got my first dSLR 300D! (in addition to s200)

[piku]

okay, so i recently just got my 300D+kit from onecall. ultra2 512mb card on its way. i'm coming from a point-&-shoot background (s200). i've been looking at my imagestation gallery lately, and most of the pics i take are:

-indoor
-low light
-action

i am about to buy the "canon digital rebel accessory kit" from bestbuy which comes w/ the: 2400 camera bag, bp511 battery, and i think a haze filter (whatever that is haha). so pretty much, i have those to play around with till i gain more experience w/ dSLR photography.

i just want to know a few suggestions from amateurs/pros alike about the following:

-pointers to cleaning the camera/lens? would a $5-lens cleaning kit from ritz suffice? (its the quantaray, consists of blower-brush, liq.drops, and lens tissue)

-pointers to setting up nice low light pics w/ the bare accessories i have so far? how about actions shots, what settings have you found to work most of the time?

-indoor shots, pointers?

-heard about a hack to get some of the functionality of the 10D, is it worth doing it for someone like me? ...the flash thing might of use to me, as well as the servo? yay, or nay?

-last but not lest, accessories to get after a few months of getting accustomed to the 300D life? (in what order? ...ie battery grip? another lens that can serve of better use than the one provided? external flash? etc et)

i'm pretty much going to use this to take archives of social meetups of friends and family--nothing big at the moment. but as you can tell, i want to get things right quickly--as moments only last... at that moment, and only that moment haha =p

thanks in advance.

~sherwin

[c0ntr0lz]

welcome to the gang bud!!!!

[Andy_T]

Hi Sherwin,

one word of advice ... take your time :lol:

Your camera hasn't arrived yet, and you are asking whether you should install the hack to get you some functionalities you even don't know whether you'll need them or not.

Try out the camera, practise something.
Read all the interesting threads on this forum. I am not kidding you. When I first found the forum, I spent some evenings reading through all threads that seemed somehow interesting to me. Such an incredible amount of knowledge.

You'll think about also getting your first addtional lens, though: the 50 mm f/1.8.

It's a great lens (a lot sharper than the kit lens and a lot faster with the 1:1.8 ) at a great price (80$), so it should be in every bag. It's THE cheap low light lens.

The only reason not to get it is ... you decide to spend considerably more money (350 $) to get the 1:1.4 version. Although this lens is more durable than the 1:1.8 version and a bit faster, it certainly is not 4 times as good as the other one.

Best regards,
Andy

[PhotosGuy]

would a $5-lens cleaning kit from ritz suffice?
That will be OK for lens cleaning but be sure not to put the liquid directly on the lens - put it on the cleaning tissue (1 drop) & use the tissue on the lens. Better, clean the lens & filter. Then never take the filter off! Use whatever you want to clean the filter. Most cheap ones aren't coated so it's hard to hurt them. After a few years, throw it away & get anothwer one.

-indoor shots, pointers?
There's a lot of info already in this forum on that & other subjects relating to lenses, accessories, cleaning, & the 300D. Do a search.

[timmyquest]

-pointers to cleaning the camera/lens? would a $5-lens cleaning kit from ritz suffice? (its the quantaray, consists of blower-brush, liq.drops, and lens tissue)

Get a lens cloth for your glass

Get something to blow the dust out of the body


-pointers to setting up nice low light pics w/ the bare accessories i have so far? how about actions shots, what settings have you found to work most of the time?


Setting knowledge will only come in time my friend, as for the low light pics (And for all other photography) get the 50mm f/1.8 lens


-indoor shots, pointers?


Se above, also look into getting a 420EX or even better the 550EX


-heard about a hack to get some of the functionality of the 10D, is it worth doing it for someone like me? ...the flash thing might of use to me, as well as the servo? yay, or nay?


Cant hurt (if ya do it right) although i doubt you'll use any of them right now.


-last but not lest, accessories to get after a few months of getting accustomed to the 300D life? (in what order? ...ie battery grip? another lens that can serve of better use than the one provided? external flash? etc et)


In order

50mm f/1.8 $70
Battery grip
550ex $300 (you could get the 420 but...why skimp on something that'll out live your camera)

[piku]

In order

50mm f/1.8 $70
Battery grip
550ex $300 (you could get the 420 but...why skimp on something that'll out live your camera)

best/recommended places to get these? (top 3 if possible)

also, what tripod do you recommend? july 4th is coming up soon, and i would like to shoot some fantastic fireworks =p

[piku]

^TTT

whats a good price for the grip these days?

[roanjohn]

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[roanjohn]

piku:

Check out http://www.pricegrabber.com/

Browse through different sellers and see which company gives you the cheapest price on your specific product.

BEFORE YOU CLICK THE BUY BUTTON - make sure you cross reference the company on http://www.resellerratings.com

I usually get my gears from beachcamera, buydig, 17photo, adorama and of course..........the grandDADDY of cameras B&H.

If I have to recommend additional "stuff" for your new Rebel, it would be these:

1. 50 f1.8 - If you can find it.............I am not a big "Flash" person so this lens at 1.8 allows me to take indoor shots without flash. Don't be scared to bump your ISO even up to 1600.

2. Tripod - make sure to get the good kind right away............The last thing you want to happen on the field is a weak tripod that sways or break. I would spend around 150-250 at least!!!

3. A "decent" walkaround lens. Nothing against the kit lens as it takes great photos..........but a lens like the Tamron 28-75 f2.8 or the Canon 28-135 IS might be a good addition to your bag (though I would recommend the Tamron).

The reason I don't think you should get the grip right away is that it doesn't really make any difference in your photos. It adds additional weight to the camera and gives it better balance but I don't think its a #1 priority.

If you don't mind using flash........then I would suggest an external flash. If you're a tad leary on downloading the hack......then get the 550 ex. IF you're not........then you can probably live with the 420 ex.

Okay..................I think I'll wrap this up now.

Ro1

[piku]

thanks for the advise everyone.

roan:
true, i'll hold up on the grip, and maybe save up for the "walkaround" lens; my 50mm f1.8 is on its way from onecall (~$76 flat). care to explain the difference and advantages of the tamron vs. the canon, and why you picked the tarmon over the canon? if not, its all good.

yes, i'm not a fan of the built-in flash (300d is still og firmware); but i do like taking indoor pics w/ natural light, and/or light-source. i like the pics you have taken at 1.8.
----

anyone got pointers/saved-favorites to articles in this forum (or another) on maximizing the use of the 50mm f1.8 lens w/ the 300D? that'll be great as its arriving on wednesday--can't hardly wait to get better low light shots.

TIA everyone.