Get a good tripod. The selection will be much more complicated than you expect, but it will do more for the quality of your images than any other accessory you will buy. In fact, the better your lenses, the more important a tripod becomes if you want to get the best out of them..

Good solid legs; good ball head; good quick release clamp system...

Get a bag that will fit everything with room to grow..

Also; are you sure you want to go with an 8gb card? How about two 4gbs? or four 2gbs?.

That way, if you have a card fail, then you don't lose all your images..

That being said, i'm not sure how often cards fail... but it's just something to keep in mind...

You didn't say what type of photography you will be doing. A tripod with quick release and case/camera bag will do you well (would suggest an all weather bag with rain protection of some sort). Also consider getting two memory cards so all your eggs aren't in one basket if something goes wrong. If you will be doing fireworks, portraits or long exposures I would also suggest a cable release. A lens cleaning cloth and rocket blower. If doing portraits outside I would also get a 5 in 1 reflector to start with or make your own out of foam core boards.

A good book like Understanding Exposure-check your local library first and many are online second hand..

It gets expensive quickly. If you can try to buy good glass and gear to start with even if you have to wait and save for it. It does make a difference. I think I have gone through 8 different tripods-remember your gear is attached to it and you need a solid tripod to support it.Have fun! Keep us posted with your results!ckbBe kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.visit my sites at http://www.photographybychris.netand at http://www.pbase.com/ckb..

Ckb wrote:.

I think I have gone through 8 differenttripods-remember your gear is attached to it and you need a solidtripod to support it..

So as someone with some experience in tripods, what would you recommend? This would be something I would carry with me, occasionally on multi-day hikes, so something that is small and light would be nice. It would be good if it was stable enough to handle the rather large Canon EF 100-400mm IS USM lens as well..

I just took a quick peak at B&H's case section - damn. I didn't expect so much selection nor such high prices! Any recommendations? Waterproof is a good one, as I frequently travel to rainy places. I expect (w/o any experience here) that it would be good to have a shoulder bag in easy reach with only the things I might need at a moment's notice... maybe another lens, an extender, tripod? If i've got the time to set a tripod up, I probably have the time to pull it out of a backpack though. Hmm..

Interesting point about having more than one memory card, although the storage/$ amount is higher by getting the 8GB card, and i've never had a card fail though i've only used xD and SD Cards before. I assume CF cards are at least as stable and trustworthy..

I'm interested in getting a TC-80N3 wired remote at some point for use with time-lapse photography. I assume this could also be used as a simple remote shutter with a 2s timer that would lock the mirror up, wait a few seconds, then take it. Wireless would be great for other uses as well but I haven't seen anything wireless with the TC-80N3's functionality for what i'd consider a decent price...

The 30D is a great camera to start with and the lenses of course depend on what you want to use them for. You "need" a tripod if you want really sharp images (weight counts!) and yes a bag to carry everything in. I strongly suggest that you avoid the huge CF card and get 3-4 2Gig cards instead. The cards are reliable (I recommend SanDisk,but that is a personal preference), but they DO fail, so it is much better to have several smaller ones over one huge one because the chances of them all failing at the same time is extremely low. In addition, you don't have to scroll through 8 megs of shots to find the ones you want to see. I also have the TC-80N3 and it works flawlessly with the 30D.Magic_Puzzle..

Triptoph wrote:.

I haven't read about the 30D having a maximum CompactFlash sizerestriction or compatibility problems.

The most that the 30D can format is 8GB. If you format a larger card with the camera, it will format 8GB and leave the rest of the card unusable. If you format a larger card in your computer, the camera can (reportedly) use the larger amount..

There is one CF compatibility problem: some Lexar 80x cards didn't work well with Digic-II cameras, and would lose pictures on occasion. Lexar has a replacement program for them, and it's quite unlikely that you'd find one for sale anywhere. But I still avoid Lexar 80x cards on general principle...

Thanks, I think I'll grab the 8GB one to start with as it's very affordable, and get another one or two before I leave for Africa next year (before then I won't be too long away from a PC where I can offload and back them up)..

What kind of photography? Well, I didn't specify because I'm interested in a bit of everything. I've been doing more landscape stuff recently, I love macro photography and on trips I frequently used the 432mm end of my old camera's range. I decided to start with one high-quality lens to try things out first, and I can't imagine only having a telephoto or a macro lens, so I chose the 17-55 IS USM as a general 'walk around' lens. The wide end I thought would be decent, though not ideal with the 1.6 cropping factor, for landscape, and f/2.8 with IS must be decent for low-light conditions I expect to use it indoors and outdoors at dusk/night..

By "weight counts!" I guess you mean that a heavier tripod is better? Reduces camera shake due to wind perhaps? Less likely to fall over with a heavy lens attached? I'm sure some will laugh at this one - the only tripod I've used outside of business (which involved taking product shots in a studio setting) was a tiny 4" thing with bendable legs that cost $1. That, or I used whatever was available (convenient rocks etc)  So anything is going to be an upgrade for me, though I do think I would want to keep the weight fairly light as i'd have to lug the thing around..

Magic_Puzzle wrote:.

The 30D is a great camera to start with and the lenses of coursedepend on what you want to use them for. You "need" a tripod if youwant really sharp images (weight counts!) and yes a bag to carryeverything in. I strongly suggest that you avoid the huge CF cardand get 3-4 2Gig cards instead. The cards are reliable (I recommendSanDisk,but that is a personal preference), but they DO fail, so itis much better to have several smaller ones over one huge one becausethe chances of them all failing at the same time is extremely low. Inaddition, you don't have to scroll through 8 megs of shots to findthe ones you want to see.Magic_Puzzle..

Tripod-I use a Manfrotto but it is heavy. I do take it on location but wouldn't want to lug it on multi day hikes. Bill/Wm. Bates on the 10D forum would be a good person to ask for light weight and long hike tripods..

For camera bags I have a Domke Spider 10-not in production any more. I like it but also have a shoulder bag for quick access to gear. I think this one looks nice.

Http://www.nyip.com/ezine/holidays/digfirewks.html If you will be traveling check for airline carry on sizes..

With both the tripod and camera bag I would go see them first and try them out with your gear. There really are no camera stores near me so I ordered online based on member suggestions and online info. I found much better fit/use once I was able to get to a camera store and try them out. If you are able to get to the camera store and try them first I think you would be much happier. You can always write down the model number and order online if you need to get a better price. For bags look for the all weather (AW) material, adjustable compartments to fit your gear and something that will fit additional gear..

Camera backpacks are nice. Drawback is that you have to take it off and lay it down to open without everything falling out. The backpack slings do not fit me well but thought they would be easier-should have tried it first as it sits new in the closet collecting dust bunnies.I haven't had a card fail yet. But it does happen..

Yes, The TC-80N3 is good. I just used it tonight for fireworks. I use it for portraits, landscapes, still life. Good item to get. I haven't been able to justify the wireless remote yet due to the cost.ckbBe kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.visit my sites at http://www.photographybychris.netand at http://www.pbase.com/ckb..

A lot of recommendations for a tripod but no one has mentioned a cable release!.

My 2d worth is buy the camera and lens and a small over your shoulder case to fit it and hold a spare card or two. Check the battery all the time (it's done whenever the LCD screen is on usually) and charge overnight when the thing reaches a full..

Don't worry about anything else as you don't yet know what effect the camera will have on your photography. F'instance you say something about a "walk-about" lens and that suggests a style of photography that doesn't need a tripod. Whereas landscapes would....

Have fun..

Regards, David..

Dave PattersonMidwestshutterbug.com'When the light and composition are strong, nobodynotices things like resolution or pincushion distortion'Gary Friedman..

David Hughes wrote:.

A lot of recommendations for a tripod but no one has mentioned acable release!.

That's because Canon, in their wisdom, have elected not to drill and tap the shutter release button for a cable.. You have to buy their remote. Do you think that could be the reason they don't drill it?.

Anyway, you're right, you need a remote shutter release to get the benefit of a tripod but for a 30D, it's not a cable. Grr..

But the OP indicated he would get a TC-80N3 timer; I think this would work as good as a cable release at some increment in purchase price.Leonard Migliore..

Just not very clever.Don't wait for the Nikon D-whatever, have fun now!http://www.flickr.com/photos/j_wijnands/..

So, in the end I made the following purchases on the same day:.

Canon 30D outfit w/ CF card, extra battery etc. from cameta camera over amazon.com. Still has yet to arrive! ><.

And the following from B&H which arrived 6 days ago:.

Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8Canon EF 70-200mm f/4 L USM.

They're not the best, but they fit my budget I think they're all very high-value choices, and I figure I could sell them to replace them with their higher-quality counterparts in the future if I think I need to.....