I may have gotten the best buy ever with my Nikon D40 (priced at P24,000 when I got them August last year), but of course I knew that investing on a digital SLR also means investing in good lenses and accessories eventually. Level-up. I still consider myself a beginner at these things, and I’m really glad to find websites such as Kenrockwell, which, as you may have noticed, I’ve been generously linking to because I’ve always thought his materials are really helpful. Anyway. Here are my latest Nikon toys. :)

Nikon 55-200mm VR

Last May, I’ve finally got myself that Nikon 55-200mm VR lens I’ve been so wanting to have. I would’ve opted to buy the 18-200mm (who wouldn’t?) but it costs almost as much as my D40, heh, so yeah, the choice was pretty easy for me to make. :P

Two things I love about this lens:

(1) Depth of Field. It allows focus on an object, making everything else blurred (at least the farther from the focal point, the more blurred).

and (2) Being able to take *real* candid moments ala sniper shots, as well as shoot profiles without having to point the camera to people’s faces.

I have a few more test shots here and there. No post-processing done on all photos, I’m sure it will look even lovelier with some adjustments. :)

Right now, it’s my brother who’s having more fun with it than me. I just don’t have time anymore for this. :( Maybe soon, I’ll have time. No wait, I’ll make sure I’ll have time soon. (That’s better.) :)

Thinking of getting yourself a 55-800mm? Steve’s selling his because he just got himself teh 18-200mm. *dies of envy* Go see if it’s still available! Go go go! :)

Nikon SB 600

Also, I got myself this little baby. I was originally planning on getting an SB400, and I really didn’t plan on getting one so soon — especially since I don’t have a need for it at the moment anyway. But Ninong Dave was in Hong Kong recently, and you can really get cheaper gadgets and accessories there if you know where to look. So yep, there goes my gullible self.

I haven’t tested this one out though. (I know right, I’ve had it for about a month already!) I’ll get back here with a post once I’ve trial-tested it. Meanwhile, Kenrockwell also has an in-depth review of the SB600. Go check it awt. :)

Two more items off the list, yay. But I’m broke already, so I’m gona have to ceasefire on my expenses, like now. *dies* :P