TRIPOD The tripod is one of the most important accessories for any camera enthusiast.
To be sure of getting good sharp photos in lots of different situations, a tripod is essential.
Many good photographs have been ruined because they were not taken with the camera on a tripod.
For anyone taking photos that involve slow shutter speeds then a tripod should be used as this will enable a steady shot to be taken as the camera is in a static position and not being held by hand.
A tripod will give you the stability required as you look for the perfect shot.
It is better to use a tripod when shooting scenes like landscapes, night shots, and portraits as this allows sharper and far better looking images than if you were not using a tripod.
Most tripods are made from aluminium or carbon fibre which helps greatly when carrying it over a long distance or trip.
There are 2 main types of heads used.
1.
The Pan and Tilt Head 2.
The Ball Head.
Some come with built-in spirit levels to ensure that the camera is level when the photograph is being taken.
Tripods vary greatly in price, but the old saying is true here, that 'you get what you pay for' although for the beginner there is a great range available at reasonable prices.
Manfrotto, Slik and Joby are popular brand names CAMERA BAG One of the main considerations for any photographer is what to choose to carry their gear around in.
Obviously some sort of bag will be required and there are many different types of Camera Bags available today.
The 3 most popular types are Shoulder Bags, Sling Bags and Backpacks.
If you have a small collection of equipment, a shoulder bag should be adequate.
If you have a larger amount of equipment then a Sling Bag or Backpack would be more suitable.
The most popular brands include LowePro, Crumpler and Tamrac.
Careful consideration should be given when choosing the type of bag because each person will have different preferences of what they want to include in the bag.
Once you have chosen which type of bag you prefer, then some thought should be given to the qualities of the bag.
Ideally they should be comfortable to wear, have good accessibility, be durable, be flexible and be waterproof.
The Camera Bag plays an important role in the life of every photographer and the cost should not matter too much when obtaining this popular camera accessory.
FILTERS Filters can have a variety of effects on the way photographs turn out.
They are essentially pieces of glass or some other composition that are fitted in front of the lens of the camera.
They come in 2 shapes, circular and square.
For the square types an additional holder is required into which the filter placed.
The circular one has a thread which screws into the front of the lens.
The most popular filters are UV (ultraviolet) and Polarising with ND (neutral density) and other special effect ones such as Star and Diffuser etc.
making up the large variety of choice available.
Many think that it is worthwhile having even a clear glass filter fitted to ensure that the lens, which can be very expensive, is given maximum protection.
Apart from the protection angle, using filters can greatly enhance the results of any photographer who wants to do more than just the normal thing with their photography.
REMOTE SHUTTER RELEASE These have been around for a very long time and are very popular with the enthusiast.
The remote is essentially a method of firing the shutter of the camera a distance away from the camera.
The main purpose of using a remote shutter release is to help to eliminate camera shake, especially when taking long exposures.
It can also be valuable to any wildlife photographer where any movement or sound can ruin a photograph.
With the addition of Wireless remote control, the field is now enlarged even further.
With a cable release you are limited by the length of the cable, this is not very far, but enough to ensure 'shake free' photographs to be taken.
With wireless you can be a bit further away when taking the photograph.