New Member Here - Looking for Advice on Accescories

[cpt_gungho]

Hi everyone! I just found this website the other day and I've been reading a lot of the articles to be found here. I then discovered the forums part!

I originally developed an interest in photography when I took a semester of it back in high school. It was such a high demand elective that 1 semester was all you were allowed to take, otherwise I'd have taken more. Anyways, we used Pentax film cameras (not sure which model) and would then develop and print the photos ourselves in a darkroom.

I didn't do much with photography again until a last summer when I purchased the Canon Rebel XS with the 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens. My passion was immediately sparked again.

I told myself I wasn't going to get $$$ happy and buy every lens under the Canon name. I did however buy 2 lens with my tax return. 1 was the 50mm f/1.8 II and the other (being shipped from B&H) is the 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS telephoto lens.

I've not really developed my own particular shooting style or favorite subjects, etc. so I think this 3 lens grouping will give me enough options to expirement with a variety of styles and composition.

What I'm in the league for now is to start building my accessories. Such as lens hoods, filters, a decent low level tripod that while isn't cheap is above the shoddy looking ones found at Wal-Mart.

I've got my flickr photostream linked in my signature if anyone wants to see the type of photos I've been taking if that helps you to reccomend anything for me.

Thanks. Look forward to getting to know you all and becoming part of this community.

[OsmosisStudios]

A circular polarizer would be a great filter to start with. For a tripod, you can start with a Velbon Sherpa: light, cheap, and fairly sturdy for the equipment youre using.

[cpt_gungho]

Thanks, Osmosis! I looked at a few models of the Velbon Sherpa. Definitely looks like it'll be higher quality than the ones at Wal-Mart. I'll keep reading reviews on different models until I figure out which one I want.

A quick search at B&H and it showed circular polarizers in the $400-$500 range!

That's nearing the price of my camera and kit lens.

[Indigo November]

Originally Posted by cpt_gungho

A quick search at B&H and it showed circular polarizers in the $400-$500 range!

That's nearing the price of my camera and kit lens.

Tiffen 52mm Circular Polarizing Filter 52CP B&H Photo Video

You probably won't need higher quality than this.



BTW, I added you as a contact on flickr.
EDIT: OK, you already know.

[cpt_gungho]

Thanks, Indigo! Yep, I noticed your comment on my flickr photo and added you back.

Thanks for the link to that filter! Definitely more manageable price with that one!

Edit: Also wondering if you can you use more than 1 type of filter at once? Like an ultra violet and a polarizing, or would that be counter-productive?

[Nicole]

You wouldn't really need to use a UV filter and Polarizing filter together.

That's not to say that other filters aren't used together. For example, I'll stack Neutral Density (ND) / Graduated ND / etc. filters together. Or the closeup lenses that I had a while ago.

It's more just a question of which filters you're using together rather than a "yes it's always fine" or "no it's never fine"

Meanwhile, my typical tripod is http://www.amazon.com/Slik-Sprint-Tr.../ref=pd_cp_p_1 . I don't use one enough to personally justify a few hundred dollars on one, and this one fits in my bag nicely.

[cpt_gungho]

Thanks, Nicole! I've got that tripod page bookmarked as well now and I'll read some reviews on it. Appreciate the suggestion.

I'm not 100% sure what all the different types of filters really do, which is why I just chose two randomly and asked if they could be used together. Figures I'd chose two that you wouldn't need together.

The 1 filter I do know of, just because I watched Karl Taylors free videos on YouTube are Graduated ND filters. I'd like to try landscapes more often but I either end up with a washed out sky, or an underexposed foreground.

It's amazing how far I've come since last summer, and yet I've still so much to learn. I remember last year saying "what's an aperture?" lol, This is still the best hobby I've ever started. It's a joy when you work at getting a shot the way you want and you put time and effort into it and it comes out how you wanted or even better.

[Nicole]

When you get into filters there's a lot of information out there, it's just a matter of finding it. I'm more visual about how the filters work (plus I like the Cokin filters), but I think their website has a nice way of showing how the filters effect the photo (though sometimes they look a bit dated, you still get the idea of the effect): COKIN Creative System - Filters A/P/Z/X

More explanations:
Introduction to Filters for DSLRs
Nature Photography Instruction

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by cpt_gungho

A quick search at B&H and it showed circular polarizers in the $400-$500 range!

Where are you seeing THAT?

[cpt_gungho]

Originally Posted by Nicole

When you get into filters there's a lot of information out there, it's just a matter of finding it. I'm more visual about how the filters work (plus I like the Cokin filters), but I think their website has a nice way of showing how the filters effect the photo (though sometimes they look a bit dated, you still get the idea of the effect): COKIN Creative System - Filters A/P/Z/X

More explanations:
Introduction to Filters for DSLRs
Nature Photography Instruction

Thanks a bunch! Definitely helping me in picking out what filters I think I'd need.

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

Where are you seeing THAT?

Schneider 4.5" Unmounted Circular 68019902 B&H Photo Video - $349

Schneider 5 x 5" Combination 85/Circular 68020159 B&H Photo - $514

I didn't notice the cheaper ones at first.