couple questions

[Gliderparentntn]

I just got my XTi and my Canon 17-55 IS lense and need to ask do you guys use a clear lense protector on your lenses in case of scratches?

If you do where's the best place to get one?

Next would be spare battery.... There's the Canon battery and then the others which are way cheaper can i get opinions on what to stay away from and whats best and where to find them?

Here's a pic I took yesterday of a rescued Sugar Glider.

The camera setting was auto and I left the quality at the highest setting.



I'm a rookie but hope to take some classes in the future to learn more about manual settings.

Thanks for your help.

James

[WildWolf]

some people use a uv filter to protect the lens. I (and more than a few others) use the lens hood. Your lens did not come with a hood but it is fairly reasonable to purchase.

I have a sterling battery which works fine. Good luck.

[Rafromak]

Keep in mind that you can use a lens brush to brush dust off the lens without scratching it. You can accomplish the same with one of the "bulb" camera lens brushes (these have a rubber bulb you can use to blow the dust off the lens, as well as a lens brush). However, you can buy a UV filter you can leave mounted on the lens all the time. I would recommend that you buy a good quality filter, however. You can shop around to get a good deal for one.

Forgot to mention that your question relating to filters have been asked in this forum quite a lot of times, and there are lots of good answers here:
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/...d.php?t=301087

[Swift]

Hi James,
You really do not need to pay to understand how to work the manual settings. Paying won't get you everything, and in this case it might, but it will be better for your finance if you leave your wallet alone when it comes to getting taught about manual settings...

Just borrow books from your local library and read up on how to use the settings. Or, you can purchase some inexpensive books if you feel it will give you an understanding. Or better yet, find someone on the forums (or somewhere on the forums) that can help you or that explain to you how to use these settings in Manual mode. I would help, but it will take a while to explain each setting (not to mention for free).

I don't use a UV Filter (the protector that goes over your lens) for three reasons:

1. Waste of money, everyone tells you to buy the best one otherwise it is not worth buying.

2. It can soften images

3. If you get a scratch on the UV Filter you will have to buy a new one.

Instead, I use a hood over my lens. A hood is cheap and convenient because it works the same as the UV Filter but without the cons and more pros.

For example, the hood can protect your lens when you drop it. When you drop it the floor will not hit the lens, instead hit the hood. If it were to hit a UV Filter without a hood, then there would be a huge scratch on the filter and you would have to buy a new (expensive) one.

The hood will protect the lens from scratches when you accidentely bump it against something near you, like a desk edge. The edge of the desk will not contact the lens of the lens because the hood is protecting it.

The hood will also reduce glare and whatever it's job is...

About the extra battery, I do not have a battery grip nor an extra battery. My batteries for my 350D last very long, and I rarely charge it. However, when needing charged, I just leave it charged overnight. That way I don't have to worry about it not being charged when I wake up.

I hope I helped make the right decision,
Swift

[Gliderparentntn]

Thanks guys......

Swift......

What Hood cover should I look for?

Next is what books do I need to read and learn from? I have always wanted to get a bit more serious with manual settings but up until now. my other SLR is a EOS Elan and heck with using a film camera I wouldn't know what settings I did on what photo and plus more than likely I would had wasted tons of film in playing. So I just let the camera figure it out and used the auto settings. Now days with the Digitals you can see instantly if you have a good or bad picture. I know the lens I have is probably over kill for an XTi but I figure one day as I save for a 5d I'll already have a good lense.
Anyhow if you can suggest some books I can pick up I'd be glad to begin reading and learning.

James

[Lostboy77]

Yes to both.

[runninmann]

Originally Posted by Gliderparentntn

Thanks guys......

Swift......

What Hood cover should I look for?

Next is what books do I need to read and learn from? I have always wanted to get a bit more serious with manual settings but up until now. my other SLR is a EOS Elan and heck with using a film camera I wouldn't know what settings I did on what photo and plus more than likely I would had wasted tons of film in playing. So I just let the camera figure it out and used the auto settings. Now days with the Digitals you can see instantly if you have a good or bad picture. I know the lens I have is probably over kill for an XTi but I figure one day as I save for a 5d I'll already have a good lense.
Anyhow if you can suggest some books I can pick up I'd be glad to begin reading and learning.

James

This is the hood for the 17-55 http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...lue=425812_USA

[tcrank]

I picked up extra sterlingteks (www.sterlingtek.com) they work great. You probably want more than a single spare though - One back on the charger, a spare in your camera bag, and one in use at least - I have another 'cause sooner or later one does go bad!

Might want to look at a circular polarizing fliter (CPL for short) if you shoot near water and want to cut the glare, or just to darken blue skies a bit more.

Hey digitals are the best for learning - just set a mode and shoot away! you can erase your mistakes and it costs you nothing extra! Like the song says, 'the good ole days weren't always so good..." 8 bucks for a roll of film, 8 more to process, only to find yout your settings were off and they are all too blurry! Not to mention a week or two wait to find that out!

Good luck - the squirrelly thing is cute - bet he can give you a mean nip though! Me- I got the standard gray squirrels, and they just chewed the gas line on my lawn tractor!!

[tcrank]

Just googled sugar gliders - hope he wasn't offended callin' him a squirrelly thingie - I see he's a marsupial, more like our possums (those I don't have a problem with G'day!!

[SkipD]

Hi, James...

First off, very few folks including the manufacturers of camera equipment waste an extra "e" for the word lens .

I have never used any sort of clear filter as "protection" for my lenses over the four decades plus that I've used SLR cameras. I have, though, always used properly designed (for each individual lens) rigid lens hoods on any lens that's out of the camera case.

A lens hood goes a long way to improving images by blocking stray light (from outside the scene that you are photographing) that could cause flare in your images.

A properly designed rigid (as opposed to the cheap collapsible rubber) lens hood also provides a very significant amount of protection against damage to the lens by the everyday knocking around that lenses usually get. The hood will usually keep your own fingers off the lens.

The only situations that I would recommend use of a clear filter for "protection" include blowing sand, rain, and situations where your subject (small children, dogs, etc.) might decide to mess up your lens. Again, though, I have never used a clear filter and the glass in all my old lenses are still in pristine condition even though use has worn finish off the exterior surfaces.

If you do choose to use a clear filter, make sure it is the best possible quality multicoated filter to avoid the problems you can have with cheap filters. The cheapies can cause all sorts of reflections that will mess up your images.