Posts from — December 2009

This holiday season there is no doubt that many digital SLR cameras will find their way into peoples homes and hearts. With sub $500 cameras from Canon and Nikon, the barrier to entry has come down to a very low point. Before you start filling those memory cards, consider making a small investment in the following items.

UV lens protector -This item screws over the front glass of your camera’s lens. It provides a basic reduction of UV light, but more importantly protects your expensive lens from dust, fingerprints, scratches, moisture, and other damage. My favorite example of why you should use this on every lens comes from the story of a photographer going in close on a macro flower shot and breaking his lens on a protruding twig. Starting at around $10, they are worth their weight in gold. Note that the size of the UV protector will depend on the lens. Canon and Nikon kit lenses are generally 58mm or 52mm, but double check with your particular model. If you have a few extra dollars to spend, look for filters with multi-coated glass. Hoya has some great multi-coated filters for around $30.

Air blower – Not just for the pros, these small squeeze blowers are used for blowing dust off filters, lens caps, the front glass of a lens, and much more. You may not think you need one of these silly looking things, but you do. The Giottos “Rocket Blaster” goes for around $15, and comes highly recommended.

Camera bag – if you don’t yet have a camera bag to put all this gear in, it should be your first purchase (UV protector should be your next). Camera equipment is fragile stuff, look for bags with secure sides, good padding, and weather protection if possible. If a shoulder bag is not your thing there are a number of backpack style camera bags that will do the job quite well. Manufacturers Tamrac and Lowepro have a huge selction from $20 and up.

Lens hood -This piece of gear screws or clips on to the front of your lens. Not only does it shade the lens from bright sunlight, but also offers some added protection. This may not be as important on the “kit lens” that comes with most entry-level bodies, but is a must-have for any upgraded lenses you may acquire down the road. Like the UV protector, you will need to get a specific size/style hood for each lens.

Tripod – Always use a tripod! That is the first thing you will learn upon venturing into the world of photography. In order to get consistently sharp photos, a tripod is required. For the true beginner, a $30-40 model will work. Down the road, you may want to consider investing $100-$150+ in a higher quality model from Manfrotto or Slik.

Remote shutter release – Priced between $13 and $30, they are available for most cameras. They can be used to eliminate vibration when shooting on a tripod and also allow for much easier self/group portraits. Wireless shutter release for: Nikon and Canon

For some good beginner reading, take a look at Scott Kelby’s The Digital Photography Book. Also head over to www.flickr.com where you will find a great community of photographers from all over the globe. But most important – have fun!

Read more of my articles at Examiner.com