I believe just about every photographer I know has a Wish List of items they would love to have in their camera bag. And the list is always changing since there are new “toys” being introduced on a daily basis. I am constantly adding items to my Wish List as I read through industry magazines and browse through the photography websites. So on this Thursday, I would like to share with you 13 items that are NOT yet in my Camera Bag.
Recently I purchased a Canon Rebel EOS Ti1 Digital Camera and it came with a standard 18-55mm lens. Don’t get me wrong, it takes a decent photograph, but I would really love to have this Canon 50mm EF f/1.2 USM Lens. This is supposed to be a fairly fast lens and would be great for taking portraits next month during a few scheduled sessions.
Next on my Wish List is another lens. If you are a regular reader of my Blog if not please subscriber, you would know that I love taking landscape photographs, especially since I live a few miles away from Joshua Tree National Park. This lens from Canon is a Wide Angle EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM that would allow me to get even more of the landscape into the picture.
Another cherished lens would have to be this EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM Telephoto Zoom Lens from Canon because it would assist me in capturing those sporting moments such as a car speeding by or Steve Smith catching the winning touchdown in the Super Bowl. I could also use this for capturing those favorite wedding moments too.
Now on to some accessories for my digital camera’s Wish List. When taking landscape photographs it can be tricky to set up your camera and try to look through the stand viewfinder so this little adaptor ok so its not that little is an Angle Finder which is adjustable to whatever angle I may need. I could have used it a few weeks ago while photographing the Perseid Meteor shower while laying down on a picnic table.
This next item is a must have. In fact, I am probably going to order one in the next week. Its a Wireless Remote Control for the Rebel Ti1. Since I don’t have an iPhone, that means I can’t download the cool App that would control the camera from my phone. Again I could have used this accessory a few weeks ago during the Perseid Meteor Shower while using the Bulb function on my camera. For those of you not familiar with the Bulb function, basically I was depressing the shutter button for almost 2-3 minutes to allow enough light to hit the digital sensor while photographing in low light situations. I can also take self-portraits easier not that I would want to or it will come in handy while taking portraits of children.
Another must have item for any photographer is a tripod. I have used mine for night photography, landscape photography, and taking family portraits. They are essential in situations where you need to keep the camera as still as possible or when you are waiting for that perfect shoot. Now I do have a tripod and its a hand me down. And its falling a part. This tripod from Gitzo is made from a carbon fiber material and weighs under 5 pounds. Weight is definitely an issue when you are lugging around all of your equipment. The other feature I like about this tripod is that I can spread the legs out and get the camera as close to the ground as possible.
If I can, I avoid using a flash. Let’s face it red eyes are not appealing in photographs. And you can’t really use a flash for landscape photography effectively because the light from the flash has a limitation on distance. But there are times when light on subject is necessary. And for those instances, I would like to have a LitePanel Micro LED kit for just these occasions. For one, it uses “AA” batteries so it won’t drain my camera battery. It’s also dimmable so you can control the amount of light you need.
This past December, those of us that live in the desert, got blasted with an unexpected snowfall. We usually get a few inches once or twice a winter, but in 2008 13 inches fell in a 24 hour period. I swear to you people in this town do not know how to act with 13 inches of snow on the ground. I kid you not the shut everything down just about for 2 days. Me being the fearless adventurer saw this as an opportunity to shop at Wal-Mart while there was hardly anyone there. And of course I had to take a few hundred photographs. But cold temperatures are not kind to cameras. Neither is falling snow. And since I would love to move to Colorado someday where snow is a regular event in the winter, I would love to have this Cozy Camera Bag to protect my camera from the elements.
When doing portrait sessions with children, seniors or families, I believe in utilizing natural outdoor settings for the backdrop of a photograph. But sometimes the light outside is not enough but you don’t need a flash, that’s where these reflectors would come in handy.
Weddings are a maj
or event for the bride. As a photographer you want to make sure you have your camera set for the correct lighting conditions and the best way to do that is by using a Light Meter. You’ve only got one opportunity to get the perfect shot and if you take hundreds of photographs, you don’t want to spend weeks fixing all the photographs in Lightroom 2.0.
I have seen many photographs taken with the Lensbabies special effect lenses. I think it would be lots of fun to photograph some of the desert landscapes with these babies. I would get two actually. The Muse and the Composer.
Last but not least, I would need a good, durable camera bag to hold all my gear. I think this backpack from Lowepro would do the job nicely.
That completes my camera gear Wish List for now. Give me a month or two and I am sure I will have changed a few items and added some new ones. Now I want to know what is on your camera gear wish list. Leave me some comments telling me what you would buy if money was not an issue. Its fun to make a list and in time, I bet you will get what you wished for.
I almost forgot, if you are stopping by today as part of the Thursday Thirteen blog theme, “Welcome”. I hope you enjoyed viewing my Wish List. Feel free to click the camera below to visit Thursday Thirteen’s home and see what others had to share today.
Note the product pictures are from various shopping websites online.