Essential camera accessories to go with your brand new DSLR

By Abhilash Pavuluri

By now, you’ll have gone through all our previous posts and picked up your first DSLR camera . Whether it’s a Canon, Nikon or even a brand we didn’t mention, there are some accessories that may just make life with a DSLR camera a little easier.

These accessories can either be super cheap or super expensive, depending on priority and value. So here’s a small run-down of all the various accessories you can get with a DSLR. Note that most of these are also common for any camera in the market,unless otherwise specified.

Tripod:

A tripod has to be the most sought-after accessory for a photographer, as sometimes, it’s the only thing that decides whether you make or break an image. In fact, some forms of photography, such as long exposures, are possible only with a tripod.

Tripods come in different shapes and sizes, but primarily comprise of two types: Pan-tilt, where you use screws to adjust the alt-az(altitude-azimuth position) of the tripod head, and ball-head, where the head pivots on a ball. While beginner tripods usually come with either configuration fixed on-to the legs, more advanced tripods let you mix and match configs yourself. So you can technically have a cheap ball head with very expensive legs, or vice versa. Of course, all tripods come with legs that extend a certain amount of feet(depending on the price and make), and some also come with a bubble level.

Choosing a tripod that’s sturdy enough yet doesn’t break your bank can actually be daunting. While you certainly don’t need a carbon fibre Gitzo tripod yet (they start at Rs 60,000), even a lower-end tripod that most photographers buy the first time starts at around Rs 3,000 - Rs 5,000. In the end, pick one that can take a decent amount of weight(stability is more important than height).

Cleaning Kit:

Often an overlooked part of your camera gear, the cleaning kit is absolutely essential especially if you’re travelling a lot or shoot in dusty conditions and change your lenses frequently. Most retailers provide this as a freebie with your DSLR purchase, but that of course is usually a substandard kit that doesn’t last very long.

The ideal DSLR cleaning kit contains a brush, a microfibre cloth, and cleaning solution. The solution is strictly for the LCD screen and not for the lens or any other component, as it contains abrasives that might scratch the special coating on the lens.

While the cleaning kit we’ve mentioned above is for the camera’s external, you can go McGyver and order a complete camera cleaning kit, that also has equipment for cleaning the most important and delicate part of your camera, the sensor. While it’s always highly recommended that you visit a professional to get the sensor cleaned, provided you follow everything to a T, cleaning the camera’s sensor yourself shouldn’t be a big deal either.

Filters:

Filters are used to enhance the way light enters your camera. The most common filter available on the market is a UV(or Ultraviolet) pass filter. A UV filter blocks UV light from entering the DSLR and therefore removes the extra tinge of blue/purple that you sometimes get in your photos, especially when shooting in bright light. However, as always, the one provided by your retailer will usually not do the job well enough. In fact, UV filters in general are usually avoided and some photographers merely use them as a means of protection for the lens.

The other more popular filter is an ND Filter, short for Neutral Density. ND filters reduce the amount of light entering your camera. While you may think that’s a bad thing it’s especially useful when you’re shooting long exposures during the daylight. You can create some very aesthetically pleasing long exposures with an ND filter. However, they’re a bit pricier and, depending on your taste, the photos will require a color correction in post processing.

Camera bag:

A good camera bag can make a few things, or break a few. Make for a nice experience when travelling, or break your back(and maybe even your camera).

Camera bags are again a huge market, and there’s no telling which one will suit you unless you go and try them out yourself. You can either get a backpack, a shoulder bag or even a mini day-pack. Again, the prices vary depending on the material and use case. While backpacks that also have compartments for laptops(and even clothes for multi-day trips) cost a bomb, shoulder bags for occasional travel have less space but cost less and are easier to maintain.

A new trend is to manufacture hybrids, where you can shuffle the compartments as and when the need arises, but these are even more expensive than the rest. Expect to pay north of 3-4K for a decent entry level backpack, and around half that price for a shoulder bag.