Digital camera accessories

[kabrutus]

I have a Nikon 8700 that i have had for about 4 years. i dont know how to use it to its potential. I would like to know what i would need to purchase to get good family pictures, kind of what you would get at walmart. I assume i would need a different flash, but what about lenses? i would like to get good facial and body pictures. Also on a side note i would like to take pictures of my sons basketball game in a gym and when i zoom in to take a picture they come out dark. Even when i go to a pro basketball game i get the same dark picture. Is there anyway i can have them come out lighter?

[ShutterbugGail]

Hi kabrutus and welcome to the Q&A Forum!

Your camera has 35 - 280 mm equiv. lens, which should cover most of your needs. The lens is also relatively fast lens, particularly at the wide end of the zoom, (F2.8 - F4.2) as far as compact digital cameras go.

Good lighting is the key to taking photos that print well. An external flash would help then taking photos inside.

It would help if you have a link to sample photos taken at basketball games. Your lens is not that fast at the long end of the zoom (F4.2), so you should up the ISO a bit. You will let more light into the camera if you don't zoom all the way. Then you can crop your images when editing, giving the look of having zoomed in closer.

You can get an idea of the accessories available for your model by visiting the Nikon Mall.

http://www.nikonmall.com/category/digitalimaging

In addition, these articles about photographing action will provide other information that will be helpful to you:

http://www.digicamhelp.com/topics/how-to/sport-action/

[bdery]

Hi,

I will add to the previous post by saying that I've used the 8700 before, and it is a very capable and fully equipped camera. The only thing that you can improve significantly is the flash, an external flash is always more powerful than the built-in one.

That being said, even an external flash might not be powerful enough for a basketball game depending on your distance from the action. Like Gail said, increasing the value of the ISO setting will probably be necessary.