Filters, zoom lenses etc.. HELP!

[Michaelmjc]

I have a Canon Powershot G1. It's a great camera, but when I take a picture of the sun, I often get a green mark on it. Like this.

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v352/michaelmjc/IMG_0329.jpg

I have heard people talking about zoom lenses, filters and all kinds of stuff. I would like to know a bit about this kind of stuff.

Also what is RAW mode?

Also how do you people get the pictures of humming birds, chameleons etc.. How do you get so close? I am somewhat new to photography.


Thanks alot,
Michael

[DocFrankenstein]

Welcome to the forum. I am quite new at photography too and like it a lot. I have to warn you, that it eats up a LOT OF MONEY. I've spent about 3 grand on photo equipment and I'm only starting. It sucks you in.

I have a Canon Powershot G1. It's a great camera, but when I take a picture of the sun, I often get a green mark on it. Like this.
I don't think there's a way to get rid of the lens flare, especially at angles like this. It's normal.

I have heard people talking about zoom lenses, filters and all kinds of stuff. I would like to know a bit about this kind of stuff.
There's just too much to read about...

First type in "photography FAQ" in google and read 2-3. Then read this:
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=22081

Or if you have a specific question, just post it.

Also what is RAW mode?
In short, it's when the camera does not compress or modify image in any way. You get to do it manually later. It's quite a complicated process and I didn't start recearching it.

Also how do you people get the pictures of humming birds, chameleons etc.. How do you get so close? I am somewhat new to photography.
For that kind of stuff, you're gonna need a body with intechangeable lens... something like Digital Rebel or 10D. Then you're gonna need a specific lens for your goal. Either a macro lens for the Chameleon or a 500 mm prime for the humming bird.

Those are expensive...

[G2Jim]

Michael, you should probably check out the following website.
http://www.lensmateonline.com/G1start.html
They sell a lens extension tube that you can add filters to, and expands the capabilities of your camera. I recommend a polarizing filter for bright outdoor shots to reduce water and leaf glare & bring out stronger colors, and also a set of close-up lenses to get macro shots. None of it is real expensive, as far as camera equipment goes.

[ScottK]

I have heard people talking about zoom lenses, filters and all kinds of stuff. I would like to know a bit about this kind of stuff.

...and...

Also how do you people get the pictures of humming birds, chameleons etc.. How do you get so close?

Some more thoughts on these...

I don't have the lensmate adapter, but have heard lots of great things about it, and will probably be getting one soon. But there is one thing to be aware of with it: the diameter at the end where you attach filters and lenses is 52mm. That's fine as long as your filters/lenses are also 52mm. If not, you may either need another adapter, or steping rings (these allow a filter/lens of one diameter to be screwed in to a fitting of a different diameter). The reason I mention this is this: if you want to attach a zoom lens (actually called a teleconverter, because the addon lens itself doesn't zoom), you'll want to consider the thread size of the lens you want to buy. My personal recommendation is to get Canon's teleconverter, because I believe it is specifically designed to work with the G series lens, and therefore provides a better quality picture. (Do some searching and comparison and make your own decision; that's just the conclusion I reached myself.) And the Canon TCs for the G series attach with a 58mm thread. So you would either need to use a step-up ring to use this lens with the lensmate adapter, or you would need to get the Canon adapter or another brand that fits 58mm. (The Canon adapter gets a bad rap for being plastic, mostly on the assumption that it could crack easily. I haven't seen any sign of weakness on my adapter - or the one I had on my A40 - nor have I ever actually read or heard of this happening to anyone. But maybe I'm isolated... :) )

Wheh, that got long, didn't it. But I'm not through....

As far as getting those close-up pictures of hummingbirds and chameleons, there is some truth in what DocFrankenstein said about using a camera body with interchangable lenses, I would stop short of saying you need that to be able to shoot those things. Just one example (not a chameleon, but a colorful lizard none-the-less) that I know of that was shot with a lowly A40 is here:
http://dpchallenge.com/image.php?IMAGE_ID=18556
I know someone on this forum also had a really sharp bumble bee close-up posted recently. I've also seen hummingbird shots, though haven't gotten any good ones myself yet. So it can be done with a point-n-shoot camera, especially in the G series range.

The catch is, it just can't be done as easily. The biggest issue is getting a good focus. Waiting for the autofocus to find it's spot while you're a few feet away from a hummingbird, lizard, or other skitish animal will often mean either getting questionable focus, probably because they move, or missing the shot alltogether when they run away. Using manual focus can help, though then you're guessing how far away the subject is beforehand, which may or may not be accurate. Also, be very slow, deliberate and patient. Often, you can get close enough for a decent shot just by slowly inching up to the subject. Try to avoid sudden movements, and have as much as you can (exposure, maybe focus) preset so your not fumbling with the camera.

A teleconverter can definitely help here, since it lets you stay a bit farther away. The tradeoff is that focusing can be even slower with the teleconverter (isn't always, but can be), and depending on lighting and how clean you keep the lens (which you end up handling quite a bit) the quality and sharpness of the picture can degrade slightly.

Another option, depending on how close you can get to the subject, are macro loupes/diopters/lenses/filters (I've been into this for a year and a half, and still can't figure out definitively what the correct label is). These will give you a slight magnification, but will let you get a good focus closer to the subject than you would be able to without.

So, don't give up or think you have to trade up to even try to get these kinds of shots. But be realistic and persistant, and you may be able to capture some great shots of this type yourself.