As photographers we love accessories, it's just the nature of the beast. One of the accessories that can often be hard to choose is the right camera bag. Perhaps one of the biggest misconceptions about camera bags is there isn't just one perfect bag, but rather a perfect bag for any particular situation. In this article we will break down which bags work best in different environments, for different shooting styles so you can choose the right bag no matter what, or, as you may lean, the right bags.Transportation. Transporting your gear for long car rides, on planes or packed in trains requires a little more protection and some more thought. If you are checking your bags, a hard-sided case like those made by Pelican will give you the absolute best protection.Photo By xunil96 Designed to meet military specs for impact resistance and durability, and an interior featuring pick and pluck foam to fit every piece nice and snug, these cases can and will take a beating, and even float should you need them to. The downside to using these cases is they are hard, bulk, can be very heavy to hand carry and with ...

Once upon a time the camera body of an SLR system would last you several decades, and then some.  Technology made advancements, but for the most part you won't see any groundbreaking advancements from the late 60's to early 80's when the autofocus system came out, at which point camera bodies started a fast track and then digital came to market about 12 years ago.With the digital age, technology advances very rapidly and our needs and wants from our hardware have continued to grow with each passing day.  The major manufactures are putting out new bodies anywhere from 8-16 months right now.  That means the model you buy today will be surpassed by a newer version in the next 8-16 months.  The trouble is, if you continue to wait till the next newest model to buy, you'll be waiting forever.  Complicating matters, you may not need to upgrade your current camera body yet.Photo by Sikachu! To examine whether or not you are really ready to upgrade a camera body, lets break down what features are most important to photographers, as this will help determine if an upgrade is needed.  This article assumes you already own a DSLR body and it isn't ...

Photography can be an expensive hobby, gone for most of us are the days of spending money on film and processing but it seems accessories and core components are always on our wish lists.  Photography is really one of those hobbies where you don't need to spend a lot to get great results, but you do get what you pay for.  Here are some tips to help budget your photography so you don't end up in the deep end.Photo by Mynameisharsha Don't buy on release day. When new DSLR bodies are released, there is always a huge hype that goes around with them and everyone is scampering to buy one.  If you can wait as little as 90-120 days after the release you could save as much as 15%.Buy used. This is one you really need to be careful of and can be a whole article on its own.  When new bodies are released, a lot of photographers sell their previous generation bodies at deep discounts.  For example, when the 5dmkII was released, the first generation 5d's started to show up used on forums for as little as $1500.  30 days after release the price slid to $1300 with a grip ...

Shooting landscapes is obviously all about the location, however another major factor that plays into the overall photo is the light, time of day and what you choose to do with the available light.To complicate matters, many landscape scenes can be hard to shoot because of the stark contrast between the sky and ground (or ocean) below.  One is direct light, the other is reflected light, and usually they require separate metering.  Of all the tools available to photographers today, including HDR, it seems that yesterdays technology is often skipped over in favor of fixing it in post-production later. There is a lot that can be done in post, however you'll get better results by starting with great images.  One way to do this is utilizing filters.  Here are three filters every landscape photographer should always carry with them.Circular Polarizer.Photo by Gustaffo89 A circular polarizer will do a few things for you. Most noticeably it will help bring rich, deep colors to the sky and make foreground colors snap and become more vibrant.  In this great comparison photo done by Gustaffo89, you can see the circular polarizer rotated to the most effective position on the left and how the clouds ...

Making the move into a DSLR camera system is an investment, both in money and in results.  The two main components of a camera system are the body and the lens.  Many new buyers often make the mistake of not budgeting enough for lenses and undervalue their role in photography.It's not hard to do, what with all the talk about bigger and better megapixels, higher ISO with lower noise and increasingly fast frames per second.  Add to the mix HD video as an option to several models of DSLR bodies and there are enough options to make your head spin.  The result is less focus on the lens and most of the focus on the features and functions of the camera body.  Lenses haven't changed much over the last few years, so what's the big deal about?The big deal is everything.  Yes, added noise reduction in the camera's sensor and the ability for the camera to process photos at higher resolutions with insane ISOs is important, but the quality of the final image produced by your cameras sensor is a direct result of your camera lenses. Much like a dirty window is hard to see through, a lesser quality lens ...

Utilizing flash in photography allows you to create unique photographs in ways that would otherwise be impossible.  There are a few downsides to utilizing flash photography though.Harsh shadows Over-exposed subject matter Inability to illuminate larger subjects or groups of people properlyUsing reflectors and other light modifiers with your flash photography will create more pleasing and fun photos.  Here are 6 tips on using a flash reflector to take your flash photography to the next level. Note that all of these tips are intended for use in conjunction with a hotshoe mounted flash, not a pop-up on camera flash or built in point & shoot camera flash.Reflectors can be bought or made.  One of the oldest methods is to utilize a simple note card and rubber band on your flash.Angle your flash at 45 degrees when using it with a reflector aimed at a specific subject.  This is needed to help project the light onto the subjectPoint your flash straight up when you need to illuminate a large space without harsh shadows and keep a reflector on the back of the flash unit to help throw the light forward.  Especially effective for the soft, near shadowless look.Use the wall next to you as ...

Equipment is expensive, even entry level photography gear adds up quickly, so many new and seasoned shooters choose to buy used.  There is nothing wrong with this!  With lenses, it's often possible to save upwards of 50% of the original cost, but there are a few key things you want to look out for when buying used.  These 10 tips will ensure you have the best possible buying experience while getting a great deal.Photo by Photos8.com 1. Check your source. There are many ways to buy used gear, from local camera stores, online retailers that sell used, eBay, Craigslist and photography message boards.  Know who you're buying from and how reputable they are, especially with eBay and message boards.2. Physical damage. It's not uncommon for there to be minor wear from hands, sweat and the elements on a lens's body, but dings are no good.  Likewise, check for scratches in the glass on both ends.3. Shine some light through it. Hold a small flashlight at one end and look through the other end.  Not all lenses are made the same and it's possible for dust to get inside.  While minor dust usually doesn't affect picture quality, larger specks or clumps will ...

Colored filters used to be a necessity for film shooters.  It was a way to correct for lighting and get specific effects.  Digital has enabled us to set a custom white balance, eliminating a lot of correction filters and Photoshop / Lightroom / Aperture have taken over the creative aspect of filters, but digital SLR shooters still need some specific color filters.Photo by S. Diddy UV FiltersAlso commonly called as Sky or Skylight filters, these have nearly no color to them and are most commonly used to protect the end of the lens against scratches and dust.  Their real purpose is to help cut through the haze and ultra-violet particles in the sky.  Some purists frown upon using such filters to protect the end element of their lenses and say they decrease the quality and sharpness of the glass.  Personally, I've always used them on all my lenses and encourage you to buy the best quality ones possible.  No sense in being cheap on a filter after you've already spent a hefty sum on a lens.Neutral Density FiltersThe neutral density filters, called ND for short, are like sunglasses for your camera.  They are gray in color and come in a variety ...

The three spots you see in the photograph below are sensor dust.  Small pieces of dust, fiber or hair that are sitting on the sensor of your digital camera.  The most common reason dust shows up on your sensor is from changing your lens.  It's nearly impossible to stop dust from getting in, so at one point or another you're bound to see these little demons.Photo by Peter BakerCleaning your sensor has always been something most people are afraid of as they don't want to ruin the sensor.  Being afraid isn't a bad thing, you can do some serious damage if you aren't careful.Photo by infomatique There are a few different techniques to cleaning your sensor, each has a fan base over the other.  The most popular methods are:Air blower Dry swabs Wet swabs Dust pickerWhen you are ready to clean your sensor, choose the method you feel most comfortable with, I personally prefer wet swabs.  Clean an area of a table that you can sit at and ensure no nearby windows are open.  Also make sure you are not on carpet so you don't accidentally discharge static electricity.  Before you remove the lens, clean the body and lens of your camera of all ...

Travelling is all about the experience, but for us photographers it's also about capturing the experience and being able to show others and relive the trip ourselves.  Here are 10 tips to to get great photography while you are traveling.GearPhoto by KhE 龙Less is more, so for DSLR shooters look for a wide zoom lens that covers at least 28-135.  There is no perfect lens for all situations but keep in mind you will be carrying your gear the entire trip, so my suggestion is to take no more then two lenses at most. Pick the right bag.  I'm a bag junkie, having four dedicated photography bags but always looking for another.  Your travel destination will help you choose what kind of bag you want, but here's a quick primer from my experience.  Photo backpacks are great for transporting gear from point A to B but are terrible to work out of.  Sling bags are easier to get gear in and out of but are usually smaller.  I've never found hip bags comfortable to wear but some people swear they are the best to work out of.  The last type of bag is the overly popular messenger bag.  This is my ...