film SLR camera buyying advice

[ryan1835]

youve got my interest would it be big enough for a dslr with a lens?

[ryan1835]

looks like my quest might be over by this tim tomorrow hopefully



i tried some out today and with my oaf hands decided the sonys arent for me but  im probably going to end up with a canon as i had more of a play with one today and it grew on me currently looking at a 450 http://www.jessops.com/online.store/products/77408/show.html?cm_re=290410-_-Home-_-rotate2_canon450d

has a bit of a deal on it too

sorry for being a PITA guys

[Chako]

No problem..

I have a couple of Canons, and like every one of them.

[ryan1835]

ended up with a nikon D5000 just felt right got the 18-55mm kit lens and a tamron 70-300mm

heres the bundle http://www.jessops.com/online.store/products/77601/show.html

[yud]

looks good

[Neil]

 

I want new camera toys now as well 

[ryan1835]

XD what do you have neil?

[Neil]

Nikon D80, which there's nothing wrong with so I have no excuse to look at new bodies  

[Mr. Whippy]

My wife is still working with her Canon 20D.  Fast enough to catch horses jumping (usually 6-8 images per jump).  Hard to justify faster than that...

[ryan1835]

Nikon D80, which there's nothing wrong with so I have no excuse to look at new bodies  

damn the lack of excuses

got any nice lens s then?

[Chako]

You got yourself a Nikon. Excellent. 

Yes, the 20D is an awesome camera. I still have mine as a backup.

[ryan1835]

One question, how important is a uv filter? I heard the stop sunlight damaging your lens?

[yud]

YOU NEED a UV filter to protect your lenses, not quite sure what from but you need it (I thought it was for scratches)


also you put them on and very rerely take them, so you need one for both lenses.

[Chako]

Most people place a UV filter on their lenses to protect the front element from scratches and dings. In the old days of film, a skylight filter was often preferred. Now the UV filter is not a needed accessory, as I do believe all DSLRs have one internally just before the image sensor.

The UV filter on the lens has a positive and negative side, like all things. The positive...it is far easier to replace a filter then it is a lens. On the negative, it is yet another piece of glass that light must pass through. Some people do not like any filters on their lenses for this reason. I myself, have filters on all my lenses.  I think of a UV filter as a sacrificial filter. UV filters are popular because they don’t affect your exposure.

[Zack]

No filters for me...they add too much flare when I shoot in the sun.  I keep lens hoods on all mine seems to do ok.  I have seen too many lenses get destroyed behind the filter and the filter stay intact.  Remember the D5000 only uses AF-S lenses, and I'm almost certain the 70-300 Tamron is not...so you'll have to manually focus that one...but it should meter correctly.  Is the 18-55 the VR version (Vibration Reduction)?  I had one and it was a very sharp lens.

[ryan1835]

yeah it is a VR seems like a very nice lens. the tamron does auto focus, and it has a macro mode in 180-300 mm

AF 70-300mm 1:4-5.6 tele macro (1:2)

this is one of the first photos i took with that lens, in manual mode

[yud]

now ya need this http://flash.popphoto.com/blog/2010/06/ebay-oddity-nikon-zoom-lens-coffee-mugs.html

[jekostas]

One question, how important is a uv filter? I heard the stop sunlight damaging your lens?

UV light will not damage the coatings or glass of any modern dSLR lens, or the capture device (be it CCD or CMOS).

As to whether or not you "need" a UV filter, there are two schools of thought.

1.  Never, ever, ever, use them.  dSLR lenses are specifically designed to work with the glass included with the lens, and adding more can degrade image quality by introducing flare or chromatic aberrations in to an image (especially prevalent with cheap or old UV filters).
2.  Always, always use them.  A good, multi-coated UV filter (like a B+W or Hoya/Kenko Pro1d) will cut down on reflection from out-of-frame light sources and increase contrast and clarity when shooting.  Not only that, they protect the lens coatings from repeated cleaning, and scratches and cracks from "accidents".  The former can be helped by always using the lens hood, the latter is mostly luck.

Up to you, but saying you "need" a UV filter is rather definitively a thing of the past - UV light will not affect a digital capture medium as severely as it affects film.

[Neil]

As a filter, I wouldn't bother but as a means of expensive lens protection.... it depends on where you're using it.

If you're using it in "dirty" damp conditions go  for a filter, much cheaper to replace than your lens.  In "nice" conditions I wouldn't bother.

[ryan1835]

As a filter, I wouldn't bother but as a means of expensive lens protection.... it depends on where you're using it.

If you're using it in "dirty" damp conditions go  for a filter, much cheaper to replace than your lens.  In "nice" conditions I wouldn't bother.

thanks neil, i think ill just get some clear glass ones when needed

[Mr. Whippy]

As a filter, I wouldn't bother but as a means of expensive lens protection.... it depends on where you're using it.

If you're using it in "dirty" damp conditions go  for a filter, much cheaper to replace than your lens.  In "nice" conditions I wouldn't bother.

I use a Skylight filter for protection only.  It comes off in some circumstances.  The one thing that is nice is a circular polarizer.  That's the way to get impressive color and sky on bright sunny days.

[ryan1835]

Thanks again everyone XD I did join a photography forum but there a wee bit snobby...

You guys are much better =)

[yud]

what forum? If I might ask this the only "photography forum" I've been on

[Zack]

try photographyreview.com very similar feel.

[Chako]

Unfortunately, gear heads, especially those related to photo taking, tend to be a clannish lot.

Just do your own thing, read up on plenty of articles. Take many photographs trying out all sorts of settings, and most importantly, have fun doing it. You might wish to stay away from many forums for now. If you read too many of them, it can suck the joy out of photography...I know it does for me...and I consider myself an advanced amateur who taught photography for a 5 year period at the High School level, and still keep my hand in the Graphic Arts side of things at work.

[Neil]

I agree with Chako.  Get to grips with the technical details by all means but stay away from anything that tries to teach how to take "nicer"  pictures.

Back when I was a lad we had not tinternet and I learnt by reading books (funny things made from dead trees)

I quickly surmised that if you go by the books, all your pictures will look like the ones in the books.... and I didn't like the pictures in the books!

Do your own thing.

[ryan1835]

yeah i dont think ill be going back there...

ive got a book im reading but its old, i only used it to read up on aperture and lenses etc to learn a bit what each setting does its ancient as its all in film but gives you some idea

and doing my own thing is what i enjoy doing  there s a photography club in my town i might wander down there tomorrow and see what there like.....

[Chako]

Photography clubs are great places. I sometimes wish there was one around here at times.

Here are a few links you may find useful...

http://photographycourse.net/learn-photography

http://www.shortcourses.com/

http://www.fluffbucket.com/general/multimedia/camerafacts2.htm

http://photoinf.com/Golden_Mean/

Also, try out Opanda photofilter. I think you will find it useful..and its free.

http://www.opanda.com/en/pf/index.html


Also be sure to get yourself Adobe Photoshop Elements. Every photo needs some corrections to get the best out of it. Photoshop Elements will do everything you will need in terms of photography.

[ryan1835]

yeah i know i should get photoshop, i wont have a clue what im doing with it though XD

[Zack]

yeah i know i should get photoshop, i wont have a clue what im doing with it though XD

Picasa is also a nice little program.  I use it for basic stuff, actually every photo I post on here is processed through Picasa.  Is it a pro level program...no, but its nice and fairly light on the system.