Filters and bag for a beginner.

Tinders · 4 May 2012 at 11:53

Hi Guys,

I recently bought a Panasonic GF3 kit with the 14mm and 14-42mm lense, its the most expensive and complicated camera Ive ever bought!

I wanted a good camera to replace my ageing Panasonic TZ5, im quite happy with the GF3, im learning by playing,and im impressed with the pics I can take!

I mainly take it on holiday and when we go out, im not into photography, but i do like taking pics of where ive been, of me and the family and most importantly cars!

What filters would you recommend on a budget, jessops tried to sell me a kit instore of Hoya units, but i wasnt sure I really needed them. What would you advise on having in my kit bag? Oh and I could do with a smallish bag to hold the camera.

Thanks

Razor-BladE · 4 May 2012 at 12:13

I always find Crumpler bags very high quality and are comfortable to wear so have a look at them.

Andy90 · 4 May 2012 at 15:25

I like Lowepro bags. Good quality, plenty of storage spaces and reasonable prices. You can find a bag configuration tool at the right hand side of their homepage on their website at

http://www.lowepro.com/intl

As for Filters. The only one I would recommend for a beginner is a Circular polariser. Some will argue that you should use a UV Filter at all times, but that really is a left over from film photography where you could get a blue tint on the film without a UV (or warming filter). All modern digital cameras have a UV filter built in, just in front of the sensor to combat this problem.

The only real use for a UV filter is as a protection against sticky objects like childrens fingers or sand and salt etc. If you're going to protect the front element of the lens I would recommend something like the Hoya Pro 1 Digital Protector, which are completely clear optical glass or their equivilent from another manufacturer.

The other alternative to a protection filter is a lens hood, which will protect the front element from objects hitting the side of the lens, but obviously will not protect it from stuff jammed straight on at the lens.

You can find out a lot more about filters and their merits at

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photographic_filter

One thing I say from your post is that if you like taking pictures of cars the Circular polariser should be your first purchase, it will eliminate reflections from the bodywork and intensify the paint colours. It will also remove a lot of reflection from windscreens as well.

K.C. Leblanc · 4 May 2012 at 17:55

Razor-BladE said:
I always find Crumpler bags very high quality and are comfortable to wear so have a look at them.

I'm very happy with my Crumpler Messenger Boy 4000. Nicely made and I think a little more stylish then the competitors.

And as Andy has said, you probably won't need filters.

Start with the kit you've got and then if there's something you want to try buy the one filter you need.

Tinders · 4 May 2012 at 18:08

Thanks guys.

I'll go for a Circular polariser once im a bit more experienced, i'd be a bit more comfortable if I had a bit of protection infron of the lens.

julianhj · 4 May 2012 at 18:19

I've always got on well with Lowepro bags. As for filters, some will say it's madness to buy decent lenses and then stick a skylight or UV filter on the front, but I'm occasionally clumsy and I'd rather ruin a decent Hoya skylight than the front element of an expensive lens.