My New Favorite and Most-Used Camera Accessories

On this information, I needed to spherical up a few of my favourite small equipment for images. I’ve been touring the previous few weeks, and I’ve made use of all these merchandise both in preparation for my journey, or whereas on the highway. Right here they’re!

Word that Photography Life will not be affiliated with any of the businesses beneath, however we’re a part of the B&H and Amazon affiliate applications – so I’ll do my greatest to suggest tools that’s genuinely helpful and that you could be really need to purchase 🙂

Rotating Tripod Plate

A number of cameras today have totally articulating LCDs, in any other case often known as tilt-flip LCDs. I discover them actually helpful for composing from uncommon angles, however they do pose one main downside. In case you intend to make use of your camera on a tripod, a standard L-bracket will intrude with the tilt-flip LCD.

I’ve at all times thought-about an L-bracket essential accent. It’s by far the simplest method to shoot vertical images from a tripod (one thing I do consistently). However on loads of fashionable cameras, together with my Sony a7R V, any L-bracket prevents the LCD from articulating.

Some corporations have been making L-brackets with cutouts designed to permit the LCD to rotate, however to me, a extra intelligent answer is a rotatable tripod mount like this one from SmallRig. (If it’s out of inventory at B&H, you possibly can examine SmallRig’s own website as properly.) It’s turn into my most-used accent since I exploit my tripod consistently.

Whereas Smallrig is at the moment solely producing this mannequin for compatibility with the a7 collection cameras, I’ve seen them act rapidly to capitalize on new market alternatives – it could be price letting them know if you’d like this bracket in your camera.

In case you’re in search of one thing off-the-shelf for different cameras, Silence Corner makes the Atoll, which is obtainable for Sony, Canon/Nikon, or DSLR cameras, as designated by fashions S, C, and D, respectively. These are a bit much less seamless as a result of they don’t seem to be designed for any explicit camera mannequin, however the consequence is identical – very helpful for taking pictures with any camera available on the market that has a totally articulating LCD.

Nitecore BB2 Electrical Air Duster

Like each different photographer on the planet, I’ve a basic rocket-blower for eliminating mud from my lenses and camera sensor. Nonetheless, Nitecore’s BB2 takes the idea to a different stage, with the addition of a robust rechargeable motor and varied brush attachments. It takes up much less house than a typical rocket-blower, whereas with the ability to push gusts of fifty MPH! (This may be ramped method down for optical use).

I haven’t needed to do 800 cleanings to check the claimed capability but, however suffice to say, one cost lasts for some time. Though it’s clearly not as low cost as a standard rocket-blower, it’s nonetheless cheap and is considerably higher in apply.

Nitecore does promote a spread of further brushes, for cleansing crevices or dusting bigger areas, however availability is a bit spotty amongst main distributors. Nonetheless, it’s actually the air stream and not the brushes that I care about a lot. I’ve additionally discovered myself utilizing it within the studio whereas taking product images, to blow mud off the product.

201-in-1 Screwdriver Equipment

Getting access to a spread of screwdriver bits may be very useful when troubleshooting gear points and establishing new tools. Between Apple’s bizarre screws, the tiny Torx bits required for some electronics, and the myriad of Allen or Hex bits on tripods and plates, it would really feel such as you want an entire device chest.

I just lately picked up this Jakemy set to leave in my office, because the 201 in 1 bit set actually covers each bit I’ve heard of and extra. It’s been extra helpful than I anticipated, so I needed so as to add it to this text! Another for journey and leaving in your backpack is a photography-specific multi-tool, because the Jakemy package is just too huge for many journey.

Quick Card Readers

In case you’re like me (a minimum of till a number of months in the past), you’ve probably not given a lot thought to your card reader. I’ve solely ever purchased low cost card readers that supported my explicit reminiscence playing cards and by no means fearful about it.

Not too long ago, although, I ran right into a bizarre difficulty with Lightroom timing out on sure giant import operations. I used to be solely in a position to repair this by change to a sooner reader, and that certain opened my eyes! I had gotten used to the slowness of my earlier setup and simply sitting round doing nothing whereas tons of of images have been loaded. It makes me glad that Lightroom had that time-out error, as a result of my resolution to get a greater card reader will save me disproportionately extra time sooner or later.

In case you’re aspiring to improve yours, I like to recommend one with the blazing quick USB C 3.2 Gen 2 interface, though USB C 3.1 is sweet too. There’s no particular card reader I keep in mind, so search for that spec amongst any of these card readers at B&H. (Use the filter tab alongside the left to type by your kind of card, like CFExpress Sort B.)

Coast G20 Inspection Mild

Similar to the screwdriver set, I’ve discovered that having a stable flashlight makes a lot of duties simpler, each within the discipline and within the studio. Whereas the Coast G20 inspection light may appear a bit superfluous contemplating your cellphone’s built-in gentle exists, the uniformity and directionality of the beam make it significantly better for cleansing your lens, checking your sensor, or different precision duties.

What actually makes it distinctive is the constant and clean beam. There’s no hotspot, no falloff, and just about no shade shift. Because it runs off AAA batteries, it’s additionally an excellent backup for discipline use, and it’s waterproof. I additionally throw it in my backpack when mountaineering, regardless that I at all times have a distinct flashlight or headlamp as my predominant gentle.

Reproduction Surfaces

This one’s a bit particular, however in the event you’re a product photographer, having a handy background and foreground on-hand is crucial. For any kind of close-up images the place you’d like a constant, but “actual world” background, the highest-end choice is an imitation surface.

To be clear, these are fairly expensive, particularly in comparison with options like plexiglass and seamless paper. However imitation surfaces are simply that: replicas of real-world supplies, besides with an enormous weight and portability benefit. For instance, an imitation marble floor is beneath 2.5 lbs for a 30×40 inch floor, which is way simpler to maneuver than an actual slab of marble!

It took me some time to chunk the bullet on some imitation surfaces, however now that I’ve, I’ve discovered it an excellent asset to my product images enterprise. It feels extra “relatable” than a clean backdrop, and the outcomes have been very nice to date.

Nitecore UFZ100 Rechargeable Batteries

There’s an enormous vary of aftermarket batteries accessible, and in the event you don’t have already got a number of spares, I’d extremely suggest choosing some up. I go away one or two in a small pocket of my camera bag simply to keep away from operating out whereas within the discipline. Nitecore’s UFZ100, nonetheless, has a particular trick: USB-C charging constructed immediately into the battery.

Whereas this function is simply accessible on their NP-FZ100 mannequin, I hope it’ll come to different battery varieties sooner or later. An growing variety of cameras assist USB-C PD or some type of USB energy/recharging immediately in camera, however this may be awkward to make use of. With a pair of UFZ100 batteries, it’s potential to cost one through a powerbank, whereas taking pictures on the opposite, then recharge each again within the lodge, with out having to carry a clunky, proprietary charger.

As a bonus, the charging circuit additionally helps energy stage readouts proper on the battery, making it straightforward to examine which batteries in your bag are charged. Whereas this doesn’t have nice decision, solely displaying above or beneath 50% and 10%, it’s sufficient to see which batteries are unused.

Conclusion

I hope you’ve discovered this record of camera equipment to be helpful! There are such a lot of completely different merchandise on the market that it may be tough to even know what’s accessible within the first place. Actually, I simply went to the NAB commerce present final month, and I couldn’t consider the sheer quantity of merchandise on the market. New cameras and lenses get all of the headlines, however these smaller corporations are innovating simply as rapidly.

Did I miss one thing you’ve just lately added to your bag that you just contemplate important? Let me know within the feedback!