Lenses, filters and eBay, a couple of questions and the Hippy waffles on....

[Hippy Vindalou]

This turned into a long post so please bare with me...

A few weeks back I went eBaying for camera stuff, nothing specific, I just wanted to see what I could find and what stuff was worth.
Well I ended up buying a bunch of stuff for fuckall money and am very happy.
Now I just need some advice on useing the stuff.:D
In the end from three different sellers I got
a set of 4 macro lenses (+1, +2, +4, +10)
a UV filter
an Infra Red filter
a soft focus filter
and a ND8 filter.

all up $176 bucks incl postage. The macros came from Poland and the rest from China and all turned up within 4 to 8 days. Paint Hippy a happy boy!

Here is one of the IR ones I am happy with so far. It was taken at the Calliope Golf Course, theres a few of my balls on the bottom of that inky looking lake. I just hit auto levels and resized it. Quite enjoying taken photos in IR, I like the effect. Macros in IR can look quite cool too.
http://forums.zgeek.com/gallery/data/thumbnails/59/CGClakeshedIR.jpg







This is one of the macros I am semi happy with. It's a flower on one of the broadbeans in my vege garden after I watered it.
http://forums.zgeek.com/gallery/data/thumbnails/59/broadbeanMsmall.jpg








Like all the macros I have taken since I got the new lenses it was taken outside whilst windy so I have a hard time keeping things in focus. I am going to try setting up something inside so I dont have to fight the elements while setting up shots.
I have a bit of a hard on for macro shots, I want to start taking a lot more.

Havent used the soft focus, the mrs wont pose for me:D and the UV is just on all the time as a lense protector.

Not really sure when to use the ND filter though. I have read a little on them but not much. I was kind of hoping it would give me the equivelent of a few extra f stops as my camera only goes to f8. Any advice would be much appreciated.

I have quite a few questions on various things actually, lighting (for macros mostly atm so I can get closer) and the Nd filter for a start as well as what sort of post process work people do on thier photos (ie converting to B&W). I guess I am a never ending fountain of questions if I think about it.

Do you other Zphotographers think starting threads devoted to different topics like lighting, macros, landscapes, equipment etc would be a good idea?
I have found a heap of websites with good advice (as I'm sure you have) that we could list in a linkage thread, or post a tip or trick we found in a relevant thread. (I found some good advice for shooting fireworks for instance) and where are good places to buy gear (and who to aviod)

Basically I am really getting into this whole photography deal and I am trying to find the best way to suck all your wonderfull knowledge from you all (and share the little I have as well) and spark a bit of life in the forum besides the competition threads.
Whatayasreckon?

[Hairyman]

Hippy,

I'd be very keen for separate threads on equipment and technique.

I can provide a list of links to sites with information on some of this stuff.

I don't really have any tips to offer, but I would be keen to hear what you have to say.

As regards the ND filter - you probably already know this - it will not improve your depth of field (it does not affect the aperture size), however it will let you take a longer exposure at a particular aperture for a given light level. It's good for taking long-exposure shots in bright conditions. Some examples would be waterfalls or other situations where you want to capture movement without being grossly over-exposed.

[dozer]

very nice ir shot, photoshop is your friend when making adjustments, swap the channel mixer for red and blue and check the difference.

sadly i dont think there are enough zgeekers into it. the average zgeeker is too busy playing wow, beating off to hentai tentacle pron while waiting for the next zmeet so they can socially interact on a 'normal' level to worry about stops and lighting, then again they say if you build it they will come.

while you have a nice camera (f828) id recommend something with an interchangeable lens, doesnt have to be digital as film still shits all over dig for resolution, even when you are spending over £10,000 for your medium format digital back.

maybe you can start a thread with rescources for photo tips etc, how to do b&w conversion etc.

[jak]

I love that IR shot! Can you post some more? Say with clouds in the sky - love seeing IR shots with clouds. Good work.