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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
01-06-2019, 10:59 PM
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I wouldn't recommend a filter, instead mount the lens hood on it with the petals out (how it would normally be mounted if shooting). This will keep objects away from the front glass element of the lens.
When I was a beginner, I took the internet advice to use UV filters on all my lenses. That was a bit expensive, and over time I noticed the Image quality was very slightly reduced. It makes sense -- the more objects light has to pass through the worse off you are. Remove the unnecessary junk like UV filters on the front of a DSLR and you're better off in my opinion.
That said, if you live in a particularly dusty and windy area then maybe I'd mount a UV filter. But I don't and I don't have an issue with scratches on my lens elements.
But if stacking multiple lenses in the bag, then reverse the lens hood and put the lens caps on to avoid scratches.
I'd recommend a Giottos rocket blower. Please ensure you don't actually touch the tip of the blower to the lens though.
I'd leave a lens on the camera, preferably your most used lens. That way it is ready to go.
Plus dust on the front of the lens is less likely to cause image quality issues than dust on the rear element of the lens. By keeping the lens on the camera, you're reducing the potential for dust to settle on thee rear element.
Outside of your condition questions, basic beginner tips:
Ensure you have a memory card either in the camera or at the ready in the bag. I've taken all my gear to a location only to realize the camera was empty of memory cards! :eek:
Learn the exposure triangle or triad -- lots of info online, but I'd recommend taking some of that info to your camera and playing with settings until it clicks with you on a more fundamental level. You don't need to memorize that a shot was taken at 1/60s f/8 at ISO800, because light is pretty dynamic and no two shots may necessarily be the same. But it is nice to really understand that you need roughly a particular shutter speed to freeze certain motion, or an aperture setting to get a certain depth of field, how different ISO values alter the image quality etc.
Make sure to take hundreds of awful images as you learn your photographic tools!
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