Hi, I'm new to digital photography and...?

Question

I'm wondering if you can use lens & filters on the camera to create special lighting effects, etc. What's the best avenue to go for info?

Answer 1

Also consider this, with digital photography you can add many of those lighting effects using software after the photo has been taken.

Therefore, you may not need any filters at all, and it doesn't matter what type of digital camera you have either. You could buy image editing software for less than the price of some filters + filter holder (Photoshop Elements is about $90 I think).

On the other hand - some (but not many) lighting effects are difficult (but not impossible) to replicate using software; for example, starbursts.

One additional benefit of adding lighting effects using software is that you can add different effects to the same photo. Add an effect, save the image with a different name, then try out another effect. This way you can see whether the effect is what you are looking for or not.

Answer 2

John B is totally correct. In order to use filters, as typically thought of in the world of photography, you have to have an external sort of lens for all intents and purposes. Those come on Digital (or standard for film) SLR cameras. With point and shoots you don't so much have that option, but you can kind of fudge effects and lighting in post processing programs such as Adobe Photoshop or JASC PaintShop.

Answer 3

It all depends on the type of digital camera you have. If you have one of the larger ones, large format, like the EOS or Rebel series from Canon then you absolutely can. With the smaller cameras, the ones with small lenses and that are really light weight, then the answer is no, the filters and attachments simply will not work.

Answer 4

Try Trick Photography Special Effects : http://tinyurl.com/9e462K0ZQJ