New and need advice filter/hood

[hkilloran]

Hello everyone! I'm a VERY amateur photographer and new here. I have great passion for nature and take photos whenever possible. I also have two vivacious toddlers who I photograph regularly. I have the Canon rebel xti. I know, not the photographers best choice, but it works for me right now as I'm on a budget. I've found I love keeping my Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens on b/c it gives me the versatility of close shots of nature and shots of the kids while running at a distance (and vice versa) without lugging my whole bag/changing lenses. I am outside all the time and think I'd really love to get a filter and hood. From what I read a polarizing filter might be my best bet if I can only purchase one. Does anyone have a suggestion for a good quality polarizing filter and hood that work well with the xti and this lens (72mm)? I can't afford the super top of the line but don't want to buy something that will degrade the quality of my pics either. Any tips on using these? I can use both together correct?

thanks!

[Elmo]

I generally buy my lens hoods from Hong Kong using ebay. I buy then two at a time so if i break or loose one I have another.

Polarizing filters are another issue. first they do not do good with people. As you have a zoom with a wide angle you need to get a thin filter so it will not cut off the corners of the image. The better quality of the filter the less it will degrade the image.

[rzhong]

Im not very familiar with lens hoods as I usually get the original manufactured hood for the lens.

But for filters, I would go for a B+W filters. Here is an article about filters: Introduction to Filters for DSLRs

[inkista]

B+W are "the super top of the line" that the OP can't afford. I'd say go with Hoya HMC or SHMC filters. They won't cost the earth, and they're good. If you can't find them, basically look for a multi-coated filter to cut down on flare.

I'm not sure getting a hood for a superzoom makes a whole lot of sense, unless you're only plannning on using it at the long end of the lens. To accommodate the 18mm end of the zoom, it's likely to be a shallow petal hood, which won't do much to shade or physically protect your lens. And if you get a tubular hood for the 200mm end, it's going to impinge/vignette when you shoot at 18mm. But that's just my tastes. Whatever you do, don't get one of those little rubber ones that screws onto the filter threads--worse than useless for a telephoto.

[rzhong]

Oh yea.. forgot about Hoya. Hoya is very nice also