Introduction

[thetefldon]

Hello everyone. I'm from the UK and live in Prachuap Khiri Khan. I am new to this forum on TV. I have always been interested in photography and now find time to practice it. I recently moved from a FujiFinePix S5000 to a Canon EOS 1000D. The camera came with 18-55mm IS lens and cost 19900 Baht at Photo Hut in Hua Hin Tesco/Lotus.

I am therefore new to DSLR photography and I have a couple of questions I hope you can help me with. Please be gentle as I say I am an amateur!

1. Do you recommend fitting a filter to the 18-55 lens? If so what type and why? If recommended should I leave it on permanently?

2. I enjoy wildlife photograph including macro work and clearly need at least one more lens. Can anyone recommend a Canon IS lens that would serve both purposes. I figure up to 300mm should be about the right length.

My apologies if I have posted this in the wrong place.

[Sunny Valentine]

May i be the first to offer my humble 2 satang?

As filters go, there is an ongoing battle between the fraction of those who never take the UV or Skylight Filter off their lenses, and those that never ever use them. Both armies have their arguments. A Filter adds another Element of Glass for which the Lens was not constructed, therefore possibly causing problems in Flare, Diffraction and Sharpness. I myself have witnessed this under some conditions. On the other hand, a Filter is a protection for the Lens.

I don't use protective Flilters any more, only put them on in case I shoot in very adverse conditions, such a Sandstorms or inside Industrial sites with lots of fume and the like. And in heavy rain, too.

If you intend using a Filter, make sure you get a High Quality one, from Hama (Double Coated series), B&W, and a few others. Problem is, these Filters cost quite a lot, about half the price of your Kit Lens, or maybe more.

Dust and Dirt on the Front Lens has almost no consequences on picture Quality. I found and interesting and quite astonishing Blog Entry here.

What I found to be a sufficient protection device for everyday use is a Lens Hood. This protects your lens against mechanical bumps and the like quite well.

About lenses:

Canon has currently three full Macro Lenses in the program, the 60mm EF-S (Can only be used on two, three and 4 digit Digital models, not on the professional or full format Cameras. Excellent lens, cost is a reasonable 16000 or 17000 in Thailand. The 100 mm EF 2.8 is about the same Quality, but much larger and heavier to carry. Great lens too, and in case you switch to a full format Camera later, thids would be the better option. This lnes can also be used as a medium Telephoto for regular Photography (The 60 mm as well, but the Focus length is not much different to your current zoom). Slightly more expensive though. And the 3.5 180 mm L, a huge and heavy Lens, which costs around 50000 Baht.

For Wildlife you might want to look into a Tele Zoom. The Canon EF-S (For small sensor Cameras like yours only!) 55-250 is said to be of reasonable quality for the price of around 10000 Baht. Or the 70-300 4.5-5.6 for more than double of that. Higher Tele reach, and much faster and more accurate Autofocus. Or you want to look into the professional L-Series 70-200 mm lenses, depending on speed and availability of IS (anti shake built into lens) they go from 25000 to I think 60000 or 70000 Baht.

There are also third Party lenses made by Sigma, Tamron and Tokina, which can be had for less. I first bought Sigma Lenses, and soon realized that was a mistake. The Quality is nowhere near the Canon ones. Don't get fooled by the Names of the third Party lenses often described as "Macro". They reach a bit closer, but not enough for real Macro Work. And they are no way as sharp as a good Macro Lens.

Hope that helps!

[Bard]

Here is my 2 cents,

I use filter, Hoya or B&W as cleaning the front element of the lens sucks versus cleaning a "non-coated" filter, I do take it off if I see flare tho. I also use circular polarizer a lot and neutral density filters. Do you need a filter? No, if you use a hood the lens is protected but it's very handy in "dirty" conditions.

The polarizer is brilliant for blue sky and reflections, and the neutral density allows long shutter on your cameras sharpest setting, awesome for dreamy seascape, waterfall etc. B&W, Tiffen and Hoya are all good stuff...

Since you only want one do it all macro and tele, buy a close up filter, not as awesome as a dedicated macro lens but more than good enough, very cheap as well in comparison, Canon has a 500D in 58mm which is 5 times enlargement, pretty expensive though, a Tiffen 5 times would be cheaper. Add this up with the cheap option 55-250 zoom and you have a good start.

Enjoy the camera and have fun

[aeon]

if you enjoy doing macro in wild life I suggest you a tele-zoom 55-250 (very cheap, I paid 8300 thb for it) not extremely fast lens but good quality for this price, very useful to bring around and good range of focal lenght. Or you can spend more and get a better kit, but don't buy one without image stabilizer, you will really regret if you don't carry your tripod with you all the time. Add an extension tube and you will be able to focus very near and get a very narrow depth of field, I use the canon EF25 II, it is around 5500 thb but you can use the auto focus. If you don't need AF just go for another very cheap compatible extension tube, on ebay you will find kit of 3 sizes at extremely low prices.

[hughden]

You have had a load of good advice already, but let me add one more option to the mix, albeit a rather expensive one; the Canon 300mm F4 L.

It's a wonderfully sharp, image stabilised lens which is great for wildlife, sports, candid portraits, whatever you care to point it at. In addition, it can focus very close for such a long lens so you can capture flowers, insects and small animals, without having to go as close as you would with a macro lens. Dragonflies, for example, are much easier to photograph when you are standing a couple of meters away. I realise that this is not true macro, but as others have mentioned, you could always add on extension tubes if you want to get even closer.

[thetefldon]

Just a quick thank you for the in depth and thought provoking replies. For me personally, price is important but from the little I already know along with your input I think it has to be a Canon lens like the 55-250 mentioned in a couple of replies. I take it this is image stabalised?

[Bard]

That is correct it has image stabilizer