What Accessories Do You Need to Get Started With Your DSLR?
In previous tutorials I looked at the relative merits of point-and-shoots and DSLRs, and what to look for in a DSLR. This time I'm pondering accessories - the other bits and bobs you need to get started.
Batteries. New cameras come with a battery as standard but it's advisable to have more than one. As everyone knows a dead battery is the most common reason for a camera laying idle.
An original brand battery (ie a Nikon battery for a Nikon camera) isn't cheap. I paid at least $70 for my last Canon battery. The net offers plenty of imitation batteries for a fraction of the price. In my experience, most - but not all - work, but they also hold much less charge than the real thing. That said, if you are strapped for cash they still might be a better option. Three batteries for a grand total of $30 might equal the charge of an original for twice that price.
A note for aspiring videographers: your camera will eat batteries! Get lots - I'd suggest at least three (originals).
Memory cards. When I bought my first DSLR, I felt extravagant forking out on a 2GB memory card. Surely I'd never need that much space? Now I use 32GB cards. Admittedly that might be excessive to start out on but a 8GB or 16GB card gives plenty of room for experimentation on rapid-fire mode. I have never had a card die on me but photographers do tell horror stories of completing a session only to find their card has gone faulty with the loss of all the images. For this reason it's worth investing in a good brand. Sandisk (touching wood) has always served me well. Investing in two cards rather than one, spreads the risk to some degree.
UV Filters. A filter is a piece of glass that screws on the top of your lens. There are many types and they tend to be used more by landscape photographers than people photographers such as myself. I can't say I've ever noticed much difference in image quality using a UV filter but I know my bacon has been saved more than once when I've clunked a lens on the corner of a table or, in one hair-raising episode, dropped a camera from a three-metre height onto concrete (yes, the lens survived; sadly the camera didn't). UV filters are cheap (around $20) and can save you the cost of a new lens.
Camera bags. Here practicality vies with aesthetics. There are lots of beautiful old-fashioned shoulder strap camera bags on the market. Some are made of leather or canvas (both materials are a nightmare in the tropics - leather especially can gather a coating of mould over night). They look great but, to my tastes, they are neither comfortable nor especially safe. A handbag thief could seize one with little sweat. A backpack camera bag is both comfortable and secure. Some brands come disguised as normal daypacks, which is a bonus. Whatever sort of bag you opt for, make sure it is bigger than your immediate requirements. Chances are you'll pick up more gear so you need something you can grow into.
A computer and software. For a photographer a Mac is hands-down superior to a PC, in terms of ease of use and above all screen quality. As for software, that's a whole other tutorial.
Here's what you might think you need but probably don't - at least not right away:
A tripod. Often when I'm out on a beautiful sunny day I see a budding photographer purposefully striding along with a tripod over his shoulder (yes, it's usually a guy). What on earth does he need a tripod for? Tripods are for long exposures ie. keeping the shutter open for between half a second and a few hours. That usually means there's not much light available. Think of the classic night shot along the Champs Elysees with the car lights trailing for hundreds of yards. These shots are really fun but the fact is you'll probably never need a tripod to take a photo of a human being.
A power drive. This is a chunky thing that attaches to the underside of your camera and contains extra batteries for taking lots of shots in rapid succession. Sports and nature photographers need them. No one else does. They are heavy, bulky and the photographic equivalent of stuffing socks down the front of your pants.
A bazooka of a lens (often with both of the above). A long lens is great for certain types of shots but owning one does not make you a photographer. An inconspicuous 50mm prime lens will serve you far better in learning the fundamentals of photography. But more on this in the next tutorial.
I'm a photographer based in Sydney's Inner West. While I have always loved portraits, it was the arrival of my son that made me appreciate just how fun and rewarding family photography could be. He's now five and, along with his younger sister, remains my favourite - and at times most challenging - subject. Besides my work as a family photographer, I shoot plenty of weddings as well as documentary work for the likes of the BBC, Marie Claire, The Weekend Australian Magazine, UNICEF, Oxfam and Save the Children.
0 comments:
Post a Comment