Newbie seeks lens advice

[The Butcher]

Hello everyone! I just purchased my first digital camera, a Canon PowerShot A95. I was also convinced by the salesman to purchase a couple of lenses at the same time. The brand is Merkury, although on the lens it says Vision Optics Titanium Made in Japan. One is a 2.0 telephoto and the other is a 0.48 macro lens ($150 for both). He also sold me a UV filter/lens protector ($40) that can be used on top of the lens adapter tube (included with lenses).

I have some questions about this -

#1 Will using the filter and lens adapter without a lens affect the pictures that I take?

#2 Do I really need the filter?

#3 What is the quality of these lenses?

#4 As a beginner, trying to learn how to take good pictures, do I really need these lenses?

#5 Did I do OK on the prices I paid for these things?

[Andy_T]

Hi Butcher,

welcome to the forum 8)

I can not answer all your question, as I have not used the lenses in question.

#1 Your camera's lens will be protected in case you drop it. The filter should not deteriorate the quality of the image. I *think* (meaning ... I guess) the UV filter can help incertain situations, e.g. if there is haze to get the picture a bit better.

It will also make your camera more bulky.

#2 not sure about this (see #1)

#3 sorry, don't know the lenses. Take some photos and post the results.
If the lens is not very good, you will notice it most in the corners of the image (especially with the wide angle lens)

#4 If you want to get wide angle or telephoto shots. Other than that, maybe start without the lenses first.

#5 I think I saw similar sets from vision optics cheaper (100$) on eBay ... do a search there.

Best regards,
Andy

Last but not least ... there's another forum called 'Compact digital cameras' forum. Most A series owners read the posts in this forum. It might be even more approproate for your question.

Note: Do NOT post the same question a second time there. People will answer in this thread or the other and everything will be messed up.

Maybe a Moderator can move this thread there...