
A photography enthusiast is always looking for 10 Best Camera Accessories (2018), because as every photographer knows that buying a good camera with the best features is not enough.
This is a kind of toolbox which is every photographer’s best friend. Those who have taken up photography as a profession will have an array of goods or accessories depending on the need and situation. But if you are new to the world of photography, you may concentrate on the essentials.
Good news is that you really do not have to pay an exorbitant price for acquiring some cool camera accessories.
So, before you shoot, let’s find out what you can shop!
10 Best Camera Accessories (2018) that Make Your Photography Fun
A Fine Camera Bag
This is the best way to carry your types of equipment between locations. Also, bags are essential because they protect your camera.
Before you make an investment, you must think about your types of equipment and how much space they need. Although bigger bags will be heavy, it is better to purchase a big bag which will effortlessly fit your camera, lenses and all the other types of equipment. For instance, heavier cameras like Nikon D80 DSLR will need bigger space. A backpack can be a good option.
But there are many who prefer a sling bag or a shoulder bag. You can take your pick from Kata and Lowepro bags. Both these companies manufacture bags which can easily accommodate DSLR accessories. You can check out the LowePro Pro Runner 300 AW Backpack. You will be quite amazed at its features:
- Can easily fit D-SLR camera along with a kit of 4 to 5 lens
- Have padded interiors
- Includes adjustable dividers along with padded inserts
- Weather-resistant
It is difficult to carry a backpack on rough terrains; shoulder bags give you the comfort without compromising on the speed And most modern sling bags combine the comfort of shoulder bags and the convenience of backpacks.
Extra batteriesExtra batteries definitely count among the topmost photography accessories when you are traveling. Professional photographers do not even think twice before buying them. But even an amateur photographer understands the need for extra batteries because they are a real life-saver when you are taking a vacation or a trip.
Also, if you are traveling to cooler climates, especially to mountains you should always remember that batteries do not last long. Stock well, and take some extra batteries if you do not want to miss out the sunrise.
Wildlife photographers who shoot in freezing conditions always prefer to carry extra batteries, as they do not last long.
Spray bottleWhen you search for camera accessories online, you will find a number of interesting finds. To top it all, all these will cost less than $25
For instance, you can have a spray bottle.
Have you seen the amazing photographs of fresh flowers and fruits and ever wondered about the acumen of the photographer who manages to click such fine photographs?
Well, the trick is in the spray bottle. If you want to click on the flower, fruits, and spider webs and want them fresh and beautiful, you need not wake up at dawn. Just keep your spray bottle by your side.
It may seem ‘cheating’ and compromise on photography ethics, but when you see the outcome you will be more than pleased. And come to think of the price, it remains unbeatable. You can have a bottle of fine mist spray in $1.
Lens penWhen it comes to DSLR camera accessories, this is an absolute must-have. Forget about your fluids and paper napkins. This is the age of modern technology and you should have the best of products. The lens pen has a microfiber disk which is filled with dry lens cleaner at the end.
And you will have a retractable brush on the other end. As you dust the lens with the brush, it will remove all the dust and dirt particles. If you rub the disk of your lens with the brush, you can easily remove all the smudges, fingerprints and spots.
You can have a spotless clean lens before your next shoot. Fingerprints and smudges are quite common on lens and they make the image hazy and less clear. They are extremely easy to use and are lightweight; so it is easy to carry them.
The lens pen is quite inexpensive which means you can buy one without really creating a hole in your pocket. It may cost just around $10.
LCD ProtectorWhen you think of Canon camera accessories, one thing that comes to the mind is an LCD protector. This becomes crucial especially if you are shooting in rough terrains and jungles. If you have a higher-end DSLR camera, then it might have a plastic protector to prevent its exposure from dust and dirt. But often dust particles get in between the plastic protector and LCD screen and your screen may get scratched.
A regular screen protector is a much better choice in comparison. You should remember that a DSLR camera with a scratched screen will hardly have any resell value.
So, take your best effort to keep your LCD screens free from as many scratches as possible. Check out the ZAGG invisible shield LCD protectors. They come in different sizes and can easily fit on any LCD. As an additional protective cover, you can use the plastic cover as well. Some of the features of this invisible shield are:
- There is no sticky residue because of static adhesion
- Optical glass which is ultra-thin
- Protective material in multiple layers
- Protective shield for blocking UV rays
- Wipe and microfiber cloth for preventing scratches on screen
Among many Nikon camera accessories, photographers talk about Nikon lens caps. Compared to Canon, Nikon makes lens caps that are good to fit, and easier to use. If you look at the pinchable area at the sides of the Nikon cap, you will notice that they are twice as wide as the caps made by Canon.
The center of the Nikon cap is pinchable as well, which means you can easily remove or replace the cap when the lens hood is used.
Also, the cap is used as a protective shield for the lens. They are quite inexpensive and come in various sizes which mean it is easier to find one cap for your lens specifically. Moreover, when you think of the cost and its usefulness, you are bound to be impressed.
If you want, you can do some research online before choosing one for your camera.
A good tripod
This is considered as one of the best camera accessories and if you ask any professional photographer, they will simply swear by it. It is an absolute must-have if you are shooting in low-light areas.
Also, tripods are considered as crucial for landscape or night photography. Always remember that you do not want an inexpensive tripod for your camera which may easily break.
Instead, it is better to make a solid investment on tripods. Your tripod should be able to carry twice as much weight than your camera. Some of the best tripods are made by Gitzo, but the products can be a bit expensive.
Manfrotto is another company which sells tripods. If you want, you can go to a separate head and leg. Or if you are looking for best investment, you can buy the entire tripod system. But if you are looking for tripods under $100-$200, then you should opt for
tripods from AmazonThere are many kinds of tripods available with Amazon.
You can always aim for a compact tripod. Features include:
- Support weight up to 1 kg
- Includes a pan-head which functions two-way
- Can be folded to 22 cms
- Can extend up to 43 cms
- Lightweight
- Includes 3 leg sections
- Includes rubber feet which is non-slippery
- Has a storage pouch
If you are new to photography, you can opt for a monopod as well. There are many available with Sunpak as well. It includes a retractable spiked foot along with flip leg-locks, a wrist strap, and a neoprene leg grip.
External hard drive
You have taken so much effort to shoot some of the finest photographs, and you want to get them spoiled? No way! It is time to get yourself an external hard drive which will act as a backup for your lovely snapshots.
You also want your photographs to be safe and secure, so the best way to do this to get a RAID-1 setup. There are two drives which mean that you will have a mirror image of each of your snaps. Your photograph gets saved in both the drives simultaneously, which literally means that you are having a double back-up for your snaps.
Now you have the backup for the same photos in both the drives which mean that you will get the pictures from one drive even if one of the drives fails to work.
Lens protection/UV Filter
When you are buying the lens, you must think of buying lens protection filter as well. This protection filters help to protect your lens from any sort of accidental damage. Once you have them in place, it is easier to clean the lens as well.
Often the front portion of the lens sticks out in a round form, making it difficult for the user to clean the lens. Using the UV or protection filter, it is easier to wipe it clean. There are many photographers who feel that using the filters damage the quality of the image.
But most professionals will agree that using the filter has its own advantage. Also, most good quality filters never interfere with the quality of images.
When you are buying the filters, it is better to make a worthy investment with products from Hoya Pro series or B+W.
Polarizing Filter
For photographs of architecture and landscape, having a polarizing filter is a must. This is known as one of the best camera accessories that every professional photographer will recommend. The polarizing filter is used to increase the contrast and vividness to landscape images. With a polarizer, it reduces the reflection from objects like water or glass and increases the dramatic element of a picture. In other words, it will make the water more crystal clear and the sky bluer.
In many instances, it also reduces the haze effectively to bring out a clean, clear picture. With a circular polarizer, it can just be added to the front of the lens, and you can simply rotate either in the clockwise or counter-clockwise direction to get the polarization effects. Basically, the polarization filters will block certain light waves, while allowing other light waves to enter the lens.
To have the maximum benefit from a polarization filter, the time of the day when you are shooting the picture is crucial.
However, you should use it sparsely, as a polarizing filter slows down the camera by decreasing the amount of light that might enter the lens.
At Last...
There is no end of accessories when it comes to the camera, because of every landscape, every scene, every person needs a different treatment. The journey from a hobbyist to a professional photographer is a tough one because it takes years to gather experience about perceptions, contrast, the right amount of light or the perfect angle.
But some of these accessories mentioned above can make your journey smooth and easier. Take your pick from any of these accessories, and if you want, you can add a few more depending on your requirement.
For instance, you may need mini softbox for speed light, or an external flash or Speedlight as it compensates the situation in low light. As you evolve, your demands will be different, so will be your list of best camera accessories 2018. But using some of the accessories mentioned above will help you to kickstart your journey.
Rest you can gather as you learn!