Filters

[boBQuincy]

I agree, at the beach a scratch on the lens is only one worry and not the biggest one. I use a modified ziploc bag as described by WillCad in one of his threads. It works well, costs almost nothing, and provides adequate protection as long as we don't go in the water.

Try to keep it out of the sun as much as possible, it heats up in there.

 

[Poohbear5]

Thanks all!
I'll try to find the Willcad thread about the ziploc..

 

[NateNLogansDad]

Extreme newbie here. I have recently learned that there are other settings on my camera besides AUTO . Anyway, in the last month or two I have learned SO much by reading on here and PRACTICE. So first I want to say THANK YOU for all of the info you guys put out there. Even stuff from yrs ago is helping newbies like me.

Now for my question. Is there a type of lens or filter that would help me taking night shots?

I currently have a PnS (Nikon Coolpix P80) and lenses are hard to come by it seems. I found 2x and 10x telephoto, .20x and .42 fisheye, and .5 wide angle but that's about it. (To be honest, I don't really know what they do but I am slowly piecing it together.) Would any of these help?

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Is there a type of lens or filter that would help me taking night shots?

I currently have a PnS (Nikon Coolpix P80) and lenses are hard to come by it seems. I found 2x and 10x telephoto, .20x and .42 fisheye, and .5 wide angle but that's about it. (To be honest, I don't really know what they do but I am slowly piecing it together.) Would any of these help?

What are you trying to accomplish? Less blur? Better exposure?

 

[NateNLogansDad]

I bought a small tripod that I'm hoping would help with the blur, so I guess I'm looking for better exposure. (?) I am totally facinated by some of the pictures I have seen on here from both Wishes and Spectromagic. The color in some of these pictures is just amazing and the clarity I used to think was impossible. My wife thinks I'm nuts because, like I said in the first post, I just found out not too long ago that I could make my own adjustments when I turn the knob off of AUTO

 

[VVFF]

I bought a small tripod that I'm hoping would help with the blur, so I guess I'm looking for better exposure. (?) I am totally facinated by some of the pictures I have seen on here from both Wishes and Spectromagic. The color in some of these pictures is just amazing and the clarity I used to think was impossible. My wife thinks I'm nuts because, like I said in the first post, I just found out not too long ago that I could make my own adjustments when I turn the knob off of AUTO

A lens isn't going to change your exposure on a P&S. The only thing you'll be changing is the field of view.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I just found out not too long ago that I could make my own adjustments when I turn the knob off of AUTO

I understand the feeling. Many of us here have had that same lightbulb moment. Welcome to the club.

If you're going to spend money improving your photography, you'll probably want to look into upgrading your camera as opposed to buying lenses and such for a point and shoot. It's limited in what it can do, although with practice, you can definitely improve your shots - without additional lenses or filters.

One of the best places to start is probably to begin learning about photography basics. There is a book that lots here like called Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson; and another I like for real newbies called Kodak's Most Basic Book of Digital Photography. Both can be found on Amazon.

Once you figure out the basics you could try applying them to your current camera. You'll have fun learning and trying out new things. But at some point, like many of us, you may decide you want/need something more.

Remember that some of the more amazing pictures you see here are from people who've been at this for many years and have really great equipment. Others are newer to it but have invested time, and often money, into learning the craft and improving their equipment. Surely there are great photos out there, too, with point and shoot cameras, but usually the person behind the camera is quite skilled at photography in general and can make that baby sing, LOL. I guess once in a while someone gets lucky, but usually it's more about the person knowing how to get the most out of it. Start there.

 

[zackiedawg]

For night shots, you don't need any filters or special lenses. In fact, filters can sometimes give unwanted reflections, so you're usually better without.

The keys to nicely exposed night shots, assuming you are willing to take the time to set up the shot and not looking for hand-held candid style shots, are:

Tripod - or at least a level surface to put the camera down on.
Self-timer - or remote release - anything that lets the camera snap the shutter without your hands on it.
Low ISO - set your camera to the lowest ISO setting available, be it 80, 100, or 125.
Longer shutter speeds - things that are moving will blur or streak, but things standing still will come out sharp, detailed, and nicely lit, with that crisp night shot look most people like. Longer shutter times will give you great colors and bright, vibrant lighting, while shorter shutters will retain more of the dark composure for more realistic dark-sky appearances...how long you choose is based on what you want to achieve.

Manual mode is usually best, once you get to know how to set shutter speed and aperture for the right effect. But until you master that, you can use the Night Scene mode (usually looks like a moon icon), or you can use Shutter Priority mode and set the shutter to 5 seconds or so...check the results and if you want it brighter, go longer on the shutter, or darker, go shorter.

 

[NateNLogansDad]

Guys and Gals, thank you all so much .
After getting used to the camera, I started to see lens after lens on the internet, and before I start dishing out money I wanted some info from the pros. I had a feeling a different camera would be my best bet but I'm going to keep practicing with the one I have for now. The daytime pictures come out real nice with minimal adjustment even if there's some movement in the background. I really want to keep practicing the darker shots before we go back to Disney (67 more days! ) so I can be proud of the pics I bring home.

This past weekend I was able to take quite a few indoor/dark shots when I took my wife to a David Cook concert (and got to play with the settings ALOT since I'm not really into him that much.) I blushed a little when she said a few of my pics could have been in a magazine or a fansite Maybe she's just trying to boost my ego a little but I'll take it!

 

[NateNLogansDad]

I think tomorrow may call for a trip to the library and check out some of the basic books.

 

[jann1033]

adorama has a good series of tip of the day tips and some include p&s tips...most are basic but ya gotta start somewhere http://www.adorama.com/Catalog.tpl?op=academy_new&article=100in100

 

[NateNLogansDad]

Thank you! I'm going to check it out now! (Beats working)

 

[11290]

Took this one a couple of weeks ago. Needs straightening (seems that a lot of my pictures lately have been leaners and no I do not have one leg shorter than the other and my name is not Eileen ) and some cropping but it was taken handheld with ISO 800 in "P Mode" with a Canon Xsi (450D). Not the "greatest" technically, a bit soft, but it is one that I was pretty happy with. Would have been better with a tripod (didn't have with me), a lower ISO and a longer exposure, but as I said, I am pretty happy with it.

 

[NateNLogansDad]

Very nice! Maybe this week I'll learn how to post up some pics of my progress. It's comming along but the real teset starts May 31!

 

[jann1033]

Took this one a couple of weeks ago. Needs straightening (seems that a lot of my pictures lately have been leaners and no I do not have one leg shorter than the other and my name is not Eileen ) and some cropping but it was taken handheld with ISO 800 in "P Mode" with a Canon Xsi (450D). Not the "greatest" technically, a bit soft, but it is one that I was pretty happy with. Would have been better with a tripod (didn't have with me), a lower ISO and a longer exposure, but as I said, I am pretty happy with it.

see if you tilt your head, i kept coming up with photos one or two degrees off and couldn't figure out why...till i realized i was tilting my head slightly when i shot

 

[11290]

Another one, handheld, 1/8 second, ISO 400 earlier in the evening. Still a little bit of a leaner.

 

[NateNLogansDad]

This is my first attempt at posting a pic. It's from yesterday at work, we went out for some fresh air and there he was. I had the camera in my pocket so I tried a shot. First one was off, there's the 2nd. He was up about 60 ft or so.

 

[NateNLogansDad]

Cool, I'm shocked at how easy it is to post pics!

Here's a sample of my progress.....


This is how I was....

this was last weekend.....

 

[kyak]

Hey everyone, I leave for WDW on Sunday (Wahooo!) followed by a week-long cruise, and just purchased a mess of new filters for my camera. I don't know how I should store them.

I have a total of 6 filters now, but I need a recommendation for a good case for them (one will always be on camera, so will need room for at minimum 5 filters). I'd prefer a hard case or something more compact than the filter wallets (something I can slide into a lens spot in my bag). Any suggestions? I am probably going to be buying from Adorama since shipping is pretty quick.

My filters are 67mm, which from my searches appears to be the odd size out. Everything I see online is either 52mm or 82mm. Would my filters be okay in a case made for 82mm filters?

 

[Spectro is #1]

I don't use filters anymore, I can reproduce the same effects with Photoshop but I use to use a filter wallet. They are around $20 bucks and come in different configurations. The trick is to buy a wallet design that will fit in you bag. Do a google search for filter wallet.
Have a great Trip!