Lens, Filter & Beginner Gear Info.

Davo7

Davo7

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Name
David
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Hi guys it's me again!

As some of you already know im a newbie with a Nikon D3100 which came with the 18mm-55mm Kit lens. I have now extended my Photography armoury with a Lowepro shoulder bag and a couple of extra memory cards(seen them for a 5er and couldn't resist) and have managed to lay my hands on a copy of photoshop.

I have spent hours trawling the talk photography and other forums and there are a few things that i'd like to ask you guys.

The first thing is Filters. I'm not really sure what filters are for and if i should be using one? The guy in Jessops told me that a filter is just to protect my lens so i never bothered buying one as I thought best to leave it until i lay my hands on a decent lens. The more I read online the more i think the guy in the shop misled me?

The second thing is Lens! Should i bother with the Kit lens or do i need to invest? Basicly what ive been doing so far is taking pics of my 6 month old daughter in the garden, at the beach etc. I shall share some pics tonight when i get home from work! I really have no clue about lens but was looking at a Nikon 50mm which gets awesome reviews for around £100 should i buy this or save up for a few month and get something better?

I'm sorry to keep posting silly posts and thanks for the help in advance guys!?
 
Davo7 said:
The first thing is Filters. I'm not really sure what filters are for and if i should be using one? The guy in Jessops told me that a filter is just to protect my lens so i never bothered buying one as I thought best to leave it until i lay my hands on a decent lens. The more I read online the more i think the guy in the shop misled me?
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Opening a can of worms here - some use them & some dont as the lens hood does a good job of protecting the front... For a 18-55 then I wouldn't really bother...
I've got Nikon NC filters on mine but they're £1500+ (70-200VRII) & £1100+ (24-70) lenses so for me its for piece of mind....


Davo7 said:
The second thing is Lens! Should i bother with the Kit lens or do i need to invest? Basicly what ive been doing so far is taking pics of my 6 month old daughter in the garden, at the beach etc. I shall share some pics tonight when i get home from work! I really have no clue about lens but was looking at a Nikon 50mm which gets awesome reviews for around £100 should i buy this or save up for a few month and get something better?
Click to expand...

This would depend what budget you have to spend...

Maybe look at getting a telephoto something like the Nikon 70-300 with or without VR or even the 55-200mm VR again with or without VR or sell the kit lens an get the Nikon 18-200mm VR which has some good reviews as a general walk about lens.. Althou it does have a price tag of around about £350 (used) give or take a few quid....

:thinking: No doubt someone else will have a different opinion or answers to your questions :p

edit: This link Nikon D3100 compatiable lenses maybe some use to you as it gives you what lenses are compatiable with the D3100 which may help you decide on what takesyour fancy..
 
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Davo7 said:
Hi guys it's me again!

As some of you already know im a newbie with a Nikon D3100 which came with the 18mm-55mm Kit lens. I have now extended my Photography armoury with a Lowepro shoulder bag and a couple of extra memory cards(seen them for a 5er and couldn't resist) and have managed to lay my hands on a copy of photoshop.

I have spent hours trawling the talk photography and other forums and there are a few things that i'd like to ask you guys.

The first thing is Filters. I'm not really sure what filters are for and if i should be using one? The guy in Jessops told me that a filter is just to protect my lens so i never bothered buying one as I thought best to leave it until i lay my hands on a decent lens. The more I read online the more i think the guy in the shop misled me?

The second thing is Lens! Should i bother with the Kit lens or do i need to invest? Basicly what ive been doing so far is taking pics of my 6 month old daughter in the garden, at the beach etc. I shall share some pics tonight when i get home from work! I really have no clue about lens but was looking at a Nikon 50mm which gets awesome reviews for around £100 should i buy this or save up for a few month and get something better?

I'm sorry to keep posting silly posts and thanks for the help in advance guys!?
Click to expand...


The 50mm f1.8 his a bargain as it gives you a fast lens in your kit, but I think you'll need an AF-S lens with your camera. They cost more and have the autofocus motor in the lens, some camera bodies have a motor in the body with a mechanical link to the lens. I think the D90 is the cheapest nikon with this feature at the moment but I might be wrong.

UV and the like filters for protection are a personal choice, and personally I don't go near them and most of my lenses are in the 2-3k$ range. They can increase flare, reduce contrast, mess with autofocus and they will cut some light. Still its your choice and some people swear by them.

A polarising filter can but reflections, improve the look of skies, and are good for vegetation. An neutral density filter is to cut the amount of light and is useful for shooting wide aperture in bright light, getting slower shutter speeds for long exposures for moving water/clouds etc. They come in different strengths and you can get screw on round ones or square ones you put in a holder of just handhold in front of the lens. You can also get gradient filters to darken right skies and leave foreground unaffected etc.

Personally I sometimes use polarisers, and nd filters. I darken skies etc in post these days instead of using gradients.

Then there is a whole load of creative filters, warming etc. But I just do that in post too. Easy to do if you shoot RAW.
 
Thanks for the replies guys, so quick as well! I'l have to read again to try and take it all in!

Here's my first pic's... Go easy on me. The shadow on her face is driving me nuts i dont know if i can/should remove?



 
I am a newbie myself, with 18-55 nik VR lens and a 70-300 Tamron.

Filter-wise just use an UV filter all the time for protection...I do know these have no effect on DSLRs, and CPLs. For my hobby amateur photography these were quite enough...Of course will depend on what you need the camera for.
 
ShutterWork said:
I am a newbie myself, with 18-55 nik VR lens and a 70-300 Tamron.

Filter-wise just use an UV filter all the time for protection...I do know these have no effect on DSLRs, and CPLs. For my hobby amateur photography these were quite enough...Of course will depend on what you need the camera for.
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Sorry , I don't agree. A UV filter is of little or no use, and the cheaper ones cause more problems than are useful as far as lens protection is concerned.
 
Use the lens hood for protection - I only use a UV filter on occasions where I know I will be drunk and therefore there's a chance beer will go a-splashing.

The only filters you can't replicate in PP are polarising and ND filters so I would invest in them if you think they're applicable to your type of photography.
 
David,

"What lens next" is a common question and one i've been though in exactly your situation. (D3100 and 18-55)

I ended up selling my 18-55 and getting a 18-70 Nikon as they come well regarded, are a little up in IQ on the 18-55 and have a bit more reach for not much more size on the camera. I also purchased a 1.8 35mm prime lens for when in the house in less than good light. This is a cracking little lens for the money (around £150) and great for taking pics of the little one indoors.

You mentioned a 50mm lens you'd read about. No doubt a great lens, but bear in mind the 2 shots you've taken are at 28mm and 26mm..... so with that 50mm static lens, you're going to need to use your feet and take a few paces back to take those shots. And even with my 35mm, that isn't always that easy indoors when you get a wall at your back. (obviously not a problem on the beach)

I suppose the number one question is........

What do you feel is wrong with the 18-55 you have? Lack of reach? Lack of IQ/Quality?

Or do you just have new camera/need a new lens (don't know why) syndrome? ;)
 
String said:
Sorry , I don't agree. A UV filter is of little or no use, and the cheaper ones cause more problems than are useful as far as lens protection is concerned.
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Hi,

Not questioning what you've replied, but as I am quite novice - what kind of problem are we talking about if I use UV filter all the time..is it image quality?? I just use it to prevent any lens scratches/spills/drops alongside a lens hood.

(with regard to the functioning of UV filter on DSLRs, do understand they have no effect)

Thanks. Would again like to emphasise I am not debating your thoughts, but would just like learn.
 
Well, there are a few thoughts on this

Its extra glass so will degrade IQ straight off
Light can bounce around between the filter and the front element and cause flare
Its more fragile than most lens front elements, a drop that would smash a UV filter wouldn't tickle a front element yet you now have broken glass pressing against your front element.

I used to buy uv filters for all my glass but i think i'm just going to buy hoods from now on, seems to be so little in it I'd be better putting that £20 in my pocket... or a gear insurance policy
 
ShutterWork said:
Hi,

Not questioning what you've replied, but as I am quite novice - what kind of problem are we talking about if I use UV filter all the time..is it image quality?? I just use it to prevent any lens scratches/spills/drops alongside a lens hood.

(with regard to the functioning of UV filter on DSLRs, do understand they have no effect)

Thanks. Would again like to emphasise I am not debating your thoughts, but would just like learn.
Click to expand...


Read my earlier post I mention them. The biggest problem is they can cause flare when shooting toward a light source. You could take it off if that happens but it takes time and you miss the shot often. The cheaper ones can mess with autofocus and they all reduce the amount of light getting in to some extent.

As far as protection goes the amount they offer is debatable. Even if you are unlucky enough to get some small scratches on the front element, they won't have much effect on image quality.

It's a topic which usually has people divided and you'll just have to decide yourself whether the cost if using them, both financial and IQ wise, is worth any benefit they might give you.
 
lensflair said:
You could take it off if that happens but it takes time and you miss the shot often.
Click to expand...

Think my old kit lens would snap into a million pieces if i used enough force to shift that filter! Its fairly welded on :D
 
Zarch said:
David,

I ended up selling my 18-55 and getting a 18-70 Nikon as they come well regarded, are a little up in IQ on the 18-55 and have a bit more reach for not much more size on the camera.
Click to expand...


I found the 18-70 AF-S on ebay in mint for £80 delivered, I was going to resell it for a tidy profit but as soon as I did some test shots I changed my mind, it really is a cracking lens - Don't let the lack of VR phase you, above 1/125 there is no difference and you can spend a bit of the money you "save" buy not getting the VR equivalent on a tripod.

We D3100 owners are part of an exclusive Nikon club that allows us to fit any F-mount lens on the camera. Sure you may lose autofocus or light metering (old light meters are £5 and it's not like the old days of film where you find out you set everything wrong when you get your photos back) but it's well worth it when you find a cracking bit of glass for £20 on ebay or the market.
 
As you can pick the kit lenses up used for about £50, it's not really worth forking out for a decent (£20+) UV filter to put on the front (and you'll need a decent one as the cheap ones will ruin IQ)

String said:
Lens hood is a crucial and much under used accessory and will provide protection for your front element.
Click to expand...

This is the best advice, but the hoods for the kit lenses offer pretty minimal protection (certainly the case for the Canon 18-55 IS) as it only protrudes about 10mm from the end of the lens.
They're much better for the more expensive lenses though, the one for my 70-300 is like having a bucket stuck to the front of it!! :lol:
 
Every lens I have is always fitted with a uv.

The thing about photography (OK, one of the things) is that there is no `right` way to do it. I hardly ever use a tripod. Others use one for most shots. We are both right.

I always use a uv because I don't think it makes any significant difference to the end result, and I think the protection is essential. If you are shooting at the beach, for instance, there is going to be salt in the air, some of which will settle on your lens. You may touch the front element accidentally with fingers coated in sun screen. If you drop it, and it lands face down in the sand or on pebbles, a filter can give you protection. A filter can be cleaned far more enthusiastically than a bare element - and is cheaper to replace. Concerts with smoke machines (the smoke is oil based); motor events with oily, sooty, exhaust as well as debris thrown up; pollen is sticky; fingers are greasy - all of this can get onto your lens, and has to be cleaned off. I can run a filter under the tap to clean it. Not such a good idea with a lens.

I also have a hood fitted at all times, which helps with the protection.
 
Decca said:
I found the 18-70 AF-S on ebay in mint for £80 delivered, I was going to resell it for a tidy profit but as soon as I did some test shots I changed my mind, it really is a cracking lens - Don't let the lack of VR phase you, above 1/125 there is no difference and you can spend a bit of the money you "save" buy not getting the VR equivalent on a tripod.

We D3100 owners are part of an exclusive Nikon club that allows us to fit any F-mount lens on the camera. Sure you may lose autofocus or light metering (old light meters are £5 and it's not like the old days of film where you find out you set everything wrong when you get your photos back) but it's well worth it when you find a cracking bit of glass for £20 on ebay or the market.
Click to expand...

I'm always a bit afraid buying of e-bay especially for delicate fragile items such as a lens. Suppose if the saving was a lot might be worth taking a we risk!
 
Davo7 said:
I'm always a bit afraid buying of e-bay especially for delicate fragile items such as a lens. Suppose if the saving was a lot might be worth taking a we risk!
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If you don't fancy playing russian roulette on eBay, then there are plenty of reputable online dealers, for example: http://www.mpbphotographic.co.uk/

Check out the Equipment forum as loads of good places are mentioned in there. Yes, you pay a premium over eBay prices, but you know what you're getting and in most cases get a warranty.

Don't forget that local independent dealers can also be a good source of 2nd hand lenses.

But as I said in my earlier reply, don't jump in a buy a new lens unless you are convinced you've exhausted the capability of the kit lens. I think that learning as much as how to use your camera yields better results than simply changing lenses. I know it has really helped me.
 
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Guess the opinion will always be divided on whether or not to use the UV filter.

Anyway wanted to thank everybody for the inputs. Must say this has been one of the best forums I've come across with loads of people to help, which especially is required for a newbie like me :-)
 
Davo7 said:
Thanks for that Trig's, il take a read at lunch.

Here was me going to worry about Flash at a later date :(.
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:thumbs: Your welcome - I thought it might help you out regarding the pictures you posted esp regarding the shadows....

lensflair said:
... Even if you are unlucky enough to get some small scratches on the front element, they won't have much effect on image quality....
Click to expand...

:thinking: Only on the sale of it... How many people have asked if there is any scratches to the front element... If so & there has been - have they tried dropping the asking price of the lens :shrug:
 
I've not read all the posts, but I also have the D3100 and am also looking for a second lens away from the 18-55mm kit lens.

Before I researched, I asked why I wanted a new lens.

Mostly my photography is portrait shots of my daughters, mostly taken indoors. So research told me that I needed something with the widest aperture. I do like to zoom, when we go on holiday and I like to get pictures of birds .. but as that would only account for 10% of my photography, I've settled on a 50mm prime lens.

Currently the only 50mm prime is the f/1.4 which is a very wide open aperture, great for pulling in as much light as possible. The trouble with our D3100's is that they don't have onboard motors, so our lenses have to have the motor which makes our lenses quite a lot more expensive. Nikon have announced a 50mm f/1.8 AF-S lens which is due out in June this year, retailing for around £200. The f/1.4 is currently £300 in Jessops - online only.

My 18-55mm is a great lens, and I've had great pictures from it, but now that I'm exploring the cameras manual settings, I'm finding that I need to play a lot to get the light in. The prime lens will help a lot. I think! :)

I've not researched enough about flash units, but now that I'm gaining confidence with the camera, I'm using the nasty onboard flash much less!
 
Have a look on here Pixel-Peep regarding lenses & what body you want to use them with - it will give you some idea on what you could expect....
 
Trig's said:
:thumbs: Your welcome - I thought it might help you out regarding the pictures you posted esp regarding the shadows....

:thinking: Only on the sale of it... How many people have asked if there is any scratches to the front element... If so & there has been - have they tried dropping the asking price of the lens :shrug:
Click to expand...


I think you hit the nail on the head. When photography was a hobby I did actually use UV filters for protection as I was always thinking about resale value of my gear down the track. I get that.

These days resale doesn't even cross my mind. Maybe that plays a part.
 
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