Photography is an expensive hobby that can be totally fulfilling, while emptying your pockets.  It doesn't have to be though.  Here are 7 cool pieces of photography gear that cost less then $10. Mini Tripod - At only $1.25 these are cheap enough to buy a few of and stick one in every camera bag you have, the glove box of your car and even a purse or coat pocket.  While they won't hold a DSLR or even a larger point & shoot digital, they do just fine holding compact digital cameras and are perfect for helping do group shots with friends that you want to be in, or even utilizing the macro function of your p&s for more stability. Lens Cap Keeper - One penny will buy you piece of mind!  If you are forever losing your lens caps, these amazingly cheap accessories will help keep them close at hand.  Buy them by the dozen they are so cheap! LensPEN - stop cleaning your lens with the bottom of your t-shirt and use a LensPEN.  This small is device specially designed to remove finger prints, dust and debris from the end of your lens safely. Micro Fiber Cloth - These little things work ...

Photography is about capturing light though lenses, but choosing the right lens for the job isn't always cut and dry.  Lenses for landscape photographers can be particularly difficult to choose because the vast array of options available. First and foremost, there is no one-size fits all, do everything lens.  New photographers often look for the one lens that will do everything and then some, this doesn't exist.  There are options to fit your specific needs though, and that's what we're going to explore.  The real answer is 12mm-500mm, it really depends on what you're shooting and where you are in relation to it. Size and weight are also a factor for some photographers.  Because most landscape photographers are also hikers, campers and travelers, carrying around twenty or thirty pounds of gear can be daunting, so choosing faster prime lenses instead of a larger, heavier zoom lens means you won't have as much flexibility as a zoom lens provides but the trade off is a significantly lighter load to carry with you. Fast lenses, or those with a maximum aperture of f/2.8 or faster aren't always needed either, because the sweet spot of most lenses, or where they are sharpest and perform the best, ...

Getting a used lens can be a little nerve racking. I have to admit I have tried to avoid it. But when I asked if anyone had had good experiences in buying a used camera lens, our Light Stalking community on Twitter said they were surprisingly happy to flesh out their lens collections with used lenses. We put out the challenge to them to tell us how to buy a used lens without wasting our money or getting ripped off. Here is what they had to say. Photo by Chenta. Testing the Lens Not surprisingly, the majority of Light Stalking’s Twitter buddies sent in tips about getting the lens in your own hands and testing and checking it. Their advice centred around thoroughly testing out the camera and involved a few tricks for doing that easily and well. Check that the focusing is smooth but not loose. Also check that the aperture stops down correctly. Check aperture blades for dirt or excessive oil. (Peter Dixie Photography, Twitter: @PeterDixie) Bring a laptop with you so you can check full scale pictures for imperfections caused by the lens. (Ilan Bresler Photography, Twitter: @IlanBr) Stressing that you're not a pro or only want to shoot your kids with ...