accessories for Nikon D80 (case, mini tripod, memory cards)??

Question

i decided on the Nikon D80 with the 18-135mm lens. Now this is what else i need:

- carrying case to fit the body and lens

- memory sticks (what is the best kind of SD card for the D80?)

- mini/travel tripod for taking night shots while abroad in Europe

ALSO: if you have any other ideas for cool or vital accessories for the Nikon D80, do tell---im going on vacation, any cool ideas??

thx again

Answer 1

1. UV filter for your lens. It will double as protection for the lens. Ditch the weird len hood as it interferes with the build in flash, its leaves a shadow on the low part of the picture. Use your hand as shade when there is flare instead.

2. At least a 2GB SD card with greater than x64 speed as it speeds the review. Get a second one just in case they fail and download the pictures frequently as there is nothing worst than loosing all the shots due to hardware failure. I had my SD card go flaky and lost all the shot as I had to reformat it to get it back. The SD cards are flimsy so use the USB cable to download versus taking the card in and out.

3. I use a small canvas padded pack that holds only the camera, lens, charger+AC cord, and USB cable. This is all I carry. Get a pack that will be long enough for the 18-200mm lens as you will soon learn that the existing lens is not good enough and will want to upgrade. I made the mistake of getting a pack that couldn't fit the 18-200mm when I got it later. BTW the 18-200mm VR is an amazing lens, as it allows you to shoot 4 stops below what you normally can. In many cases, with that lens you don't even need a tripod.

4. Get a extra battery pack. Nothing worst than when you are out of juice and remember that you forgot to recharge.

5. Get an AC plug adapter for Europe, the MH-18a charger with work in Europe.

6. I got a quick reference folding card from Blue Crane Digital. It saves on carry the manual. http://www.bluecranedigital.com/inBrief.htm

I found Ken Rockwell's website to be really helpful (http://kenrockwell.com/nikon/).

Answer 2

If the budget goes there I would seriously consider the MB-D80 battery pack. Screws on to the bottom of the camera and holds two batteries. This gives a LOT of shots on the road whilst you may not have convenient access to recharging. Your recharger will work anywhere in the world, you will just need the local version of the power lead which is easily available. If you use the review screen sparingly, you will likely make it all the way through the holiday without a recharge. I often go for for months between recharges.

Worst case scenario the battery grip comes with a holder for 6 x "AA" batteries. I got a set of Lithium non-rechargeables for mine and I use them on rare occasions I run out. This means that you would be able to get more power anywhere in the world.

The MB-D80 also gives you an extra set of controls in the right place when you take shots in portrait orientation. This includes a shutter and front and rear command dials. There is also a feature to lock this second set of controls in cases where they might be triggered accidentally.

A worthwhile investment!

Answer 3

Memory:
A 2 GB SanDisk Ultra ll memory card should do nicely. Make it 2 cards if you aren't bringing a storage device (laptop, etc.). And make it SanDisk Extreme lll cards if you shoot a lot of sports etc., where you take 7+ pictures in continuous shooting mode. (The buffer can handle at least 6 shots with any card.)
You can transfer your files to CDs / DVDs at any camera shop and several other places. In cities, you'll never have to look hard - there will be plenty of opportunities in all of the downtown & touristy areas. They can perform this task while you wait and it only costs a few dollars, including the CD. I've done this myself on a few trips. It was cheaper than getting extra memory cards and I didn't mind the small inconvenience... I took the opportunity to drool over equipment in the shops while I waited.

Battery:
The included battery will never, ever drain in just one day. Just don't constantly review all your pictures when you're low on power. Even if you shoot a lot, the battery will probably last three or four days. Only invest in a spare battery or *gasp* in a battery pack if you won't be able to recharge for several days in a row. Buy a universal adapter so you can plug your charger into any socket in Europe (there are still a few different kinds)

Protection/ cleaning kits:
Don't bother with a sensor cleaning kit. You probably won't need one for the next three years. DO buy a lens cleaning kit. If you're at all paranoid about damaging your lens, also buy a UV filter and keep it on the lens permanently.

Camera bag:
I have a medium size camera bag that I convert into a day pack for trips. It contains the camera + lens + lens hood attached, a travel book, a bottle of water, and some odds & ends (map, notebook, pen, cleaning kit, ...)
For me, a camera bag has to meet the following criteria:
* inconspicuous. When I stash the camera away, I don't want the bag to still scream 'mug me!'.
* protection and versatility. the obvious purpose of the bag, but not all bags offer great padding, straps, compartments, etc.
* shoulder bag. A backpack is easier to wear, but you'll need 30 seconds to grab your camera. If I were to use a backpack, I'd either end up wearing my camera around my neck all day, or it would stay in my bag all day. It's too time consuming to grab the camera and store it again for just one shot. With a shoulder bag, you can grab the camera in 3 seconds.
I love the brand Crumpler - I use their Ben's Pizza XXL camera bag. Crumpler and other brands also sell padding that you can use to create a camera compartment in a regular bag.

Other odds & ends:
Until now, I've usually traveled without an external flash and tripod. There are times when you'll want them, but the extra bulk and weight are probably not worth it. I don't even own a table tripod. Instead, I rest the camera on a solid surface and get the right angle by improvising additional support with a jacket, a pack of cigarettes, or whatever is at hand.
I always keep the lens hood attached during the day. It can look a bit pretentious, but glare from the sun can fade colors and cause lens flare.
I'm starting on a trip around the world soon, and for this I'm considering a GPS device. If you're racing across a lot of places in a short amount of time, and shooting hundreds or thousands of pictures along the way, this can automatically tag all of your pictures with the coordinates. I like the idea of displaying my trip + pictures on a map. The GPS device can also come in handy for other things... like to set the location of the train station where you need to return in 6 hours, or your hotel. This will probably be included standard in every camera & phone in 5 years time, but for now it's It's nerdy and a considerable extra expense - probably not worth it.
If you haven't committed the user's manual to memory, bring it. You might want to set a custom white balance, use the different flash settings, do some exposure bracketing, or try something else that you *know* the camera can do... but how did it work??
Consider if you want travel insurance for your gear (and if you already have travel insurance, does it cover enough?)

That's about it. Hope you have a great trip!

Answer 4

this is on amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/103-2464171-1419839?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=+Nikon+D80+accessories&Go.x=0&Go.y=0&Go=Go