As an accessories newbie, and am not sure where to start, I’m writing this guide to share some early lessons I’ve picked up with others getting into camera gear.
In photography and videography, camera bodies and lenses often get all the attention, as they’re essential for capturing and manipulating light. But even the best camera setups won’t perform at their best without the right accessories..
In 2024, I was an accessories newbie and am not sure where to start — a feeling many beginners can probably relate to. But as time went by, I did my research and met some awesome professionals from whom I learned what I needed to invest in and pay attention to and what to leave behind.
As many people are also searching online (just like I did) to find what they should invest in and what they shouldn’t, there is a clear shortage of solid information guiding such people. To help them with their decisions, below is my list of the top ten accessories that everyone should consider purchasing if just starting or upgrading their current camera gear.
A. Accessories for Every Beginner
1. A lightweight professional tripod
This one is pretty basic, but both pros and rookies should invest in a high-quality, lightweight tripod to give their camera and its lens a secure base to work with. Moreover, you will need it in low-light conditions or when using slow shutter speeds. I purchased a tripod made of a special alloy, which is both lightweight and ultra-durable.
2. Camera bag & camera strap
Again, whether you are just starting or a veteran in this niche, you must consider investing in a camera bag with camera lens compartments and good foam padding. For all those who are typing and searching online, “accessories newbie and am not sure where to start” make sure to invest in a leather camera strap first; it will literally save your camera body and the attached lens.
3. Extra batteries & memory cards
Once you start shooting, you will know why having more memory cards and batteries is extremely useful, and most rookies completely ignore it, just like I did. Make sure to invest in more than one memory card and also find a faster one that can match the writing speeds of your camera body.
4. A Professional Camera Cleaning Kit
This might seem a small thing and even unnecessary, but it will add more operating life to both your lens and its camera body. Invest in a high-quality blower, smooth and clean microfiber cloths, and lens cleaning solution made of recommended chemicals. I always keep all these in my camera bag just to commence an occasional cleaning session on the go.
B. Accessories for Intermediate Upgrade
1. Lens Filters
If you shoot outdoors, then filters like UV or ND filters are a must to filter out specific and unwanted light rays entering your camera lens. I shoot a lot outdoors, so the ND filter is a must for me.
2. Speedlights and COB lights
To take more control of lighting, especially outdoors, we recommend investing in portable COB lights and speedlights with options to match white balance and color warmth with one’s skin.
3. Remote Shutter Release
This is a must-have upgrade if you often shoot alone like I do. These remote shutters come in quite handy when you are aiming to minimize camera shake, especially during long exposure shots.
C. Accessories - Major Upgrade
1. Camera Lens
I am assuming that you already have invested in a camera body (preferably mirrorless) at this point. If yes, then the next most sound investment would be to get a camera lens that will give you not only professional results but will also add character to your creative works and make them stand out from the crowd.
Such an upgrade of a camera lens in the real world looks like the SIRUI Aurora Series 85mm F1.4 Full-Frame Autofocus Lens. How does it differ from others? Well, in my opinion, because of two reasons: first, you will get to capture ultra-high-res images with an immersive feel and accurate color reproduction at the widest aperture numbers. Second, you will get a smooth, shallow depth of field with clear isolation of objects, an instant professional and cinematic look to your image.
All this happens due to next-generation optical design featuring an ED and HRI glass element with an aspherical lens scheme, which results in much less chromatic dispersion. This feature set of the SIRUI Aurora places it in the top-tier category of camera lenses and a worthy upgrade for those who are searching for “accessories newbie and am not sure where to start” just like I was doing last year.
2. Professional Lighting Gear
Aside from lighting gear for outside, your major upgrade for accessories will be lighting gear, especially belonging to the three-point light system. You will need to invest in a key light with high wattage and the ability to tweak white balance.
Then there is a fill light used to soften the object’s dark areas and a backlight positioned behind the object by creating a rim of light. There is a whole ecosystem of lights that requires significant understanding to master these accessories.
Wrapping Up:
From the above tips and explanation, I expect that you will not say to yourself that I am an accessories newbie and am not sure where to start. Along with the supporting gear I explained above, upgrading camera gear requires a solid knowledge of what matters, in which a capable lens is crucial. I suggest considering the SIRUI Aurora Series 85mm F1.4 Full-Frame Autofocus Lens to get reliable and professional results for both high-quality stills and video shooting.
