Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Digital Camera Accessories: Start With The Most Versatile Basics

By Sylvia Howard

A digital camera has almost become the only way to take good pictures these days, but after having acquired the basic camera you will need to ask yourself if you need picture-improving accessories to go with it, and if yes, how to select them.

Accessories are not only for pros, a small but versatile set should be part of the photography equipment of anyone with but a passing interest in the subject matter.

Regardless of whether photography is a profession or a pastime for you, you will find that digital camera accessories are not only for the experts, but that there are extras available even for the most basic compact camera. Even some cell phones with cameras have dedicated accessory lines!

Some accessories are better suited for experienced photo-takers, but several kinds are of great help for beginners too. Here are some of the accessories that even beginning users should not be without.

A camera bag is one of the most ubiquitous camera accessories, and few people will walk out of an electronics shop with their new digital camera without also having purchased a corresponding bag. The bag allows you to carry your equipment around as well as to store any extras that you may need on your photo-taking adventures.

Camera bags come in many different shapes, sizes and colors. While you may also carry your camera in a normal bag it makes sense to invest in a specialized bag as it's purpose-made and often padded.

Somewhat less ubiquitous than bags, but just as useful, are camera tripods. This item allows you to take better pictures in low light conditions, to take long exposition photos, and to brace your camera more solidly than if you were just holding it. Tripods may seem like a pain to carry around, but most for them are foldable and many are made out of very light and durable aluminum alloys.

When you buy a tripod, you should definitely make sure that the camera attachment fits your brand, as that's not always the case. Steadier shots and a better result make the camera tripod the most important digital camera accessory for many photographers.

The possibility to take many pictures, in the form of extra storage cards, is another great extra. In fact most digital cameras come with little internal storage, and you will have to an extra card right away. Being able to take a lot of pictures is especially useful if you are photographing fast-moving objects, such as on a safari or at a sports event. - 16747

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