Digital camera accessories
By Suzanne VanDeGrift

OK! So now you have your camera. Your ready to go out there and start photographing, right? Wrong! You have just begun, my friend. You are about to enter the world of "Camera Accessories". Necessary? Some are, some are just "gotta haves". But they'll make your photography experience much more rewarding and the proof will be in your pictures.

One "must have" accessory for the is the memory card. This is a solid-state electronic flash memory data storage device that offers high re-recordability and power-free storage. The memory card is a critical accessory in order to be able to store pictures in volume. A high speed, high capacity card is needed to accommodate the higher megapixel cameras. Without the benefit of the high speed memory card, you will quickly run out of photo storage space and have to wait a long time between each picture you take. You should keep these cards safe and handy in a storage pouch that has dividers and that you can carry with you with ease.

The camera lens is the one most important element when it comes to image quality. It's also one of the most versatile. There are several types of lenses for different situations. The perfect camera for this is the SLR which allows you to change lenses to get the desired shot. There's a normal lens for general picture taking. The macro lens is used to capture a close up of a really small subject and normally comes in a range of between 50 to 200mm.This is the lens you'd use to get the close up of that prized rose. The wide angle lens has a focal length much shorter than that of the normal lens for the image size produced for the camera. To make a distant object appear magnified you would use a telephoto lens. One of the effects photographers is able to get from using this lens is a separation between subject and background by blurring the background. The zoom lens has a focal length that varies as the internal elements are moved either by manually rotating the barrel or by the press of a button which activates the electric motor.

There are other lenses, considered specialty lenses, such as the fisheye lens which is an extreme wide-angle lens used by photographers who may be filming landscapes to get a curved effect, like that of the Earth. The soft focus lens would be used by the portrait photographer because it will gently soften the image and, also eliminate any flaws. The swivel lens is a lens of convenience. It allows the photographer to shoot from different angles without having to physically move around a lot. The last on our list will be the perspective correction lens or shift lens. Architects frequently use this type of lens to correct the effects of perspective, since their subjects frequently consist of very tall buildings or very long bridges. The camera case needed for this type of equipment should be versatile, with a divider system which can be changed to fit the different types of lenses chosen. Another invaluable feature for a photographer who uses more than one lens would be a bag that comes equipped with a lens cradle for loading your SLR.

A tripod is a luxury for some and a necessity for others. They start at about $100, for an inexpensive model made of aluminum, and are used to still the camera. Normally, they come with a basic attached head and feet. They are absolutely necessary if you want to get a quality, clear nature shot or are into macro photography. All professional photographers have a tripod as a common piece of their photography equipment. Some of the inexpensive models have a pin on the front



which you can use to mount your camcorder. The more expensive models have swappable heads and feet that are spiked which allows the tripod to be easily leveled on all surfaces. The heads are fluid to provide smooth movement. There's also a monopod which is a one-legged stand that the photographer has to hold, but it does help support some of the weight of the camera. The least expensive tripod is the string tripod. It can be as basic as a piece of string with a loop at each end. You put your foot in one loop and the other one around the camera and pull it tight, you now have a tripod.

Another accessory that is critical for both the amateur and the professional is the camera case or bag. This is an investment you must make, since you have to have something to carry your cameras and accessories in for ease of handling and to protect them. You want to make sure the bag is the appropriate size. It shouldn't be too large; you don't want your camera equipment banging around inside and it needs to be large enough. By the time it's loaded, the case will be heavy, so well constructed, well padded straps is a very important feature. A backpack is a good case to consider if you have a lot of equipment, large accessories such as tripods or will be walking any distance. The memorycard pouches can also be combined with other pieces to form a highly functional camera bag system. Choose quality, durable, structurally sound camera cases and they will last you for a number of years and keep your cameras and accessories safe.

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