Got the camera... what next?

[Seadog927]

Okay... I made my choice and went with the Canon Rebel t3i DSLR. Picked it up yesterday and got it all set with the SD card and everything. Got the bag. Played with it a bit at home last night before going to bed. Exciting stuff.

My new question: What should I get next?
The gentleman at my local camera shop suggested I get a polarizing filter and a UV filter, if for no other reason than to protect the lens. I also wondered about a 2nd battery pack as a back-up. Or I could get a zoom lens? I actually have a tripod already.

Thinking that my budget for any purchase in the next couple weeks would be around $250 or so, I am curious what those of you with the DSLR experience would recommend I add to my camera package first.

Thanks!

 

[runnah]

I would wait until you've spent enough time shooting to know what you need. Go out and shoot until your current setup limits what you are trying to do. Make sure it isn't your lack of experience that is holding you back rather than the gear.I know my gear and what I shoot well enough to know instantly what I'd buy next.

 

[Stacylouwho]

I agree with runnah! I know my camera pretty dang well now, but I am still learning a lot about photography in itself. I would just ask yourself where you want to go with your photography.. I would start with learning, maybe buy a book and then move on to maybe a lens or something that you think will best cater to your style!

 

[Designer]

It is very seldom that you would need either of those filters.

I'm with the others, just chillax, and take some pictures. Find out what does what with regard to the finished image. Take loads of family pics, but don't post them on the internet just yet. Take some "arty" photographs, and if you happen to see something, post it here. Begin to look at lots and lots of photographs taken by other people. Try to imagine how they made those pictures. Try inside, outside, people, dogs, fence posts, and anything else that strikes your fancy. Throw most of them away. Keep a few good ones. And have fun.

 

[Light Guru]

Put it in manual mode and start shooting.

 

[vintagesnaps]

I don't use UV filters most of the time, I know of people using them if they'll be using their cameras in windy, dusty, sandy conditions. I use polarizers sometimes to prevent glare/light hitting the lens at an angle. I sometimes use a lens hood if I'll be outdoors a lot. I do have a backup battery for my digital camera (my film cameras are mostly mechanical so I need a battery for the meter at most).

You might get a better idea what lens to get once you get out and about with your camera; you might start realizing you could have photographed something better if you had _____. I like short telephotos but I've never liked zooms, but I tend to move around and change my vantage point (and I just don't like the zooming in and out).

If you're looking for ideas you could look up famous photographers to see how they framed and composed their images and think about what worked and why. I think it can help to get your eyes and brain used to looking at well composed photographs.

 

[KmH]

Digital camera image sensors already have a UV filter in front of them.

As far as using a UV filter for 'protection', ask the salesman how much 'spiff' he gets for selling filters. - http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/photography-equipment-products/326015-who-shoots-naked.html

 

[ronlane]

Agreed, save the money on the filters. For $250, you may look at off camera flashes (probably used). Other than that, read the manual (some say multiple times) and shoot away.

 

[samm]

All said it well
Id also buy a remote ,and use the tripod you have .

 

[vincentpaulrevo]

I would wait until you've spent enough time shooting to know what you need. Go out and shoot until your current setup limits what you are trying to do. Make sure it isn't your lack of experience that is holding you back rather than the gear.I know my gear and what I shoot well enough to know instantly what I'd buy next.

This is exactly it, I was in your position before when looking for what gear I should get and looking for the next step but in photography the steps are defined by the amount of time you put into it. Learning how to work your camera, (let it be a full frame or crop sensor) you will come across things you would "need" in order to get where you want to be.

For example, When I first started, I start with just a kit lens and after shooting for sometime I found that I needed a second lens. I knew what type of photography I wanted to get into, and the type of gear that was needed for that type of shooting. I personally wanted to get into portrait shooting, and with keeping that in mind I went out and bought a Canon 50mm 1.4 (also known as a prime lens).

If you ask me, getting a camera one day and then buying another lens the next week or two might not be as effective as shooting with what you have now. In fact, by learning about the equipment you have now, and composition/techniques you might find that what you have right now is all you need. If you were to add more stuff onto the list, you might get overwhelmed which will increase the chances of information overload.

 

[Seadog927]

Thanks for these replies... especially with them being of one opinion overwhelmingly.

Believe me, not spending more money right now is not a hard sell one me... and will make my wife even happier!

There seemed to be some "importance" to the filters in the shop, but I was also aware that he would be happy to sell many, many, many things if I kept going.

Now, off to play some more...
Well, off to the dentist first ... then off to play some more!

 

[Designer]

There seemed to be some "importance" to the filters in the shop,

They are primarily customer service representatives, who learned the "filter thing" from the person who trained them , who learned it from the person who trained them, ad infinitum.

 

[hirejn]

What should I get next?
The gentleman at my local camera shop suggested I get a polarizing filter and a UV filter, if for no other reason than to protect the lens. I also wondered about a 2nd battery pack as a back-up. Or I could get a zoom lens? I actually have a tripod already.

I'd highly recommend getting experience and education in photography if you want images you can be satisfied with. KelbyTraining.com, Bryan Peterson, even Moose Peterson; those are some ideas to get you started. What you end up liking is up to you.

Equipment doesn't improve photography. If you have a camera and lens, you have the equipment necessary to create the best images in the world, and that's a fact. But not without skill. That said, a second battery wouldn't hurt. You'll probably need one eventually. I bet shops make a lot of money selling UV filters. That's like selling insurance in blackjack. You don't need it. I personally don't use UV filters because they degrade image quality; yes, they do in my experience. But I can't stop you from buying it. A polarizer is essential for creating better contrast and saturation in camera and saving time in post. Saying that makes it sound like a polarizer improves photography; but I suggest it's a skilled user that improves the photograph, not the equipment itself.

I don't recommend investing in equipment as a way to improve photography. You can get more tools, but they won't improve your photography until you know how to master them. See what you can learn with what you have. Explore the fundamentals. Master exposure. Those are the tools that will take your images to new levels. Then investing in equipment will be worthwhile. If you're serious about it, you'll accomplish a lot with a simple kit, and when your mind is open to what you can achieve through skill vs. equipment, you'll advance much quicker.

I also recommend good software such as Elements (for beginners) or Lightroom for RAW workflow and organization. LR has a learning curve, but if you start now, you'll be able to stay on top of it. That's a lot of stuff, but I do recommend looking into it because RAW gives you so much power over the final image. Photography takes time and practice to master, so invest more into learning than equipment to get started.

 

[gsgary]

Get another battery and shoot shoot shoot it's pointless buying anything else untill you know what you want, i could say a 300mmF2.8L because it would be great for wildlife or sport