Photo related gifts for new Canon SLR user
Photo related gifts for new Canon SLR user
Author
Discussion

thepeoplespal

Original Poster:

1,694 posts

307 months

Wednesday 29th July 2009
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I'm always getting asked what I want for my birthday and I never know what to suggest, so as a new 450D user with the twin lens kit, can you suggest ideas under £20 or even £10 (a filter or the like) which I could ask for, rather than getting something I don't need.

Feel free to go over my budget a bit, I might get asked to buy my own present and add a bit myself, if you think I really would benefit, either that or I can dream :-)

satans worm

2,464 posts

247 months

Wednesday 29th July 2009
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polarising filter if you havent already got one, as essential as a lense IMO

GetCarter

31,278 posts

309 months

Wednesday 29th July 2009
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I'll refrain form suggesting a years subscription to 'Nikon World'

...and instead point you towards a Cokin filter starter set?

Podie

46,649 posts

305 months

Wednesday 29th July 2009
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Spare battery or a decent card yes

Gold

1,998 posts

235 months

Wednesday 29th July 2009
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Have you got a decent bag? Tripod (cheapo)?

Simpo Two

92,862 posts

295 months

Wednesday 29th July 2009
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GetCarter said:
I'll refrain form suggesting a years subscription to 'Nikon World'
hehe

I'd go for a second battery or a bag.

A flashgun is very useful but not for £20 frown

cbcbcb

270 posts

241 months

Wednesday 29th July 2009
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Rocket blower - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Giottos-GTAA1900-Rocket-Ai...

A copy of Understanding Exposure - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Understanding-Exposure-Pho...

Or (over the budget), a 50mm f/1.8 ("Nifty Fifty"). Great lens for learning what a fast lens can do for you, and makes for a sharp portrait lens too.

thepeoplespal

Original Poster:

1,694 posts

307 months

Wednesday 29th July 2009
quotequote all
GetCarter said:
I'll refrain form suggesting a years subscription to 'Nikon World'

...and instead point you towards a Cokin filter starter set?
Well I did see PhotoPlus (Canon Edition) which might be a goer for a subscription, which seems okay (not that I'm any judge, mind you) but showing my complete and utter ignorance what exactly is a Cokin filter starter set and how would I use it - seems to be shed loads of them makin it all rather complicated and it might be hard to get the right one.

thepeoplespal

Original Poster:

1,694 posts

307 months

Wednesday 29th July 2009
quotequote all
cbcbcb said:
Rocket blower - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Giottos-GTAA1900-Rocket-Ai...

A copy of Understanding Exposure - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Understanding-Exposure-Pho...

Or (over the budget), a 50mm f/1.8 ("Nifty Fifty"). Great lens for learning what a fast lens can do for you, and makes for a sharp portrait lens too.
Couple of goers there okay including the bag idea (using my padded laptop bag atm) and as for the "Nifty Fifty" which one and from where?

Andy M

3,755 posts

289 months

Wednesday 29th July 2009
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A few ideas:

Shutter release cable
Hot shoe bubble level (if you have a tripod)
Rocket Blower
Moo Business Cards
Years subscription to a Flickr Pro account
Magazine subscription
Reflector (for portraits etc)
Pinhole lens

Edited by Andy M on Wednesday 29th July 21:03

Andy M

3,755 posts

289 months

Wednesday 29th July 2009
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Glosphil

4,886 posts

264 months

Wednesday 29th July 2009
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thepeoplespal said:
GetCarter said:
I'll refrain form suggesting a years subscription to 'Nikon World'

...and instead point you towards a Cokin filter starter set?
Well I did see PhotoPlus (Canon Edition) which might be a goer for a subscription, which seems okay (not that I'm any judge, mind you) but showing my complete and utter ignorance what exactly is a Cokin filter starter set and how would I use it - seems to be shed loads of them makin it all rather complicated and it might be hard to get the right one.
I can definitely recommend that magezine. Or the EOS Magazine (4 issues a year for £17) specifically for Canon cameras.

BrightYellowTVR

1,258 posts

297 months

Thursday 30th July 2009
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50mm 1.8 prime lens (£60)or less on ebay
monopod

uriel

3,244 posts

281 months

Thursday 30th July 2009
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Best thing I bought for my 450D was a cheapy Chinese battery grip from Ebay. £28 IIRC. I have big hands and it's made the camera way, way more pleasant to use, the extra battery power means it lasts forever and it came with a 2nd cartridge thingy that allows you to run on AA batteries if you're caught short.

And it's better built with better materials than the body of the camera!

Starfighter

5,348 posts

208 months

Thursday 30th July 2009
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EOS Magazine subscription. The only canon only magazine supported direct by Canon.
http://www.eos-magazine.com/

Edited by Starfighter on Thursday 30th July 18:11

Starfighter

5,348 posts

208 months

Thursday 30th July 2009
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[quote=thepeoplespal what exactly is a Cokin filter starter set and how would I use it - seems to be shed loads of them makin it all rather complicated and it might be hard to get the right one.
[/quote]

Cokin filters are thin sheets of optical quality resin, they are impregnated with a range of colours and are fitted using a slot in holder that screws on to the front of the lens. The filters come in a range of sizes (A = 67mm and P = 82mm from memory) and the size required will depend on the lens to be fitted to. A good starter set would be a set of 3 neutral graduateds, holder and the screw fit adapetr. This set is generally used to allow you to darken down the sky in landscape type situations to that it is easier to get detail in clouds etc that tend to burn out to just white.

Linky here http://www.cokin.co.uk/pages/main.htm

The Understanding Exposure book is good, I've ben doing this for getting on 30 years and still learned some things from it. How much photography has the recipient got? If they are new to this or have only done automatic point and shoot then I'd go for the book over the filters. The book will give good foundation knowledge that will be used for life, the filters would be occasional use and may cause further confusion if the understanding is not there already.

thepeoplespal

Original Poster:

1,694 posts

307 months

Sunday 2nd August 2009
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Reckon I'll get at least one of the above, so thanks for the input, and as for the others I'll work on those, am contemplating the Nifty Fifty as my next personal purchase, that and a decent flash.