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OK so after weeks of investigation I am thinking that this will be my purchase this week in time for going away this weekend:

1 x Nikon D80 Body
1 x Sigma 10-20mm F4.5-5.6 EX DC HSM (Nikon Mount)
2GB Sandisk SD card
1 x 3 year extended warranty on the camera body
1 x 77mm Circular polariser filter for the Sigma (or should I get a UV or both?)

I already have a Nikon AFS DX 18-70mm.

The main question I have is should I not bother with the 10-20mm Sigma at this stage? Will the 18-70mm do OK landscapes at 18mm?

I am going to the country in April and anticipate a lot of landscape stuff, was getting the Sigma now to get used to it before then (and then Tasmania a few months after that)

Definitely get the Sigma. It's too much fun to not have. And don't think of it as being purely a landscape lens: it's much more useful than that.

Oh yes, it covers a very different range from the kit glass, and you'll no doubt find very different uses for it.

If you don't, then you're not thinking about your photography enough.

Thanks Gary - that was the sort of feedback I was after. I just love the look of the photos taken on the 10-20mm.

Forgot to add in a Giotto Air Blower in the original post as well.

Edit: and should I get the polariser or UV filter for the Sigma?

Sounds like a good purchase

Perhaps look into buying a 4GB card. Most people get the 2GB, then realise they want/need more!

Cheers.

Others may better advise on equipment but if you go for the Sigma, I would definately recommend getting the 10-20mm well beforehand and getting used to its field of view. I use a canon 10-22 and it took a long while before I got the hang of having my foreground how I like it. It is just soooo wide. Before digital i did everything woth a 24mm (crop equiv of ~15mm) and really had to retrain myself to get the most out of the wider zoom, and not have the foreground too small or too far away. Those 5 mm's make a big difference.

Might also be worthwhile getting a tripod if you dont have one- particularly for blurring those awesome Tassie waterfalls!!


Robert

Pehpsi wrote:Sounds like a good purchase
Perhaps look into buying a 4GB card. Most people get the 2GB, then realise they want/need more!
Cheers.

Thanks, I will probably buy another card a bit later. I am pretty much at limit of budget this week

robert wrote:Others may better advise on equipment but if you go for the Sigma, I would definately recommend getting the 10-20mm well beforehand and getting used to its field of view. I use a canon 10-22 and it took a long while before I got the hang of having my foreground how I like it. It is just soooo wide. Before digital i did everything woth a 24mm (crop equiv of ~15mm) and really had to retrain myself to get the most out of the wider zoom, and not have the foreground too small or too far away. Those 5 mm's make a big difference.

Might also be worthwhile getting a tripod if you dont have one- particularly for blurring those awesome Tassie waterfalls!!

Robert

Robert, sounds like I should get the wide lens now then. On the subject of a tripod its on the list but after investigating it seems that cheap is not the way to go and I am outa cash right now. Was planning on keeping an eye out for a quality second hand one or just saving up for a month or so.

Get both filters uv on the lense all the time to protect the lense Cir when you need it
there was a thread here I look for it but could not find it was about a member who was at a race meeting , drop the camera and cracked the uv filter some camera reps help him out with a new one

Yep, that was me! Dropped my 70-200VR, and I really think the UV filter saved my lens.. A must have for an expensive lens...

Definitely save your money and buy a good tripod. Also consider buying a beanbag for now as a quick cheap platform.

Have you consider the D200 ? great value at the moment

shutterbug wrote:Have you consider the D200 ? great value at the moment

Considered the D200 a lot, especially some of the second hand ones around atm. I the end though I really like the D80 and I can buy a new D80 and a couple of lenses - if I got the D200 then I would be limited on lens and accessory money.

I also dont think a D200 will make me take better pictures than a D80. If I really enjoy taking photos and am getting results then I will look at an upgrade once I grow out of the D80 - likely to be a few years I think.

Thanks for the feedback though

You better purchase soon or if you take on all the advice you may not be able to afford to go away. Tripod and Filter are critical. I too have had a lens saved by the filter.

Best of luck.

petermmc wrote:You better purchase soon or if you take on all the advice you may not be able to afford to go away. Tripod and Filter are critical. I too have had a lens saved by the filter.

Best of luck.

I agree, tripod and filters make a massive difference. I picked up a second hand Manfrotto for cheap cheap. Just have to be int he right place at the right time. And a second hand D200 might not be a bad idea.

petermmc wrote:You better purchase soon or if you take on all the advice you may not be able to afford to go away. Tripod and Filter are critical. I too have had a lens saved by the filter.

Best of luck.

thanks, will definately get the filters. A tripod may have to wait a bit though.

If you get a circ pol for the 10-20, best to get a slim filter. You can also use in on your other lens with a step up ring.

shakey wrote:If you get a circ pol for the 10-20, best to get a slim filter. You can also use in on your other lens with a step up ring.

Should I get a combined circular polariser/uv filter? Or is it best to keep them as separate filters?

Damn slim filter is expensive, new hobby getting pricey

Didn't know you could get combined UV/circ pol filters. However I would get separate filters as a lot of the time you will not want the circ pol filter on the wideangle because of the way it makes skies look. You can get uneven polarisation effects because of the wide angle of view and the relative position of the sun.

If you get a Circ Pol the usual advice is to get a good one. I got the Nikon. Unlike some other slims it has a front thread to add another filter on if need be, not that I can anticipate using that ability mind you. B+W also has good reputation but I've not used one

OK - getting a bit overwhelmed here.

Seems like I need filters for the Sigma and they need to be low profile to ensure I dont get vignetting.

Low profile filters add another ~300 bux to the deal.

Soooo.. I think I will grab the Body and get snapping with the 18-70mm and make the wide angle purchase later once I have done some more learning.

Maybe poon will sell me a Sigma 10-20 and some cheaper filters.

Edit: and can I just say thanks to all who have been providing me advice.

Update -
So snuck down to the shop today and picked up

1 x Nikon D80 Body
4GB Sandisk SD card
1 x 3 year extended warranty on the camera body
1x50mm F/1.8
I already have a Nikon AFS DX 18-70mm

Battery charging will try to sneak out tomorrow for a few shots.