What should I buy first???

[jmtonkin]

This summer is going to be about as busy as it gets for me...why? I'm working 70+ hours/week to save up to buy myself a DSLR. I can't decide how I want to go about it, part of me feels like saving up and buying it all at once. The other part of me feels like buying things a little at a time, so I have some sort of gratification throughout the summer.

I'm leaning towards the second option, but this is where I'd like some input...

Here is what I'm planning on getting:
Nikon D300s
Nikon 85mm f/1.8 (wish it were the f/1.4)
Nikon MB-D10
Nikon SB-900
Manfrotto 7302YB
Some sort of Tenba bag

Do you think I should start with the smaller, cheaper items or should I save up for the camera and lens and buy the others when I get the money? I can't use any of them without the camera body, but I want something NOW! (even if it is just a bag or a tripod...)

Also, is that a good starting list of equipment? I'm primarily shooting for the school paper right now which ranges anywhere from sports photography to architectural. I hope to shoot senior portraits mainly and possibly weddings.

Thanks for any suggestions!!!

 

[mrpink]

What is your reason for wanting the D300s over the D300? Are you going to be shooting movies?

Why do you want the 85mm 1.8 over the 50mm 1.8? Neither are great for sports.

Grip. Good choice.

Why a SB-900? Why not a SB-600? The 900 would be better for indoor sports.

Good tripod and good bags are a must.




p!nK

 

[480sparky]

I have never understood the false economy of buying something less than what you really want.

For instance, your 85mm lens. You want the 1.4, but will 'accept' the 1.8. OK, so you've saved up enough money to buy the 1.8 for now. For the sake of the discussion, let's say it cost you the $490 retail. You keep it for a year, then manage to scrape the money together to spring for the 1.4. $1,700 gets taken out of your bank account. At this point, you've spent 2,190 total, but you're putting the 1.8 up for sale. Let's say you get $300 for it. In the long run, you've delayed acquisition of your 'dream' 1.4 by a year, and it's actually cost you $1,890 to boot.

Stick to your guns and pocket the $490 for now. It may be tempting to 'get something right NOW', but remember: Patience is a virtue. Besides, you never know what the future might bring. You may stumble onto a 1.4 for $1500.

 

[jmtonkin]

What is your reason for wanting the D300s over the D300? Are you going to be shooting movies?

I really like the dual card slots. I've lost hundreds of pictures on vacation once because my card went on the fritz, so it would be nice to have them backed up, or at least organized from RAW to JPEG. Also, the continuous shooting is a little better in the D300s, shooting 7fps. I really like the virtual horizon that isn't offered in the D300. The other perk that I find is its quiet mode.

Why do you want the 85mm 1.8 over the 50mm 1.8? Neither are great for sports.

I don't really know why the 85 over the 55...I've talked to a few different people and they have, for the most part, told me the 85 would be better. Thoughts on that?

Why a SB-900? Why not a SB-600? The 900 would be better for indoor sports.

I'm not sure what or where I'll be shooting sports. It could be the football field which is outdoors, or swimming or basketball, both of which are indoors.

 

[flatflip]

I'm working 70+ hours/week to save up to buy myself a DSLR.

I would like to commend you for an aggressive work ethic. IMHO, if you don't have a DSLR, you should get one ASAP. So, get it first.

 

[mrpink]

What is your reason for wanting the D300s over the D300? Are you going to be shooting movies?

I really like the dual card slots. I've lost hundreds of pictures on vacation once because my card went on the fritz, so it would be nice to have them backed up, or at least organized from RAW to JPEG. Also, the continuous shooting is a little better in the D300s, shooting 7fps. I really like the virtual horizon that isn't offered in the D300. The other perk that I find is its quiet mode.

Why do you want the 85mm 1.8 over the 50mm 1.8? Neither are great for sports.

I don't really know why the 85 over the 55...I've talked to a few different people and they have, for the most part, told me the 85 would be better. Thoughts on that?

Why a SB-900? Why not a SB-600? The 900 would be better for indoor sports.

I'm not sure what or where I'll be shooting sports. It could be the football field which is outdoors, or swimming or basketball, both of which are indoors.

Well it sounds like you have vaild reasons for the D300s over the D300. Now the question you need to ask yourself is this "are those features worth almost $500 of your hard earned money?" You can see from my sig that I believe whole heartedly that bodies are an expense and lenses are an investment. What I am trying to say is, I would rather put that $500 into glass, but that is just me.

Now, to contradict myself in the same post.... The 50mm 1.8 is a great piece of glass for the $80-$90 they can readily be had for. The 85mm is awesome as well but again, is it $400 more awesome? I have never shot with the 85mm, but from what I have read the advantages are; higher quality bokeh (not as amazing as the 1.4 but, eh better.), and more reach (about two steps worth).

The two "savings" I have already listed are enough to get you a 80-200mm 2.8 that would simply rock for shooting sports, or be $900 closer to a 70-200mm VR I 2.8 (I personally chose the 80-200 and do not regret it for one second)

Now the flash. If you are going to be shooting swimming and basketball, you will need the 900. Plain and simple. The 600 just does not have the power and refresh to keep up. Just be careful not to set the 900 on fire (seriously, it happens, google it).

A little time spent thinking now can save you hundreds down the road.





p!nK

 

[jmtonkin]

Is the MB-D10 absolutely necessary? Would I be able to get away without having it for a few months if I don't manage to save up the money?

 

[baturn]

I have a grip for my D80 and wouldn't be without it - that being said, lenses compatible with your genre and style are far more important.

 

[Derrel]

You do not need a monopod until you have a 300/2.8, or shoot long,slow sports like baseball or soccer, so save your money on that. Also, camera bags are a huge waste of money,seriously. If you want a bag to carry your equipment around in or to store it in, look around in the luggage department at Target. I'd say, buy the D300s if you need a camera this summer. For flash and sports, I think balcony-mounted small strobes is the best way to shoot high school sports, so that will allow you to save literally hundreds of dollars by buying two, Vivitar 285HV flashes and some CyberSync triggers,and a couple of Manfrotto clamps, instead of a single Nikon SB900. Check ohut the Strobist blog to show you how to light each end of a small basketball court, using just one single speedlight located in the balcony or mezzanine of a typical America high school gym. As far as a Nikon 85mm lens goes, the 85mm 1.4 AF-D is not a particularly good focusing lens for indoor sports if the light level is quite low...but it does okay if the gym is brighter.You might just as well look for an 85mm f/1.8, used, even a pre-D model. The pre-D and D-series are basically the same lens and have been made for around 10 years or so, virtually unchanged.