Choosing your camera accessories

Decide on the lenses first

If you want more than point and click, you need proper lenses for your camera. Buying a lens is not an easy purchase decision. Before anything, you need to find out about the different lenses and the purposes they serve. This will create a difference between an ordinary photograph and an exceptional photograph. Lenses are available in different types and you can choose between macro lenses, zoom lenses and special purpose lenses.

Now consider the filters

Filters play an important role in photography because they can change the amount of light that would pass through your camera lens, thereby improving the image that you want to photograph. Filters can be used to change various elements of your photographs including colour, sharpness, contrast and intensity. The different types of filters include UV filters, polarizing filters, natural density filters and hard or soft edged gradual neutral density filters.

Do you need a stand?

It is common knowledge that the steadiness offered by a camera stand is way better than what you can do without it. You may have the steadiest of hands, but there is bound to be some shaking. And this can make a huge difference. When you invest in stands like tripods and monopods, you can keep your camera perfectly still as you capture those fantastic photos. The options available in this category include ball heads, pan heads and gimbal heads.

Get a proper flash

Most cameras have in-built flashes, but as a photographer, you would know that they prove to be inadequate in certain circumstances. The in-built flash can offer illumination up to 3 meters of distance and the light is usually unidirectional. However, this issue can be taken care of when you choose a slave flash. The slave flash is a tiny camera accessory that can be operated with a slave adapter that is fitted on a detachable flashgun. A slave flash is like a standard flashgun and can be fitted to the accessory shoe of your camera. It can also be linked to your camera with an extension cable. It can be activated when the sensor of your camera flash triggers it.

Other accessories that you don’t normally think of

Apart from the accessories mentioned here, there are many more that you can opt for. Batteries form an integral part of your camera system. Professional cameras are extremely power hungry and there could be situations where you don’t have a power outlet to charge the batteries. So, you need to keep extra batteries. Also, consider buying memory cards and other software for your camera. And of course, get a case or bag in which you can stash all the accessories and keep them safe.

Which camera accessories for which use?

If you have just started photography, you need to know where to use which accessory.

For standard photography, use 50mm lenses. These are the most common lenses that photographers use. If you want to photograph a tiny object, an insect for example, you need macro lenses. For group photos, indoor photos and landscapes, it is best to use zoom lenses. Telephoto lenses are especially useful when you want to capture a subject without being close. The Canon EF 70 – 200mm is a superb telephoto lens. The special purpose lenses are used for capturing underwater photos, aerial photos and photos with fisheye lenses.

To use filters, you need to know how to define your purchasing choice. If there is a lot of haziness caused by UV light, a UV filter has to be used with your camera. To improve contrast and remove reflections in photos, you need a polarizing filter. The Hoya 67mm Circular Polarizing Filter should be a good choice. The natural density filter is used to reduce your camera shutter speed. When you want to capture a waterfall, this is the filter that you will use the most. For macro photography, you will need to use a diopter or close up filter.

Tripods and monopods are usually required in three circumstances. If you have to shoot sharp photos in imperfect lighting conditions, these accessories prove to be extremely useful. These accessories are also required when you are trying to shoot a sharp photo with a lens that has longer focal length. If your lens aperture is set as very slow and you want to capture a photo, then also you need these accessories. Consider the Manfrotto Befree Tripod Kit in this category.