JT Malak wrote:.

So please tell me what equipment should I get?.

I recommend that you not buy anything until you decide that you need it. It's real easy to get caught up in the thrill of buying stuff, but if you're pinched for money (and it sounds like you are), buying a ton of stuff up front is the wrong way to go about it..

I'm thinking a back pack for the camera, filters, battery backup,133x 1GB flash card, maybe a nice lens or two..

The only thing that you need to begin withassuming that you are buying the kit with the 18-55 lensis a flash card or two. I'd recommend that you buy one or two 2GB cards. You don't need any faster than about 60x to get maximum speed out of the camera (faster cards might download faster to your computer, though)...

Some sort of bag would be good as well/Don't wait for the Nikon D-whatever, have fun now!http://www.flickr.com/photos/j_wijnands/..

Don't get in a rush to buy, particularly extra lenses. LAD (lens acquisition disorder, the irrational need for another lens.) will take hold all too soon as it is..

A 2Gig card (or two if you take a lot of pictures). Don't buy it on E-bay! They're almost all counterfeits!.

I've always had a second battery, but in the last 5 years I've never needed or used it. YMMV..

The only filter you "need" is a quality circular polarizer. If you have to ask how or when to use it....then you don't need it yet. You will actually "need" a tripod before you "need" any other filters..

Lenspen for cleaning the optics http://www.2filter.com/prices/products/lenspen.html.

JPEG or RAW? Have you got software?.

Bag....any cheap bag that has the strap anchor points high enough that when you unzip the top it doesn't want to flip over and dump the camera out. It needs to hold the camera, the lenspen, the camera manual, and maybe a microfiber cloth and a ziplock bag big enough for the camera (very handy, think about it.) You can get a better bag later when you know which lenses and flash units that it has to hold. For now, going light means that you'll take the camera and actually take pictures.A member of the rabble in good standing...

You have got some sound advice here.. ^^^.

I completely agree with the tripod comment. Get a cheap one (but make sure it will hold the weight of your camera) - because for so many shots (low light, landscapes, long shutter speed) tripods are worth their weight in gold - (except maybe not - I'd hate to lug a gold tripod around with me!).

Once you have got the essentials & are sorted with CF cards, bag, tripod - if you really want another lens, go for the Canon 50mm f/1.8 mkII..

It's great for learning the basics of composition without resorting to twisting a lens barrel, it's super sharp, and super cheap!.

Most importantly, I find it easier to tell my wife (substitute significant other, partner, girlfriend, boyfriend) in retrospect about new acquisitions - ask & you'll always be told no! http://www.instantphotos.co.nz..

There's an article on building a digital slr system by Philip Greenspun that makes a lot of sense. If you've purchased your camera with a slow, kit zoom, the only accessories you might want right away are a reasonably fast, normal prime lens, a memory card, and a microfiber cloth. The article suggests reasonable choices for these, as well as suggesting photo projects to help you learn your system and a sequence for adding accessories. You don't need to take it as gospel, but it's one approach to building a system systematically..

Http://philip.greenspun.com/photography/building-a-digital-slr-system..

Doug Pardee wrote:.

You don't need anyfaster than about 60x to get maximum speed out of the camera (fastercards might download faster to your computer, though)..

As long as he is downloading to computer from a memory card reader not the camera..

Photography and Graphic DesignPortfolio - http://www.atlanticexpressinc.comPrints - http://www.atlanticexpressions.com..

A Rebek XT battery charge lasts for a longtime, so you don't even need a spare..

Unless you are taking a long trip, a 1GB card is all you need, too..

The most useful thing to buy is a circular polarizing filter, whioch will make skies much nicer on sunny days...

An alternate view on circular polarizing filters and on tripods: I own both. I almost never use them. If I didn't have them, I wouldn't miss them..

The only time that I use a tripod is for measurbating: taking test photos with different camera settings to see what the difference is in the results. My style of photography is purely afoot, typically on vacation. One camera body with the attached lens is plenty heavy and bulky enough when I'm, say, scuttling about the ruins of Pompeii on a scorching hot day; a tripod or even a monopod would be intolerable..

Back in the film days I used a polarizer any time I was outdoors, but with my XT I haven't used the polarizer in over a year. Proper exposure and contrast control gives me the nice blue skies (even when shooting JPEG) without the complications of a CP filter..

Other folks obviously find polarizers and tripods to be useful for their particular photographic styles. But it IS a style-based issue, and in my opinion you should wait until you find that you need them before you spend the money on them. They aren't cheap unless you buy cheap ones, which not too many people would recommend...

I agree with the other posters, get your camera first and the kit lens or a better all-purpose lens. Then once you get into it, then decide your needs..

I bought my dSLR (350XT) a little over a year ago. I am new to this, just like you. I have taken alot of shots and learned alot..

My suggestions for equipment1. Get your camera- Canon 350XT is a wonderful camera..

2. Get a tripod or monopod, tripod would probably be best for you now. If you want start off cheap. I know I might get balked at, but Ritz Camera has a Quantaray Sunpak tripod for $30ish.3. Get a quality circular polarizer for your lens. I am a fan of Hoya.



4. As far as equipment bag or backpack, I bought the canon backpack from amazon. $35ish there. Its suited my needs pretty well..

5. If your going to purchase a lens w/ your kit lens, get what most people have in their collection and is very useful/enexpensive/quality the Canon 50mm f1.8 $60ish. I love this lens for low light/no flash shots!!6. Get a good cleaning kit too.

I think that should get you started..

After you shoot for awhile you learn you'll want/need more..

Some of the things I learned were....

1. I need a better flash. I got the Sigma 500 DG ST (non-super version) it's low end but works for me. $130ish2. good flash diffuser. I went with Demb Diffuser $30ish.

I bought a few more lenses to fill some gaps..

I needed a zoom. I got the Sigma 70-300. it's not the best, but for the learning curve, it suits the needs. I also got a, what I consider better, 'all-purpose' lens, Sigma 18-125mm lens, this stays on my camera most of the time now..

My latest addition is the Opteka Battery grip. Increases size of the camera, feels great and doubles your battery power..

Softwarewise, your camera purchase will come with some software. Its good starter software, so you should have no real need to purchase aftermarket warez. But, once you get into it, you may find that the canon software is lacking and then you might want more options. Enter Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. JOY!!!.

Again, this was my path to how and why I purchased the equipment I did. To each their own process. This hobbie is not a cheap hobbie, but you can purchase wisely and grow into it..

Remember,do not go on a lens spending spree off the bat, you do not know what your shooting style maybe yet. You'll learn that as you go..

Good luck-Greg.

=====================Learn to live and live to learn!!.

You can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus. Mark Twain.

Http://www.eos-studios.com/..

If you buy CF cards, look for Ultra II's. they are great cards!!.

The number of photos you shoot will determine the number cards needed. I have 6 cards (4 - 2Gig and 2 - 1Gig). Mainly because I bought 'em on sale. The 2 giggers are cheap!! Even the 4 gigs are coming down below $40 (USD)..

Some will say buy one card and be done with it. I'm of the thinking of "not all my eggs in one basket". Because of the high school sports I shoot, I can take in upwards of 400 or more shots. I rather have all those photos spread across 2 to 3 cards instead of all on one..

Just my 2cents..