DSLR Equipment

[brutus87]

So I have had a Canon t3i for about a month or so. I absolutely love it. I have bought a few things like a flash, 50mm f1.8, UV lense filters, etc.

I'm now looking to cash in those Ebay/Amazon gift cards for:

Battery grip
Extra batteries
Tripod
Remote

OEM Canon stuff is really expensive. I dont mind paying full price for things you must, but Can I cut corners, and if so, where for some of these things? Any sellers your prefer/stay away from?

Thanks guys/gals.

[TurboJake]

I have had GREAT success with my cheap grip, batteries, and remotes.

http://www.amazon.com/Neewer-Battery-Grip-Canon-Rebel/dp/B004UTQRHW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1357278689&sr=8-1&keywords=T2i+battery+grip

http://www.ebay.com/itm/LP-E8-LPE8-Battery-for-Canon-EOS-Digital-Rebel-T3i-T4i-Kiss-X4-X5-X6i-Camera-/300841909183?pt=Batteries_Chargers&hash=item460b933bbf

http://www.ebay.com/itm/IR-Wireless-Remote-Control-for-Canon-EOS-5D-Mark-II-T4i-650D-T3i-600D-T2i-550D-/380530701785?pt=Camera_Camcorder_Remotes&hash=item589965b5d9

http://www.ebay.com/itm/LCD-Timer-Remote-Cord-For-Canon-EOS-1100D-550D-Digtial-Rebel-T2i-T3-RS-60E3-/190779619290?pt=Camera_Camcorder_Remotes&hash=item2c6b59f7da

Tripod you don't want to skimp on. There's one I picked up from target for $36 that works wonderful. But seriously though, all the cheap stuff I just listed has worked WELL beyond what I thought they would. The grip is super solid, not cheap feeling at all. I've been blown away for the price. The batteries are batteries... And the remotes are just remotes. The IR one feels cheap, but it works perfectly at about 20 feet.

[brutus87]

thank you so much!
Ill check them out
I really do appreciate it. I have just heard horror stories from other people.

[TurboJake]

Wait! That was the wrong grip.

It's this one. The one I linked to amazon was the one I was looking at until I realized it was different batteries. This is the one I got, so I have 3 usable T2i batteries without the grip.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Battery-Grip-BG-E8-LP-E8-for-CANON-EOS-650D-600D-550D-Rebel-T4i-T3i-T2i-/230827901425?pt=US_Camera_Battery_Grips&hash=item35be6a41f1

[2ean]

Agreed with everything Jake said, though I can't speak for the remote/timer. As for tripod, buy nice or buy twice. That said, this should hold you over until you're ready to drop $150-200 (when your gear is heavier): http://www.amazon.com/Ravelli-Profes...s=benro+tripod

[brutus87]

Thank you guys!

I always see threads on buying DSLR bodies, never really on acc. Hope we can keep this going.

[j0oftheworld]

I just got the T3i from Costco today!
Body, 18-55, 55-250, bag, 8gb SD, HDMI, DVD, etc.. $729

[mrsleeve]

My take on this. Scrap the UV filters, you dont need them.

Battery grip- Ehhh if you want to lug all that extra weight around then fine. I dont seem to have issues carrying a couple of extra batteries in my pocket, or in my pack. I am Nature/wild life guy so lugging more shit around that you need gets heavy . The only thing I have considered a grip for is my Olympus OMD just because the grip is actually functional by giving you a little more to hang on to and gives you an additional controls and shutter for shooting in the vertical plane.

Batteries OEM and Nothing else for all of my stuff.
Old thread and long but you can brush up on shitty counterfeit canon bats

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=612077

Tripod, I agree you dont want to skimp on, you dont have to go full on carbon Fiber, 800+ dollar set of legs. But I would not cheap out too much either, I have not invested too heavily in my tripod (for various reasons ) but I will upgrade at some point, I would not really consider anything less than a Manfrotto 190X set of legs and 498 ball head. Should set you back 200ish bucks, same set up I have been using for a while now.

I got a nice remote shutter release for like 4 bucks from amazon, long as you can lock it open for bulb mode you will be fine. For that price get 2 actually so when one breaks you have a spare while you order another 4 dollar special.............

I would suggest a CPL (Circular Polarizer ) and a GOOD ONE with good multi coatings from Kenco, B+W, Hoya Pro Digital or other High quality top of their product ranges manufacturer . You dont want to put cheap crappy glass in front of a good lens, or there was no point in having a good lens in the 1st place. Depending on the glass your are getting these for should be between 65-125 bucks

I am a big fan of B+W ( Schott Glass works in Germany Where Leica and Zeiss get their glass from ) and have had good luck with the My Kenko Pro as well, when I am out side and its not super dark there is always a CPL on my glass. CPL's will cut the glare off most things or allow you to place the glare where you want but cutting some and out in one place and not in another, the CPL is one effect that CANT be reproduced in Post processing. another added beinfit is when shooting 90* to the sun you will get and nice dark royal blue sky.

Like this shot here, No post process and just a CPL on the front (from last fall in northern PA)


If your going to be doing anything like sunrise/sunsets, moving water and landscapes where you want to leave the shutter open much longer to get better color saturation and rendition or motion blur but its impossible you might want to consider a .3 and .6 ND (neutral density) filters and a .6 Soft transition GND (graduated Neutral density) so you can darken the sky more than the foreground to get your exposure.


Save your money for getting better glass though most importantly

[2ean]

Battery grip- Ehhh if you want to lug all that extra weight around then fine. I dont seem to have issues carrying a couple of extra batteries in my pocket, or in my pack. I am Nature/wild life guy so lugging more shit around that you need gets heavy . The only thing I have considered a grip for is my Olympus OMD just because the grip is actually functional by giving you a little more to hang on to and gives you an additional controls and shutter for shooting in the vertical plane.
Personal preference; I can't comfortably hold a Rebel without a grip!

Batteries OEM and Nothing else for all of my stuff.
Old thread and long but you can brush up on shitty counterfeit canon bats

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=612077

I have 4 OEM Canon batteries and 4 3rd party batteries. Honestly, batteries are batteries. Save your money and buy from a reputable 3rd party manufacturer.

Tripod, I agree you dont want to skimp on, you dont have to go full on carbon Fiber, 800+ dollar set of legs. But I would not cheap out too much either, I have not invested too heavily in my tripod (for various reasons ) but I will upgrade at some point, I would not really consider anything less than a Manfrotto 190X set of legs and 498 ball head. Should set you back 200ish bucks, same set up I have been using for a while now.

I'm not a huge fan of the 190xprob. Speaking from personal experience, it feels significantly more filmsy not only than the 055xprob, but also my Benro. I'd buy the cheaper Ravelli until he can scrounge for the wonderful 055xprob + 492RC2 combo.

Save your money for getting better glass though most importantly
Truth.

Just a few counterpoints :grin:

[mrsleeve]

^
No prob I can totally understand most things are personal preference in this game anyway, You are right though a good 3rd party battery is not a bad choice, though they are not that much cheaper than OEM from discount sources, and I just prefer OEM for this purpose.

I dont like the rebels in the 1st place, my canon stuff is based around the 40d and while the 190x is an entry level I have not had a lick of issue and works well for what I have been using it for.

[Wschnitz]

The UV filter isn't necessarily for better pictures, its for protecting your lens. I've had many friends scratch a lens because they didn't have one. Its your choice, 20$ filter or 500$ lens.

[Gasturbine]

I have bought a few things like a flash, 50mm f1.8, UV lense filters, etc.

Toss your filters, get a copy of Lightroom, and take all your pics in RAW.

Canon 550d here.

[bernzpeed]

So I have had a Canon t3i for about a month or so. I absolutely love it. I have bought a few things like a flash, 50mm f1.8, UV lense filters, etc.

I'm now looking to cash in those Ebay/Amazon gift cards for:

Battery grip
Extra batteries
Tripod
Remote

OEM Canon stuff is really expensive. I dont mind paying full price for things you must, but Can I cut corners, and if so, where for some of these things? Any sellers your prefer/stay away from?

Thanks guys/gals.

unless you're doing professional photography (which i doubt you will) i would do without the battery grip. i always take photos and i never run out of battery.

don't get a cheap tripod, mine broke right away the day i bought it and i was pissed that my camera fell off the tripod. luckily i didn't break the lens.

the remote i just love. get a UV filter to protect your lens, and a hood.
a nice pancake lens is good for taking portraits also. love it. very light.
have fun with it.

[LuckyHenriksen]

I think the best advice is to save up for nice glass. The price of L glass will scare you though

[brutus87]

The thing that is scaring me, is the thought of cheap batteries exploding/leaking in my camera. I think for now ill only put Canon batteries in there, and aftermarket in the camera grip I just bought.


Yall have any aftermarket brands/sellers you recommend?