Suggestions needed -- 1st DSLR

[MIDisFan]

OK, I went into BB on Wednesday night to look at the cameras one more time and I decided that I would go with the 30D. For some reason the D80 grip felt awkward, I think it is slightly more squared off than the 30D. Originally, I thought about going with the XT or XTi to leave me more room in my budget for lenses, but I would rather have the better camera and get better lenses later as I learn more.

I ended up ordering the 30D with the 28-135 IS lens. That lens seems to get decent reviews and I was thinking it might be a better everyday lens than the 18-55 kit lens. I will probably order the 70-200 F/4 and the 50 1.8 (Since it's so cheap) relatively soon.

Other than CF cards and extra batteries, what else might I want to get to get started with my new outfit? Is their a particular brand of filters that is better than others?

I would also like to apologize if I offended anyone with some of my comments in regards to brands or lenses. I'm sure most of you realize that I have a lot to learn I'll try to keep my foot out of my mouth but please have patience with me as I learn. Thanks everyone!

 

[Master Mason]

OK, I went into BB on Wednesday night to look at the cameras one more time and I decided that I would go with the 30D. For some reason the D80 grip felt awkward, I think it is slightly more squared off than the 30D. Originally, I thought about going with the XT or XTi to leave me more room in my budget for lenses, but I would rather have the better camera and get better lenses later as I learn more.

I ended up ordering the 30D with the 28-135 IS lens. That lens seems to get decent reviews and I was thinking it might be a better everyday lens than the 18-55 kit lens. I will probably order the 70-200 F/4 and the 50 1.8 (Since it's so cheap) relatively soon.

Other than CF cards and extra batteries, what else might I want to get to get started with my new outfit? Is their a particular brand of filters that is better than others?

I would also like to apologize if I offended anyone with some of my comments in regards to brands or lenses. I'm sure most of you realize that I have a lot to learn I'll try to keep my foot out of my mouth but please have patience with me as I learn. Thanks everyone!

Depending on what your shooting, a tripod might be good, something to carry it all around in, if your shooting sports I highly reccomend a monopod

 

[MIDisFan]

Depending on what your shooting, a tripod might be good, something to carry it all around in, if your shooting sports I highly reccomend a monopod

Ok, I have the first two covered. Probably won't be shooting a lot of sports until school starts back up, so I'll hold off on a monopod. Any recommendations for a particular brand of protective/uv filter? Also, what about a sensor cleaning kit, should I have one right away?

I will probably be doing a lot of indoor shooting for right now with my daughters graduation party and a lot of church activities coming up, but we also have our Disney trip in about 3 weeks.

 

[Master Mason]

Hoya makes really good filiters, but they also have a cheap line as well. There are a couple of others, but I don't know much about them. I actually joined the crowd and took my uv filters off my lenses a couple of months ago.

As for the sensor cleaning kit I guess it depends. I have had my XT for 2 years now, and it has never been cleaned. I have not noticed spots in my pictures, and I do not have a cleaning kit. I have looked at some, but just haven't got one yet. I'm very carefull about changing my lenses, and get one off and on pretty quickly, and I guess I have been lucky so far as well.

 

[Groucho]

I think most DSLR users will agree that a UV filter can do nothing but degrade your image quality, and a lens hood provides far better protection for your lens - and with a modicum of care, I think it's very unlikely that you'll ever damage a lens anyway.

Not saying that it can't happen, but it's not worth bothering IMHO.

 

[MIDisFan]

I think most DSLR users will agree that a UV filter can do nothing but degrade your image quality, and a lens hood provides far better protection for your lens - and with a modicum of care, I think it's very unlikely that you'll ever damage a lens anyway.

Not saying that it can't happen, but it's not worth bothering IMHO.

Thanks for all the help. I thought I may be getting overly cautious but wanted to check with everyone first.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

Thanks for all the help. I thought I may be getting overly cautious but wanted to check with everyone first.

While I agree with Groucho (hey, it happens), there are still many that think that the protection offered by a UV filter makes them worth having. If you get one, get a good one. I think that B+W and the high end Hoya's are the best. I would also remove it in situations where the possibility of flare exists.

The problem with UV filters is not that they make your pictures blurry or anything. The problem is that they are flat piece of glass at the front of your lens. They can catch light that would otherwise not get into your lens, which will reduce contrast. They can also cause reflections when you are taking pictures with bright light sources in the picture.

I'd say that the odds of you having any noticeable picture problems with a UV filter are pretty small. So are the odds of you scratching your front lens element if you use a lens hood. Which risk you want to take is a personal decision.