i shoot with a beautiful nikon fm2n, and a 50/1.8. i've found that usually i can use a fast enough shutter speed and also a good aperature, (f/8-5.6) to the point that i dont need a tripod. all this with 100 speed slide film. slide film beats digital for one reason only. you get slides. they are so fun to look at and simply sparkle.

the other necessity i have found is a polarizing filter. it allows all the pictures of mountian peaks to look that much better, because you can darken the ski, while leaving the clouds white and fluffy, and the mountains not darker