Essential add ons for Canon 500D

Leedscanary

Leedscanary

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Kevin
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Hi everybody, just about to be gifted a Canon 500D as a birthday/xmas present and wanted your advice on any accessories I'm going to need. It is the 18-55 kit lens pack that I have got (or am getting :thumbs:). Complete beginner with a DSLR, upgrading from a simple point and shoot.

I have already bought some memory cards so I can be up and running as soon as I get it (Transcend SDHC 8g C10 x2) and a USB card reader to transfer the pics to the PC.

I'm intending to use the camera for taking images of my 2 daughters, motorsport (particularly Rally), Wildlife (mainly Birds in their natural habitats) and Castles and Churches. Quite a mixed bag, so I expect to invest in a variety of lenses.

So, any recommendations to add to my kit. With 2 young daughters I don't have "L series" cash, but I am prepared to be patient and save up cash for the right lenses. Would appreciate lens,filter,memory,pretty much any recommendations on kit you either use or think I should.

Many thanks in advance, Kev
 
I'd suggest:

EF-S 55-250mm for a longer zoom, should be about £125 second hand and will be ideal for the motorsport stuff on a budget and possibly long enough for the birdie pics.

EF 50mm f1.8, good fast prime for catching the little uns around the house etc. the low f number fast lens will allow you to keep the shutter speed up in low light. £75ish new or £60ish second hand

cheap tripod might be handy for churches etc
 
The kit lens will keep you busy for a few months whilst you get used to the new camera. Don't expect miracles, most people feel they're going backwards when first moving from a compact camera.

The 50mm f/1.8 would be an excellent choice as a second lens. It's a fast lens which makes it useful in low light, and having a fixed focal length that's one less thing to think about when you're getting your head around Av, Tv and M modes.

I'd add a tripod and a remote shutter release from the start. It will help in low light and be invaluable for churches, castles and landscapes.
 
A tripod for landscapes and low light, possibly a Gorillapod SLR if you don't want to lug a full size tripod around.

Extra batteries particularly for rallying where you'll take a lot of shots, it will be cold and your battery life will suffer from the cold. I bought some Hama batteries for my 450d on eBay for £5 each and they did the trick.

For rallying I would recommend a UV filter to protect the end of your lenses, a lot of people don't approve of UV filters but when you're rallying particularly if you're on stage away from the spectator areas there is a lot of muck and grit which gets thrown up as the cars pass, it is much cheaper to replace a scratched or even broken filter than it is the front element of your lens. Similarly lens hoods for your lenses offer some extra protection.

A remote release, having had both IR and cabled releases I'd recommend the cabled one, or alternatively a set of RF602s which can be picked up cheaply and enable you to trigger your camera from far away.

A decent bag to keep all your kit together, whether you want a shoulder bag or a rucksack there are plenty to choose from, always allow for a bit more kit than you've got, you'll soon fill it! I've bought all my bags second hand off here and ebay, saved a fortune. My current rucksack retails at £150+ and I bought it for £32 from ebay.
 
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Ive rcently had a 550d, same as you Im new to DSLR. I like motorsport and night shooting so bought a monopod and a tripod. Bits and bobs wise, a lens cloth, memory cards, wired shutter release, screen protector,spare battery. Be prepared to spend hours reading on here :)
 
A remote/cable release is a handheld device for taking photos without touching the camera. It is essentially just the shutter button on a cable (some are infra-red)

They are useful for things such as bulb and long exposures, because if you press the shutter button you cause the camera to shake which will show in your shots.

You could do what I did and make your own: http://www.covingtoninnovations.com/dslr/CanonRelease.html

A bulb exposure is an exposure which lasts as long as you hold the shutter button down for to a maximum limit which is different for different cameras.

I personally would begin with buying a flash. The in-camera flash is too direct and will give that point and shoot effect, when do you ever see a light source which comes from straight in front of your face? With an external flash you can bounce the light to give a more natural look though you could also use diffusers for in camera flashes like a piece of bubble wrap.

This would be my essential purchases:

Tripod - For those low light exposures where the camera needs to be kept steady.
UV Filter - Not so much to filter but because they are cheap filters which you can keep permanently on your lens to protect it from scratches, dust, most things really.
Case - To protect your camera.
Insurance - Because DSLR's and lenses don't come cheap.
 
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Leedscanary said:
Forgive the ignorance, I'm still talking "blind" as haven't got the camera in my hands yet - but what is the remote release and how will it help?
Many thanks for all your replies so far!
Click to expand...

A remote release is used for releasing the shutter without actually touching the camera body. Don't worry about it, I've got a Canon RC-1 you can have.....I think I'm coming up just after xmas, I'll drop it off then.....

I think you've had some sound advice so far, the 55-250mm IS is a great lens to partner the kit lens you'll be getting. The 50mm f1.8 isn't for everyone, but it's very good image quality for very little money.....

Tripods are a must sometimes, especially with night time photography. I'll highly recommend the Redsnapper range......even their entry level model is super tough, and will last you for years! :thumbs:

Usually, if you buy cheap, you buy twice, so don't go buying everything you can get your hands straight away and compromise on quality.....you'll discover what equipment you need as you go on, and when it comes to a purchase, buy the very best you can afford!
 
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In agreement as above re

Tripod
External flash
Remote release

Learn about the different settings/menu options as these can really help you.

In terms of lens I would also recommend the 17-55 EF-S lens. It's an absolute revelation in comparison to the kit lens and at f2.8 it is great in low light.

The only other point I'd make is get out with the camera and rake lots and lots of shots and understand how the relationship between ISO. aperture and shutter speed interact and change your results.

Happy shooting.

PS if you've any specific q's on the 500 I'll do my best to help.

Adrian
 
Maybe a UV filter for what ever lens you take to rallying? The last thing you want to spend money on is getting lenses fixed or replaced :)
 
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