New member with allot of questions! =)

[gsniegow]

Hello everyone. I just recently purchased the Digital Rebel with the lens. I must say I am very pleased with my purchase thus far. This is my very first SLR camera. I realize that most of you probably have far better cameras than this one, however considering my budget I went with what I believe was the best that I could.

That being said, I was hoping you might be able to answer some questoins for me.

1.) What lenses can I use on this camera? When I'm shopping around, what do I need to look for? I am thinking I would like a lens that went to 300mm and perhaps a Wide angle lens at minimum.

2.) Can I use other manufacturers lenses? If so, who are some of them?

3.) Filters. I have been reading this Photography Bible book and have learned of filters. I am thinking I would need a polarizer and perhaps a defuser filter. Once again, can I use any old filter or need it be a Canon filter?

4.) What do you shoot your pictures at? JPG or RAW?

I'm sure I'll have a ton more as this is all brand new to me. I hope I don't aggrevate anyone with what might apper to be simplistic questions.

I'll be trolling the forums quite a bit, hoping to learn new tips and tricks.

Thanks again.

[BlueTit]

Hi welcome to the forum, you have come to the right place. Suggest you read as much as you can here. Quick answers to your questions:

1) / 2) You can use Canon EF and EF-S lens. Or other brands made with a canon mount, Sigma Tamron etc make great lens to fit canon cameras.

3) You can use any brand, buy the size the fits your lens, they get very pricey when you are looking for large filters. Hoya are good. I would sort your lens out before worrying about polarizers and difusers, but you might was to get UV filters to protect your lens, they are the cheapest too.

4) Raw, but I started with jpg as the post processing is quicker. It's a presonal choice, though plently on here will tell you go for RAW. but to start off I think you might be better with jpg.

Check out the stickie posts at the top of each section, there is even a favourite lens for beginers. Check out http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=56752

Keep asking questions, no one mings, provided you have reasonably checked by searching if your question has been answered before. Enjoy.

[Bob_A]

Welcome to the forum gsniegow!

1. You can use any lens that has an EF lens mount (EF or EF-S). To get you from wide (how wide?) to 300mm there is a hugh variety of lenses to choose from. There are also big differences in cost and quality, so your budget can help narrow down your choices for you.

2. There are several manufacturers making lenses with the EF lens mount. You can even buy adapters to mount lenses meant for other camera bodies including those with the older style Canon FD mount. Typically manufacturers include Canon, Sigma, Tamron, Vivitar and Tokina.

4. If you use a polarizer, make sure it is a circular polarizer and not a linear one or else your autofocus will not work. Filters sould be high quality multicoated ... I've even read one article (wish I could find the thread again) where cheaper filters can lead to back-focus or front-focus problems. Also, you do not need any type of UV or Skylight filter on your digital SLR. The only ones that use a UV filter are those that are from the camp that feel it is needed to protect the lens.

4. JPEG or RAW is your choice. Personally I always shoot RAW because for me I like to correct white balance and exposure before conversion to jpeg.


Keep asking questions and have fun with your new DReb.


Bob

[condyk]

The Rebel is a great buy especially at the prices it's being offered at now. Nice choice!

As to lenses ... well you need to decide what kind of shots you want to take and what your budget it overall. It's good check out second hand options, but you need to be careful and know what to look for and what the best price should be. I've built most of my kit via buying and selling and haven't lost any money ... in fact, I'm in profit :-) Buying new can work out pricey, but you get a guarentee and can often exchange if you don't like a specific lens. Personal choice. After a week or two here you will get a feel for what people recommend and there is a HUGE amount of info beyond the first forum page, so worth a look around.

It's useful to check out people's Signatures, if they have one, as it can give a good guide about what is at least worth considering. Canon lenses tend to be more expensive than those from the likes of Sigma, Tamron and Tokina, but are not necessarily better. The Canon 'L' series lenses are considered the best broadly, but you need to check out lens by lens as sometimes there are better opotions from other brands at cheaper prices. Sigma has its EX series, which I would consider close to the Canon L series.

It's a bit of a minefield really, but there are plenty of people who can offer sound advice, but you need to be clear about your budget, what the lens will be used to shoot, and where you will use it, indoors, outdoors, whatever.

I would shoot RAW for serious shots, but when I am just messing around I use JPeg as it's easier to play with and I don't need to keep the results normally. Start with JPeg so you have less to learn and then, if you like, move to RAW later.

Hoya HMC are a good and reasonably priced range of filters.

[DocFrankenstein]

Welcome

you'll also need a good tripod, lenses, filters... what do you shoot?

[DocFrankenstein]

OH yeah, sell you rebel while you can, it'll make you bankrupt.

[gsniegow]

Thank you all for your kindness in replying.

As far as my budget goes, there really isn't one right now. I'm currently trying to educate myself as to what I need so I can set aside funds (deal in cash only, hate credit cards). I don't even consider myself an amatuer, I'm just a newb so I probably won't go into those super expensive ones that I've seen. At least just yet.

I've taken this curiosity and converted it into a hobby.

I currently purchased the camera for family pictures and such. I debated for a long time between high end point and click versus the lower end SLR. I chose the SLR obviously.

I have already gone beyond family photos though as I have started taking pictures of scenery, flowers, people on the street, pretty much just anything that I think I can take a picture of which tells a story.

As for the wide angle lens. I have seen and read about techniques where you actually point the camera down a bit and take the picture which leaves the illusion of a long road and such. I also find that I want to take pictures of my family with more surroundings as well. So that's why I am thinking of the wide angle lens.

Then I figured I would also need one with maybe up to 300mm zoom. Why? Well I will be visiting San Fransisco later this year. I thought it would be sweet to have the wide angle and zoom lens for pictures of Alcatraz and such.

LOL I don't know... SO many desires with what I want to do and I'm just getting started.

As for filters, I think I really need the polarizer basded on what I read. I was thinking the difuser as well because my friend is getting married in September and I hear that wedding photographers like to use them.

And finally... In regards to purchasing used as suggested above. Where? eBay? How do I know which of the used ones will work with my camera? I suppose I can always come here and ask! ;)

Thanks again!

[kbreit]

Actually, I just got the Digital Rebel XT on Wednesday and it's a great camera. While a lot of people do have the higher end D20, a ton of people have the XT, so you're in good company. I agree with condyk when he says that you should use JPEG until you're experienced and are doing some serious shots.

[condyk]

It MIGHT just be that a general walk around type lens may work for you now AND also form the core of any future upgrades you go for. Given you like the idea of wider then how about a Sigma 24-70 f2.8 EX DG Macro? I was close to buying this a while back but got the Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 instead ... no real reason and I would be happy with either.The Sigma will give a little extra on the wide end and both will be more usable indoors for those family type shots. Also the range is great for around town/city shots and general people hanging out. Both lenses are also OK for Macro shots, tho' not true 1 to 1 Macro by any means. Will still be Ok for your close up shots of flowers, etc. The zoom you can wait and learn as you don't need one yet it seems.

[ddelallata]

sent you a PM.

[Titus213]

Welcome to the forums. I would not consider your Digital Rebel to be lowly in any respects. Photography has more to do with the person behind the camera and how they see the world. Good equipment helps but you have good equipment. The kit lens with your camera is no slouch. It is capable of some good stuff if used properly (really ugly stuff if you use it like I do...). As to what other lenses, I would recommend you figure out what your kit lens won't do and go from there. But don't be persuaded by price only, buy the best quality lens you can afford and you will never regret it. Save a few bucks and you will generally be disappointed. You get what you pay for.

No one has mentioned software yet. Post processing is one of my favorite activities. I spend nearly every night working on the pictures I've taken. Adobe Photoshop is recognized as the best out there I think. Again, what you can afford. The Adobe Elements 3.0 looks to be a pretty good package. I've used Elements 2.0 but now use Photoshop 7.0 and find it much more capable.

Read all you can from the forums. These guys are very helpful and very knowledgeable for the most part. Use the lens section for some great lens reviews. Post processing threads are great for help in working on your photos. Basically it is all either here at POTN or here - http://www.luminous-landscape.com/

Have fun and stick to your budget. This hobby can get real expensive very fast....

[DocFrankenstein]

Photography has more to do with the person behind the camera and how they see the world.
Like a postage stamp at the end of a tunnel? :lol:

[lostdoggy]

Welcome to the World of DSLR!!!
Warning, Photyography can be very Additive and reading this site will cause severe Hemorraghing of your savings account.
Oh and don't forget to Order the Official POTN strap if you didn't already done so!!!

Good Luck

[Titus213]

Like a postage stamp at the end of a tunnel? :lol:

Sometimes! Someone here has a sig line that says they see the world in 4x6 patches. I often see it at 1/60 second intervals....and blurred.:lol: