Just got a Canon DSLR and I need to know...

[Rina Minca]

Hi!
I just got a Canon DSLR. It's my first SLR altogether and it's a beginer. Anyway, I have a few questions some are for general cameras. Whatever.

1. Can I only use Canon lenses on this camera? If I could use others, what brands or how would I know?
2. If I want to get a flash to add to my camera, does it need to be Canon, or could I just get any?
3. Should I get filters?

ANy other advice would be greatly appreciated. Any advice or comments on what I gear I should invest in and what I shouldn't.
I know that a bunch of people are going to say that it's not the gear that takes the pictures, it's the person behind the camera. And I know that, but I still want to know how gear works for these types of things and what I would look for. Don't worry, I'm not a gear-geek or whatever you call those people.

Thanks in advance!

[RichardTaylor]

Your camera can take third party lenses.
Tamron, Sigma & Tokina are three that come to mind.
Just make sure you get the Canon versions.

Other brands of flash will work on your camera, however all features may not work. I havn't used anything other than Canon flashes. (580EX)

Re filters.
You may want to consider a UV or skylight filter if you are shooting in hostile environments.
A polariser can come in very handy at times.

The first thing I always buy for a new camera/lens, besides a spare battery, is a lens hood. It will help reduce flare and offer some protection for the front element of your lens (keep fingers away).

[Rina Minca]

Originally Posted by RichardTaylor

Your camera can take third party lenses.
Tamron, Sigma & Tokina are three that come to mind.
Just make sure you get the Canon versions.

Other brands of flash will work on your camera, however all features may not work. I havn't used anything other than Canon flashes. (580EX)

Re filters.
You may want to consider a UV or skylight filter if you are shooting in hostile environments.
A polariser can come in very handy at times.

The first thing I always buy for a new camera/lens, besides a spare battery, is a lens hood. It will help reduce flare and offer some protection for the front element of your lens (keep fingers away).

Thanks for the advice and making things clear for me.

[inkista]

Originally Posted by Rina Minca

... Can I only use Canon lenses on this camera? If I could use others, what brands or how would I know?

Yes, you can use others. You'll know if it's compatible if the words "EOS mount (or sometimes "for Canon")" appear somewhere in the description. "EOS" mount means the EF/EF-S lenses. Any Canon lens with FD or FL in its name is from the much older Canon manual focus mount and will not work with your dSLR.

Other brands you can use on Canon would include Tamron, Sigma, Tokina, Zeiss, Cosina Voigtlander, Opteka, Rokinon, etc. etc. But with these third party manufacturers, they often make the lens in multiple mounts, so just be sure you've got one that's for Canon (vs. Nikon, Pentax, Sony, or Olympus).

If I want to get a flash to add to my camera, does it need to be Canon, or could I just get any?

You'll get more function with a Canon flash, but you can get nearly any flash and use it on a Canon, so long as it's relatively recent in manufacture and ISO-compliant (i.e., not a Minolta/Sony). Just watch that the trigger voltage is 250V or less, that it has an ISO or Canon hotshoe, and you should be good to go. While you could probably get away with a Nikon flash, you do run the risk of shorting the TTL contacts.

Originally Posted by RichardTaylor

Re filters.
You may want to consider a UV or skylight filter if you are shooting in hostile environments.
A polariser can come in very handy at times.

I'll second the UV or circular polarizer, but I wouldn't go for the skylight. In this day and age of digital post processing, adding a color cast with a filter is just one more headache while white balancing. UVs and Neutral Densities do not add a color cast.

For me, the other two "fun" filters (not necessary, but neat to play with) are neutral density (which allow you to use slower shutter speeds), and infrared pass filters.

[Rina Minca]

Thank you inkista! Very helpful