What to buy with the SLR

Hello Everyone!

We are finally purchasing an SLR camera this weekend & we have decided on a Canon 450D

This is all so new to us & we are going to need more help but right now we need to know what you recommend to buy with it...

I heard you need to buy some type of UV filter? What else should we buy to start with...?

We aren't going to buy more lenses just yet...so just a basic list would be very helpful

Thank you!!

I can't help as I am not a Canon person, but congratulations on your new toy hope you get hours of pleasure from it and let us see the results. Think that I am correct in saying that not all Canon lens fit all Canon bodies so that will be something you will have to watch.

Filter are not needed to start with I would learn to use the body and the lens you have first and then consider filters, most people only use a Polaroid but they are expensive and you need one for each lens you may need it for.

Thank you for your help Snapper! I appreciate it We have much to learn...
Its nice to know to watch which canon lenses will fit the Canon body, didn't think of that...
There is just so much SLR information - its easy to get lost in all of it but one step at a time

A lens

Are you getting a kit or body only?

Your camera will accept all EF and EF-S lenses.

FD lenses are lenses for old Canons before the Eos cameras were introduced which were the film cameras before Digital took over.

So any canon lens made in the last 20 years or more will fit and operate with full autofocus and aperture control.

If you had a full frame Canon like the 5D then the EF-S lenses would not fit. So you have no worries as to lenses fitting your camera.

UV lenses are used by most people to protect the front element of the lens. The filter gets damaged rather than the lens. I don't use them as I use Lee filters which fit into a holder which in turn fits on the lens. Cokins are the same.

UV or Skylight filters detract very little from the quality of the image but do buy a decent one like a Hoya. It's purley a personal choice whether you fit one or not.

Have you got a camera bag? Nothing worse than being caught in a downpour with you pride and joy exposed to the elements.

Lens cleaning cloth and air brush.

Enjoy yourself.

Steve

Enjoy your new toy!

xx

I am getting the kit Azz Better lenses will have to come later...

Would suggest a UV filter simply to protect the lens, mid-range Hoya or maybe a Jessops or Jacobs own brand. A reasonable size memory card, 2 or 4Gb minimum.

Snapper meant to say Polariser, not Polaroid! I wouldn't worry about such stuff at this stage. Just get the camera with a kit zoom lens and enjoy it.

I think if you get the kit lens typically they are about 18-55mm. Effectively this gives you a medium wide angle to short telephoto so you will find it covers a lot of general purpose stuff. Depending on your style of photography you may prefer to acquire a wider wide angle, maybe around 10 or 12mm, or a longer focal length, possibly 200mm. As you probably know, many people acquire zooms covering these focal lengths for greater versatility. As I found, one of the best 'accessories' to buy is software to post process your pictures to get the best from them and learn how to use it. Adobe Elements or something like that is a good package.

Thank you Steve for your informative & helpful post.
Makes me feel better knowing what to do & what to buy...

We will be purchasing a camera bag - that is a must!
Thats the last thing we want is our camera to be ruined by the weather...

Good point on the lens cleaning cloth! Didn't think of that either...Thank you for that

Congratulations on your impending purchase! Looking forward to seeing some of your shots

I can only echo what the others have said, I personally put UV filters on all my lenses and normally purchase HOYA filters. I can recommend the Lowepro bag but what I would say is go and try the bags out, once you get more gear they do start to get heavy after a while and you want to make sure you are comfortable with it. As BC said, you will also need a card, I would go for a 4GB Extreme 3 Sandisk card if you can, if you don't want the greater write speed then the Ultra II is also a decent card.