Some random beginner questions (Photography)

SolarNexus

just about to order a Fujifilm s5500 / s5100 , with integrated 10x zoom -- I was wondering whats the maximum zoom I can get with it using a telephoto lense. It would be great if I could get a 10x or similar telephoto, but I can only find a 3x zoom telephoto lense.

Additionally, anybody got any ideas for a basic set of lenses I should have from the get-go? I was thinking about something like a basic UV and/or polarisation lense(s). Mainly because I want to take pic's with sky background and/or strong sunlight.

I'm new to this, so any advice accepted willingly.

rob1891

You might have some things mixed up. The s5500 comes with a 10x zoom lens that is non-interchangeable. So you already have a 10x telephoto lens. There is a 1.5x tele adaptor for the s5500 with which you'd get 15x, but they usually have poor optical quality.

There is no basic set of lenses you should have (as it's not interchangeable!), but filters might be the word you were looking for. Creative filters have largely been replaced by plugins/filters in adobe photoshop which is something you should buy. You don't need a UV filter for a digital camera as the CCDs arent sensitve to UV light (unless it's simply to protect the lens surface when the camera is being used). Nothing stopping you using filters anyway but you'll probably find it impossible to them for the s5500 as they are made for film cameras.

JackKelly

yeah, uv lenses can be dodgy. Not a fujifilm camera but look here.

I thought that uv rays couldnt penetrate glass? Would that not make your camera protected from them by default?

Alun

Nothing stopping you using filters anyway but you'll probably find it impossible to them for the s5500 as they are made for film cameras.

Well, actually, the camera comes supplied with an adapter ring that provides a 55mm thread, so, yes, you can easily get filters to fit. In fact I have a 55mm B+W circular polarizer that's surplus to requirements if you're interested

SolarNexus

Alun wrote:

Well, actually, the camera comes supplied with an adapter ring that provides a 55mm thread, so, yes, you can easily get filters to fit. In fact I have a 55mm B+W circular polarizer that's surplus to requirements if you're interested

additionally, this is an example of a s5500 compatable telephoto lense (or whatever you call it?).

As for 'filters', which is the correct name, though for some reason websites I've been visiting say they're lenses, but anyway... I assumed that even with photo editing, some filters provide functionality not possible in post-processing, such as blocking the camera from being over-exposed with light etc.

Alun

The 'telephoto lens' you linked to is actually a tele-converter, not a telephoto lens. It attaches to the end of a normal lens and multiplies the focal length of the lens you attach it to by a fixed factor, in this case 3X. Results will generally be inferior to a 'proper' lens of the equivalent focal length.

A filter is a filter, not a lens. I suggest you get a few books on photograpy and swot up on basic terminology first, before spending too much money.

mime

hi hon mime here hope it works out ok for you