I bought the 70-300 mm lens...there are a few questions I have...where can I find a ring that goes around the lens and mounts on to a tripod. And where can I find a in-expensive good tripod?! And any information that might help me with my new lens will make me very happy and I'd be forever in your doubt. :o) :o) One more question...will my 58 UV filters or polerizor lens fit on my 300 mm?? Thanks again! I might play around with it later today :o) Johannah AKA Jinx

How much do you want to spend on a tripod? You can probably pick up a cheap one at places like BestBuy and the like..... will they be good? Not sure.... the cheap one I had (under $100) lasted a long time, wasn't very good and as soon as I started putting a heavy camera with a heavy lens on it, it snapped. There should be a screw on the tripod that will fit onto the hole in the bottom of your camera. However if you go with a better made tripod it will depend on what type of head you decide to go with. There are ball heads which (I think) just screw onto the bottom of the camera, and there are the tri-tilt heads for which you will need a quick-release mount. For the lens.... look at it.... somewhere on the lens there will be a symbol that looks like this with a number after it which tells you what size filter ring you need.

Thanks Michelle... I know the tripod will fit on the bottom of my camera...but I'd rather it be held by the heavier part of the camera--the lens... Thanks! I was thinking about going with a 20 dollar one I saw at Wal-Mart...I also so a 35 dollar one at a camera shop...I don't know what I'm looking for..I want one that is sterdy. Thanks again! Jinx

I see what you're saying now.... :~) Try going online to B&H Video or Adorama, or visit a local camera store.

Johanna - what's the make of your new lens? I think I mentioned before that most lenses that require a collar will come with it or have it as an option. The problem with collars is that they fit onto different areas of a lens depending on the design, so there's no "one-size-fits-all" type of tripod collar that you can buy to just snap on a lens. As for the filters, again, it depends on lens. Let me know which one you bought and we can figure it out. As for a tripod, that's one of those things in life that you actually get what you pay for. If you buy a cheap tripod, you will regret it, especially if you're putting a larger camera on it. You ideally want zero motion of the camera when using your tripod. That's not just when the camera is sitting on top of it, but also when you're looking through the viewfinder and pressing the shutter button. While you can use a $20 tripod, you're more than likely going to wind up paying for it with motion blur in your images (especially at longer focal lengths). Most of those manufacturers (like Slik and Impact) keep the costs down on their low-end products by using cheap plastic. Not very stable and not very sturdy (I know at least 2 people who dropped their Slik's and cracked parts in the tripod). If you can't go with a beefier tripod (like a Bogen/Manfrotto - good, solid, all metal tripod and head for around $100 that will last you probably 10+ years or your lifetime if you take care of it), then I'd suggest at least going to a higher end of the cheaper ones. I don't know the current model numbers, but something like the Slik U9000 that I've seen for $50-60 would probably be better than a $20 Walmart one. -=>Donald

inexpensive good tripod It took me a long time to learn that you cannot use all 3 of those words at the same time. > I want one that is sterdy Hmmm ... did you mean steady or sturdy? ... Doesn't matter, a good tripod will have both. Steady comes into play (becomes important) when you are getting a picture of a distant subject with an extreme zoom. The term "optical lever" comes into play: a little tiny amount of shake/camera movement translates into a big image shift that can ruin the shot. MGD

I've been using one that cost about $60 from a local camera shop. I own an expensive Bogan that seldom gets used because it is too heavy to lug around, and part of the leg hardware broke, so it falls off if I over-extend. I've found that even the very heavy pods will wobble if you press the camera shutter button. But even cheap tripods seem to work fine if you use a cable release, or self-timer, to actually trip the shutter. Is your new 70-300mm one of these new light, compact, zooms?

I have the Nikon N55 body with a 70-300 zoom...by Nikon. Oh and it's a G lens...if that helps Donald. I think I found a tripod...went to Wal-Mart found a 40 Dollar Heavy Duty one...I think it ways more then my right arm does. LOL! I tried to use it Monday...what's a good shutter speed when you arn't using the tripod...I set it to the highest shutter speed, my friend said that might have been too much...200 should have been good enough. I don't know anything about shutter speed and what's a good speed and so on and so fourth. I have a feeling this learning is going to take a while.

To shutter-speed: 1/focal_lenght is a good rule of thumb. At 300mm use 1/300 as the longest time. @Misha: Cable release is great if you can switch the mirror before shooting (dunno how you call that in english). With Cams as the Canon 300D or lots of cheaper analog SLRs (which do not have that option), using a cable release can even make things worse. I constantly find myself using the cable release and having the other hand on the cam when shooting. The more if you use a lens-collar.

Cable release is great if you can switch the mirror before > shooting (dunno how you call that in english). Mirror lockup. Nice feature ... but not designed into my Canon A-1 (grrr). MGD

Attached Link: http://www.silverlight.co.uk/tutorials/toc.html

Jinx - Ok..took a look and you don't need a tripod collar for that lens (Nikon 70-300mm f/4-5.6G, right?). It's a compact zoom, it's only 4.6" long and only weighs 16.5oz. No need at all for a tripod collar for that one. To give you an idea of when a collar is necessary, the 70-200mm f/2.8L IS lens I shoot with from Canon is 7.8" long and weighs 3.24lbs (yes, that's pounds) - 197mm and 1.47kg for our metric friends. :) Hey, check out the above link. It's a site with some basic photography tutorials. Don't take everything there as the gospel, but it's a good starting point for learning the basics. -=>Donald

Thank you, thank you BOWS and Kisses your feet You guys are awesome! Thanks for the tutorial! I'm glade I don't have to buy a collar! :o) Now, I just have to pratice and shoot! I'll post the best images, so Donald be prepared! Ha Ha!!! Johannah

You're quite welcome. Ok, I'll be waiting, but remember ... no ducks. looks around quietly and then, leaning close to Johannah, whispers They're evil. -=>Donald

Why not any ducks? I posted a few pictures of geese..do ducks scare you Donald? Jinx