Bday gift for new DSLR user...

[beachgirl]

Hi all, any tips on what to give a friend who just got into DSLR photography? He has already made his first mistake by buying a "Nikon D80":rolleyes::oops::lol:. But the canon was " to small for his hands" he is a big guy. Ok what ever.... so what would you suggest for someone new? He has bought a lot of books already,anything you wish you'd had in the beggining? Please help:D

[Ronald S. Jr.]

How much do you want to spend?

[beachgirl]

How much do you want to spend?

Less then 100$:D

[tweatherred]

If he has a flash, some rechargeable batteries and a charger might be good. I love my op-tech neck strap, but he might not want the POTN version. Do the Nikonians have a web shop? I can never have too many books, there are a bunch of good ones recommended here. Finally, my local college offers some online photography courses for $89 through their continuing education department; there should be something comparable in your area.

[beachgirl]

If he has a flash, some rechargeable batteries and a charger might be good. I love my op-tech neck strap, but he might not want the POTN version. Do the Nikonians have a web shop? I can never have too many books, there are a bunch of good ones recommended here. Finally, my local college offers some online photography courses for $89 through their continuing education department; there should be something comparable in your area.


A class, that is a good idea.:DThanks. Funny too, he can't find a good nikon forum...hehe. He likes POTN, and is looking for somewhere like it, I don't think it exsists. Told him to buy a Canon...;):lol:

[Ronald S. Jr.]

A nice monopod, perhaps?

[DavidEB]

if you have a good camera store nearby, see if you can find some old classic lens, manual focus, like a zeiss 50mm. those can be had cheap.

my nikon friend visits nikon cafe (http://www.nikoncafe.com/vforums/index.php).

[Belmondo]

Take him out to lunch and let him brag about his Nikon for an hour or two. Act impressed.

[beachgirl]

Take him out to lunch and let him brag about his Nikon for an hour or two. Act impressed.

:lol:LOL...I do give him a hard time, it's fun:D

[beachgirl]

if you have a good camera store nearby, see if you can find some old classic lens, manual focus, like a zeiss 50mm. those can be had cheap.

my nikon friend visits nikon cafe (http://www.nikoncafe.com/vforums/index.php).

Thanks David, I'll pass on the info to him.;)

[beachgirl]

A nice monopod, perhaps?

This is good too, Any brand/model to look for?

[Jon, The Elder]

Take him out to lunch and let him brag about his Nikon for an hour or two. Act impressed.

This may be difficult, but it can save a friendship.

Then on his next birthday you can help him to try and sell his 'mistake'.

[beachgirl]

This may be difficult, but it can save a friendship.

Then on his next birthday you can help him to try and sell his 'mistake'.

LOL, I told him to just return it(the Nikon). He keeps asking for help and I'm barley getting to know my camera a year later, I just give him the LOOK:rolleyes:...

[Palladium]

Get him an expo disc - it used for setting a custom white balance in difficult situations.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=Search&A=details&Q=&sku=358074&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

[beachgirl]

Get him an expo disc - it used for setting a custom white balance in difficult situations.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=Search&A=details&Q=&sku=358074&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

Thanks Palladium, this might just confuse him right now. Not sure he knows what white balance is yet:confused:

[Saralonde]

Camera bag? Does Nikon have anything like our nifty fifty?

[greg20d]

look at it this way he cant borrow your lenses or acc. :)

[Jon, The Elder]

Beachgirl...just kidding of course. Let him follow his line of reasoning. Each camera has weak and strong points.

Cameras mean nothing compared to a good friendship.

Besides, down the road, you can reminisce with him something like "remember back in 07' when you really screwed up"?

[beachgirl]

Camera bag? Does Nikon have anything like our nifty fifty?

This is his other problem,what lenses to buy?Told him to do what we all do....read reviews, ask other Nikon users.(well we ask Canon users of course lol)
Thanks Saralonde.

[beachgirl]

Beachgirl...just kidding of course. Let him follow his line of reasoning. Each camera has weak and strong points.

Cameras mean nothing compared to a good friendship.

Besides, down the road, you can reminisce with him something like "remember back in 07' when you really screwed up"?

No worries Jon, And he is a good sport,he likes the competition between us. I'll remind him of his screw up every chance I get:lol::lol: I figured I'll learn a thing or two also. When he finds a new hobbie he goes all out, learns all he can. He is also REALLy good with the computer and just gave me a copy PSE 5(Sshhh!! don't tell anyone;))and now I finally have a friend to go shooting with:D:D:D.

[Evan Idler]

A nice Tripod would make a good gift. Also, things like a remote shutter release. Something like a Cokin Filter holder, and a couple filters such a graduated Neutral Density Filter. Stuff like that. I know I alway apprecate them.

--Evan

[Skrim17]

Take him out to lunch and let him brag about his Nikon for an hour or two. Act impressed.

And always tell him how BIG it is, men like that.:rolleyes:

[Lightstream]

Camera bag? Does Nikon have anything like our nifty fifty?

Yes, and the painful part is that it's MUCH better than our nifty. The build quality is substantially better, including a metal mount, and it's sharp wide open. I may like the Canon system, but their smaller primes are not as strong as Nikon's. This could be due to the heritage of the Nikon system during the old days when primes were their strength and they were the market leader. Canon's high tech zooms are their primary strength.

This is his other problem,what lenses to buy?Told him to do what we all do....read reviews, ask other Nikon users.(well we ask Canon users of course lol)
Thanks Saralonde.

Couple of other accessory suggestions..
- bag is always nice but a very personal decision
- circular polarizer, but make sure you get a size he can use
- Tripod - for less than $100 it's hard to get a really good one though
- Extra batteries

Yaknow the irony of the Nikon users is that many of them want grips, but don't have grips. I have a grip option for my Canons and refuse to use the grips. :mrgreen: a friend of mine bought a D70s and envied the fact that I had a grip option, while I wanted no part of it.

There are third party grips on Ebay that can fit his D70s, but he didn't want those either.


As for what other lenses.. if I was shooting their system, these are some of the options I might look at:
AF-S 12-24 DX - ultrawide angle (our EF-S 10-22)
AF-S 18-70 f/3.5-4.5 DX - excellent value for money (our EF-S 17-85, without IS)
AF-S 17-55 f/2.8 DX - their fast standard zoom (our EF-S 17-55/2.8 without IS)
AF-S 18-200 VR - their do it all lens.. this lens has no peer in any SLR system. Includes VR, which many 3rd party lenses don't

AF-S 70-300 VR - value telephoto (our 70-300 IS USM)
80-200 2.8 - midrange fast tele (our former Magic Drainpipe, 80-200), midrange price
AF-S 70-200 2.8 VR - our 70-200/2.8 IS L
80-400 VR - our 100-400 IS
AF-S 200-400 f/4 VR - this is awesome, we have no answer to this one either.. maybe at PMA 2007 I hope :D

Decode:
AF-S : Silent Wave Motor, our USM (NOT EF-S!)
DX : Our EF-S. Fits crop cameras only
VR : Vibration Reduction. Our image stabilization

Many of their options have no VR, many of ours do.. I feel Canon's strength is in their IS and I like that. Yes, I do keep an eye on other systems.. I am not completely 'blinded' by the Holy Red Ring of the L ;) (although after seeing their options, I appreciate mine all the more)

[::John::]

You could possibly make up a small 'emergencies' bag - and fill it with things like a rocket blower, microfibre lens cloth - that kinda stuff. I have things in my camera bag like a small maglite for working out stuff in the dark.

[Mark_Cohran]

I don't know if it's under a $100 or not (but I think it might be), but the LowePro Slingshot AW bag is really nice for DSLR users. It has room for a body, a couple of lenses and the necessary accessories. It's great because you can wear it like a backpack, then unhook one strap, sling it around your body to the front, and have full access to the bag and all the accessories.

Mark

[beachgirl]

And always tell him how BIG it is, men like that.:rolleyes:

:D:DLOL !! You are so right on.

[beachgirl]

I don't know if it's under a $100 or not (but I think it might be), but the LowePro Slingshot AW bag is really nice for DSLR users. It has room for a body, a couple of lenses and the necessary accessories. It's great because you can wear it like a backpack, then unhook one strap, sling it around your body to the front, and have full access to the bag and all the accessories.

Mark

Thanks Mark, Thats a bag I would like....;)

[Mark_Cohran]

Thanks Mark, Thats a bag I would like....;)

It's a great bag. My wife gave me one for Christmas in 2005 and I used it more than any other bag I've owned (and I own a lot).

Mark

[beachgirl]

A nice Tripod would make a good gift. Also, things like a remote shutter release. Something like a Cokin Filter holder, and a couple filters such a graduated Neutral Density Filter. Stuff like that. I know I alway apprecate them.

--Evan

Thank you Evan, A ND grad would be good;)

[beachgirl]

Yes, and the painful part is that it's MUCH better than our nifty. The build quality is substantially better, including a metal mount, and it's sharp wide open. I may like the Canon system, but their smaller primes are not as strong as Nikon's. This could be due to the heritage of the Nikon system during the old days when primes were their strength and they were the market leader. Canon's high tech zooms are their primary strength.



Couple of other accessory suggestions..
- bag is always nice but a very personal decision
- circular polarizer, but make sure you get a size he can use
- Tripod - for less than $100 it's hard to get a really good one though
- Extra batteries

Yaknow the irony of the Nikon users is that many of them want grips, but don't have grips. I have a grip option for my Canons and refuse to use the grips. :mrgreen: a friend of mine bought a D70s and envied the fact that I had a grip option, while I wanted no part of it.

There are third party grips on Ebay that can fit his D70s, but he didn't want those either.


As for what other lenses.. if I was shooting their system, these are some of the options I might look at:
AF-S 12-24 DX - ultrawide angle (our EF-S 10-22)
AF-S 18-70 f/3.5-4.5 DX - excellent value for money (our EF-S 17-85, without IS)
AF-S 17-55 f/2.8 DX - their fast standard zoom (our EF-S 17-55/2.8 without IS)
AF-S 18-200 VR - their do it all lens.. this lens has no peer in any SLR system. Includes VR, which many 3rd party lenses don't

AF-S 70-300 VR - value telephoto (our 70-300 IS USM)
80-200 2.8 - midrange fast tele (our former Magic Drainpipe, 80-200), midrange price
AF-S 70-200 2.8 VR - our 70-200/2.8 IS L
80-400 VR - our 100-400 IS
AF-S 200-400 f/4 VR - this is awesome, we have no answer to this one either.. maybe at PMA 2007 I hope :D

Decode:
AF-S : Silent Wave Motor, our USM (NOT EF-S!)
DX : Our EF-S. Fits crop cameras only
VR : Vibration Reduction. Our image stabilization

Many of their options have no VR, many of ours do.. I feel Canon's strength is in their IS and I like that. Yes, I do keep an eye on other systems.. I am not completely 'blinded' by the Holy Red Ring of the L ;) (although after seeing their options, I appreciate mine all the more)

Wow!! Lightstream, What a bonus you know Nikon too, THANKS. My Nikon friend will love this info. You Rock;)

[beachgirl]

You could possibly make up a small 'emergencies' bag - and fill it with things like a rocket blower, microfibre lens cloth - that kinda stuff. I have things in my camera bag like a small maglite for working out stuff in the dark.

Kiwibloke this is a great idea and sounds affordable and fun to make up.;)

[beachgirl]

look at it this way he cant borrow your lenses or acc. :)

HEhe, Good point.:lol:

[Lightstream]

Wow!! Lightstream, What a bonus you know Nikon too, THANKS. My Nikon friend will love this info. You Rock;)

Thanks :) I talk to the Nikon users a bit and so got to learn their system. What I didn't realize is that how much I'd picked up along the way!

[::John::]

Kiwibloke this is a great idea and sounds affordable and fun to make up.;)

You're welcome - it can be fun - and easier when it is another photographer choosing the contents - my wife tried hard but kinda missed the point a coupla times.