Essential Photo Accessories

For the best photo experience and enhanced creative options, consider these must-have accessories

Text & Photography By Brian Matiash

My tripod is the most important accessory in my kit. So much of how I create my photos relies heavily on keeping my camera perfectly still, even when I’m working in challenging environmental conditions. You would think that to practice and enjoy photography, all you’d need is a camera and a lens, right? In a basic sense, that’s absolutely true.... Read more

Gear For Travel Photography

Think small when gearing up for travel photography

Text & Photography By Mark Edward Harris

While many cameras continue to downsize thanks to the mirrorless revolution, the quality of their images keeps ramping up. Many photographers are switching over to small full-frame, APS-C and Micro Four Thirds camera systems and enjoying the incredible results these systems provide, and equally enjoying the weight savings they provide. As we gear up... Read more

Essential Lenses And Necessary Accessories

Outfit a growing camera kit with the ideal lenses and accessories for the kind of photography you like to do—from travel to landscapes, portraits to wildlife

William Sawalich

Without a lens, a new camera is useless. And, without the right lens and the right accessories—media, tripod and camera bag—anything beyond the basics is a real challenge. Here’s a look at the lenses and accessories that make a new camera better and more fun. Lens Fundamentals Lenses aren’t very flashy, but they sure are important. In the past... Read more

Handheld Light Meters

Master lighting with the ideal tool for precision exposure control

Text & Photography By William Sawalich

There’s an often-overlooked device that some photographers say is outdated, but which in fact is just as useful today as ever. This necessity of the film era should still find a place in photographers’ bags, especially those who want total control over their lighting and exposure. It’s the handheld light meter, and it’s treasured by many photographers... Read more

Must-Have Photo Accessories

Fill your camera bag with the right tools to get the shot

By Brian Matiash

Editor’s Note: This piece first appeared in our Fall issue and reflects the products available at the time of publication. To see our coverage of the latest gear, visit our News section. In the most basic sense, all a photographer needs to take a photo is camera apparatus and a lens. Well, those two things and light. But beyond that, do photographers... Read more

Kensington Accessories Designed To Protect Ultrathin Devices

The new NanoSaver Keyed Laptop Lock and Nano Security Slot safeguard gear from theft

Staff

As our devices become thinner and more lightweight, the risk of theft increasingly rises. Kensington provides some peace of mind with the new NanoSaver Keyed Laptop Lock and Nano Security Slot, specifically designed for today’s ultrathin laptops, tablets and desktop peripherals. The company has been providing physical security for devices for 25 years. The... Read more

Gear — Underwater

Gear recommendations for capturing dramatic underwater photos

Jason Bradley

Read our underwater photography how-to guide Mirrorless Mirrorless cameras are all the rage these days both above water and below, and they offer great performance in small packages. One option is the 42 MP Sony a7R II fitted with a Nauticam housing, and on the more affordable or entry-level side of the spectrum is the Olympus PEN series, with an acrylic... Read more

Gear — Sports

The gear you need in the field to capture the action of sports

Brett Wilhelm

Read our sports how-to guide Cameras While mirrorless technologies continue to improve, the autofocus capabilities and frame rates of current DSLR cameras have made them the default choice for sports photographers, but that won’t last much longer. Nikon and Canon are the dominant players in the pro sports world. Nikon and Canon’s flagship full-frame... Read more

Blackmagic Video Assist Hands-On Review

We take Blackmagic’s external video viewing, control and recording device for a spin in our video review.

By David Schloss

Anyone using their digital cameras to capture video has had the realization that the LCD screens built into the cameras might be good enough to review stills, but they’re woefully inadequate when working to compose video. While the portability of a digital camera is convenient, it takes a lot of work (and often a lot of reshoots) to ensure that the... Read more

Handmade Cub & Company Camera Straps Add Beauty To Your Camera

Handmade Cub & Co Camera Straps are made by hand in the U.S., and add retro-beauty to your camera gear.

David Schloss

Like many photographers, I have a drawer full of camera straps. With very few exceptions, I hate them all. Manufacturer straps with the company logo and camera name imprinted on the strap are my least favorite—I don’t want a piece of apparel to advertise to thieves how expensive the camera I’m shooting is. I have a variety of straps that are designed... Read more

Underwater Housings

A range of options for keeping your gear dry

By Mike Stensvold

Underwater photography opens up a whole new world of photo opportunities, but requires some means of protecting your camera from the water. There are compact cameras that are designed to be used underwater, and for casual shooting or just trying it out, these are excellent, but they have small sensors and are limited in how deep they can go. Several... Read more

The Shutter Sisters’ Great Gear Guide

Handpicked Cameras, lenses and accessories

By The Shutter Sisters

Gathering an arsenal of the right camera equipment is important to all photographers—hobbyists, amateurs and pros alike. But what’s included in each collection is as diverse and unique as the perspectives of those photographers. In other words, no two camera bags are alike. No one knows that quite like the community at Shutter Sisters. With... Read more

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