CPL and step down ring

[Merlin5]

Hi guys. I've been learning a lot these last few days about the basics of photography and getting familiar with things. I bought a Canon 50mm 1.8 lens and a Tamron 70 to 300mm f4 to 5.6 lens yesterday. Should be buying the camera today.

I hope you don't think I'm trying to run before I can walk since I've not even received my gear yet! But I just discovered polariser filters. I've seen how great it can deepen colours and reduce reflections, so I want one.

I saw a video demonstrating a Hoya Pro 1 and the effects looked amazing.
£29 for the 52mm. Seems reasonable.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000KL7JF8/ref=pe_3187911_189395841_TE_dp_3?th=1

Shall I buy it or do you recommend anything else same or better quality that's same price or cheaper?

And secondly, I read that a step down ring is a good thing to have so I can use the 52mm on my other lens. I believe the Tamron will have a 62mm thread so do you recommend I get this 62 to 52 step down ring?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/62-52mm-Al...ring&qid=1592970757&s=electronics&sr=1-2&th=1

 

[Merlin5]

A couple of things:

CPL's are quite specific in their use and can when used in the wrong way totally alter to colour and exposure of the scene. So before dropping cash on one what are you going to shooting and what do want to achieve?

I use a CPL to reduce glare and reflections from water, glass or other shiny surfaces or in some specific circumstances I've used one to see through things. Outside of that I get much more use out of my ND filters who's only task is to reduce the amount of light coming in not change it in anyway.

Thanks Columbo. At the moment, being new to photography, or at least, 'proper' photography, I'm like a kid in a sweetshop, I want to try everything. I don't think I'll settle on any specific type of photography. I want to shoot a bit of landscape, a bit of wildlife, maybe some action shots, close ups of food, just general stuff. But I'd like a filter to deepen the blues of skies, make the clouds pop more, get rid of reflections on greenery, that sort of thing. I think it makes everything look nicer and professional.

PS. Just bought a Canon 5d mk ll from MPB for £349. Should get all my gear tomorrow. Can't wait!

 

[Merlin5]

Well my advice would be to shoot RAW and learn to edit the RAWs.
In decent software like Lightroom this can be done really easily using the graduated / selection and masking options and the RAW file will allow quite a lot of flexibility in terms of editing without killing the quality.

What editing options do you have? A good editing option is definitely as important to me personally as equipment so instead of dropping the cash on some gear your may or may not use in certain circumstances it maybe worth investing in some software you will definitely use for every photo.

I was going to ask about editing software. I've got photoshop CC 2019 which I haven't used much and so I wouldn't say I'm particularly at ease using it yet. But would that be good enough or do I need dedicated photography software? But there's no way I'm paying monthly subs for any software like Lightroom so it would have to be something I can just buy outright or use some free software if there's anything worthwhile? I've had a look at Luminar 4 but it seems to be a cheat app, you can drop in preset skies and backgrounds. I'd rather not be tempted to cheat but rather learn to achieve results myself.

By the way, MPB had a Hoya Pro-1 52mm CFL in excellent condition for £14 so I went ahead and added it to my order. That's about half price.