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I did a bit of a search on this, and browsed the FAQ above, but couldn't find much on this topic, just the odd bit here and there (if I missed the right thread, please let me know!)

Okay, for the people who've done a bit of this photo-takin' bizzo before.... If you had your time again, what "must-have" accessories would you recommend for a beginner? You know, stuff that's never mentioned in any book about photography. I'm not talking about DSLR bodies or lenses, I think that's just never ever going to go away

So far, I have the following leftover from my other compact digicams:

- glasses cleaning cloth (not sure if these are suitable for lenses)
- l'il packets of silica gel to keep things dry
- Lowepro bag (A small one, I think it is the Nova 1)
- 256MB CF card - I'll have to get more

What other cleaning things do I need? Would a new, upgraded uber-strap be of any benefit? What's in your camera bag that, in hindsight, you just couldn't live without, or that makes life much easier?

Hi,
Look at your list of existing stuff,
I'm sure you have to start all over again, they are not suitable for the D70s + kit lens.
You have been at the mini meet and come back again in the near future, you'll find out the long never ending list for your needs in photography.

A SPARE BATTERY!!

While D70s have fungclunctious™ battery life, it always pays to have a spare... and carry it with you charged up!

As for cleaning cloth - you could get one of those microfiber ones intended for spectacles, or go with 1 use pec pads - which can be used for wet wiping the sensor as well. Oh, have you learned to clean a sensor at the minimeet yet?

I think the Optech neoprene strap (custom branded with D70users) is a worthwhile investment, esp for heavier camera/lense combos, it literally takes the weight off your shoulders... the default one I find can chaff the neck.

CF card - 1Gb absolute bare minimum IMHO. 2Gb better; and like the battery always carry a useable spare.

Some people carry the camera's manual in their bag when they're out shooting - I'd say that's a good idea for the first few months if you're unsure of the functions. Alternatively read the manual in full and commit everything to memory before laying a finger on your new cam.

NB: remember it's channel 3 group A for wireless flash.

I'd also suggest along with the great suggestions from CHI, that a gitto air rocket, to dry cleaning is worth the investment. Keeps the need for a wet clean to a minium

Des, whilst I agree with the above posters and may add a remote, I would actually suggest, hard as it may be, to buy nothing. I would discover what you need by actually taking photographs as we all shoot differently. I realised I needed a tripod and remote as I like night shots, also discovered I needed a macro lens, monopod, flash, giotto, PSD, better PC, extra batteries, extra CF, reflector, etc, etc and now I have a big bag to carry it around in.

I would just take shots till you discover what you cant do, then ask advice on how to overcome that problem. There is usually more than one answer and more than one price point to solve a problem.

In addition to what's already been mentioned:

• A UV filter for every lens (filter does nothing really it's just something to get destroyed when something bad happens rather than your lens - eg if a $60 filter is scratched or cracked you've lost $60. If the same happens to the front of your lens....)
  
• A USB CF card reader for your PC
  
• If you are doing any landscape photography - A Circular Polariser.

The only thing I'd really get straight away, asap, are spare battery packs for your camera (and flash) and the right lens hoods for all your lenses in case they're not included. But that's just me, I'm in the anti-filter/pro-lens-hood camp...

With the rest of the goodies you better wait until you actually experience their lack first-hand. Then you'll know better what to expect and what to look for in them.

Cheers
Steffen

Thanks for the suggestions guys... I think for now I might just go with the basics (1GB CF card!) and then see what feels missing.

Stubbsy, would the circular polariser only come in handy with landscape shots? Is there a "standard" filter size that I should be buying all my filters in, then presumably attaching with step-up rings? Obviously would be quite expensive to buy all the different sized filters.....

Watch out Birdy, next mini-meet I might have to grab a sackful of accessories Actually not the next minimeet, I will be overseas at the time, hopefully taking a bunch of bad photos!

losfp wrote: hopefully taking a bunch of bad photos!

Well scrap that, if your overseas we are looking forward to plenty of good photos on your return.. everyone takes bad photos, the trick is perfect the technique that improved your good photo percentage

losfp wrote:Obviously would be quite expensive to buy all the different sized filters.....

I'd probably skip on the filters until your kit is relatively sorted. If you're going to be buying pro-quality lenses most take 77 mm filters or bigger, which really gets expensive. I'm also in the pro-lens-hood anti-filter camp.

MCWB wrote:

losfp wrote:Obviously would be quite expensive to buy all the different sized filters.....

I'd probably skip on the filters until your kit is relatively sorted. If you're going to be buying pro-quality lenses most take 77 mm filters or bigger, which really gets expensive. I'm also in the pro-lens-hood anti-filter camp.

Just to take the thread of course a little... is this because a filter is actually between your subject and your CCD, so therefore can affect your image quality, while a lens hood is less intrusive (image wise?).

I've shot a fair bit around kits, and I'm always glad I have some protection between them and the lens...(but I do at times notice images issues due to shooting with the UV filter on..).

I would suggest a battery, air rocket

then if funds permitted, uv filters for lens and cf cards.

The rocket will save a lot of wet cleaning. you wont notice a dust bunny when out in the field but you can do a blow out in the field if you really had to.

Steve