To protect it from scratches and help keep it clean, consider using a clear protective filter on your camera lens.

They’re an inexpensive (prices start around $13 depending on lens size) way to protect your lens. A filter also helps keep the lens clean from dust, smudges and the elements when you’re shooting in bad weather. A filter can help prevent damage caused by wind-blown debris, sand or salt spray such as when you’re shooting outdoors at the beach. Furthermore, it’s easier to clean the filter instead of cleaning the lens itself. It’s also less expensive to replace the filter when it’s damaged than a lens.

Now you might be thinking “isn’t that the purpose of a lens cap?” and you’d be correct. The problem with a lens cap, however, is that it’s so easy to lose or misplace it. A filter, unlike the lens cap, is actually attached to the lens so it cannot fall off or become lost. Also, you won’t lose an opportunity of snaping a once in a lifetime photo by fumbling with the camera to remove the lens cap.

Keep in mind as you consider using a filter that if you ask ten photographers whether they use filters, five may say yes and five may say never. In other words, there are many opinions on the value of protective filters. Some believe that a filter is unnecessary and therefore they rarely, if ever, use a protective filter. They may prefer using lens caps, lens hoods or simply handling their cameras very carefully.

Some photographers believe that lenses made today are already protected with special coatings against scratches and dust and, therefore, don’t need any protection from the environment in most normal photography conditions.

Other photographers keep a filter on each lens they use, perhaps taking the filter off during certain types of photography.

You’ll have to decide whether a quality clear filter is best for your shooting situations.

Note: instead of a clear filter, you may also consider an UV filter. It serves the same purpose as a clear protective filter but may be easier to find at your local camera dealer.

 

Written by Scott Slaughter

 

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Extending your Arm

You see it all of the time – an excited picture-taker is pointing her camera at herself with an extended arm. She’s taking her own photo.

She could have used a QuikPod. I first saw a demo of the QuikPod at the Consumer Electronics Show in early January and recently ordered one through Amazon.

The people at QuikPod designed a neat device that helps these photographers take better self-portraits. The QuikPod is small and is packaged in a lightweight net carrying case that fits in a coat pocket or purse.

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Make yourself a simple “strap tripod”

Owing to various photo assignments, I seem to spend a considerable of time in the field. But I’ll have to admit that I’m not a big fan of lugging around a tripod. My “excuse” is that with all of the shuttling back and forth, a tripod is not the easiest item to carry-on when traveling by airplane.

There are many times however, that I could use the rock-steady support of a tripod. For these occasions, I make do with a substitute accessory that easily stores in my pocket or backpack.

As you’ll see, this accessory is not very sophisticated, but it does an adequate job of squeezing two or three additional stops of exposure from my camera when the light is fading.

These are the few simple materials that I used for this project: 6 feet of web strapping – available from Hobby Lobby, Michaels or other fabric store one plastic strap adjuster – also available from fabric store one 1/4″ x 20 threaded bolt – from hardware store (three are shown in this photo) one grommet – from hardware store; If you don’t have a grommet kit, this will be your biggest expense. Since I already have a grommet kit, I save about $10. Another benefit of using this strap tripod is that it’s dirt cheap to make – about $3.

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