Camera

Camera

Camera

Nikon D50

New purchase - not yet used for anything on the site
Three lenses:
- AF-S DX 18-55 f/3.5-5.6G, equivalent to 35mm lens of focal length 27-82.5mm
- AF-S DX 55-200 f/4.0-5.6G, equivalent to 35mm lens of focal length 82.5-300mm
- AF-D 50mm f/1.8, equivalent to 35mm lens of 75mm
SB-800 Speedlight (i-TTL balanced fill flash, guide number 38 at 35mm to 56 at 105mm

Olympus C-750 Ultra Zoom

4 megapixel resolution
10x optical zoom. Optical zoom is vital if you want good quality images. There is 4x digital zoom as well but
Expandable memory cards
Lots of opportunity to adjust exposure settings etc.
Still affordable!

Memory cards

xD cards are a new, smaller format. I've got a range of sizes - the 16Mb one that came with the camera, some 128Mb Fuji ones and a 256Mb Olympus one. The latter has a panorama function which I've yet to try out.

Accessories

	Jessops Atlantic Tripod Alfa 3QR. Less than £20 and very lightweight, so easy to pop in a rucksack when you're out and about. Camera shake with a 10x optical zoom is worse in failing light; this solves the problem.
	Samsonite bag, also from Jessops. Just about right to take the camera, several sets of batteries and memory cards. Don't need space for extra lenses which my old camera bag had as the 10x zoom means there's little need.
	Olympus RM-1. Came in the box. Another low-light solution is to put the camera on a hard surface, then trigger with this - no touching means no camera shake. Of course, it's also useful for taking pictures of yourself!