Tag Archives: photography tools

Lens Filters

Jun
12
2011
by Jessy | 5 Comments

Back when I used my Sony A300 I just bought filters off of ebay, and very cheap ones at that. I never knew that there really was a difference. When doing sunset pics one of my fellow photographers mentioned that I needed filters for my new camera (Nikon D7000). I agreed but since I’m finally getting serious I wasn’t sure what to get. I did some research before on the Hoya filters because at some point I would like to get into IR photography.

I must say the good Hoya IR filters are expensive and since this is still just a hobby that is on the back burner.

I did some further research lately on the hoya filters again. I wanted a UV and a circular polarizing filter. I will get my ND filters when my funds replenish again. I was able to find that Hoya has a great “introductory kit” for filters. This includes the CP, UP, and Warming filter from Hoya. The kit also comes with a nice little filter case that holds up to 4 filters. These filters were more expensive than some of the others that you find on ebay or other places but after using them only twice I must say that they are well worth the money!

I always thought of the CP being used with water and the sun but then I thought, why not the moon. With my rather cheap 55-300mm lens and the CP filter I got this image!

You can see the detail of the moon with amazing clarity. Taking this photo and seeing the clarity I was able to get with a long exposer, ISO of 100 f/22 I was taken back! Now I just want a new lens to try some more of this, that of course, will be when my funds replenish. Check out the hoya filters and do your research though, you can also find them cheaper on Amazon, but I would say they are well worth the money!
Hoya Filter Kits

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First tripod

Jun
05
2011
by Jessy | 1 Comment

So I finally got my first tripod!

This has been a difficult purchase as they can be so expensive.  Still being a new photographer I wanted to get something cheaper (as I’m not sure what I will want/need) and something still very portable.  As you can see many of my images are done outside and I wonder around a lot.

I finally found a site called B&H, they have so many tripods it’s unbelievable.  After reading several reviews I finally settled on the Vista by Davis & Sanford VIRV Ranger Tripod. It was very cheap in terms of tripods and has worked out very well. My first image using the tripod is below. I took one with the tripod and one without just to prove to myself how much I needed the tripod. Needless to say, on the same settings (slow shutter) I’m not going to post the pic without the tripod.

I must say that the controls on the tripod for positioning and holding the camera are made out of plastic and thus it’s difficult to hold the exact position that you wanted, but for an amateur like myself it’s fine. For the $27.00 I spent on this tripod it will last plenty long enough for me until I’m ready to buy a higher price tripod.

Image using tripod
Orange Sunset

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