New to photography... wanting to learn... Some questions

You are getting married, not going on a photo safari.

I'd travel light, forget filters, tripod and rely on your 55-250 lens. If circumstances were different, then yes, take everything but the kitchen sink. I often do, but not on this particular trip. You should have other priorities!

I had a lot to read first thing this morn LOL. Thanks to everyone for the responses. I have had the camera for a few weeks now. Personally i hate using the Green Box to me that takes the fun out of it. I try to use everything else except that. I use a lot of CA, TV , AV, very few on M. I think so far i have taken some nice photos. I will post some later when i get home. I agree with everyone's post. I think a lens and flash are out for a while. I just dont have the $$$. The filter's i own i dont know much about. Since i have owned the camera i have most likely taken about 3,000 shots atleast. I kept about 500, there not all amazing but they were moment to remember never the less. We are both really excited about having the camera for the wedding and the trip. Alot of our family members will not be able to come so we wanted to take a lot photo's.

Question just to clarify if i may.....
I should not use the UV filter at night, use a CPL filter?


I also do plan on bringing my laptop, so i can back up the photos on there just in case. Or even to free up space.

Editing software i am still confused on what to buy. I hate buying things then upgrading. So i was either thinking of light room, or even CS5 when the funds permit me lol.

Monk84 wrote in post #10652456
Question just to clarify if i may.....
I should not use the UV filter at night, use a CPL filter?

As said above - if your UV filters are cheap filters (and they probably are if they were part of a kit and unless you really knew what you were buying) I would leave them OFF the lenses all the time. You're likely to get better images if you don't use cheap filters.

A polarizing filter is used for particular effects. Typically these include darkening blue skies and allowing the camera to "see through" reflections on non-metallic surfaces such as water, glass, and paint. You would NOT want to use a polarizing filter at night under normal conditions, as they cut out about 1-1/2 stops worth of the light available to the lens.

SkipD wrote in post #10652492
As said above - if your UV filters are cheap filters (and they probably are if they were part of a kit and unless you really knew what you were buying) I would leave them OFF the lenses all the time. You're likely to get better images if you don't use cheap filters.

A polarizing filter is used for particular effects. Typically these include darkening blue skies and allowing the camera to "see through" reflections on non-metallic surfaces such as water, glass, and paint. You would NOT want to use a polarizing filter at night under normal conditions, as they cut out about 1-1/2 stops worth of the light available to the lens.

Understood.

What is a quality filter?

And where can i get them?

I play paintball, and i am outdoors a lot. So i would like to have the protection of a filter.

My personal filter brand of choice is B+W - but other highly rated brands are Tiffen and Hoya.

You can purchase them at online stores like bhphoto.com or adorama.com

Monk84 wrote in post #10652529
Understood.

What is a quality filter?

And where can i get them?

I play paintball, and i am outdoors a lot. So i would like to have the protection of a filter.

Good brands of filters include Hoya and B+W. However, even those brands include some filters I wouldn't even consider. You need to get the best quality multicoated filters to avoid a lot of image degradation when there are bright sources of light (either direct or reflections) that can impinge on the filter. BHPhoto and Adorama are the first places I would look, but several folks here have found Asian vendors who can provide the same product at better pricing.

Using the lens hoods that are recommended by the lens manufacturers (different for each specific lens) will help improve your images by blocking stray light. Rigid lens hoods also provide a lot of physical protection for lenses, as they keep your fingers off the glass and ward off the daily bumps that the front of a lens will be subjected to.

As far as paintball is concerned - there are few, if any, photographic filters that can take a direct impact without shattering. Driving a mess of shattered glass shards and paint into my lens is NOT something I would want done to my lenses. I have heard that there is one filter type that is designed to be less prone to breaking on impact but I cannot tell you who manufacturers it or what they call it.

If I were going to photograph paintball games, I would be inclined to get some optical quality plastic, similar to Lexan, and make an impact-resistant cover for my lens. I would probably mount it inside a lens hood rather than to the filter threads on a lens.

Mr. Borneo wrote in post #10652563
My personal filter brand of choice is B+W - but other highly rated brands are Tiffen and Hoya.

You can purchase them at online stores like bhphoto.com or adorama.com

Tiffen is not highly rated. Quite the contrary. The best brands/product lines are B+W (their MRC multi-coated filters), Heliopan (SH-PMC multicoated) or Hoya (S-HMC or HD multicoated) filters. I use B+W, both UV and circular polaizing filters exclusively. As you're heading to a tropical island, I'd suggest getting a circular polarizer; it'll help cut glare from sunlight reflecting off the water or sand and will also let you deepen the blue of the sky. Just remember that the effect of a polarizing filter is directional; it'll be strongest when you're looking at right angles to the sun. And you'll have to rotate the filter to see where you get the best effect for any given photo.

Monk84 wrote in post #10652529
Understood.

What is a quality filter?

And where can i get them?

I play paintball, and i am outdoors a lot. So i would like to have the protection of a filter.

you might want to check out Hoya HD filters. there are some demo videos out there showing how they can take some punishment. you may want to get a rain cover as well.

The current filters i own are ProMaster MC - UV... Any good?

First thing, take the camera out and take some shots, sunsets, sunrise, flowers etc. Shoot a few of cool buildings in your area. Don't worry about settings and such just yet. Just get some time with your camera learning how to "see" through the viewfinder. Learn how it focuses on just basic stuff. You may or may not create masterpieces on the very first day but learn how to trip the shutter, hold the camera properly, turn it on and off and how to change the lens.

There is very good basic information on photography in the Canon manual and on their website. Take a look. Make sure that your quick start guide and they manual are in your camera bag should you want them.

Later on learn what the information is in the vue finder and on each screen on the lCD. I have taught and sold numerous kits, and classes and many folks want to get mired in numbers and such. I say have some fun first, then learn what you did or could have done better with those images.

For software, I would look closely at Lightroom. I had PSE for a few years and a few months back got Lightroom 2. Love it. LR 3 came out recently, but not sure how it compares or what it offers over LR2. In either case, I find LR a joy to work with. I added the Nik plug-in package for LR2 and find it along with LR does all I need. Just get a good book to go with it. That would be more than enough to get you started in pp. A very important part of digital photography for sure.

Hoya, Heliopan, and B&W are tops in filters. But as said above, they make some cheaper stuff as well. Expect to pay $100+ on a premium CPL and $40+ on premium UV filter. I have been pleased with the Hoya Pro1 and HD CPL and UV filters. Check out the website 2filter.com for better prices than B&H and Adorama. I love B&H, but their prices on filters are higher than 2filter.

I'd ALSO recommend a Circular Polarizer filter (especially for any wide angle lens you use).

All of the responses have great advice however

Regarding the tripod, make sure you get a decent tripod. Forget Walmart or Target. They sell the same model tripod, which I previously owned. POS!!! Sure it will hold the camera, but it was hard to keep the camera level, not because of the legs, but the base the camera sits on. Plus that base was poorly designed, the camera would bounce up and down whenever I pressed and released the shutter. Kind of defeats the purpose of using a tripod. I think I could have kept it steadier drunk.

ecub wrote in post #10665713
Regarding the tripod, make sure you get a decent tripod. Forget Walmart or Target. They sell the same model tripod, which I previously owned. POS!!! Sure it will hold the camera, but it was hard to keep the camera level, not because of the legs, but the base the camera sits on. Plus that base was poorly designed, the camera would bounce up and down whenever I pressed and released the shutter. Kind of defeats the purpose of using a tripod. I think I could have kept it steadier drunk.

Lol i got a decent one i believe from Best Buy, It was on sale and looked half decent. Sunpak 6200DX for $36.99.

I saw the specs on it on B&H and it looks somewhat decent. Keep in mind, it supports up to 4.4lbs. You can also buy additional quick release plates for it in case you lose that one. Buying additional quick release plates is one of my considerations of buying a tripod/tripod head. I have a real good tripod, which I had for over 10 years, but is useless, since I lost the quick release plate. I found a place where I could order quick release plates, but they're not specifically designed for the tripod I have.