Are you overwhelmed with the choice of accessories for your digital camera? Well don't worry: the same rules apply for accessories as when purchasing your camera:
• Only buy what you need to achieve your goals
• Don't get sucked into the “must have gadget trap!”
There's plenty of good news too. Most digital cameras and accessories such as computers that were once only the domain of the top professionals can now be yours at an affordable price.
Furthermore, it is no longer necessary to own your own computer and printer to print out your digital photographs. There are now many high street photo labs and web sites who can produce high quality prints from your memory card (as well as edit, crop and even back up your images onto CD). So before you rush to the accessories counter, think about what you want to invest in and what you really need. You can also perhaps worry less about printing and spend the money you save on other accessories.
I believe two of the most important accessories to investing in are rechargeable batteries and charger. This needn't cost you much more than about £20. Your other essential investment is a memory card. Most cameras come with just 16MB or 32MB of storage which would not see you through a day's holiday; therefore a 512Mb card (able to store about 200 fair-to-high quality photos) is an essential; costing no more than around £30-£50. Remember you no longer have the cost of all that film and processing- not to mention the constant to and froing to the labs! It's worth noting that memory is growing all the time, and getting cheaper too. 1GB memory cards are now available, and the price on these is coming down rapidly.
Now that you have plenty of power and freedom to fire away, the next accessory to consider is a flashgun. Most digital cameras have a built in flash but it is usually not powerful enough to light any subject more than 5-10 metres away. Keeping in mind what kind of pictures you want to take, a good flash could be a wise investment. There is a wide choice of flashguns on offer, so make sure you buy one that suits your requirements: most people don't need to light up the Albert Hall. You'll also need a flash that's actually compatible with your camera.
One of the best aspects of going digital is that you only need to print the images you want; the rest can be stored in your computer or burnt onto a CD. If you want to enter the world of the “home computer darkroom” and then possibly digital manipulation, then be prepared to invest anything from £250-£3000+. Technology has advanced so fast that even the most basic computers on the market can handle most of the editing software on the market today. You can certainly get started for £500-£750.
Most digital cameras come with basic image editing software but if you want to drill deeper into post-processing, you could invest in Adobe Photoshop Elements for about £70. Be warned, though, it does take patience and it doesn't come with a thick manual for nothing…
Now that you have mastered the image editing software on your new computer you'll want to print your works of art out at home which means we must turn to printers. There are many inkjet printers on the market capable of producing high quality prints. Once more, the price reflects the quality but today a reasonable printer costs around £70. The bulk of that cost is in the price of the inks. To replace a full set of inks can set you back £50, so keep the kids away from the printer and only print the photos you really want.
If you have decided to invest in a computer for your picture storage but don't wish to get involved with printing your own photos, then as well as the high street labs you could send your photos over the net to specialist labs who will produce the prints on paper (and even mugs, jigsaw puzzles, mouse-mats etc.) Other sites will host your photos and turn them into albums or portfolios. Check out www.snapfish.co.uk, www.photobox.co.uk, www.photodeal.co.uk, and www.flickr.com. There are many more.
Finally if you have bought an SLR digital camera which usually only comes with a very versatile useful 14mm-45mm [28-90 equivalent] f3.5-5.6 lens, you may want to consider investing in a longer zoom or wider angle lens. Once again, think carefully about what kind of pictures you want to capture before being lured into buying lenses you don't need. Lenses are expensive- justifiably so because they are precision-engineered pieces of optical equipment; so ensure that the means meet the ends before paying.
If you plan to shoot in low light conditions with no flash, then a camera tripod can be a godsend; although many digital cameras will go to the equivalent of 1600-3200 asa. This produces a very grainy image, but it does allow the possibility of a hand held shot in low light.
Finally, for a list of further accessories that you may want to indulge in, such as a cool camera bag and/or filters etc.; there are plenty of photography magazines and web sites, but think carefully before you end up carrying a camera bag that weighs a ton full of equipment you rarely use- and a wallet that is much lighter than before!
