Rebel T3 Accessories

[Zyclone]

Greetings everyone!

I am new to using a DSLR and currently have an out of the box EOS Rebel T3 kit with the standard 18-55mm lens. I was browsing amazon for a few accessories like lens filters, a lens hood and a remote. I found a few options on amazon but I am not sure if they are good. Is it recommended to buy Canon brand accessories only? Or will an off brand do just as good?

I live in sunny San Diego, CA and I like to take photos of family, friends when we are out and about around town, or while I am on a hike taking pictures of people with landscapes in the background.

Here are the link to the items I am looking at, I would appreciate it if I could get some feed back on these products:

Remote

http://www.amazon.com/Aputure-Coworker-Wireless-Powershot-Replaces/dp/B002KDXQKG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&...

Remote

http://www.amazon.com/Neewer-Wireless-Shutter-Release-Control/dp/B004WB8EYM/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1...

I already have a tripod and thought a remote would be a better way of taking a group photo instead of me setting a 10 second timer and running into the frame.

Lens Filters

http://www.amazon.com/Professional-Filter-Accessory-CANON-Cameras/dp/B0053V5MF4/ref=cm_cd_al_qh_dp_t

I believe these are supposed to reduce the light/sunshine that shows up in photos sometimes. But I am new to this, so I am not exactly sure which color lens will help me the most and in what situations. Also, this looks like some cheap made in China stuff, hence the low price. Is it good enough or a waste of money

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Delectronics&field-keywords=rebel%20t3%20le...

When I search for "Rebel T3 lens filter kit" the results show "58mm len filter" but my lens is 18-55... is it compatible? I am confused.

All feedback is welcome! I am open to any suggestions and product recomendations.

Thank you. 

[RobertTheFat]

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@Zyclone wrote:

I ended up purchasing these lenses, but they do not seem to fit my 18-55mm kit lens. Do I need some sort of adapter?

http://www.amazon.com/Opteka-Definition%C2%B2-Professional-Piece-Filter/dp/B00NVPK84Y/ref=cm_cd_al_q...

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I assume you mean to say that you bought those filters.

The bad news is that you didn't notice that they are 55mm filters, and few zoom lenses take a filter that small. No adapter will help.

The good news is that filters that cheap would have done more harm than good.

[ebiggs1]

I think your lens requires 58mm size filters not 55mm.  You need to return them.

Filters are usually not called "lenses" although they look like it.  The reason the ad refers to to one "filter" as a lens is because it magnifies the image.  In reality, it is still a filter.

[Zyclone]

Sorry, I meant to say filters not lenses.
Can you make a recommendation for filters or a reputable brand for me to keep an eye on? As I mentioned earlier I have a Rebel T3 18-55mm kit lense.

After reading about the polarizing filter, natural density filter I think they might be a good addition for my kit to use when I take my camera on hikes or take pictures of people in an outside setting.

[ebiggs1]

What you are looking at isn't all that expensive but I would rather buy some other accesory besides a, or that, filter set.  IMHO, of course, everybody is different.  The only one in that set that is even remotely a good deal is the polarizer.  The others are pretty useless for most situations.

The best thing you can buy that will make the biggest impact on your photos is a posy editing program.  For instance Photoshop Elements but there are even some free ones that are pretty good, too.