Newbie Questions

[laydros]

I found this forum when trying to decide on which DSLR to buy, and I was impressed enough I thought it would be worth checking on info now that I have made a purchase.

I ended up with a Sony A300K. It (and the 200) were in my top choices and a great deal on the A300K came up in Circuit City's flyer today. I picked up the camera and the 75-300mm F/4.5-5.6 lens. So far the kit lens has been good, and the zoom has been great. I get the impression that even though this is a relatively cheap zoom, that it is a step up from the kit lens.

I am curious about what else I should get. I have read and been told A LOT of different things, and I'm curious what is really important.

Filters: I haven't learned much about filters, but it seems like everyone says to get UV filters to protect your lenses. Does this hold pretty true, and do they have any (positive or negative) effect on pictures. To the best of my understanding the UV filters are designed to basically reduce glare. Are there any other filters I should pick up? Does the quality of a filter matter a lot for a beginner? IE: am I killing my pictures with this el-cheapo filter from Circuit City?

Flash: Circuit City had the F36AM flash open box for $152, so I picked it up. When I talked to one of the more helpful sales people I have dealt with, and told him I expect to be taking a lot of pictures of my to-be-born-in-January baby, he strongly recommended a speedlight. My wife and I got this flash home, and in looking up information found out we were supposed to get a carrying case, mini-stand, and wide panel with it. I can guess what the carrying case does, but what are the mini-stand and wide panel. Would it be worth not having these for the money saved, or should we return it and get a new one in box? Or should I move up to a different flash?

Memory Cards: A lot of articles recommend getting a fast memory card. I bought the SanDisk Ultra II, but they make an Ultra 3. What is faster? Does it effect how many images I can take in burst mode, or just how fast they load on to the computer?

Sorry for all the questions, and thanks for any help. Hopefully I'll be around to pass on the knowledge for future newbies.

[mjsneddon]

You might want to consider a lens with a wider field of view than the kit lens. I find that I use my wide angle zoom alot more than my telephoto (16-35mm on a Canon 5D).

Regarding filters: I am not an expert but the use of a UV filter does provide some protection to the front of your expensive lenses. Regarding how it affects the quality of your images: I don't believe that it affects image quality assuming you have a good quality UV filter - however - there are those that firmly believe that you sacrifice quality when you use them.

If you like to shoot scenic views, as I do, I recommend that you get yourself a circular polarizing filter. It helps reduce glare and "punches up" clouds by darking the sky a little. It saturates colors a little.

Regarding memory cards: SanDisk Extreme III are faster than Ultra II cards. Whether or not you would benefit from the faster cards depends on the style of shooting in which you engage. If you shoot in continuous mode, more than a few images at a time, you might need the faster card.

Enjoy your new SLR.

[TheWengler]

I am curious about what else I should get. I have read and been told A LOT of different things, and I'm curious what is really important.

This really depends on exactly what you're taking pictures of and what kind of light you'll be in


Filters: I haven't learned much about filters, but it seems like everyone says to get UV filters to protect your lenses.

I don't use UV filters. I might use one if I was in a situation where things might hit the lens. Otherwise a lens hood should be good enough.


Flash: Circuit City had the F36AM flash open box for $152, so I picked it up. When I talked to one of the more helpful sales people I have dealt with, and told him I expect to be taking a lot of pictures of my to-be-born-in-January baby, he strongly recommended a speedlight. My wife and I got this flash home, and in looking up information found out we were supposed to get a carrying case, mini-stand, and wide panel with it. I can guess what the carrying case does, but what are the mini-stand and wide panel. Would it be worth not having these for the money saved, or should we return it and get a new one in box? Or should I move up to a different flash?

I don't know anything about Sony gear, but usually flashes come with stands to hold them up. You probably don't need it if you'll be using it on camera. The wide panel is probably to use for wider focal lengths so that you get coverage across the whole frame. A lot of times this comes built in though.


Memory Cards: A lot of articles recommend getting a fast memory card. I bought the SanDisk Ultra II, but they make an Ultra 3. What is faster? Does it effect how many images I can take in burst mode, or just how fast they load on to the computer?

I don't think you really need a faster card.

[seanhoxx]

There are several threads here on filters pro and con. I use filters on all my lenses, some people only use them when outside, some never do, it just gives me piece of mind. if you do use a filter use a high quality multi coated ones, I like Hoya, Tiffen are ok but get the top of the line, you do get what you pay for. if ypu are going to be outside in the bright light a CPL is good, again I use Hoya. on a CPL DO NOT go cheap or off brand. Consider some extra glass as time and money allow, Tamron 17 - 50, 70- 300 makes a good pair. Minolta 50mm 1.7 Ultra II's are really comming down in price now and should be fine unless shooting lots of bursts, I use III's there is also IV out also. use name brand from established dealer there are lots of junk and bootlegs out there. Come down and browse the Sony forum, and do some back reading, feel free to ask questions.

[DonSchap]

I found this forum when trying to decide on which DSLR to buy, and I was impressed enough I thought it would be worth checking on info now that I have made a purchase.

I ended up with a Sony A300K. It (and the 200) were in my top choices and a great deal on the A300K came up in Circuit City's flyer today. I picked up the camera and the 75-300mm F/4.5-5.6 lens. So far the kit lens has been good, and the zoom has been great. I get the impression that even though this is a relatively cheap zoom, that it is a step up from the kit lens.

@ laydros: Congrats on the SONY A300. Its "LiveView" should allow you some latitude with that new child, in getting the shot right.


I am curious about what else I should get. I have read and been told A LOT of different things, and I'm curious what is really important.

Filters: I haven't learned much about filters, but it seems like everyone says to get UV filters to protect your lenses. Does this hold pretty true, and do they have any (positive or negative) effect on pictures. To the best of my understanding the UV filters are designed to basically reduce glare. Are there any other filters I should pick up? Does the quality of a filter matter a lot for a beginner? IE: am I killing my pictures with this el-cheapo filter from Circuit City?

(Slapping forehead) ... my friend, please take a stroll through some of the threads posted in the SONY DSLR FORUM (http://www.dcresource.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=47) (<- click this link), on this web site. A good deal of these very points you have raised have been successfully addressed by folks using the very same camera you have. You will find a lot of the exchanges between members very informative and hopefully, amusing, as a lot of effort has gone into exploring these various questions. Once you've read the past three months of threads (I'm not kidding and yes, it is worth the time invested), you should have an excellent feel for what to expect from your camera. Hopefully, with this information, you can make INFORMED decision and just what you want next for your family and your photographic hobby.


Flash: Circuit City had the F36AM flash open box for $152, so I picked it up. When I talked to one of the more helpful sales people I have dealt with, and told him I expect to be taking a lot of pictures of my to-be-born-in-January baby, he strongly recommended a speedlight. My wife and I got this flash home, and in looking up information found out we were supposed to get a carrying case, mini-stand, and wide panel with it. I can guess what the carrying case does, but what are the mini-stand and wide panel. Would it be worth not having these for the money saved, or should we return it and get a new one in box? Or should I move up to a different flash?

I have a HVL-F36AM that I use in tandem with its bigger brother, the HVL-F56AM (I happen have a few SONY pieces in my rather meager collection (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showpost.php?p=1510229&postcount=103)). You'll find the the foot is an important feature if you plan on using the flash to light your subject at angle that is not available when the FLASH is mounted on the camera's "hot shoe". The snap-on wide panel allows the flash beam to diffuse out into the room to stop the "vignetting" (a fuzzy darkening towards the outer part of the frame of your image) that happens under 24mm focal lengths on lenses that wide (kit lens 18-70).

Personally, I would be a little persistent in this recovery and would go back the store to see if you can be a rascal and get "someone else" to locate the missing pieces, if at all possible, as SONY flash feet are really hard to match, because of the proprietary "hot shoe" they use on the DSLR. Standard flash feet for generic flashes just will not work without some kind of adapter.



Memory Cards: A lot of articles recommend getting a fast memory card. I bought the SanDisk Ultra II, but they make an Ultra 3. What is faster? Does it effect how many images I can take in burst mode, or just how fast they load on to the computer?

Sorry for all the questions, and thanks for any help. Hopefully I'll be around to pass on the knowledge for future newbies.

Again, get yourself down to the SONY DSLR FORUM (http://www.dcresource.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=47) and have some fun discovering what everybody is talking about.

Anyone else ... try a SONY DSLR ... and stop your shaking, already.