$2400 to spend on DSLR accessories

[Michael Sacci]

Don’t get discouraged. You can buy a lot with $2400, it is that you just probably buy everything you need. It was the same as when everyone was buying $17K cameras, I bet the average cost of a finished system is more like 40-50K.

ON the steadicam I wasn’t trying to talk you out of it but to talk you into practicing, A LOT, which it sounds like it is your plan. While a bad steadicam operator can hurt a production big time, a great steadicam operator can give you the most bang for the buck.

There are more and more good options for accessories coming out all the time but tighter budgets mean more research.

[Paul Sholly]

Indeed. I think I can trim my budget by buying some Nikon E series lenses off of ebay. They seem less expensive than the Canon lenses I was looking at.

So far I know I need

Z-Finder
Assorted lenses (some Nikon E series)
Zoom H4n
ND filters
Tripod

Can anyone recommend a good tripod for under $200?

[Michael Sacci]

Nice thing about getting the E Series is when you are really and able to move up to AF Prime or CinePrime you can sell them for what you paid for them.

I just got the 135 2.8 for under $50 with shipping. I go get an adapter for each lens and I got $15 which fit really well but the edges are bigger then the aperture ring so they kind of get in the way. Remember you should also get new rear end caps for each adapter.

Each E series lens with get
a Nikon to EOS adapter
a Canon end cap (cheap 3rd party)
a 52-58mm step up ring
a 58mm lens cap

I’m doing the a step on each cause I got just one Variable ND filter at 58mm so it fits the nikon and canon lenses.

[Paul Sholly]

Thanks everyone for the awesome input. I feel like I actually have a clue in regards to what I need to be looking at. The only trouble now is finding a retailer that isn’t sold out of T2i’s!