Camera accessories for dslr

15 Essential Accessories for Your Nikon or Canon DSLR Camera

If you’ve got a Nikon or Canon DSLR camera, you’ve made a great investment, and most likely you are interested in improving your photography skills to take great pictures.

Once you have a quality DSLR camera, your next step in photography journey is to get appropriate camera accessories, which will help you to get the most out of your DSLR camera.

Here I’ve listed 15 different types of DSLR accessories that are essential for your camera.

For each and every accessory, I’ve given my recommendation for both Canon and Nikon. I’ve also given a cost-effective alternative for each type.

The accessories listed here will work on all types of Nikon and Canon cameras, including the following:

Nikon: D7X00 series (D7000, D7100, D7200, etc.), D5X00 series (D5500, etc.), D3X00 series (D3300, etc.)
Canon: All EOS Rebel series including T6i, T5i, SL1, T5 and Rebel T6 and EOS 70D

This list will be updated on an on-going basis to include the newer version of the accessories. So, bookmark this page for your future reference.

1. External Flash

The flash that comes with your DSLR camera is really weak. If you are shooting lot of pictues indoors (for example, taking pictures of kids indoor) in low light environment, you definitely need to get an external flash that can be mounted on top of your DSLR camera. This will make a huge difference in the quality of the pictures that you take in low light conditions.

The flash mentioned below are portable and supports both hot-shoe (on top of the camera) and wireless (away from the camera) operations. They support some variation of TTL flash control. These flash have full swivel head with 180-degree angle. Groups of these flashes can be controlled together. You can also add color gelatin filters to the flash head. These are zoom flash heads.

For Nikon:

Nikon SB-700 AF Speedlight Flash (or) Nikon SB-300 AF Speedlight Flash – These work with all Nikon DSLR model. These are original high quality flash built by Nikon. These are excellent one-time investment you can make on a very high quality flash. They support both hot shoe and wireless operation. Uses i-TTL flash control both on-camera and wireless.
Altura Flash Kit for Nikon – This is cost effective alternative for Nikon. You are getting lot for your money in this kit. This kid includes: 1) Flash 2) Wireless camera flash trigger and remote control (with 1 transmitter and 1 receiver) 3) Cable-M cord for remote control 4) protection pouch for flash 4) hard diffuser 5) microfiber cleaning cloth.

For Canon:

Canon Speedlite 430EX III-RT Flash (or) Canon 600EX-RT Speedlite Flash – This work with all Canon DSLR model. These are original high quality flash built by Canon. This uses new wireless multiple flash system over radio wave to control upto 5 groups of flashes.
Neewer TT560 Flash Speedlite – This is cost effective alternative for Canon. This is compatible with both Canon and Nikon. This has a vertical rotation angle from 0 – 90 degrees and horizontal rotation angle from 0 – 270 degrees.

2. Camera Bag

A high quality DSLR camera bag is essential to protect your camera. Personally I prefer one bag that I can use to carry both my laptop and camera. I recommend that you consider using a backpack style camera bag (or) messenger style camera bag. The bags mentioned here are very low profile, extremely comfortable. These won’t look like a camera bag, which is a huge advantage.

Backpack style camera bag:

Evecase DSLR Camera/Laptop Travel Backpack – This has lot of space inside. You can hold upto two DSLR and 2-5 lenses. This has a separate compartment for laptops (upto 15 inch), tablets and books. The shoulder straps are very comfortable Includes rain cover, tripod holder with strap. It also has a luggage handle slot.
Professional Gear Backpack for Digital SLR – This also can fit a laptop upto 15.6″. You can wear this as a backpack with two straps, or tuck one of the straps and wear it as a sling. This also includes rain cover, tripod holder with strap and foot holder.
AmazonBasics Backpack for DSLR Cameras – This is cost effective back pack. You can keep 2 DSLRs with 3-4 lenses. There is no separate slot for your laptop. If you just want a simple DSLR camera backpack without breaking your bank, this is it.

Messenger style camera bag:

Evecase DSLR Camera/Laptop Messenger Bag – Fits laptop upto 14 inch. This has space to store a DSLR and 2-3 lenses. Comes with rain cover and tripod strap. If you remove the inserts, you can use this as a regular messenger bag. Comes in 5 different colors.
AmazonBasics Medium DSLR Gadget Bag – Cost effective messenger bag. There has a slot to store your tablet. Holds 1 DSLR and 2 lenses. This also has small slots inside to store your SD cards and extra batteries.

3. Super Fast SD Card

The type of SD card you use makes a huge difference in terms of your Camera’s performance. Especially when you are shooting in burst mode. SanDisk is hands-down the best SD card brand out there in terms of reliability and performance.

Don’t take risk with other brands. The last thing you want is a SD card to fail you. Both the following SanDisk SD cards are reliable and fast for your DSLR camera.

SanDisk Extreme PRO SDXC Class 10 UHS-3 95MB/s – Read upto 95 MB/s and write upto 90 MB/s. This is a Class 10 UHS-3 card. This is also compatible with SDXC. This is shockproof, X-Ray proof and waterproof (to some extend).
SanDisk Extreme SDHC Class 10 UHS-3 90MB/s – If you want a cost effective alternative, use this. But, you’ll be loosing some performance when compared to the above option. Read upto 90 MB/s and write upto 40 MB/s. This is a Class 10 UHS-3 card.

4. UV Filters

Apart from reducing UV rays, this filter is a small investment that will protect your expensive lens from accidental bumps and breaks. These will protect your lens from dust, dirt and scratches. This is a must have for all your lenses. These will work on both Nikon and Canon lens.

Tiffen UV Protection Filter – This is one of the top brands for UV filter. Choose the appropriate size depending on the type of lens you are using. Apart from reduction in UV light, this also helps eliminate bluish cast in images.
AmazonBasics UV Protection Lens Filter – This is a cost effective alternative.

5. Lens Hood

When you are shooting outdoors during day time, you definitely need a lens hood. This will help you to avoid the stray light, lens flaring and ghosting. This will avoid the small circle of light in your picture when there a strong light source is present outside of your frame. Sometimes a lens hood can also help you to prevent lens scratches and dings.

For Nikon:

(For Nikon 18-55mm) Nikon HB-69 Bayonet Lens Hood – This is the original Nikon hood designed specifically for 18-55mm G VR II DX AF-S lens. This will help you to produce a more saturated image. This is a reversible lens hood.
(For Nikon 18-55mm) Fotasy Bayonet Lens Hood – This is exactly same as the above HB-69, but much cheaper and great quality. This one fits specifically 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED I II and VR version lens. When you are not shooting in the sun, you can mount this hood in the reverse on the camera, which helps to put the camera along with the lens and hood in the camera bag.
(For Nikon 55-200mm) Nikon HB-34 Lens Hood – This helps you to deflect those oblique light angles that sometime displays the flare effects on the pictures that you take. This is the original version from Nikon.
(For Nikon 55-300mm) Nikon HB-57 Bayonet Lens Hood – The original version from Nikon for 55-300mm lens.
(For Nikon 55-300mm) Generic HB-57 Bayonet Lens Hood – Cost effective alternative option of the original version of HB-57 lens hood.

For Canon:

(For Canon 18-55mm) Canon EW-63C Lens Hood – This is the original version from Canon. It is a reversible lens hood.
(For Canon 18-55mm) Altura Lens Hood for Canon – Cost effective alternative option. This is compatible with 18-55mm f/3. 5-5.6 IS, II, IS.
(For Canon 55-250mm) Canon ET-63 Lens Hood – The original version from Canon for 55-250mm lens.
(For Canon 55-250mm) Fotodiox Lens Hood for Canon – Cost effective alternative option for ET-63 lens hood. They also provide a 2-year warranty.

6. Extra Batteries (and Charger)

When you are on a long trip, you definitely need to have couple of spare batteries in your bag. Get a spare battery and put it in your camera bag now itself as you’ll never know when you’ll need one.

For Nikon:

(For D7x00 series) Nikon EN-EL15 Rechargeable Li-Ion Battery – This is the original battery from Nikon. This works for D7000, D7100, D7200.
(For D7x00 series) STK Nikon EN-EL15 Compatible Battery – Cost effective alternative option. This is listed as 2200mAh.
(For D5x00 and D5x00 series) Nikon EN-EL 14A Rechargeable Li-Ion Battery – This is the original battery from Nikon, which pretty much works with most of Nikon 5×00 and 3×00 series. [Matching original Nikon MH-24 Quick Charger]
(For D5x00 and D5x00 series) STK’s Nikon EN-EL14a EN-EL14 Battery – Cost effective alternative option. This is 100% compatible with Nikon original OEM version. [Matching cost effective STK’s Nikon EN-EL14 Charger]

For Canon:

Canon LP-E8 Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery – This works with most Canon EOS Rebel. This is the original version from Canon that works for EOS Rebel T2i, T3i, T4i, T5i. [Matching original Canon Battery Charger LC-E8E for LP-E8 battery].
Wasabi Battery and Charger for Canon LP-E8 – This is an excellent cost effective alternative. This pack comes with 2 battery and charger at a fraction of a cost as the original version. Work with most Rebel models.
Powerextra Replacement Canon LP-E8 Battery – Another cost effective alternative that comes with 2 battery pack.
(For Rebel T6s and T6i) Canon Battery Pack LP-E17 – This is for Canon EOS Rebel T6s and EOS Rebel T6i model. This is the original version from Canon. [Matching original Canon Battery Charger LC-E17]

7. Vertical Battery Grip Holder

This can act as both a veritcal camera grip, and additional battery holder to double to DSLR’s battery capacity. Some of them even take extra AA batteries.

For Nikon:

Nikon MB-D15 Grip Multi Battery Power Pack – This is for D7200 and D7100 series. Apart from holding EN-EL 15 battery, it can also take 6 AA batteries. This also has shutter-release button, AE/AF lock button, multi selector, both main and sub command dials, which are helpful while taking photographs vertically. This is the original version from Nikon.
Big Mike’s Vertical Battery Grip Kit (with battery and charger) – This is an cost effective alternative that works with D7100 and D7200. This is a combo pack that includes three items: 1) vertical battery grip 2) two EN-EL15 extra batteries 3) battery charger. This can also hold 6 AA batteries.
Neewer Vertical Battery Grip Holder for EN-EL14 Battery – This is for D3X00 series. This vertical grip can hold 2 extra EN-EL14 batteries. This has a signal transferring cable for shutter release.

For Canon:

Canon Battery Grip BG-E8 – This is for cameras that uses LP-E8 batteries, including EOS Rebel T2i, T3i, T4i, etc. This can hold either 2 LP-E8 or 6 AA batteries. This also has a vertical shutter release and standard mode wheel. This is the original version from Canon.
Canon Battery Grip BG-E18 – This is for cameras that uses LP-E17 batteries, including Rebel T6s and Rebel T6i. This can hold 2 LP-E17 batteries. This does not support AA batteries. This has shutter button, Aperture/exposure compensation button, AE/FE lock, and AF point selection button. This is the original version from Canon.
Big Mike’s Vertical Battery Grip Kit – This is cost effective option. This kit contains vertical grip and 2 extra LP-E8 batteries. This is for EOS Rebel T2i, T3i, T4i and T5i model.

8. Wireless Remote Control

You definitely need a wireless remote control for your camera when you want to take a group picture. It is also helpful when you don’t want vibration, and have the camera mounted on a tripod. With a wireless remote control, you can press the shutter release remotely whenever you are ready.

For Nikon:

Nikon ML-L3 Wireless Remote Control – This is the original Nikon version, which works pretty much with all Nikon models. The remote can be configured for 2 second delay, immediate picture, mirror up. It comes with the required battery. The range is 16 feet.
AmazonBasics Nikon Wireless Remote Control – This is an excellent cost effective alternative. It’s compatible with all Nikon DSLR cameras including D7X00, D5X00, D3X00 series. It has a 16 feet range.

For Canon:

Canon RC-6 Wireless Remote Controller – This is the original Canon version, which works with all Canon models. This has 2 second delay, or immediate picture mode. This also supports bulb mode. The range is 16 feet.
AmazonBasics Canon Wireless Remote Control – This is an excellent cost effective alternative. It’s compatible with all Canon DSLR cameras including EOS Rebel T2i, T3i, T4i, T5i, T6s and T6i. The range is only 10 feet.

9. Remote Flash Trigger

(For Nikon) Altura Photo Wireless Flash Trigger for NIKON – This can do three things 1) Wireless flash trigger to control remote flash (speedlight or studio light), which is the primary function 2) Wired remote control 3) Wireless remote control.(for DSLR camera with remote socket). This kit includes 1 transmitter and 2 receivers. The range is 30 meters and operates on 433Mhz frequency with 16 selectable channels. This works with all Nikon DSLR cameras.
(For Canon) Altura Photo Wireless Flash Trigger for CANON – Everything is exactly same as the above, but this is for Canon DSLR camera, which works with all Canon models.

10. All-in-One Camera Lens

If you have a 18-55 lens, it is good enough, but you can’t zoom-in enough to take telephoto pictures. If you have a 55-200, you can’t use it indoors, as it is not wide enough. The best solution is to carry only one lens with you on the camera, which can cover both wide angle and telephoto. This way you don’t have to carry multiple lens, and don’t have to worry about switching between different lens.

For Nikon:

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-300mm – This is the best all-in-one lens for Nikon DX camera. The aperture range is f/3.5-6.3. This is an auto-focus, vibration reduction zoom lens. The only lens that you need on your Nikon camera. This is the original lens from Nikon.
Sigma 18-300mm – This is a very good quality cost effective 18-300mm lens for Nikon. The aperture range is same as above f/3.5-6.3. This supports auto-focus and has optical stabilization.

For Canon:

Canon EF-S 18-200mm – This is the best all-in-one lens for Canon DSLR. The aperture range is f/3.5-5.6. This is an auto-focus lens. This has optical image stabilizer that can correct upto 4-stops even at full zoom. This is the original lens from Canon.
Sigma 18-200mm – The aperture range is f/3.5-6.3. This is an auto-focus lens with optical stabilizer which helps to compensate your camera shake.

11. Tripod (Regular and Mini)

One of the simplest accessory for your camera that can make a good impact is a tripod. Invest in a quality tripod that is lightweight and easy to carry around. Get a regular tripod and a mini tripod.

Regular Tripod:

AmazonBasics Lightweight Tripod with Bag – This is an excellent cost-effective beginners tripod. This extends from 25 to 60 inches. You can title and swivel using the 3-way head. Comes with quick-release mounting plate and a very good carrying case.
Manfrotto BeFree Compact Aluminum Tripod – Manfrotto makes the best high quality tripods. This is a lightweight, but very sturdy tripod as both the ball head and legs are made of aluminium. This is designed to fit in your backpack or carry-on luggage. Easy for travel.

Mini Tripod:

Manfrotto PIXI Mini Tripod – This is hands-down the best mini tripod in the market. It is lightweight, portable, sturdy and extremely easy to use. You can also quickly close the legs and hold it in your hand with the camera. This has a high quality ball head that can lock in your selected position.
Pedco UltraPod Mini Tripod – This uses a unique ball and socket camera mount to position camera in different angles. It comes with a removable d-ring velcro brand that can be used to attach this tripods to various surfaces. Maximum safe load on this tripod is 6 pounds.

12. Camera Cleaning Accessories Kit

Your lens can easily attract dirt, and you should clean it frequently. These accessories can help you to keep your Camera and lens clean.

Nikon LensPen Lens Cleaner – This has a pen-style design with brush that retracts to the pen body. Use this to keep your lens clean from dust, fingerprints, etc. Use this on any camera lens.
Nikon Microfiber Cleaning Cloth – Don’t use any low quality micro-fiber cloth to clean your lens. This is one of the best high-quality microfiber cloth. This is cloth comes attached to the pouch, which makes it easier to put the cloth back safely immediately after cleaning.
Giottos Rocket Air Blaster Large size (or Medium size) – With a powerful blast of air, you can quickly remove dust and debris from your camera, lens, or filter. This has a one-way valve which will prevent this blaster from breathing-in the dust, which means when you blast air, it won’t spread any dust from the blaster. You can get either a large size or medium size.
Altura Camera Cleaning Kit – This is a good cleaning kit for your money. The kit includes: 1) Lens cleaner pen 2) separate lens brush 3) air blaster 4) lens cleaning paper 5) empty spray bottle to hold lens cleaning liquid 6) micofiber cloth
CamKix Camera Cleaning Kit – This kit includes: 1) double-sided lens cleaner pen 2) air blaster 3) empty spray bottle 4) microfiber cloth 5) lens cleaning tissue
Nikon LCD Screen Protector – You should also protect your camera’s LCD screen from scratches and dust using a screen protector. You can get either anti-glare, or glass, or crystal-clear type. Choose the appropriate Nikon camera type from the drop-down list.

13. External Microphone

If you are using your DSLR to record videos, you would’ve realized that the in-build microphone is very weak, and low quality. Adding an external microphone will make a dramatic difference in the quality of your video with a clear audio. All these microphones works on both Canon and Nikon DSLR cameras.

Nikon Stereo Microphone – This has a 3.5mm mic jack and a wind screen to reduce wind noise when you are recording outdoor. This comes with a soft carrying case. This doesn’t require battery. This is the original version from Nikon.
Nikon Wireless Microphone – This is a compact wireless Bluetooth microphone system which will capture audio from up to 164 feet away. The receiver connects to the 3.5mm mic, which in-turn connects to the microphone using bluetooth.
Takstar Shotgun Microphone – This is a very good cost effective option. Uses AA battery and has On/Off button to conserve battery. There is a bass filter switch when turned on will reduce ambient noise. Windproof cotton is included. There is a sensitivity tone up switch for +10dB.
Rode VMGO VideoMic Go Super-Cardio – No battery required, as it is powered by camera’s microphone input. This is a lightweight on-camera shotgun mic. This has a rycote lyre shockmount, which isolates and removes the sounds from bumps and vibrations.

14. Extra Lens Cap

Lens cap is something that might get lost easily, especially when you are travelling. So, it is better if you get a replacement lens cap ahead of time for your particular lens, and keep a spare in your camera bag.

For Nikon 18-55mm and Nikon 55-200mm lens, it uses 52mm lens cap. You can get either this original Nikon LC-52 Snap-on Lens Cap, or this cost effective alternative SouthBayCamera 2-Pack Lens Cap
For Nikon 55-300mm lens, it uses 58mm lens cap. You can get either this original Nikon LC-58 Snap-on Lens Cap, or this alternative Big Mike’s 58mm Snap-On Lens Cap
For Canon 18-55mm and Canon 55-250mm lens, it uses 58mm lens cap. You can get either this original Canon E-58 Lens Cap, or this alternative Altura 58mm Lens Cap

15. Misc DSLR Accessories

These are few additional accessories that you might not think about until you need it. It is better to keep a spare of these accessories.

Eyecup:

Altura Rubber Eyecup for Nikon – This is an upgrade to your camera’s eyepice. The eyecup rotates to accommodate both left and right eye. This will help you to block unnecessary ambient light blocking your view in the viewfinder. It is very comfortable on your eyes when compared to the default eyecup that comes with the camera.
Nikon DK-21 Rubber Eyecup – This is a replacement Nikon rubber eye-cup, which attaches to the viewfinder eye-piece, which will reduce external light to give you more clarity on your viewfinder.
Canon Eyecup-EF for EOS Rebel – This is a replacement Canon rubber eye-cup, which attaches to your viewfinder to remove stray lights. This fits pretty much all Canon Rebel models. (cost effective alternative: Altura Eyecup for Canon)

Flash Hotshot Cap:

BS-1 Hot-shoe Protection Cap – If you don’t have external flash mounted on top of your camera, you should cover it with this cap to prevent dust from entering those connectors. This fits both Nikon and Canon cameras.

Note: This list will be updated on an on-going basis to include newer version of the accessories when they are released. Even if you are not ready to get these accessories now, you can bookmark this page and come back to it later when you are ready.

List updated on: June 2017

Must-Have Digital Camera Accessories

Every photographer has a toolbox of camera accessories that are heavily used for photography. While some photographers have a large array of accessories for every type of situation and need, others only buy what they feel is necessary for their photography work. In this article, I will provide some detailed information about what accessories should be in every photographer’s bag – I call it a “must-have” list.

Table of Contents

1. A Reliable Camera Bag

As soon as you buy a camera, you buy a camera bag because you want to protect your investment and easily transport it between locations. But choosing the right camera bag is not always easy – there are so many different bags out there, that it gets frustratingly difficult to make the right decision.

Oftentimes, people end up buying a small camera bag, only to replace it in a couple of months with a different one, realizing that they need more room for their camera and lenses. This happens all the time and it also happened to me! I got my first Nikon D80 DSLR, thinking that I wouldn’t spend a penny more on an already expensive camera. I bought a compact camera bag that fits the camera and a couple of lenses and thought that I was good to go.

Eventually, I ended up buying another lens and extra accessories and my bag was too small to accommodate everything. So I had to go and buy another camera bag with more room. Instead of wasting your money like this, you should buy a good camera bag from the get-go. I personally prefer a backpack, but some people like the convenience of using sling bags and shoulder bags. It is a personal preference and you should try before you buy…a local camera store is a great place to start.

I personally like bags from LowePro and ThinkTank. LowePro makes the very popular Lowepro ProTactic BP 350 AW II and for air travel with a lot of gear, few bags come close to the Think Tank Photo Airport Commuter.

The inside of the ThinkTank Airport Commuter

2. Extra Battery

An extra battery is an indispensable accessory that will come in handy, especially when traveling. If you do not already have an extra battery, you should buy one before your next trip or vacation. One more thing – batteries do not last long when you shoot in cold temperatures, so be prepared for short battery life if you are shooting in freezing conditions.

If you can charge your batteries every day on a trip, then most people find two batteries sufficient, but if you might have a few days without electricity, you’ll need at least three.

3. LCD Protector

I highly recommend protecting the rear LCD with a regular screen protector. A camera with a scratched LCD is not going to have a good resale value, so that’s the first thing you should do to keep it away from scratches. LCD protectors work great and you can find them in almost any size to fit your LCD. Once you protect it, don’t forget to put the plastic protector back in place if you have one.

4. Padded Neck Strap for Your DSLR or Mirrorless

The neck straps that come with mirrorless or DSLR cameras are can be uncomfortable. When you carry a heavy camera and lens combo on your neck, a standard camera strap can leave painful bruises on your neck, after just an hour or two of wearing the camera.

Luckily, there are many excellent neck straps available today such as Op/Tech Pro Loop Strap that I cannot live without. It is soft, very comfortable and can easily hold my heavy Nikon D700 + battery pack with a large lens such as Nikon 70-200mm VR II without any problems. Another super-popular camera strap is the BlackRapid Curve Breathe Strap from Black Rapid, so check it out as well.

5. Lens Cleaning Kit

Dust and dirt in front of the lens element reduces lens contrast, resulting in cloudy-looking images. Therefore, you should always keep lens front and back elements clean at all times. There are plenty of different brands to choose from and any of the optical solutions should work fine such as this Zeiss one.

6. Giottos Rocket Blower

The Giottos Rocket Blower is a miracle when it comes to blowing off dust from your camera gear. It only costs twenty bucks, but this is one tool that you will be carrying with you in your camera bag at all times!

It helps me keep my lenses clean and it does a really good job blowing off dust from the camera sensor when I’m traveling. Give it a try and you won’t regret it.

Dust on your sensor will cause unsightly spots. A rocket blower can remove most of them

7. Sturdy Tripod

A good, sturdy tripod is a must-have for low-light, night and landscape photography. Don’t buy cheap plastic tripods that can easily break – you do not want to put your expensive camera equipment on a crappy tripod. Always make sure that the tripod you are buying can handle at least twice more weight than your camera and lens. I have heard plenty of horror stories about expensive interchangeable lens cameras falling off from crappy tripods!

The best tripods are made by Gitzo, but they are expensive (starting from $400 and up). Manfrotto also manufactures very good tripods and you can buy tripod legs and a head separately, or buy a tripod system. Some of the cheapest tripods are by Sunpak (priced under $100) and you can find them even in such stores as Best Buy. I have also heard that the Slik tripods are very good in terms of value and price, such as the Slik 700DX Pro.

8. Remote Shutter Release

Don’t forget to grab a remote shutter release for your mirrorless or DSLR camera along with a tripod. A remote shutter release allows you take a picture without pressing the shutter button on the camera, which can cause camera shake.

A remote shutter is useful in landscape and macro photography where vibrations from your camera and tripod setup can easily cause blurred photos. Wildlife and event shooters will find less use for one.

A remote shutter release is useful in macro photography to mimimize camera shake. NIKON D7000 + 105mm f/2.8 @ 105mm, ISO 100, 2 seconds, f/3.2 © Spencer Cox

Many digital cameras have infrared remotes that are very lightweight, compact and best of all—wireless. Both Nikon and Canon have a good selection of remote shutter releases and I recommend getting one that supports “bulb” mode (more than 30 seconds exposure) with an exposure lock. Here are some possibilities:

Canon BR-E1 Wireless Remote
Sony RMT-P1BT Wireless Remote
Vello RS-O3II Wired Remote Switch: Make sure you select your camera connector type before buying!
Vello FreeWave Plus II Wireless Remote Shutter Release: Again, make sure you select your camera compatibility before buying

I use the Vello RS-O3II wired shutter release for my Panasonic G9 and I find it works very well.

9. Lens UV/Protection Filter

Get used to buying a lens protection filter while buying a lens. If you do not already have one, definitely buy one as soon as possible. Not only do protection filters help protect your lens from accidental damage, but they also make it easier to clean lenses, especially when the front element of the lens sticks out in a round form.

Just make sure to get a good-quality filter like those from B+W or Hoya because a cheap filter will definitely reduce your image quality.

10. Polarizing Filter

If you are thinking about taking pictures of landscapes and architecture, a polarizing filter is another “must-have” accessory. I wrote an article on how to use a polarizing filter before and I highly recommend that you check it out.

Basically, a polarizing filter can reduce reflections from objects such as water and glass and can be used to darken the sky and bring out the clouds, making the scene look much more vivid. I do not recommend keeping it on your lens at all times, since a polarizing filter slows your camera down by reducing the amount of light that passes through it.

A polarizer helped reduce reflections in this shot. NIKON D750 + 24mm f/1.4 @ 24mm, ISO 50, 5 sec, f/11.0 © Nasim Mansurov

Please let me know if you have any questions in the comments section below.

DSLR accessories: the birth of a new industry | All About Filmmaking

Over the past few years, DSLR cameras have become very popular with professional cameramen around the world. SLRs are widely used in wedding production, and in the creation of commercials, news production, and when shooting feature films and TV shows. In many respects, this was facilitated not only by the presence of digital SLRs of such advantages as full-size digital CMOS and the possibility of using interchangeable lenses, but also by the low cost of ownership. The crisis also contributed, when budget cuts forced many television companies and production studios to look for alternative ways to minimize costs without losing quality. Manufacturers of SLR digital cameras also stepped in, improving the capabilities of professional video shooting and sound recording in their models. nine0003

Meanwhile, the birth of an essentially new segment in the video equipment market, as well as various inconveniences when working with a DSLR, which many operators faced (light weight, shallow depth of field, image stabilization, problems with shooting moving objects, etc.), became the reason for the emergence of actually another new direction in the industry - the development and production of special accessories for shooting video with a SLR camera. The pioneers, of course, were companies producing body kit for movie cameras. nine0003

Cambo CS-CHRONOS

Formation of the market

The main difficulty faced by accessory manufacturers is the creation of a high-quality product that would meet all the needs of working with a DSLR, would not be inferior to cinema accessories in terms of its quality characteristics, but would cost an order of magnitude cheaper. As is often the case, the new market was immediately filled with a lot of variations on the theme of "how to make working with a DSLR convenient and comfortable", giving consumers the right to decide for themselves which ideas are worth considering, and what can be sacrificed to save money. nine0003

Now almost any established manufacturer of DSLR accessories for video production is trying to offer not just a useful “gadget”, but primarily focuses on an integrated approach, offering in its solution, if possible, a complete body kit “from one source” to solve a particular problem with shooting video with a digital SLR camera.

Meanwhile, the market for DSLR accessories is still in its infancy. Based on the practice of application and responding to consumer requests, solutions are being actively developed, and manufacturers are still looking for a golden mean between price and quality. Therefore, operators, as before, have to focus more on their feelings when choosing a satisfying solution within the price category it needs. nine0003

At the moment it is almost impossible to give any recommendations on the purchase of this or that accessory for a DSLR camera, since they all have their pros and cons, most of which are subjective and depend on personal preferences. This was not our goal. As part of this article, we tried to determine the degree of development of the DSLR accessories market and assess their availability on the Ukrainian market.

Zacuto Peacemaker Z-DPM2

Body kit

It is almost impossible to work professionally with a DSLR camera without the use of additional accessories. Through trial and error, pioneer operators determined the minimum body kit that is highly desirable when shooting video with a digital SLR camera. nine0003

First of all, this is the base platform on which, in fact, the camera will be installed. After all, constantly holding the camera in your hands is a rather tedious task. In addition, the light weight of a digital camera has a great influence on the stability of the captured image. This problem is solved by adding special handles, shoulder rests, counterweights and other things, the fastening methods and connectors for which should be provided on the base platform. We also note that, in general, manufacturing companies offer DSLR camera rigs for two types of shooting: studio (from a tripod) and manual (directly for manual shooting and with an additional shoulder rest). Thus, the base platform plays the role of both the basis for the stabilizer and a certain platform for installing the camera, as well as the rest of the additional equipment. nine0003

A very wide range of optics can be used with DSLR cameras: both photo and cinema lenses can be connected using an adapter. Note that professionals strongly recommend using only mechanical optics. However, the depth of field of a digital camera is quite shallow, which creates problems in accurately focusing on the subject and requires special attention to this. And most photographic lenses have a much smaller focusing ring travel than cinema optics. Therefore, for convenient work with focusing optics, follow focus is used. Since it will not fit a conventional lens, special adapter rings are put on the optics, which work on the principle of a gear. Recently, devices for remote wireless focus control via iPhone or iPad have become popular. nine0003

Quite important in professional DSLR use is the compendium, which absorbs parasitic light and makes it possible to install various additional filters. Of course, if flashes are rare, and the use of competent editing eliminates the need for filters, then you can do without a compendium. In recent years, a rather unusual trend has been observed for the economical DSLR segment: even those operators who practically do not need it are trying to acquire a compendium. The fact is that the compendium installed on the body kit, more than any other accessory, gives the DSLR device a visual resemblance to a movie camera. nine0003

Base platform, follow focus and compendium are the minimum body kit that is recommended to purchase immediately. We also note that manufacturing companies are trying to offer a ready-made basic rig kit, which should at least guarantee the compatibility of composite accessories.

In addition, there are a large number of optional accessories on the market that can be useful for a specific task. So, for example, a control monitor with a histogram and an oscilloscope is used for precise exposure orientation. The splitter will allow you to duplicate the signal and send it to multiple monitors. An additional battery will provide power to additional accessories and the camera itself. For filming while driving, a spider is very convenient - a device designed to mount a camera or camera outside or inside a car. Double rig is designed for simultaneous shooting with two cameras (for example, close-ups and wide shots). You can find on sale special carriages with bearings (similar to a camera trolley) and a mini-trolley with wheels, which is convenient when shooting close-ups. nine0003

ARRI DSLR

Companies & Offers

Most of the companies that offer their DSLR body kits are experienced in making video and movie camera accessories. Therefore, many of their developments may have an excessive size and volume for a camera. However, there is also a positive side to this. In addition to a number of advantages provided by accessories, the extra weight will help to better stabilize the DSLR camera. In addition, the audience perceives a DSLR camera in full body kit as a full-fledged movie camera, which in some cases greatly facilitates the work of the operator. nine0003

Cost effective components and DSLR kits for tripod and handheld shooting (under $1000 budget) are offered by Cavision, CPM Film, DVtec, Genus, Jag35 and many others. Unfortunately, the functionality and quality of such solutions are subjected to merciless criticism by many professionals. However, those who are strictly limited in the budget, with due diligence, can find a rig that will completely satisfy them in terms of price / quality ratio.

Mid-range (ranging from $500 to $1000 for a simple handheld kit to $2500 to $3000 for a universal full-featured DSLR kit for any shooting mode) is targeted by companies such as Cambo, Cinevate, Chrosziel, Letus, Movcam, Redrock Micro , Vocas and Zacuto. Basically, these companies operate in the segment of filmmakers with a small budget, but who want to use high-quality equipment. nine0003

In the premium segment, with a focus on durable equipment for real professionals, which you can rely on and which will allow you to focus exclusively on work, Arri positions itself. This also includes some of the solutions of the same Vocas and Zacuto.

There are a large number of companies on the world market offering their vision of body kit for DSLR. These are mainly small European and Asian private companies. Unfortunately, far from all their developments can be purchased on the Ukrainian market. Only a few companies producing DSLR accessories have their own distributor in Ukraine. Therefore, among domestic operators, the practice of purchasing DSLR accessories abroad, including via the Internet, for example, on eBay, is quite popular. nine0003

Source: telekritika.ua

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