Accessory Purchase Help and Suggestions

[skyphix]

Sorry if these are dumb questions. Just stuff Ive never had to buy before.

Ok, so it looks like I'll be heading to Niagra Falls in September and would like to get my shopping list together. I'll list what I've got on the list currently, only missing three things: Thats a tripod, a hand strap, and a bag.

52mm-77mm Step-Up Ring
58mm-77mm Step-Up Ring
Hoya 77mm Circular Polarizer (HMC)
EF 28mm f/2.8

Requirements for tripod: Quickrelease, Stable ~$100
Requirements for handstrap: Has to fit the 300D :lol:
Requirements for bag: Has to fit the 300D+Grip with lens, an EOS 650 film camera with lens and at least 1 extra telephoto lens. Price point at or under 100 dollars if possible?

sorry, I know its a lot of questions, but Ive got time to buy this stuff, so Im just looking for some suggestions :)

Thanks in advance.

[skyphix]

ttt ???

[weemannie]

Sorry I live in the UK so cannot advise on prices. I strongly recommend that you take the time to visit a camera shop and try the stuff out :)

[skyphix]

Thanks :) I figure on visiting the photo shop here locally, and as great as they are, they do not keep much in stock to test unfortunately.

75-85 Euro is what Im looking to spend (100 dollar stuff). Of course, I know that the things we can get here for 100 dollars you cannot get for the equivilent Euro :) Thanks.

[weemannie]

I've been having a look at UK prices and the strap shouldn't be a real problem. About 39$ based on UK price. The tripod is another matter, if you want stable, I think the price will go up:) Bearing in mind that you'll also need a head for it.

The cheapest reasonable one I could find was Manfrotto (Bogen) at around 150$ UK model no. 719BK. It comes with a ball head, which looks a bit lightweight. The load is around 8.8 lbs. Not a lot when you consider the weight of the camera, head and lens.

You could try secondhand, or alternatively, a monopod.
Case wise, all I can add is that it should be waterproof, bearing in mind where you're going:lol:
Whatever you decide, have a great trip, and don't forget to share some of your pictures when you get back:)

[Jack W.]

Here's the hand strap I use:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=194968&is=REG
Here's the tripod I use:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=283759&is=REG
And the bag I use:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=169549&is=REG
This kind of thing is really a personal preference, but the above serve me well.
HTH
Jack

[snibbetsj]

I use a Slik 330 DX tripod and it works quite well for me, about $90 USD. You might look at the Tamrac expedition line or the Lowepro Trekker line for bags. Those are excellent bags at reasonable prices. See if you can visit a store and take your equipment in to check for fit.

[skyphix]

Thank you all for your suggestions and help :)

Jack: does that hand strap work with the grip? The hand strap type I was looking for is the kind that attaches to the top and bottom neck strap mounts, as all I do now is wrap the neck strap around my hand, the hand strap would be much easier. Im not opposed to that type of strap if it does the same thing and works with the grip (on my 300D, but I assume if it works on the 10D/20D it would work on the 300D)

I was thinking of either that tripod or the one that snibbetsj mentioned, I'll try to find a few places that may have one or the other and see if I can hold either one of them.

As for the bag: Does it appear that it would fit a second SLR with lens? I cant quite tell from the photo. I dont have many lenses, probably wont be getting any big lenses soon, and none are huge (well, my 70-210 is fairly big, but I wont need that with me all the time). thanks :)

snibbetsj:
I will bring my huge collection of equipment ( :lol: ) to the local store to see what they have that'd fit. Their bag selection is quite small unless they have some hidden. Thanks for the ideas on the two bag lines to try :D


Whatever you decide, have a great trip, and don't forget to share some of your pictures when you get back:)
Good idea :lol: Thanks for the good remarks. I will certainly post the photos when I return. As for 8.8lbs I think that that will be sufficient for me. I dont, and probably never will have the money for something like a 70-200 F2.8L IS (tried to be realistic in what I'd get) and my 300D + grip isnt THAT heavy, especially with the small primes that I generally use.




Thanks all, sorry for such a long post :eek:

[Jack W.]

skyphix :
I don't know if the strap will work with a grip, as I don't use one.
I like the tripod, as it's compact and light, and I like the pan head. Supports my 20D with a Sigma 80-400OS with no problem (the lens alone is a bit over 3 1/2 pounds). But I also use a cable release with it.
As for the bag, yes, it would hold 2 bodies and a few lenses, along with a bunch of other things like cf cards, batteries, other odds and ends.
I also have this monopod:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=170883&is=REG
with this ball head:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=272449&is=REG
Even though the tripod is compact, sometimes you might not be able to use one (museums, etc. sometimes ban them, but allow monopods).
Or you just might not want to carry a tripod. This combination is really nice for me.
Jack

[skyphix]

Thanks for the suggestions again, Jack. I am basically coming into this fresh - prior to this I was using a 2nd hand WalMart tripod that worked well enough for some of those < 1 sec exposures, but not well enough for some of the longer exposures I wanted.

I was thinking of looking at a Monopod eventually - I dont often find myself needing a support like that, but it'd be handy at hockey games and stuff like that.

Thanks again for all of your suggestions :)