What are the best imaging products, gadgets, software for D5100?
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Mfrankfort
Senior Member
A few good lenses, a tripod, and Lightroom!
Mfrankfort
Senior Member
And a D600. j/k. I'm biased. 
Don Kuykendall_RIP
RIP :(
Well you don't say what you have now so I will assume that you have the Kit lens 18-55.
What you ask is a very broad question. What kind of photography do you want to do. What is your budget?
You can shoot forever with what you have now and get great pictures. Do you shoot a lot of indoor pictures? If so the I would suggest that you get a good flash. The SB700 is a good flash that will take care of most of your needs. A tripod is a good addition to any photographer's list. They can range for $14.95 to $1495.00 Well probably not that high but you get the idea.
Like I said you asked a question that really does not have a simple answer. Stick with what you have now and get to know it well and only then start adding to the list. You will then be able to figure out on your own what you really need and want. Better to wait and get it right the first time.
It was mentioned a good lens, an example is the 35mm 1.8G lens. Being a fixed focal length lens it's dialed in perfectly for incredibly sharp images. Your kit lenses have to do the best they can over a range of focal lengths so they give up a little bit in comparison.
Most important is to get familiar with the cameras operation, studying how shutter speed lens aperture white balance and ISO all relate. Finally, how to compose a photo - rule of thirds. Lots of free lessons online and on YouTube.
Most important is to get familiar with the cameras operation, studying how shutter speed lens aperture white balance and ISO all relate. Finally, how to compose a photo - rule of thirds. Lots of free lessons online and on YouTube.
Thank you all !!@ don - Well I am practicing with my Kit lens but I wonder how to accelerate photography skill like for instant I can but remote for long exposures, plastic covers for shooting at rain, tripods, different kind of lenses supported to my D5100 and so on. Hence, I would like to know what are the stuffs that I may buy in due course so as to develop my skill. Hope you get me .
.Only AF-S Nikon lenses will auto focus on the D5100.
As for other gadgets, well as already mentioned, a good prime is always a bonus as well as other lenses dependent on your particular photogrpahic interests.
Flash is not necessarily a must, but again depends on your interests, and of course budget will also play a part.
If you're purely after 'gadgets' then look at things like the glass screen protectors for your LCD, remotes, tripods, neck straps, grips, or even decal stickers!!!
It really really does depend on what you want to do
As for other gadgets, well as already mentioned, a good prime is always a bonus as well as other lenses dependent on your particular photogrpahic interests.
Flash is not necessarily a must, but again depends on your interests, and of course budget will also play a part.
If you're purely after 'gadgets' then look at things like the glass screen protectors for your LCD, remotes, tripods, neck straps, grips, or even decal stickers!!!
It really really does depend on what you want to do
Thank you all !!@ don - Well I am practicing with my Kit lens but I wonder how to accelerate photography skill like for instant I can but remote for long exposures, plastic covers for shooting at rain, tripods, different kind of lenses supported to my D5100 and so on. Hence, I would like to know what are the stuffs that I may buy in due course so as to develop my skill. Hope you get me
The only way to "accelerate your photography skills" is to take time to practice. There are NO shortcuts to learning and NO gadgets that will make you learn faster and better. There are 2 sides to photography, the technical side and the art side. You have to master both to create outstanding photographs and there is just one way to learn and it's called practice.
RockyNH_RIP
Senior Member
And to add to what Marcel said... it does NOT happen overnight!! I am relatively new, take pictures everyday (have been for 6 months) and each day, even if a similar subject, I try to improve upon it. I still have a LONG way to go to be as capable as Marcel and many others here, but I also believe that I have improved... One of my biggest improvement areas is in the ability to "see", lighting possibilities and photographic subjects. I stop now, back up and take a picture I never would have seen before!! It is a slow process... but you know what, it is FUN!! I look at the great shots here and try to learn... and I learn from the critiques etc...
Example: I wanted to learn some night shots... looked at and read some.. went out and tried... analyzed what I did (right and wrong) and went back out and did it again!!
Do not rush it... learn a bit each day and it will come... most of all Enjoy! (I do!)
Pat in NH
Horoscope Fish
Senior Member
Well first of all realize that good photography skills and great photos don't come from equipment, they come from learning good technique. If creating great photos was as easy as spending money the world would be awash in great photographs taken by dumbs--ts with $5,000 camera's they don't understand but, I think it's safe to say, neither is the case. The world is not awash in great photos and the ones that do exist were not taken by dumbs--ts with $5K cameras and little to no understanding of photography.
Personally I don't suggest you buy *any* piece of equipment until you can clearly explain why you need it: If you can't, you don't. Don't ask yourself, for example, "What lens do I need to get the shot that I want?" but instead ask yourself, "How do I get the shot I want with the lens I have?" One solution is easy, the other hard. One question leads to equipment acquisition the other leads to better photography.
If you can, take a class in photography, nothing beats structured assignments, professional guidance and group feedback. If you can't take a class, read some books. Learn about your camera first (read your manual) and then get something like David Busch's D5100 Guide to Digital SLR Photography or the D5100 Digital Field Guide. A good book on composition is The Photographers Eye.
In short, throw your money at deepening your understanding and as you do, you'll acquire the equipment you need based on a better understanding of what you're trying to achieve and not the other way around.
If I had to rattle off one piece of essential equipment though, even for someone just getting started, I would have to suggest a decent tripod. Not that you need spend hundreds of dollars on one, but a tripod is just so essential in my opinion. It will allow you to really focus on framing your shot (a valuable skill in it's own right) and so many other things... So yeah. Deepen your understanding and get a good tripod geared for someone just starting out. This Vista Explorer tripod from Amazon is only $25 and has some pretty nice features. Something like this would serve you well for quite some time.
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SkvLTD
Senior Member
Play w/ 18-55 you have and see what rough focal length you use the most. Was ~24 for me after ~3000-4000 shots. Then see if you feel that 55 isn't enough reach for you, or whether you want better night shots, and etc and that will dictate what to try and get next.
Best thing to do is shoot in Manual and learn what all 3 aperture settings do in unison. A GREAT way to force yourself to learn is to get an old school prime lens, that can only work full manual and usually sells fairly cheap, and get to a point where you can go outside, set everything to what you feel it is, and actually get an ok or a decent shot. Auto lenses tempt and spoil quite a bit.
Best thing to do is shoot in Manual and learn what all 3 aperture settings do in unison. A GREAT way to force yourself to learn is to get an old school prime lens, that can only work full manual and usually sells fairly cheap, and get to a point where you can go outside, set everything to what you feel it is, and actually get an ok or a decent shot. Auto lenses tempt and spoil quite a bit.
I highly recommend Adobe Lightroom for organizing and processing your images. After getting Lightroom I learned that I could take good photos and make them great photos with a little processing in Lightroom. If you don't like the price of version 4 go with the older version 3. You won't be disappointed. Also, shoot RAW.
Tobrew
Tobrew