What Essential Accessories?

Uncle Fester

Uncle Fester

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Danny
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Hi

I recently purchased my first 'serious' camera (a Fuji XT10) and a few lenses. As a beginner to photography; I was wondering what accessories (Tripod aside - I have one) people reagarded as essential. What supplied accessories do people upgrade?

I see people seem to upgrade camera straps and buy screen protectors. What improvements do third party camera straps offer and what ones do people suggest?

Are screen protectors worth using or do they make the display even harder to read in bright sunlight?

What accessories to people think are essential and what are a waste of time?

Thanks.
 
With a mirrorless camera I would consider a few spare batteries as essential.

Other than that I can't really think of anything essential, maybe a polarising filter although you wouldn't use that all the time. Maybe a rocket blower, I don't use mine that often but when I do nothing else would have worked.

Third party straps can be more comfortable, offer better grip and don't advertise if you have a few grand's worth of camera around your neck, however, with a small mirrorless camera you probably don't need one.

Some people buy lens cloths, I just use my t-shirt.

Decent screen protectors don't effect the screen at all so can be a good idea if it's likely to get scratched, for e.g. if you have it hanging around your neck all the time (if you're the type to keep it in a bag at all times then it isn't really necessary.

Best thing to do is just go out and shoot - you'll soon find out if you need anything else.
 
With Fuji the accessories I bought were:
  • LCD screen protector (Amazon)
  • Table top / mini tripod (Manfrotto - comes in very handy for long exposures where space is tight)
  • Any strap will do really - the camera is so small. Maybe consider a handstrap
That's about it really - I just kept it in a thick beanie hat in my rucksack.
 
Rocket blower.
Sensor cleaning gear.
Nice cleaning cloths or some of Ned's T shirts.
A bag of some sort.
If you haven't got one already, a hood.
Spare battery?
 
woof woof said:
Rocket blower.
Sensor cleaning gear.
Nice cleaning cloths or some of Ned's T shirts.
A bag of some sort.
If you haven't got one already, a hood.
Spare battery?
Click to expand...

Thanks

I'll order a rocket blower. I'm rather scared of attempting to clean my sensor. Is it something that most photographers have to do at some point?

I'm looking for a bag. I'd like something to hold the body and the various lenses I seem to have accrued i.e. Samyang 12mm, Fuji 27mm, Fuji 35mm, Helios 50mm and XF18-55 plus XF 55-200mm. Is there a shoulder or sling bag that people can suggest to carry this lot?

When you say hood; do you mean lens hoods?

Cheers.
 
Sorry - I forgot the 'necessities' - spare batteries, SD cards, blower, ND filters (58mm to fit my 14 and 18-55).

Are you planning to take ALL yoir lenses out? I tried to take as small a bag as possible and chose the lenses depending on the situation. For example, when going to a zoo/wildlife park all I took was my 50-140 where I needed WA I only took my Samyang 12 and Fuji 14. Other times I took a max of two lenses (normally the 14 and 18-55).
 
Screen protectors - get a glass one.

You don't 'need' much at all, but you will want all sorts. It's an addictive hobby! I'm collecting lights, modifiers, light stands, umbrellas, background frame and cloths and more at the moment. It depends on what sort of photography you are doing as well. You will have different needs as a landscape photographer than if you preferred street photography, or portraiture would differ again.

And yes lens hood, screws on the front of the lens to help with sun glare.
 
Uncle Fester said:
Thanks

I'll order a rocket blower. I'm rather scared of attempting to clean my sensor. Is it something that most photographers have to do at some point?

I'm looking for a bag. I'd like something to hold the body and the various lenses I seem to have accrued i.e. Samyang 12mm, Fuji 27mm, Fuji 35mm, Helios 50mm and XF18-55 plus XF 55-200mm. Is there a shoulder or sling bag that people can suggest to carry this lot?

When you say hood; do you mean lens hoods?

Cheers.
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Yes, I meant a lens hood. I don't use them often myself but it's good to have one when you need it and not all lenses come with them. The manufacturers lenses can be expensive but there are lots of cheaper ones available on evil bay. I have a few old style metal ones. They don't cost much and actually a plastic one I got free with something else I bought seems to be the best quality plastic lens hood I've ever seen :D

Another yes. I think that your sensor will almost certainly need cleaning at some point. It's maybe daunting and you'll think you're going to break it but it isn't really all that difficult once you get too it.
 
Remote shutter release comes in handy at times, If you have a smartphone or tablet you can use that via the camera remote wi-if.

Also the Canon type wired remote works well, one with the jack not the N3 type connector

Lenspen is always handy too.
 
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Whenever I buy a new body I tend to buy an L-bracket. It's not essential but I find it so useful for landscape photography, especially if shooting panoramas. Always keep a spare arca plate in each of my bags as well in case I forget said L-bracket.

GGS Screen protector. I hate the clip on plastic ones and they tend to not fit when using an L bracket.

Spare battery or two and I found a cheap twin charger really handy with mirrorless as battery management is a bit more important.

Appropriate memory cards.

Compatible cable release, normally the type with timer functions.

CPL filters.
 
I always keep silica gel packs in my camera bag.
 
Uncle Fester said:
I see people seem to upgrade camera straps and buy screen protectors. What improvements do third party camera straps offer and what ones do people suggest?

Are screen protectors worth using or do they make the display even harder to read in bright sunlight?

What accessories to people think are essential and what are a waste of time?
Click to expand...


I've fitted an OpTech Neoprene strap to my X-T2 since it has the 100-400 fitted and that's a fairly weighty combination - nearly as heavy as the D750 with the 24-120 f/4! The other Fujis are on Hahnel neoprene straps which have pouches for spare cards.
I've never been a fan of screen protectors, mainly for the same reason you give, although I did use the Nikon ones (which are clipped on rather than stuck, so easy to remove if necessary.)
 
If you get a rocket blower the chances are you won't need to wet clean the sensor very often, if at all for a few years.

And I'll say it again, spare batteries. Even if it's just an expro one you'll be glad to have some spare charge in the pocket.
 
For my XT10 I just have the following:
Billingham bag - this came free with my short lived X-Pro1 so I kept it. It holds the camera and two primes which is the most I ever carry.
3 spare batteries - non OEM as they're cheaper and do the job
GGS screen protector
Hand strap (I hate neck straps) as I only use small lenses.
 
Spare battery for mirrorless cameras!
Screen protector - I got my Sony one form a place in Scotland, can't recall the name though but very good & reasonably priced.
Small bag - I've a Firetrap messenger type bag with a padded camera insert as I don't like bags that look like camera bags.....
Rocket blower definitely & [unused] make up brush for dusting the outside of the camera/lens.
Maybe sensor cleaning stuff - It's not as bad a job as it's made out to be!!

Then it's a case of filters etc if you find you may need them as time passes by......
 
The two most used accessories I have are an accessory shoe spirit level and a remote shutter release. No longer need the spirit level as my two new cameras incorporate viewfinder levels.
 
Flash?
What are you photographing?
 
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Good to have: A decent bag, tidy but big enough to fit your most used gear - water resistant if you can help it. A remote shutter, if you like doing long exposures [I'm using my phone and the Fuji app for the XT-1, if the XT10 has this ability, get the phone app] - some ND filters, if you like doing long exposures in daylight - A mini tripod, plenty of micro fibre cloths, a cheap speedlight, wireless transmitter and receiver [look up yongnuo for these] - extra SD cards are always handy, rocket blower, wrist strap, extra batteries, an extra charger is useful here too, cheap soft boxes and light stands

Waste of time: UV filters, grips that don't take extra batteries, hot shoe cords - just get the cheap wireless triggers! overly expensive speedlights [Manual flash is not hard to figure out, and can be done at a fraction of the cost of fancy TTL big brand ones]
 
For my XT10 I bought:
  • LCD screen protector
  • 2 extra batteries
  • Metro Case MGXT10 grip
  • shutter remote
I already had a small bag, camera strap, rocket blower & sensor brush, SD cards, tripod, etc.
 
KJJ said:
I always keep silica gel packs in my camera bag.
Click to expand...

Shouldn't be necessary, and wouldn't be effective. Never store gear wet or damp, give it a wipe over and let dry naturally. Don't zip up and seal the camera bag, but leave an air gap.

Silica gel needs regenerating to work, and those little packets are only good for the tiny amount of air in new/sealed kit.
 
Batteries. You have everything else you need.

Take more pictures, buy less stuff.
 
UaeExile said:
Batteries. You have everything else you need.

Take more pictures, buy less stuff.
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Nonsense though. As romantic as you like to think it. I'm betting you have a camera bag, maybe a tripod, a flash? or you're limiting those "more pictures"
 
Cagey75 said:
Nonsense though. As romantic as you like to think it. I'm betting you have a camera bag, maybe a tripod, a flash? or you're limiting those "more pictures"
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I take pictures for a living, so yes, I have all of those.

If I didn't and I bought a new camera I'd take time to work it out for myself rather than get a list of things other people "think" I might need. Nothing romantic in that... just good advice.
 
Danny;

I'd order a few spare Ex-Pro batteries, really handy to have whilst your out and about, they're not too expensive. I've around 6/7 spare batteries myself accumulated over the past year.......... priceless.

;)
 
UaeExile said:
I take pictures for a living, so yes, I have all of those.

If I didn't and I bought a new camera I'd take time to work it out for myself rather than get a list of things other people "think" I might need. Nothing romantic in that... just good advice.
Click to expand...

Good advice? as in not to actually give any? I think you were just trying to be clever and failed, but OP got the right responses besides.
 
Cagey75 said:
Good advice? as in not to actually give any? I think you were just trying to be clever and failed, but OP got the right responses besides.
Click to expand...

You've listed around 15 things when he specifically asked what people think are "essential" and I'm the one trying to be clever and failing.... :thinking:
 
UaeExile said:
You've listed around 15 things when he specifically asked what people think are "essential" and I'm the one trying to be clever and failing.... :thinking:
Click to expand...


I actually answered his overall question "What accessories to people think are essential and what are a waste of time?" - I did not directly recommend he get them all. Keep up.

I'm sure he knows the items in my list he already has ....
 
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Cagey75 said:
I actually answered his overall question "What accessories to people think are essential and what are a waste of time?" - I did not directly recommend he get them all. Keep up.

I'm sure he knows the items in my list he already has ....
Click to expand...

"As romantic as you like to think"
"I think you were trying to be clever and failed"
"Keep up"

Any other condescending comments you care to make before I log off?
 
UaeExile said:
"As romantic as you like to think"
"I think you were trying to be clever and failed"
"Keep up"

Any other condescending comments you care to make before I log off?
Click to expand...


yeah, try harder next time :P
 
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