During almost every discussion with me, I have often questioned by my pals, what must to carry for the amateur photographers with DSLR. This instantly gave me an opportunity to write tips for all newbie as a piece of advice and to make their each trip memorable and not to miss any single moment with the toolkit rather I would say accessories to carry with your camera. There are certain moments that we missed just because of that missing right accessory at that particular moment. Photography is not about taking great photos but to take photos with great sense and at a perfect timing.
The basic necessity, such as memory cards and camera bags are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the suite of accessories DSLR owners depend on. And that goes for casual, amateur photographers, GWC (guys with cameras), and professionals. No matter you are freshly owned or a prospective DSLR owner, these are the must carry accessories that you'll want to pick up as you build your photographer's arsenal. Below mentioned are the top tips for accessories to be carry at all times.
1. Extra batteries :
The first and foremost is to have an extra pairs of batteries as this one's a no-brainer, but a newbie often ignore the importance of an extra battery. Thing is, you never want to be on vacation, at a photo shoot, or otherwise shooting photos when your battery bar morphs into a blinking red. The good news is that you can often find reliable off-brand backup batteries from Web sites like Amazon, Best Buy, or B&H Photo. When you skip the brand names (like official Canon or Nikon batteries), you can save as much as 50 percent. Just grab the battery that came with the camera, ‘Google’ the model number and read customer reviews to find out which backup battery is most suitable for your camera.
Carrying a travel charger or simple battery charger is also advisable when you are traveling and having an opportunity to recharge your batteries for having extra hours of backup.
2. Cleaning kit :
Capturing the real time shots you must blend with the nature and local environment which can possibly affect to your camera life. Keeping this in mind the second most important tool in your accessory is keeping your cleaning kit handy at all times. Whether you use a UV filter or just go commando, you should always have these things in your camera bag:
• Microfiber cloth for wiping away fingerprints and smudges
• A dust-blower for gently shooing away flecks of dirt and dust
• A cleaning pen and brush combo for precise, fingerprint-free lens cleaning
3. A Monopod or Tripod :
Choosing over monopod or tripod everybody has their own views according to its usage, though buying tripod over monopod is always a great decision as Tripod is a key to crisp images, self-portraits, long exposures, and low-light shooting. There are, however, so many types of tripods to choose from. For starters, look for a lightweight, carbon fiber tripod with a tall height and the ability to rotate vertically for the portrait shots.
From setting up a photo booth at a party to shooting photos of products or handmade items, a tripod can be a truly versatile tool. This handy guide to buying tripods does a great job of helping you narrow down which tripod is right for you. (Even you can make your own string tripod.)
4. Additional Lens :
There are some times when you get surprises as nature is full of them and do not have the proper lens to capture the event or that fraction of time going with the wind. There might be some logic in jumping with one parachute but photography isn’t that similar with paragliding and keeping additional lens is utmost important as there are several chances of macro shots during landscape photography or getting a view of landscape while doing portrait in open land. Staying alert at all times is a sign of good photographer and it rewards you back by giving you wonderful surprising shots while capturing pre-planned photo shoot.
Only thing to remember is that prepare yourself for unexpected and think out of the framework if you really want to distinguish your “Art work” rather than taking photos.
5. Camera Case :
I am not trying to be a photography guru or some but giving some tips out of my own experiences that improved my habits and learnt lessons by losing some incredible moments with some potentially awesome captures. It seems too obvious to recommend, but even newbie bent on protecting the DSLRs will postpone this necessary purchase. Even if you think your camera will mostly be hanging on your arm or around your neck, you still need a camera case.
Make sure you always think about what needs to travel with you. Extra batteries, memory cards, card readers, filters, extra lenses, and your cleaning kit will each need a cubby in your bag. Once you know what needs to be stored, you'll have a better idea of what kind of bag or backpack you'll need. Go for one that has lots of padding and external protection, so that your equipment is safe from the outside in.
6. External Hard Drive :
I shall certainly add this last but not least “must have” accessory in your kit. If you're used to the small file sizes point-and-shoot cameras produce, get ready for a big change as DSLRs produce much larger file types, especially when you're taking advantage of shooting in super high-resolution, raw, or HD video formats.
To accommodate the storage needs of these large files, purchase an external hard drive. The exact capacity will depend on how much shooting you plan to do, but I always err on the side of safety, so if you can, go for at least 1TB of storage. Here are some recommendations for the best portable hard drives. Once you've set up your hard drive, immediately establish a system for organizing your photos and videos so that you'll know exactly where to find any given photo in a pinch. I am sure you definitely will thank me later.
