Polarizer and Macro lens questions...

[Mike330R]

This is my first post here. This has been both a great site and a bad site.
Great because I have read none stop for days and learned a lot. Tons of great info here and it is appreciated!
It has been bad because it is going to make me more spend money :)

I have been taking pictures for a long time with fixed lens camera's.
I will be receiving a Digital Rebel kit and a 75-300 zoom next week and am excited about getting a 'real' (SLR) camera. Most of my pictures are landscape or action. Most of these are in very bright conditions in the desert, bright sun and bright sand. Which polarizer lens would you suggest for the above mentioned lens'?

The next lens I'd like is the EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro to get some close up shots out in the desert.

Looking on B&H's site they list an Imported and a USA lensurl]. The USA lens is $20 more.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?A=ShowProduct&kw=CA10028MEFQ&Q=&O=&sku=194451
What is the difference?

Thanks for any info and I am sure I will have tons more questions!

[cgratti]

I dont think you get the warranty with imported lenses. Only the USA lenses.

[mikeg]

For the difference between both have a look at :

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist.jsp&A=getpage&Q=GreyMarketStati c.jsp

It's just a question of warranty...

The imported one means that you've to send it back to BH for any repairs under warranty ...



MikeG

[Canuck]

As mikeg said you will have tyo mail the int'l (also called greymarket) one B&H for warantee, and the US one you can sent to Canon for repair. If it were me, for $20 more I'd go for the US version.

I see you are looking at the 300D; I have a 10D. The 300D wasn't out when I initially purchased it in Mar, 03. It came a month later, the very end of April, 03.

[Mike330R]

Thanks for the info.
US version it is.

Can't wait to use the 300D! :)

[JKSinMB]

A Hoya multicoated circular polarizer would be a fine choice. Given your description of the shooting conditions, it sounds like you will need a solution to the 300D's limited dynamic range to avoid blown-out highlights. One option is the use of a graduated neutral density filter. Your other option is to set an exposure that allows for detail in the highlights (likely the sky or sand in your situation) and then adjust underexposed areas of the image during post processing. This topic is well covered on the message boards. You will want to reseach it a bit before shooting. Good luck.