Necessary Equipment (Page 3): This is a subject where people are in disagreement. Having a filter on my lens saved my lens and camera when I fell.

sueyeisert Loc: New Jersey

This is a subject where people are in disagreement. Having a filter on my lens saved my lens and camera when I fell.

Ace and Deuce wrote:

I disagree. I only use a filter if it's going to "do" something. I use an ND4 filter if it's very bright out and I'm shooting in the direction of the sun, or an ND9 for daytime long exposures.

Take care of your glass, and you don't need a clear filter.

Gary Truchelut Loc: Coldspring, TX

I never use lens filters unless needed but I always use sun shade for protection and glare

Ace and Deuce wrote:

I disagree. I only use a filter if it's going to "do" something. I use an ND4 filter if it's very bright out and I'm shooting in the direction of the sun, or an ND9 for daytime long exposures.

Take care of your glass, and you don't need a clear filter.

Ace and Deuce Loc: Right behind you!!

I have hoods, I just never seem to have them with me. I never even take a bag. When I go out shooting, I throw the camera on the seat, and take my 100-400 'case' with me, that's it. I do need to start using my hoods to save some PP frustration, lol.

LeoB Loc: Miami, FL

I would go for a light comfortable case to make it easy to carry the camera and one lens. I found a thin neoprene cover from CaseLogic for about $12 that works. Another good tool is Lightroom to help max out all your camera can do.

Most of all, have fun.

bobmcculloch Loc: NYC, NY

Sailingirl wrote:

My husband bought me a Canon EOS Rebel T3i for Chr... (show quote)

Depends:

walk around= spare battery, sd card, lens cloth, lens hood, polarizer, rain cover cor camera

longer walk around= above plus padded camera cover(Optec) and generic back pac/lumbar Pack

for night or inside add external flash

I tend to try to travel light, at home, in the car or in motel room are extra lens and anything I might own but walking around I preplan about lenses etc, do not really want to change lenses in the field.
Perfectly willing to go on a trip with my 17-70 and a pocketfull of small stuff.

Suggest you get a raincheck for when you have decided what you need rather than jumping on stuff right now.
Bob.

Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA

Sailingirl wrote:

My husband bought me a Canon EOS Rebel T3i for Chr... (show quote)

Seems everyone missed the obvious -- "Sailingirl" -- get a rain cover for the splashes you will most likely encounter. There are lightweight ones that sell for around 7.00 to heavier duty ones that cost around 40.00. I doubt you will need a waterproof enclosure. Those can be very expensive and probably not needed unless you plan to actually take the camera into the water with you.

photophool Loc: Grosse Pointe Park, MI

Bruce with a Canon wrote:

As for a general list of glass and toys:
nifty fifty 1.8 is 100 bucks 1.4 is 350, pretty pricy difference for 1 precious f/stop.

Point of order: the difference between f/1.8 and f/1.4 is half a stop. Likewise 1.4 to 1.2 is also half a stop. Can't speak for Canon lenses, but I've read that the Nikon 50mm f/1.8 is sharper than the 1.4.

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

Finer point of order: a half stop up from 1.4 is 1.7. Depending on whether you use a half stop, 1/3 stop, or 1/4 stop scale 1.4 to 1.8 could be 2/3 or 3/4 stop. :)

Pulling your chain but I agree. For me it was the difference in paying $400 for an f:1.4 or $200 for an f:1.8 when I don't shoot much low light and don't want depth of field that shallow.

treadwl Loc: South Florida

Get a tripod and get a good one with a BALL HEAD! The tripod should extend to the point where it is eye level when you are standing. If you are going to spend log hours bending over a tripod it gets old really fast. The best tripods do not have a center column to extend. If you entend it you make your tripod into a monopod and it is less stable. Get a good tripod now and you will never have to get another one. Most people skimp in the quality and then wonder why they are not getting good results.

mdorn Loc: Portland, OR

OddJobber wrote:

Finer point of order: a half stop up from 1.4 is 1.7. Depending on whether you use a half stop, 1/3 stop, or 1/4 stop scale 1.4 to 1.8 could be 2/3 or 3/4 stop. :)

Pulling your chain but I agree. For me it was the difference in paying $400 for an f:1.4 or $200 for an f:1.8 when I don't shoot much low light and don't want depth of field that shallow.

:thumbup:

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

Other ideas:
Must have accessories: http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-173413-1.html
http://digital-photography-school.com/whats-camera-bag?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+DigitalPhotographySchool+%28Digital+Photography+School%29
http://digital-photography-school.com/photography-gear-consider-first-upgrade

amehta Loc: Boston

OddJobber wrote:

Finer point of order: a half stop up from 1.4 is 1.7. Depending on whether you use a half stop, 1/3 stop, or 1/4 stop scale 1.4 to 1.8 could be 2/3 or 3/4 stop. :)

Pulling your chain but I agree. For me it was the difference in paying $400 for an f:1.4 or $200 for an f:1.8 when I don't shoot much low light and don't want depth of field that shallow.

I believe it is completely acceptable to anally correct someone who is incorrectly anally correcting someone else! :-)

I think it is also acceptable to anally correctly someone, if you do it really nicely.

mdorn Loc: Portland, OR

amehta wrote:

I believe it is completely acceptable to anally correct someone who is incorrectly anally correcting someone else! :-)

:thumbup:

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

amehta wrote:

I believe it is completely acceptable to anally correct someone who is incorrectly anally correcting someone else! :-)

:thumbup: I'm not sure if that was good or bad but I like it. :)

Willy Loc: Alaska

Sailingirl wrote:

My husband bought me a Canon EOS Rebel T3i for Chr... (show quote)

I'd recommend a good tripod with a ball head. (It'll be expensive!)
http://bythom.com/support.htm

A circular polarizer

A set of graduated neutral density filters.
These are just about mandatory for landscapes. Heres a bit of info on how they work.
http://www.my-photo-blog.com/graduated-neutral-density-filters#more-136