Essential Photography Equipment
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Basic and Essential Photography Equipment Lens Hood: Many photogrpahers thought that the use of a lens hood is troublesome and thus neglect its advantages. Lens hood is an essential piece of equipment as it helps to prevent/minimize stray lights from entering the sides of your lens, thus causing glare and lens flare. When fixed on, it can also double up as a "lens protector", reducing the chances of hitting or scratching the front lens element. So do fix your lens hood on when you are shooting!
Dry Cabinet: Camera lens are prone to fungus infection if left unattended for months especially in damp or humid places. This is the last thing you would want to encounter as it is problematic and it would be painful to your wallet. Prevention is always better than cure! Build a habit of keeping your camera and lens in a dry cabinet when not in use. It is important to ensure your equipment is clean and dry at all times. Prime Lens: Primes lens are lens that has 1 focal length, i.e 50mm, 18mm, 120mm, etc. Due to simplicity of the lens structure, there will be minimal distortion and it offer good colors and generally wider aperture as compared to zoom lens. For example, many photographers will like to get a 50mm prime lens just specifically for portrait shots. External Flash Gun: No doubt some model of camera comes with built-in flash, but it is still essential to get an external flash gun for optimal flash photography. Limitations of built-in flash includes insufficient output power and wash out of color due to direct flash. With an external flash gun, you will have more control on the amount of power required for different environments and situations. More importantly, you will be able to achieve reflected or bounce flash which result in a more natural result.
Basic Camera Cleaning Kit: Where-ever you go, a camera cleaning kit has to be packed into your camera bag. You will never know when you are going to need it! Basic cleaning kit includes non-woven fabric to clean away finger-print marks on the lenses, blower to blow dust particles away, etc. Bear in mind whatever you do, avoid having contacts with the camera sensor which is very delicated. Leave that to the professionals! Water Resistance/Proof Camera Bag: This would be one of the most critical equipment you should not compromise. It is not appropriate to carry your camera, etc in a paper bag where padding and cushions are not sufficient to protect your camera and lens inside. Would highly recommend a camera bag with at least water resistance feature to protect your electronic devices from rain and water. Tripod: A must for night photography or during low light conditions, unless you want your photographs to be blurred. The price range of a tripod is wide and there are many choices of brands in the market. Always choose a firm tripod that can handle at least 1.5 to 2 times the weight of your camera with your heaviest lens attached. A monopod will also be useful under low light conditions with ease of mobility. Cable Release: Have you ever wonder why is your night photographs still blur even when using a firm tripod is used? This may be due to the action of you depressing and releaseing the shoot button of your camera, which caused the camera to shake. Thus a cable release is essential to enable minimal contact with the camera when mounted on a tripod. UV Filter: Nowadays, the main purpose of the UV filter is to protect your lens from scratch and stains. After-all, its easier and cheaper to replace a UV filter.
Polarizing Filter: With this filter, you are able to cut down reflections, which in turn produce a more saturated image to your photographs. When used correctly, it can make the color of blue sky appeared to be deeper. Please refer to Tip & Technique Tip #5 for more information. Want to build up your photography fundamentals? |
Comments (1)
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Friday, 14 November 2008 13:49
KC TAN
Nice article, thanks!
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