 | Nikon D40 6.1MP Digital SLR Camera Kit with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens
Buy new: $468.75 / Used from: $425.00 A great 6MP camera with a nice kit lens. This is pretty much all the camera you need. The 6MP files print as large as I plan to (letter size) with excellent quality, the file size is not so gigantic, and there is less noise then on the higher megapixel cameras. The D40 does all I need it to. If you cannot get a good photo with this camera, it is not the camera's fault.
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 | SanDisk 4 GB Extreme III SDHC Card with MicroMate USB 2.0 Reader (SDSDRX3-4096-A21, Retail Package)
Buy new: $34.99 / Used from: $25.99 Get yourself an SDHC card. This allows your camera to write to the card very quickly. You probably want at least a 2GB card. I got a 4GB one because there was a special sale on it and I also got that cool MicroMate USB reader with it. If you don't like SanDisk, just make sure you go with another good brand.
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 | Hoya 52mm DMC PRO1 Clear Protector Digital Filter
Buy new: $34.50 Just put a protector on your lenses. They already have some UV coating and as you should be shooting in RAW, you can do any color correction or effects in software. This 52mm filter will fit both the Nikon 18-55mm and the 55-200mm lenses.
Hoya filters are top notch. You don't want to put junk at the end of your lens.
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 | Nikon HB-33 Lens Hood for 18-55mm DX Nikkor Lens
A hood to protect your lens from bumps and also to help keep out stray light.
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 | Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED IF AF-S DX VR Zoom Nikkor Lens
Buy new: $219.38 / Used from: $175.00 Compliments the kit lens nicely. The extra $50 over the non-VR lens is worth it when you want to handhold the lens.
You can either use the same lens filter as above or purchase another one to keep on this lens.
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 | Nikon HB-34 Lens Hood for 55-200mm DX Nikkor Lens
Buy new: $10.84 / Used from: $9.04 A hood to protect your lens from bumps and also to help keep out stray light.
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 | Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras
Buy new: Too low to display / Used from: $384.00 This is a great lens that you can keep on all day like the 50mm of film. With it's f1.4 aperture, it also makes a great night lens. This lens comes with it's own hood.
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| Hoya 62mm DMC PRO1 Clear Protector Digital Filter
Buy new: $49.00 Just put a protector on your lens.
Now, if you are really sure you will be purchasing this Sigma lens to go with your basic Nikon zooms above, you could have just got this 62mm filter earlier instead of the 52mm ones and used an adapter ring, 52mm-62mm. But then you wouldn't have been able to use the lens hoods.
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 | Nikon SB-400 AF Speedlight for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras
Buy new: $110.96 When you are ready to move beyond the built-in flash, this is the way to go.
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 | Giottos AA1900 Large Rocket Blaster
Buy new: $10.85 An air blower to help get the dust off your lenses and camera.
You probably want to get some other cleaning gear like lens paper and such. Just pick that up locally.
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 | Nikon Capture NX Software for Windows and Mac
Buy new: $111.22 / Used from: $83.98 A great piece of software for your digital darkroom. Relatively easy to learn and produce great results from. A 30 day demo is available from Nikon's website.
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 | Bogen-Manfrotto 190XDB, 804RC2 190XDB Tripod and 804RC2 Head (Black)
Buy new: $230.00 At some point you will want to get a nice tripod. The better ones you usually purchase the legs and head separately. Here is a nice setup that will give you an idea of what to look for and the price range that really good tripods start at.
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