Tripods, Bags | Samsung SLRS specs

ACCESSORIES

One of the key beneﬁts of the DSLR is that it is part	have a look at some of the key accessories that
of a system of equipment allowing almost limitless	can help make your photography and photography
photographic potential to be realised. Here we will	experience more enjoyable and more versatile

Lenses

Being able to attach a variety of lenses onto your camera provides you with the main advantage of owning a DSLR

–photographic versatility. Depending on the lens, you will be able to photograph everything from ultra-wideangle images with a ﬁ sheye lens, to stunning close-up images using a macro, or closing in on distant wildlife with a long telephoto lens. The range of lenses and the photographic potential offered by them is almost limitless.

Flash

Accessory ﬂ ashguns provide more than just extra lighting oomph when used on a DSLR. The amount of control you will have depends on the ﬂ ashgun but, in most cases, you will be able to adjust both the light output and the

ﬂashgun’s head position. You will be able to tilt, turn and in some cases swivel the ﬂ ashgun’s head around to help get greater creative lighting effects. You will be able to control multiple, off-camera ﬂ ash units as well with some ‘guns’ and the level of control you have over the way light is used is greatly enhanced.

Remote releases

A remote release either connects to your camera with a wire or, depending on the

camera you own, uses an infrared signal to allow you to control the camera from a

distance. This provides increased ﬂ exibility for, say, including yourself in a scene and allows you

to use the camera without making it shake – which is important for low-light photography where slow shutter

speeds are being used.

Viewing aids

Some DSLRs accept interchangeable focusing screens, (such as grid screens) allowing you to tailor the viewﬁ nder to suit a particular subject, be it landscape, macro or architecture. You can also ﬁ t viewing accessories such as angle ﬁ nders (periscope-style attachments for low

or high level shooting), and dioptric adjustment lenses for people with eyesight correction needs not catered for by the built-in dioptric adjustment on the camera.

Third-party accessories Filters

Filters screw on the front of the lens to perform a variety of functions. A UV or skylight ﬁ lter on each lens will protect the front element from damage. A polariser will massively boost colour saturation

by reducing reﬂ ections, and a neutral density grad

will darken an overly bright sky to balance it

with a darker landscape and avoid overexposing it. While not

strictly ﬁ lters, screw-in close-up lenses are useful for

macro work too, letting

you focus closer than your lens would otherwise allow.

Tripods

One of the most useful accessories for the digital SLR photographer is a tripod. Although even

compact camera owners can beneﬁ t from using them too, the additional creative possibilities suggested by SLR ownership makes one more necessary. There are tripods to suit all budgets and tastes, from small table-top models to sturdy heavy-duty models with legs like scaffolding poles! Choose

one that’s stable and light enough to carry with you.

Bags

Once you start collecting accessories such as lenses, ﬂ ash and so forth you’ll need a decent sized bag to put them in. There are many different styles, from shoulder bags to backpacks to waist packs, in a range of materials and colours. Get one that isn’t too big but allows

Underwater housings

You’re not just restricted to snapping on terra ﬁ rma with an underwater housing designed to let you slip beneath waves and open up a new world of photographic opportunities. Underwater Housings protect your camera from water (and dirt, dust and sand) but vary in the depths to which you can take them. Some allow you to snorkel at depths up to ﬁ ve metres (16 feet), while others (depending on the price you pay) can be used at the recreational dive limit of 30 metres (100 feet).

Professional or battery grips

Even if you’ve bought a relatively compact DSLR there are Professional Grips that can be screwed onto some cameras that provide improved handling via an extra set of controls when using the camera vertically and that allow more memory and extra batteries to be loaded for greater shooting duration. Yes, the camera is made bigger and heavier, but if you are out and about and need the extra power and handling control, a Pro Grip is the way to go.

Supplementary batteries

Every photographer hates that feeling of powerlessness just when the picture op- portunity of a lifetime presents itself. So not only making sure your DSLR’s battery is fully charged before you head out, but also trousering a second power cell for back up, is a shrewd move.

some room to expand your system in the future.