tbpmusic Loc: LaPorte, Indiana

Finally bit the bullet and purchased a "real" DSLR.

My parameters were based on-
Budget - didn't have thousands of bucks for this (or even a single thousand)
Sensor size - I wanted the largest sensor I could afford
Viewfinder - HAD to have a good viewfinder

So, all full-frames were too expensive, had to settle on APS-C.
I liked mirrorless models, but mirrorless with good (or any) viewfinders were out of budget.

Several months of research later, I found a terrific deal on a Nikon D5500, direct from Nikon USA with a two-lens kit, $599 - I jumped on it....

Took delivery yesterday, and initially I'm pleased.
It's got a little size and heft to it, and a good hand grip.
Gotta keep in mind, I'm a 70 year old dude who's cranked film since the 1950's, with completely manual cameras. I'm used to holding 5 pounds of glass and steel in front of my face, and I have big hands. So I'm pleased it's not tiny, the shutter has that reassuring SLR clunk.
The EVF is real good, IMO, very usable. Has a good diopter adjustment too.

Then I downloaded the 402-page manual.........seriously ??!!!
Could they make it more complicated you think??
Remember, I'm used to an aperture ring on the lens, shutter speed and ASA dials, and that's it. I never even used a light meter, I knew my film so well I never needed one.

OK, that's the world we live in now. So I'm currently wading through the manual, trying to figure out what all this "stuff" does. I'm sure I'll never use 90% of it, but......
Thankfully there is a full-manual mode as a bail-out for me, should I get frustrated and need a break from it all.

Slapped in a charged battery and a 64 gig chip. Ordered a few (what I feel) necessary filters, a UV for lens protection, a circular polarizer, and (my all-time favorite) an 81B.

Haven't really taken any photos yet, still familiarizing myself, but feeling optimistic.

Wish me luck........I feel like a raw neophyte, despite decades of experience.

WayneT Loc: Paris, TN

Sounds like you're all set, good camera now go out and enjoy!

starlifter Loc: Towson, MD

Practice , practice, practice. And then enjoy. You've got a nice camera.

leftj Loc: Texas

Don't need the UV filter. Not necessary for digital. If you're concerned with protecting the lens use a lens hood which will not only protect the lens but also cut down on letting in stray light on your exposures. Enjoy the move to medium of photography.

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

Congratulations on your new gear.

canon Lee

I agree that a $6.95 (or any in fact) UV filter should not be in front of an expensive piece of glass. The hood is protection enough.

canon Lee

I wouldn't use a UV filter but consider if you are going to do outside shooting a ND filter.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Well, enjoy, I may be a Canon user but that Nikon is a good camera, esp for the money.
The "For Dummies" series actually has a D5500 book and several well known photography authors have books on the D5500. The Dummies also has an on line site linked to the books. I bought their book for the Canon 6D a few years ago. Much easier to understand than the manual. But then I first started liking the Dummies series when I was learning how to use computers.
I do not use filters on my lenses anymore, the hood protects the lens just fine. In fact I realized that the "cheap" looking plastic hoods act as a shock absorber and don't bend like the old metal hoods.
Of course you don't need the old color correction or UV filters, that can all be done with software (or is done automatically by the camera in the case of UV). ND, graduated ND and Polarizer filters still have a place, but I mostly don't bother with them either. I do have a few filters (a bit over a shoe box full) left from long ago. Of course most of them will not fit the new lenses, wrong widths.
Oh, one last mention, some lenses do not play well with filters when doing digital. The Canon 100-400 mark 1 was a prime example, the IQ went down a lot with "protective" UV filters.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

Digital sensor are a lot less sensitive to UV than film, but they still are , so it is still a good idea to use one (and of course it is the most used filter on digital cameras today)!

leftj Loc: Texas

Totally wrong. You will not get any bonifide expert to agree with your statement.

tbpmusic Loc: LaPorte, Indiana

Jeez - didn't intend to start any arguments.

I'm sure that, if I spot any perceptible degradation of image quality, the Tiffens will go back in their boxes.......
The glass on these Nikon lenses is really exposed in the front, and that makes me nervous.........

leftj Loc: Texas

That's why you should put a hood on it.

MtnMan Loc: ID

The D5500 viewfinder is optical, not electronic.

jethro779 Loc: Tucson, AZ

Welcome to the party. You might consider a book by David Busch. His guides on the Nikon Cameras give you an easier understanding than an English is my second language book.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Read the manual;
Hold the camera-read the manual;
Read the manual....
Have fun!