Now that my current lens needs have been fulfilled and I have gotten most of my lens envy under control, my focus is now on upgrading the supporting equipment for the times where hand-holding is not feasible or doable (say, for those super long exposures, or for shots that should be focused manually).

For quick and simple support, I have an Induro carbon fiber monopod with deployable metal legs. The monopod works quite well with my Nikon AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8G VR II (and that's the shortened version of its official name) or when I don't want to lug around my tripod and ballhead. As far as my current tripod and ballhead, I have a Manfrotto 055XPROB tripod and a Manfrotto 488RC4 ballhead.

This page chronicles the progress of the lens collection for my Nikon D300 camera. The lenses are listed by focal length and any lens that I have sold crossed out.

• Tokina AT-X 11-16mm f/2.8 Pro DX
• Nikon AF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G DX VR
• Nikon AI 24mm f/2s
• Nikon AF-S 35mm f/1.8G DX
• Lensbaby Composer with 50mm Double Glass Optic
  • Lensbaby Wide Angle (0.6x)/Telephoto (1.6x) Kit
  • Lensbaby Macro Kit
  • Lensbaby Single Glass Optic
  • Lensbaby Plastic Optic
  • Lensbaby Pinhole/Zone Optic
• Nikon AF-S 50mm f/1.4G DX
• Nikon AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8G VR II
• Nikon AF-S 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G VR
• Nikon AF 85mm f/1.8D
• Nikon AF-S Micro 105mm f/2.8G VR
• Nikon AI 135mm f/3.5

As mentioned in my last blog post, I have taken a step into the world of manual focus lenses (not only for cost, but also for the capability of both lenses). I have taken it a step further and picked up a Lensbaby Composer for my D300.

I have always been fascinated with macro and architectural photography, even more so by pictures with unique exposures and compositions that focused on only the subject. Of those photos, some were taken with various Lensbaby lenses and optics... so when the opportunity arose, I decided to order the Composer and the Lensbaby Accessory Kit. The Accessory Kit includes a macro kit, a telephoto/wide-angle kit.

I am currently learning how to use the lens and will hopefully have some fruitful pictures that I'll post online. I will hopefully be able to get the Soft Focus Optic and the Lensbaby Optic Kit, once I am comfortable with the Composer.

When I entered the world of digital photography, I started with a Nikon AF-S 18-200mm DX VR lens and a D300 body. Over the course of a year, I've expanded my lens collection to include several more Nikon lenses (AF-S 50mm f/1.4G, AF-S 105mm f/2.8 VR Micro, AF-S 70-300mm VR, AF-S 35mm f/1.8 DX and an AF 85mm f/1.8) and a Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8. I also ended up selling the 18-200mm lens, as I decided that I liked the quality, size and simplicity of prime lenses.