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Gear On A Budget

Affordable accessories to enhance your photography without breaking the bank

This Article Features Photo Zoom

Big-ticket items may have to wait for the holidays, but there are scores of accessories you can use to try new techniques and improve your photo experience without spending hundreds or thousands of dollars. Here’s a selection of some of our favorite tools and extras to make photography more enjoyable and successful—all priced under $100!

Ansmann Digicharger Vario
When you’re on the road, keep all of your rechargeable batteries powered up using the Ansmann Digicharger Vario. It works with Li-Ion and lithium-polymer battery packs, as well as AA/AAA, NiMH and NiCd batteries, making the charger compatible with most cameras, camcorders, MP3 players, PDAs, flashlights and other electronic devices. Estimated Street Price: $59. Contact: Ansmann (HP Marketing Corp.), (800) 735-4373, www.hpmarketingcorp.com.

Aqua Case
The Aqua Case offers a great way of protecting your compact camera in harsh environments. It’s waterproof down to 100 feet and also is handy in dusty or windy environments. The clear soft case allows you to access the camera buttons. The airtight seal makes the case and camera inside buoyant as well—if dropped in water, it will float to the surface. Estimated Street Price: $35. Contact: Summit Distribution, (516) 628-8486, www.mywaterproofcase.com.

Billingham Simplies Lens Pouch
Billingham’s Simplies Lens Pouch simply is that. The waterproof exterior protects your lens from dust, dirt and sand, while also functioning as a pouch for extras like memory cards, batteries and other small items. The pouch is available in seven sizes. Estimated Street Price: $40. Contact: Billingham (R.T.S. Photo), (631) 242-6801, www.rtsphoto.com.

Datacolor SpyderCube
Bringing the gray-card concept into the digital age, Datacolor’s SpyderCube acts as a reference point for images in Adobe Camera Raw, Lightroom or other RAW conversion software and ensures exact tonal and neutral values in your images. You can customize accurate white balance across an entire set of images shot in the same lighting conditions. Estimated Street Price: $59. Contact: Datacolor, www.datacolor.com.

Domke U.S. Post Office Shoulder Pad
When you’re carrying around heavy photo gear in a single bag, comfort is something that you shouldn’t underestimate. The U.S. Post Office Shoulder Pad from Domke is constructed to be identical to the ergonomic design of the shoulder pad straps used by the U.S. Postal Service. Made of thick foam rubber, the shoulder pad is super-comfortable and the leather backing makes it tough for resistance to wear. Estimated Street Price: $19. Contact: Domke (Tiffen), (800) 645-2522, www.tiffen.com.

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