We all have that box—tucked away in a closet or buried in the basement—full of camera accessories we once thought were game-changers but turned out to be dead weight. In this article, we’ll cut through the clutter and highlight the five accessories every photographer uses (and a few you can leave in that box where they belong).
Not all camera accessories are created equal—some are essential, while others merely take up space in your bag. You watch a new YouTube video and see a flashy new camera accessory that screams, "Buy me!" We have all been there, and we will be there again. It’s just part of photography—gear acquisition syndrome!
More isn't always better when it comes to accessories, and we don't need a lot in the grand scheme of things. When buying something, I always ask myself, “Why do I need this, and will it make things easier?” This usually prevents most purchases. Not all accessories are a terrible investment, and they are relatively straightforward. Here are five accessories I believe every photographer needs; they aren’t glamorous, but they are practical!
Old Reliable
They may not be glamorous, but every photographer needs a dependable tripod. Avoid the cheap options from Amazon for $18.99. In this category, you truly get what you pay for! Ninety-nine percent of the time, tripods are mostly one-time purchases. When selected carefully and maintained properly, they can last a lifetime! If you buy that weird and cheap Chinese brand from Amazon, you won’t buy just one or two, but more like five or six. Here are a few tips for purchasing the right tripod!
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Prioritize Stability: Why? Because that is a tripod's job! Avoid light and cheap tripods, which will wobble in the lightest breezes. Look for sturdy materials like carbon fiber (I know, expensive). Carbon fiber makes the tripod light and strong! Don’t overlook aluminum tripods, which are much more affordable and durable.
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Consider the Weight: I don’t mean the tripod or the camera. A good manufacturer will disclose the maximum load capacity. If you have large lenses and your camera, you need a tripod that can support them. Aim for 1.5 to 2 times the weight of your gear; I use my heaviest camera and lens combination.
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Solid Head: The head you mount your camera on is as important as the tripod itself. Many manufacturers, like Benro and Manfrotto, offer kits, making a tripod and tripod head combination much more affordable. Just remember to check the maximum weight of your tripod head as well! If your gear is heavier than the maximum weight of your tripod head, no matter how tight you twist the knobs to keep your camera in place, it will start to sag!
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Portability: If you travel, especially by air, ensure the tripod's total length (when folded) will fit in a carry-on or checked bag! The same goes for hikers. This makes hiking and traveling with gear much more straightforward.
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Removable Center Column: Are you a macro photographer or do you like low-angle photos? This is a must! A removable center column will allow you to remove and flip it upside down. Now you are closer to your subject and have a creative angle for your photographs!
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Feet: Yes, feet! Make sure you have options for removable feet. All tripods will have rubber feet, which are great for smooth surfaces indoors where they won’t cause damage. Some will come with spikes that you can replace the rubber feet with, which is excellent for rough terrain.
- No Name and Trusted Brands: Manfrotto, Benro, Gitzo, Really Right Stuff, or Peak Design all make great products with warranties. They also offer many options—sometimes too many—and are some of the most respected brands in the industry. Remember, no-name brands usually make bad tripods!
Filters
Filters are another; you get what you pay for. Neutral Density and Polarizing filters are a gam- changer for your photography, opening up new looks for your images—even UV filters. Yes, I said it! UV Filters are used these days to protect the front of your lens from dust and scratches. I’ll fall on the sword each time, saying they are still relevant and, for the most part, do not affect the image quality. I said, for the most part, didn’t say won’t. When it comes down to neutral density filters, cheap is not good whatsoever! They can have banding and shifts in color, making post-processing a nightmare! High-quality filters are made with high-quality glass and coatings. Remember, every brand has filters for all price points, so research. Look for filters that are multi-coated at a minimum. There are many respectable filter manufacturers, B+W, Hoya, Tiffen, Lee, NiSi, and Heliopan, to name a few, and you can’t go wrong!
Extra Batteries and Fast Memory Cards
The two most essential pieces of gear, besides the camera and lenses! Having a dead battery and no backup takes the fun out of photography. I have about eight batteries—overkill, but I worry about everything! I recommend having three batteries and buying the name brand, not the knockoff. Nowadays, manufacturers make it so that no-name batteries have limitations, like not showing you the power level. So, you won’t know when the battery will die! Name-brand batteries also have a longer lifespan and hold charges better.
Make sure you're also buying a name-brand memory card that is fast enough for your camera. Today’s cameras have such high megapixels that old memory cards are too slow, which causes issues! Our images are stored here until we can upload and back them up, so don’t risk losing them with a cheap card that may go corrupt just because you wanted to save a dollar or two! Some high-quality, long-lasting brands includeSandisk, Lexar, ProGrade Digital, and Delkin.
The One Bag to Hold Them All (Until You Buy Another)
I have to admit that I have an obsession with camera bags—I have one too many. From backpacks to roller bags to shoulder bags, I’ve tried them all. Like a good tripod, a quality camera bag will last for years if you purchase the right one. Can you get away with just one bag? Yes and no. At first, yes, but as time goes on, you’ll find that having a few for different purposes is a great idea. Here are a few things I look for when purchasing a new bag:
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Capacity and Organization: My biggest tip is to buy a bag for the future! If you find a bag that fits all your gear perfectly, buy the next larger size. Otherwise, you’ll find that your next lens purchase also includes a new bag purchase. Also, look for a bag that makes accessing your gear easy and quick!
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Comfort and Ergonomics: Padded straps are essential and can make all the difference. Over the years, I’ve seen many bags that excel in every aspect except for the straps—they’re made of thin material with no padding. After about five minutes of use, your shoulders will hurt!
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Durability and Weather Resistance: Another category where you get what you pay for! Cheap bags often have zippers that separate under minimal force. With enough use, these bags fall apart and lose their structure. Also, check the bag’s material—will it repel dust and moisture?
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Security Features: Another often overlooked feature. I prefer bags that don’t look like camera bags, especially when walking through crowded areas. My cover is blown once I pull out my camera, but I love backpacks where the only access to the gear is against my back, preventing theft. If you’re traveling and checking a bag, make sure it has TSA-lockable zippers!
Regarding camera bags, there is no longer a shortage of great companies designing and manufacturing amazing products! Top brands include Think Tank, Lowpro, Peak Design, Domke, Wandrd, and Tenba.
Speed Racer
I am not talking about the Japanese manga series—I am talking about card readers! Like a fast memory card, a faster card reader is the same. When I buy a new camera, I throw away the USB cable if it comes with one. A fast card reader will transfer images much faster than any USB cable. This is essential for any photographer who shoots raw files or high-resolution video. Time is money—even if photography isn’t your profession, your time is still valuable. I use a dual card reader from ProGrade Digital, the best card reader I have ever purchased (I wasn't paid to say that). A good photographer friend told me about this brand a few years ago! You can’t go wrong with their products. I would also recommend readers from Lexar, Delkin, and SanDisk.
Gear Graveyard: The Accessories You Swore You’d Use (But Never Do)
You know you have a few of these collecting dust in a box in the back of the closet. Over the years, while mentoring students and working in a camera store, I’ve seen (and even been forced to sell) many accessories that were thought to be essential but ended up as useless clutter.
- Overpriced and Overhyped Camera Straps: Usually, these are the “pretty” straps—thin, fabric-based, and more about fashion than function. I remember a brand that even sold cap keepers with jewels on them. It’s like the fad of the Bedazzler (Google it—some things should be left in the past), a home appliance from the 1980s that attached rhinestones, studs, and patches to fabric. Let’s put these trendy straps in the past, too!
- The “Magic” Lens Attachment: Why spend thousands on a telephoto or macro lens when you can get the Magic Lens Attachment for just five payments of $19.99? This revolutionary attachment transforms any lens into a telephoto or macro lens—no need to upgrade your gear! Attach it and watch your lens magically zoom in like a pro (or at least pretend you’re one).
Order now, and we’ll even throw in a free lens cleaning cloth—because let’s face it, you’ll need it after that "extra zoom." Call within the next five minutes, and we'll toss in a free lens cap (because who even uses them anyway?).
No, you’re not dreaming at 2:00 AM with an infomercial playing in the background. These “lenses” gained popularity years ago but resurged with the introduction of cheap camera kits on Amazon. All they did was take your money and let you take really terrible photos. - The “Pocket-Sized” Tripod (That Can’t Hold Anything): It seemed like a great idea at the time! These tiny tripods have a place, but they were designed for small point-and-shoot cameras, not today’s DSLRs and mirrorless cameras. Modern cameras are just too heavy for these little tripods, and you can easily save yourself $16.99.
In Conclusion
These are five camera accessories every photographer uses (and a few you probably don’t need). We’ve all been there—it’s a problem as old as photography itself: purchasing gear that doesn’t work or gets abandoned after a few uses. You probably thought the essential items photographers use were obvious, but we often overlook them in favor of flashy new gadgets.
More gear won’t necessarily make you a better photographer—it can just lead to frustration and wasted money. If you’re a beginner, you might not even think about these essentials at first. But if you’ve got a pile of unused accessories gathering dust, why not turn them into cash? Put them in your next garage sale and use the money for something truly useful!
