Must Have Digital Camera Accessories

Every photographer will tell you that there are some digital camera accessories that are absolutely necessary, and of course, there are some that would just be nice to have. We won't talk about the "oh my gosh, I gotta have its." The must haves are the accessories you need to keep your camera safe and to always get the shot you want.

Bags

A bag or case for your digital camera is an accessory must. Digital cameras are small and somewhat delicate--small enough to fit in your pocket or your purse and delicate enough that they don't tolerate a lot of dropping and banging around. Camera bags can be small, but they need to protect your camera. Some bags are hard and crush resistant, while others are padded.

When looking for a camera bag, think about how you will typically carry the camera. In your hand? Over your shoulder? In a backpack or bag? On your belt or in your pocket? Then, think about what items you will typically carry with it, for example, extra batteries, a lens cloth, or the instruction manual.

Be Prepared Accessories

If you want to be sure you will always be able to take that great shot of your son or grandson hitting a homerun, or your daughter or granddaughter sliding into home plate, you need to have two essential digital camera accessories: an extra battery and an extra memory stick or card.

Some batteries for digital cameras can be pricey, especially if they are rechargeable. Bite the bullet, buy the extra battery and make sure it is charged and ready to go. Other digital camera batteries are disposable, so it never hurts to have a couple on hand, and one in your camera bag.

Even if you have the largest capacity memory card or stick, it is still a wise photographer that keeps an extra on hand as one of the essential digital camera accessories. The capacity of the memory stick or card won't help you much if the card gets damaged. Keep a spare.

A lens cloth may seem like a trivial accessory for your digital camera, but if you've ever taken a series of pictures with a speck on your lens, you'll appreciate having a lens cloth on hand. The great thing about digital cameras is that you can see the specks right away.

Tripod

Tripods vary in size and expense. But some sort of tripod is another essential digital camera accessory that you cannot be without. Tripods can allow you to set up a shot, set the timer, and be in the photo when the picture snaps. Some are small enough to put in your camera bag.

Once you've gotten the essentials, look to the camera's manufacturer for specialized accessories. For instance, if you have a Canon, the digital camera accessories, such as detachable flashes, are very often brand specific.

Okay you've got your essentials, you are ready to go and conquer the world with photographs with your digital camera and accessories.