
You've got your Nikon D80: Now what? One of the reasons you bought your Nikon D80 instead of, say, a superzoom camera with an electronic viewfinder is because Nikon's DX-format camera is incredibly expandable. There are thousands of lenses, tons of add-on accessories, many electronic flash options, and a whole raft of things you can do to enhance the capabilities of your camera. But, where do you start? I have lots of recommendations, including descriptions of Nikkor lenses in the *Nikon D80 Digital Field Guide*. But I've begun putting together this web page, which I plan to use to provide more up-to-date advice, specifics about new lenses and accessories as they are introduced, and even links to where you can purchase this gear at a discount. I've got a few key must-haves here, but will be expanding this page to include even more goodies and recommendations in the future. This page should grow into a good resource for those who want to get some of the same lenses and add-ons that I use to upgrade the capabilities of any Nikon D80.	Click to return to my Nikon Guides page

My recommendations for Nikon D80 must-have essentials:

(Click picture for a discount price)



My guidebook, natch! The most comprehensive and accurate guide to the D80.	The Nikon SB-800 Speedlight If you can't wait for the new SB-900, this is the one to get. Powerful, flexible.	MB-D80 battery pack/vertical grip Adds much longer battery life!	Nikon D80 camera Don't have your D80 in hand, yet? Order one here from a reliable retailer.

ML-L3 remote release Never leave home without your infrared release! A must for HDR shooting on a tripod, or any relatively long exposures.	Manfrotto Monopod I own this, and the Manfrotto carbon fiber monopod. Super for sports, landscapes, wildlife.	Tokina 12-24mm zoom. I love my Nikkor 12-24 DX lens, but here's a chance to save some money on a lens that is virtually as good (or better) at a lower price.	Nikon 55-200 VR zoom If you have the 18-55 zoom, this should be your next purchase. Vibration reduction steadies your shots, and the price is right..

SanDisk Extreme III 4GB Take thousands of shots on one card with this super-fast 4GB SanDisk SDHC memory card.	My wife and daughter took this 8GB card with them to Paris this Spring, and never had to change cards once. I shoot all day with this card, but that's a different story.	SanDisk Extreme III 2GB You definitely must have at least one spare memory card, and this budget-priced card doesn't sacrifice speed or reliability.	Nikon 18-135 zoom lens Versatile zoom that takes you from wide-angle to telephoto, for less than $350. A perfect walk-around lens.

Nikon 50mm f/1.8 lens What a versatile lens for about $100! Let this be your fast lens, your portrait lens, and a budget macro lens, too, when you add extension tubes.	AF-S DX Nikkor 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR This versatile lens is the new king of the kit lens crowd for DX format dSLRs. It handles everything from architecture and landsapes to portraiture.

Stuff I can't live without:


The New "Magic Three" Unless you're shooting close-ups or distant sports, you really don't need any other lenses. Sharp, fast, and expensive, these lenses do everything! They are full-frame lenses for both DX and FX formats, too.
	Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8G ED AF-S Nikkor	Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8G ED AF-S Nikkor	Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Zoom Nikkor

This 70-300 VR lens is a bit slower than the legendary 70-200 VR, but it has a longer range, is more compact, and costs less. Great for traveling light	The 80-400 VR gives you a bit more range for sports, and many photographers prefer it to the 70-200 VR for wildlife photography.	105mm VR Micro-Nikkor Vibration Reduction may be overkill for a macro lens, but folks said the same thing about autofocus. This one is great indoors or out.	Nikon 17-55mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S DX Nikkor Serious photographers usually replace their kit lens with this one after they've worked with their cameras for awhile. Sharp!

	Nikon 85mm f/1.4 "Cream Machine" Beautiful bokeh; this is the #1 portrait lens for Nikon dSLRs. Get one now before Nikon replaces it with something less. You can own a legend!