about stuffing it with old jumpers to protect
the lenses, etc... g
2. Flashgun (the one I want, which is specific to my camera costs £238). The
built-in flash is fine with a short lens - hopeless with a long lens.
3. A good tripod (£100 up)
4. A long lens support - about £50 (that Sigma lens has no tripod collar,
and while not weighing a ton, is too heavy for yer average tripod mount, I
guess) - this clearly comes after the tripod purchase, although I do already
have a monopod.
http://www.digital-cameras.com/xpp-m...s_support.html
5. A polarizing filter
6. What have I forgotten?

Any thoughts? I will get them all in the end, it is just a question of
priorities.

John

John E wrote:
I'm in the UK hence prices in Pounds sterling.

I have recently bought a DSLR. No, I'm not going to tell you which one it
is, because you will just laugh at me. Oh, O.K. it is a Sony 100 alpha with
18-70 lens kit. (feel free to laugh now)

I bought it because I am now retired, and I plan to take macro photos of
plants, fungi and insects. I did some photography back in the 1970s, but
family, work and low income intervened, and I took a long break...

I also bought (on sale - arrived today) a Sigma 70-300 DL lens. Yes I know
this is old technology. It works O.K. with my camera.

***My question is: what do you think I should buy next?***

A macro lens and a tripod? If you do a lot of macro photography
you'll be wanting a proper ring-type flash.

--
Ray Fischer

"Ray Fischer" wrote in message
...
John E wrote:
I'm in the UK hence prices in Pounds sterling.

I have recently bought a DSLR. No, I'm not going to tell you which one it
is, because you will just laugh at me. Oh, O.K. it is a Sony 100 alpha
with
18-70 lens kit. (feel free to laugh now)

I bought it because I am now retired, and I plan to take macro photos of
plants, fungi and insects. I did some photography back in the 1970s, but
family, work and low income intervened, and I took a long break...

I also bought (on sale - arrived today) a Sigma 70-300 DL lens. Yes I know
this is old technology. It works O.K. with my camera.

***My question is: what do you think I should buy next?***

A macro lens and a tripod? If you do a lot of macro photography
you'll be wanting a proper ring-type flash.

--
Ray Fischer




Thanks for the suggestion. I have considered that, but I'm mostly interested
in nature photography in situ. It is my understanding that a ringflash is
more use in the studio, rather than in a natural setting.

John

John E wrote:
I'm in the UK hence prices in Pounds sterling.

I have recently bought a DSLR. No, I'm not going to tell you which
one it is, because you will just laugh at me. Oh, O.K. it is a Sony
100 alpha with 18-70 lens kit. (feel free to laugh now)

I bought it because I am now retired, and I plan to take macro photos
of plants, fungi and insects. I did some photography back in the
1970s, but family, work and low income intervened, and I took a long
break...

I also bought (on sale - arrived today) a Sigma 70-300 DL lens. Yes I
know this is old technology. It works O.K. with my camera.

***My question is: what do you think I should buy next?***

I have a shorlist:

1. rucksack to carry it all in (£85-160). I already have an ordinary
rucksack, but I'm not too sure about stuffing it with old jumpers to
protect the lenses, etc... g
2. Flashgun (the one I want, which is specific to my camera costs
£238). The built-in flash is fine with a short lens - hopeless with a
long lens.
3. A good tripod (£100 up)
4. A long lens support - about £50 (that Sigma lens has no tripod
collar, and while not weighing a ton, is too heavy for yer average
tripod mount, I guess) - this clearly comes after the tripod
purchase, although I do already have a monopod.
http://www.digital-cameras.com/xpp-m...s_support.html
5. A polarizing filter
6. What have I forgotten?

Any thoughts? I will get them all in the end, it is just a question of
priorities.

John

I would go for the tripod and the rucksack as a matter of priority. Like you
I lost interest in serious work around 1976 and after 32 years of sailing,
sailing and more sailing, I am beginning to get back into photography.

The best thing I did on my return to the photographic world was to join a
club. It has helped re-kindle my interest and the competitive juices are
flowing once more.

If you have a local club, join it!

Dennis.

PS - If you find the dedicated bags too expensive, try Tesco. They have some
simply superb flight bags , beautifully made, for around £7.50. Beter made
than any photographic rucksack!

"Dennis Pogson" wrote in message
...
John E wrote:
I'm in the UK hence prices in Pounds sterling.

I have recently bought a DSLR. No, I'm not going to tell you which
one it is, because you will just laugh at me. Oh, O.K. it is a Sony
100 alpha with 18-70 lens kit. (feel free to laugh now)

I bought it because I am now retired, and I plan to take macro photos
of plants, fungi and insects. I did some photography back in the
1970s, but family, work and low income intervened, and I took a long
break...

I also bought (on sale - arrived today) a Sigma 70-300 DL lens. Yes I
know this is old technology. It works O.K. with my camera.

***My question is: what do you think I should buy next?***

I have a shorlist:

1. rucksack to carry it all in (£85-160). I already have an ordinary
rucksack, but I'm not too sure about stuffing it with old jumpers to
protect the lenses, etc... g
2. Flashgun (the one I want, which is specific to my camera costs
£238). The built-in flash is fine with a short lens - hopeless with a
long lens.
3. A good tripod (£100 up)
4. A long lens support - about £50 (that Sigma lens has no tripod
collar, and while not weighing a ton, is too heavy for yer average
tripod mount, I guess) - this clearly comes after the tripod
purchase, although I do already have a monopod.
http://www.digital-cameras.com/xpp-m...s_support.html
5. A polarizing filter
6. What have I forgotten?

Any thoughts? I will get them all in the end, it is just a question of
priorities.

John

I would go for the tripod and the rucksack as a matter of priority. Like
you
I lost interest in serious work around 1976 and after 32 years of sailing,
sailing and more sailing, I am beginning to get back into photography.

The best thing I did on my return to the photographic world was to join a
club. It has helped re-kindle my interest and the competitive juices are
flowing once more.

If you have a local club, join it!

Dennis.

PS - If you find the dedicated bags too expensive, try Tesco. They have
some
simply superb flight bags , beautifully made, for around £7.50. Beter made
than any photographic rucksack!



Thanks Dennis. That's good advice.

John

1. Take alot of pictures. More than anything this will tell you what you
might need or want.
2. Photoshop/Elements: so you can actually see what is in all those pictures
you have taken.

"flambe" wrote in message
et...
1. Take alot of pictures. More than anything this will tell you what you
might need or want.
2. Photoshop/Elements: so you can actually see what is in all those
pictures you have taken.


Thanks.

I have tried Photoshop Elements, and found it irritating. (With respect to
much checking of my system before it started, particularly), In addition it
doesn't run on Vista x64 at the moment. I certainly can't afford PS CS3. I
am using Paint shop pro X2, which serves quite well, and does open the raw
files from this camera (even though it claims not to).

Taking a lot of pictures is something I will do. Even with the nasty grey
weather we have here at the moment.

John.

"John E" wrote in message
...
"flambe" wrote in message
et...
1. Take alot of pictures. More than anything this will tell you what you
might need or want.
2. Photoshop/Elements: so you can actually see what is in all those
pictures you have taken.


Thanks.

I have tried Photoshop Elements, and found it irritating. (With respect to
much checking of my system before it started, particularly), In addition
it doesn't run on Vista x64 at the moment. I certainly can't afford PS
CS3. I am using Paint shop pro X2, which serves quite well, and does open
the raw files from this camera (even though it claims not to).

Taking a lot of pictures is something I will do. Even with the nasty grey
weather we have here at the moment.

John.


Photoshop elements not running on Vista x64:

Or at least, it didn't run on 64 bit Vista when I was looking for a photo
program two/three months ago. (It seems that version 6.0 now does, with some
compromises).

John

Hi John

You say you want to take pictures in situ with natural light. Here are some
other ideas for you.

You might like to consider also packing your rucksack with:
1) Several bin bags to sit on, lie on, protect your camera from a downpour,
etc.
2) A mini tripod, to get down to the fungi etc
3) A couple of cakestands. They are lightweight, made from card and covered
in foil. Use them to reflect light to under the mushrooms etc. Try gold or
silver colours. Gold can add warmth. White plastic bags are almost as
effective.
4) A fold-up non magnifying (makeup) mirror. Photo the reflection to take
upshots under a mushroom.
5) A cable release.

Regards
Rikki

"John E" wrote in message
...
I'm in the UK hence prices in Pounds sterling.

I have recently bought a DSLR. No, I'm not going to tell you which one it
is, because you will just laugh at me. Oh, O.K. it is a Sony 100 alpha
with 18-70 lens kit. (feel free to laugh now)

I bought it because I am now retired, and I plan to take macro photos of
plants, fungi and insects. I did some photography back in the 1970s, but
family, work and low income intervened, and I took a long break...

I also bought (on sale - arrived today) a Sigma 70-300 DL lens. Yes I know
this is old technology. It works O.K. with my camera.

***My question is: what do you think I should buy next?***

I have a shorlist:

1. rucksack to carry it all in (£85-160). I already have an ordinary
rucksack, but I'm not too sure about stuffing it with old jumpers to
protect the lenses, etc... g
2. Flashgun (the one I want, which is specific to my camera costs £238).
The built-in flash is fine with a short lens - hopeless with a long lens.
3. A good tripod (£100 up)
4. A long lens support - about £50 (that Sigma lens has no tripod collar,
and while not weighing a ton, is too heavy for yer average tripod mount, I
guess) - this clearly comes after the tripod purchase, although I do
already have a monopod.
http://www.digital-cameras.com/xpp-m...s_support.html
5. A polarizing filter
6. What have I forgotten?

Any thoughts? I will get them all in the end, it is just a question of
priorities.

John

On Jan 4, 4:17 am, "John E" wrote:
I'm in the UK hence prices in Pounds sterling.

I have recently bought a DSLR. No, I'm not going to tell you which one it
is, because you will just laugh at me. Oh, O.K. it is a Sony 100 alpha with
18-70 lens kit. (feel free to laugh now)

I bought it because I am now retired, and I plan to take macro photos of
plants, fungi and insects. I did some photography back in the 1970s, but
family, work and low income intervened, and I took a long break...

I also bought (on sale - arrived today) a Sigma 70-300 DL lens. Yes I know
this is old technology. It works O.K. with my camera.

***My question is: what do you think I should buy next?***

I have a shorlist:

1. rucksack to carry it all in (£85-160). I already have an ordinary
rucksack, but I'm not too sure about stuffing it with old jumpers to protect
the lenses, etc... g
2. Flashgun (the one I want, which is specific to my camera costs £238). The
built-in flash is fine with a short lens - hopeless with a long lens.
3. A good tripod (£100 up)
4. A long lens support - about £50 (that Sigma lens has no tripod collar,
and while not weighing a ton, is too heavy for yer average tripod mount, I
guess) - this clearly comes after the tripod purchase, although I do already
have a monopod.http://www.digital-cameras.com/xpp-m...s_support.html
5. A polarizing filter
6. What have I forgotten?

Any thoughts? I will get them all in the end, it is just a question of
priorities.
In your list a good tripod would be top on my list.

A good camera backpack can be very nice.

As for the polarizing filter, make sure you send enough to get a good
one, I tried a cheap one and it was a disaster. I have two, a B&W and
a Hoya, both seem to work very well. The cheap one would give a very
soft image if I shot faster then f/8. I don't use the polarizing
filters all that often so I would not put them high on the list.

On other thing you might find useful is a fairly short fix focal
length lens (some would call prime but that start another whole
discussion). The idea is to get a fast lens that can be used to shoot
with available light when shooting indoors.

Scott