A few on Flickr from me

[JockMacMad]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jockmacmad

[codemonkey]

Some fantastic shots there :thumbs:

Were you using a polarising filter on the shots in London of the House of Commons and Tower Bridge?

Just bought myself a Canon 450D and starting to get all the bits and pieces required and wondering what to spend my spondoolee's on next :D

[guardy06]

I'd be interested to know what equipment you used too. Just getting into this myself.

[JockMacMad]

I always have a polarising filter on, I think of them as scratch filters for the lens, the bonus is they make the shots look better too :)

Kit is EOS20D with a Sigma 28-300 zoom. Manfrotto tripod and head. Always pay for the polarising filter, never underestimate a quaility tripod.
Where doing still shots, use, tripod remote or cable release. If on slowwww setting use mirror lock where possible (depends on your camera) to stop mirror slap.

Those shots you mention are HDR as well hence the high colour contrast.

[codemonkey]

I always have a polarising filter on, I think of them as scratch filters for the lens, the bonus is they make the shots look better too :)

Kit is EOS20D with a Sigma 28-300 zoom. Manfrotto tripod and head. Always pay for the polarising filter, never underestimate a quaility tripod.
Where doing still shots, use, tripod remote or cable release. If on slowwww setting use mirror lock where possible (depends on your camera) to stop mirror slap.

Those shots you mention are HDR as well hence the high colour contrast.

Any brands of polarising filter you recommend? I've been looking at a Hoya or Kood one...

I have a UV filter on the lens at the minute to act as a scratch guard. :thumbs:

[JockMacMad]

I use Hoya.

I have a Hoya on my 170-500mm Sigma. It was £90 just for the filter. But thats still cheaper than replacing the lens if it gets damaged.

I would also warn against buying too many lenses for the 450D if your serious long term. I am lucky in that my lenses are from my old EOS50E film camera and I accept the 1.7x shitft on them in that when I can get a full sensor camera I still have the lenses. Buying 'Digital' lenses means that they will become defunct on a full sensor camera.

[codemonkey]

I use Hoya.

I have a Hoya on my 170-500mm Sigma. It was £90 just for the filter. But thats still cheaper than replacing the lens if it gets damaged.

I would also warn against buying too many lenses for the 450D if your serious long term. I am lucky in that my lenses are from my old EOS50E film camera and I accept the 1.7x shitft on them in that when I can get a full sensor camera I still have the lenses. Buying 'Digital' lenses means that they will become defunct on a full sensor camera.

Hoya it is then :D

As for the digital lenses, are you referring to EF-S lenses? As the 450D will take EF lenses as well which are full bodied aren't they? At least they work on non digital SLR EOS cameras?

[JockMacMad]

Yes EF-S or Digital lenses. Problem is when you get to wide angle the EF are a problem due to even a 17mm gets 1.6x making it not so wide. But for all other lenses stick to EF where you can and they will be a long term investment.

I have to admit I am supprised we still have EF-S and APS-C senors, I would have thought by now they would be obsolete.

[codemonkey]

Cool. Cheers for the tip :thumbs:

Just placed my order for a polarising filter. Should arrive tomorrow :D

[madmaca]

Some great shots there - I guess you are a fan of HDR photography then? ;)

[JockMacMad]

Sometimes yes and sometimes no :)

It either

a) enhances a normal photograph slightly to improve contrast and colours within normal ranges

or

b) makes the image look like a painting or just way out there

I seem to not like middle gorund so much and I stick more to a) than b) :)