Hello and a question

[Hugo Rossi]

Hi to everyone in the community. I'm absolutely new here, and I must say, I like this site very much. A big thank you to each and everyone who contribute to it. If my English is not perfect, please bear with me, as I am from Switzerland and my first language is German.

I love photography, and I had a Minolta SLR (film) camera in the 1990's (don't remember which model). I then did not use a camera until 2003, when I had my first digital camera (a Minolta Dimage 7i), which I absolutely loved. I then had (in this sequence) a Canon Powershot G5, a Powershot S2 IS from Canon, a Lumix DMC-TZ1, again a Canon Powershot S3 IS, a Nikon P80 - and now finally I have got my first real DSLR - a Nikon D5000, which I have had for about five weeks now. I totally adore my D5000, and I also have the 18-200mm Nikkor lens. I do not consider myself a particularly good photographer, merely a casual one, but I like taking pictures. You can see some of my photos here (Picasa) and here (Flickr).

As I am fond of photography, I like to take my camera everywhere I go. So far, with my smaller point-and-shoot digital cameras, it was not a real problem, but now with the D5000 and the 18-200mm zoom lens, there is a considerable size and weight factor. May I ask the members of this community how you are coping with this - wanting to have your camera with you wherever you go, despite the weight and size of a DSLR camera?

Any input would be very welcome. Thank you very much.

[windrider86]

It's all a matter of getting used to carrying a larger camera and building muscles!

[gturner]

Point and shoot cameras have their place... learn how best to use it and take on the trips that you cannot take you SLR on.

Rather have a small camera than not at all

[Raoul Isidro]

The D5000 is one of the most innovative cameras to come out from left field for a long time. You are very fortunate to have one. Happy clicking!

[skoggiel]

I love my camera backpack. It allows me to carry around my gear without it being a burden and it's easy to access everything when I see things I want to shoot. I have a large bag that stores everything but I am out and about with the backpack all the time. Of course, being female, I'm used to lugging heavy bags around!

[OsmosisStudios]

The bag I use as my schoolbag is actually a Lowepro camera bag, so the bottom half is a padded photo section. Very useful, and it's held up nicely to 4 years of use.