Noob Questions

[nedac]

I just got a Nikon D3100 and I have a couple noob questions:

-Filters to protect lenses? Yes or no?

-Online backup of pictures? Smugmug or flickr? Or should I go for a site that does it all like carbonite?

 

[alloyd1170]

Congrats on your new camera. As for filters, it's a personal preference. You will hear arguements for both sides. When I first got my baby, I got a UV filter for every lens. One saved my kit lens when it drop on a tile floor. It shattered, but my lens was fine thankfully. Nowadays, I treat my camera like a baby, but I don't use a UV filter for protection. It is another layer of glass that can reduce the quality of my photos. For you, it might not make a difference. I do however, use a lens hood all the time, even indoors. One, it prevents lens flare, and two, it offers better protection than a filter as it absorbs impacts (or so I've read). When I store my lenses, I just reverse the hood.

Backup, most serious photographers will tell you to have backups of backups, and even more backups. I store them on my computer, on a backup hard drive, dvds, and online (not all of them, just my good shots). I don't delete them off my memory card until I have at least 2 back up copies. Memory cards, computers, hard drives (yep, had one fall about a foot on to carpet and die on me), etc all can crash and burn. I even keep my portable hard drive and dvds in a fireproof gun safe.

I use SmugMug for online viewing, sharing, storage and have been very happy with them. Customer service is good. The few times I've contacted them I've gotten a response in less than 24 hours (some just a few hours). You can use their templates, do your own (I tinkered with the custom CSS after researching how), or pay to have it done.

 

[nedac]

Congrats on your new camera. As for filters, it's a personal preference. You will hear arguements for both sides. When I first got my baby, I got a UV filter for every lens. One saved my kit lens when it drop on a tile floor. It shattered, but my lens was fine thankfully. Nowadays, I treat my camera like a baby, but I don't use a UV filter for protection. It is another layer of glass that can reduce the quality of my photos. For you, it might not make a difference. I do however, use a lens hood all the time, even indoors. One, it prevents lens flare, and two, it offers better protection than a filter as it absorbs impacts (or so I've read). When I store my lenses, I just reverse the hood.

Backup, most serious photographers will tell you to have backups of backups, and even more backups. I store them on my computer, on a backup hard drive, dvds, and online (not all of them, just my good shots). I don't delete them off my memory card until I have at least 2 back up copies. Memory cards, computers, hard drives (yep, had one fall about a foot on to carpet and die on me), etc all can crash and burn. I even keep my portable hard drive and dvds in a fireproof gun safe.

I use SmugMug for online viewing, sharing, storage and have been very happy with them. Customer service is good. The few times I've contacted them I've gotten a response in less than 24 hours (some just a few hours). You can use their templates, do your own (I tinkered with the custom CSS after researching how), or pay to have it done.

Oh yeah, forgot about the hood. I have one that came with my 55-200mm lens. Never thought to use that. Thanks!

As for care, I hold it like a hand grenade, so I guess I shouldn't worry.

For backup, I have an external HD, but I am worried about my house burning down and losing the pics. I thought about getting another one and keeping it in my fireproof box. Maybe that's a wiser, though less convenient, idea.

 

[YesDear]

Welcome to the world of DSLR.

I agree the filter question is one of personal preference. I do use them and have had a filter save a lens. Others use lens hoods for protection.

I also agree with the multiple backups. I use a NAS and several backup drives as well as a program called Crashplan. Like Carbonite.

One thing I would encourage you to do from the beginning is to be brutal with yourself about which images you keep. If it is not in focus or not framed correctly and you have a better one, trash it! Keep only your best shots! That will mean you will keep about 10% tops of what you shoot tops!

Have fun!

 

[photo_chick]

People are sharply divided on the UV filter question. I don't use them. To me the trade off on image quality and increased flare isn't worth it. Especially when you're talking about entry level lenses where a good filter can easily cost more than the lens. But it's something everyone has to decide for themselves.

I use hoods.

Backup... you can never have too many backups. And you want at least one off site. Be it an online service or stashing a drive somewhere else, have one outside of your home. Smugmug will work, but it's not the easiest to use for retrieving mass amounts of files. And you want to backup everything, not just photos right? I mean, in addition to the threat of fire, flood or other natural disaster if you get burglarized they may take everything. Including your backups. You might want an off site backup system that covers all of your files.

 

[handicap18]

I don't use filters. Don't like them. I have hoods on all my lenses.

places like smugmug or flickr aren't really for "backup" though they will (depending on which service you sign up for) keep your full file jpeg. I used to use flickr, but I don't like their privacy/security policies. I've been using smugmug for a number of years now and love it. Great customer service and they have reasonable prices. I have the pro account and have actually gotten some use out of the "set your own prices" feature and made a few bucks. I also love that I can completely lock down a particular gallery. Comes in handy when offering to take pictures of my kids little league teams. Gives the parents a piece of mind that the pictures can't be found by searching and you need the link from me with the password.

I use carbonate to back up my files along with having a DVD backup of my RAW images and I also have a Time Machine (an Apple thing) backup to an external hard drive to backup my entire computer.

 

[dburg30]

filter.. as you've seen, personal choice.


Backup... yes.. yes.. yes.. However many places you can keep backups the better. But most importantly, you have to have something OFF SITE!!!! period!! Does no good to have your computer, a network storage device raided to keep it from failing, DVD copies in a safe all in the house if something horrible happens like a massive fire or something. Carbonite once set up is nice. the initial backup takes forever it seems, and anytime you add lots of new stuff.. I've also got mypcbackup that I'm trying out.. I also use smugmug.. I've learnt the hard way... you can NEVER have too many backups...

 

[ThurlFan]

Agree with the above, and just want to emphasize the importance of *off-site* backups.

When I was in graduate school, there was another student who scrupulously backed up their computer daily. Unfortunately, someone broke in and stole the computer and took the tray of floppy disks (insert age joke here) as well - including their entire dissertation. So yeah, having copies stored in a separate location from the computer is a good idea.

You don't have to subscribe to an online service (though I personally do), if you have a way to store the backup media at some other location. This could be at a friend or relative's house (someone that you really trust), or you could rent a safe deposit box from a local bank. I have online backups, plus DVDs stored in a safe deposit box, plus external hard drives at home.

This message brought to you by the Department of Redundancy Department.

 

[Nik's Mom]

I hope you like the D3100. I bought the same camera a couple months ago after my ancient D70 broke. Like everyone else, filters are a personal choice. I used to use filters, but don't anymore.

I love smugmug. I also back up my pictures on an external hard drive.