Recently, a new student with his first DSLR wanted to know what accessories he should buy. At first, a student only needs a few essential accessories. When I say essential, I mean those accessories that preserve the investment you’ve made in your camera: camera strap, lens hood(s), glass lens filter to protect the front camera lens, and items to clean and maintain your camera in good working condition. Of course, a spare camera battery fully charged and an extra memory card is also important. There is nothing more frustrating than wanting to take a photo and you find your battery is dead or your memory card is full!
- Camera Strap
A strap around your neck allows you to keep your camera ready to take a photo and safe from falling. ** - Lens Hood(s)
Purchase the hood specific to the make and model of the lens, preventing lens flare (stray light can ruin a photo). In addition, the lens hood protects the front of the lens from damage if the camera hits a hard object when you are in a large crowd of people. - UV(C) Lens filter (purchase filters specific to the diameter of your lens. Filters are a means of low-cost insurance to protect the front lens on your camera. I write from experience when I dropped a lens and found the filter smashed, but the camera lens undamaged))
- Air Blower
A bulb-style cleaner will blow dust from your lens surface - Lens Cleaning Kit
A liquid cleaner with cloth, for removal of fingerprints or other smudges. See detailed instructions on cleaning .. see this video - A spare battery & Extra memory card
When you purchase a new camera often the purchase includes a camera bag and other accessories. When I purchased my first 35mm camera over 45 years ago, I got a lot of extras, i.e. lens filters, wide angle, and telephoto lens attachments. All is well and good but, I only used one of two of the extras.
Let me say a few things about camera bags. They are great to store your camera and accessories. I have purchased several over the years. I have two: an over-the-shoulder bag and a backpack camera bag. The over-the-shoulder remains in the closet in my office filled with accessories, I no longer use it as it doesn’t hold enough. I travel with a backpack. It holds all my equipment and is left in the trunk of my car or our hotel room when not in use. I often use a canvas bag, when on a photo walk, to carry my camera, extra lenses, clean kit, spare battery, and a bottle of water that I plan to use on that outing. Why the canvas bag? I don’t want to look like I have a camera and a bunch of accessories when exploring a place I’ve never been before. Plain and simple, it’s for safety. The canvas bag I use was originally designed to carry shotgun shells. When I use the canvas bag I protect my camera with a DOMKE protective wrap.
My recommendation is you shouldn’t buy anything you don’t need. Beyond the items above there are a few other items that could be considered for future purchases:
- Tripod and remote camera triggering your camera when using the tripod (Link to My Blog Post on tripods)
- Auxiliary flash
- Collapsible reflector discs – they come in oval, round, and rectangular and in various sizes. They are handy when you need to make adjustments to the lighting of a photo. I have small 12-inch round reflectors that I’ve used when photographing flowers.
** Last year, I fell and broke my shoulder. After healing, carrying the camera around my neck was uncomfortable . One of my students suggested a Cotton Carrier. They make several harness systems that allow you to easily carry a heavier camera and lens without strain on your neck.
Note: I am not endorsing any manufacturer’s products in the photos above. They are for illustration only.
photos available for purchase at FineArt America
© Tom Wiggins Photography 2015-2023