correct forum ? (hopefully)

[threelions usa]

after posting in the critique section i received some good advice.

however, wishing to move on to the next category and not being able to afford both currently, a question arises please ?

which one first ?

photoshop ( and which is the best one for the beginner category ?)

or

filters

pros and cons would be preferred rather than just a straight forward ~ "photoshop" "filters"

any input would be greatly appreciated.

thanks.

[Frog]

I'm not sure of the price of cs2 or 3 right now but I know they're more than filters.
How many lenses do you have? You only need one or two filters for each..uv and circular polarizer. I got mine on ebay from HongKong and had no trouble.
For photoshop I'm using elements 5.0 until someday when I can afford cs3..probably be cs8 by then.
Just did a quick look and see some 5.0 elements selling in the 50 to 60 dollar range.
I'd get that first and avoid taking pictures of stuff with glare(what the polarizers are for)

Its only my opinion though! Good luck!

[threelions usa]

the two lenses which came with the camera the 17.5 - 45 and the 40 - 150.

it seemed as though i could get a filter kit for the olympus for around 50 bucks or so.

the photoshop at frys for 85 (20 dlr rebate form i think as well) the next one up is the premier for 185 but i think that the 85 would suffice.

i toured corkin homepage and came up with different filter kits, do you just have the one for the sky or do you have the "combined" filter kit ?

thanks for your invaluable help

cheers

[Medley]

I would suggest Photoshop before filters. I would love to get so good at photography that my images wouldn't benefit from post-processing, but so far I've found that most if not all images can be improved.

I would also suggest that you buy the best version that your budget allows. It will give you the most flexibility over time, and you'll never wish you had gotten the next version up.

Just my opinion though, really.

- Medley.

[SmartWombat]

Both, ask any two people here and you'll get three opinions

The only filters I'd suggest are a polarising filter, and graduated neutral density filter.
Things that it's rather hard to dduplicate in photoshop.

Photoshop, I started out with LE (that came with the 1DmkII I think) and would never have changed except for a cheap upgrade offer
I still use less than 1% of what Photoshop CS 2 can do, I'm sure.

[threelions usa]

thanks folks i took your advice to heart and purchased the 5.0 photoshop.

now i wish i had bought the filters !!!





of course now i have to read through about 750 pages of how to work the thing and i would presume that you can only put filters either up or down, around or about.

4 options..

:mad2:

am giving it a try but for some reason it seems to lock up when finalising editing..

i know buy a new computer..

i only came on here for advice and when i asked what the time was, you all told me how to build a watch !!!

[mwfanelli2]

the two lenses which came with the camera the 17.5 - 45 and the 40 - 150.

it seemed as though i could get a filter kit for the olympus for around 50 bucks or so.

the photoshop at frys for 85 (20 dlr rebate form i think as well) the next one up is the premier for 185 but i think that the 85 would suffice.

A filter kit for $50 is worthless. If you want filters that don't dgrade the image you'll be spending more than $50 EACH. A lens is only as good as its weakest link, don't make that the filter! Best brands to look at are B+W, Heliopan, and HOYA SMC. The only one you really need is a polarizer whose effects can not be duplicated in software, and maybe, an ND and grad ND.

It is very rare that anyone here actually needs Photoshop. That is the extremely expensive knee jerk reaction because it owns the market. PS is a product geared towards graphic arts professionals. For most people, that does NOT include them whether they realize it or not! Most anything substantially cheaper works better because you have a chance of actually learning it well. The packages that are less than $100 and will do everything you need them to include Adobe Elements (I hate this product but many love it), Paint Shop Pro, or my favorite, Picture Window Pro designed specifically for photographers. All have free full-featured demos on their web sites. Don't just jump like a lemming to Photoshop!

[Frog]

I'm pretty happy with elements 5. I tried a few free trials of others but all the different formats get confusing at my age.
I don't know why it is freezing up on you but there are a lot of adobe forums out there and maybe somebody here knows..
I'll agree with mwfanelli on the filters. Better to save up and get the best you can afford than to buy something that makes your photos worse and then have to buy the better one anyway.
Good luck. Don't give up. You'll get it.

[threelions usa]

appreciate all of the input guys.

no short cuts, i understand that. thanks for the filter advice ~ i will plan that next. perhaps auntie will put one or more in my christmas stocking (a tough call since auntie is demised but if it works ~ i'll be happy)