Equipment
Recommended flash units
For the sake of full disclosure, I am an affiliate of BHPhoto in New York. With over 30 odd years of purchasing equipment  from them, I’ve never had a bad experience with them, that’s why I feel comfortable recommending them.
When you make a  purchase through these link, I get a small commission and it doesn’t cost you any extra.
Most beginners or 1st time owners of DSLRs have a very slow kit lens, the most common focal length zoom being 18mm to 55mm. Your very next purchase should be a 50 mm lens. Any one of these will do wonders for your photography.
For Canon users who are beginners and just wanting to get their feet wet…
Canon Speedlight 430EX II
For those who have the budget and are more serious…
Canon 580 EX II Speedlight with rechargeable AA batteries
For Nikon users…
Nikon SB900 Speedlite
Radio remotes for off-camera triggering of flash units
Impact PowerSync16 DC Radio Slave system
50mm lens
Canon 50mm f1.8 lens---The best bang for the buck, a fast 50mm lens. Great for low light & portraits.
Canon 50mm f1.4 lens----Not even a full stop faster than the f1.8 lens, this 50mm is better constructed but costs more.
Canon 50mm f1.2L lens---Any time you see a "red line" around a Canon lens, just expect to pay upwards of $1,500. This is one stop faster than the other 2. This lens is heavy because of the glass.
Nikon 50mm f1.8 lens---Great price for a fast lens but auto-focus doesn't work with the following bodies: D40, D60, D3100, D3000, D5000
Nikon 50mm f1.4 lens----The better built of the 50mm lens from Nikon costs more naturally.
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So very kind of you to visit and leave a comment and a suggestion on gear. Yes, a 35mm f 1.8 on a Nikon D300 is a good choice for walking around. It’s just the right focal length and not too heavy. If you have questions, you can always ask them here on my blog. I try to provide guidance and answers as best as I can. Cheers.
Sorry it took me a while to get back to you on this. Perhaps you should read this post first then you can write back and ask your questions.
http://peterphun.com/blog/2008/10/17/getting-started-in-digital-photography-tips-to-consider/
If you are on facebook, you can also ask this on my facebook page.
http://facebook.com/peterphunphotography
Write back with your questions.