Basic Photography Equipment to Carry

The camera itself has become only one small part of a photographer's gear. There are lenses, cases, tripods, cable releases, flashes, remote light meters, and many other items that work together to turn a photographer into a pack mule. With this amazing array of equipment available, how does a photographer know what they should carry with them? The short answer is it depends on where you are going and what pictures you want to take. However, there are some basic items you can take to cover most situations.

• Lenses
  For any situation the camera itself and a lens (whether built in or interchangeable) are always needed. If you have a camera that uses interchangeable lenses you are faced with deciding which lens to use. Most photographers carry at least two lenses. A wide-angle lens is one that shows you a large field of vision while a telephoto lens is like a pair of binoculars for your camera. A good range of lenses to carry for general-purpose photography is a 28-80mm lens and a 70-300mm lens.
  
  
• Filters
  An UV filter can protect your expensive lens without causing noticeable change to your image. The front of your camera lens is very susceptible to dirt and damage. While you may not be taking images in a dangerous area, one a short fall off a bench and onto a rock is all it takes to shatter a lens. Once you get these filters for your lenses, you will attach them to the front of your lens and probably never notice them again.
  
  
• Flash
  Flash insures that I am ready for low-light situations. Most cameras have a built in, or "on board" flash but those flashes are limited in power. Carrying an additional flash allows you to take images from around 20 feet away and still get good detail.
  
  
• Camera Bag
  My camera bag is a safety device for my camera and other equipment. It holds my camera, lenses, flash, memory cards, and other accessories safely within a padded environment. The bag helps protect my equipment from breakage, rain, and even quickly fluctuating temperatures. It also makes it a lot easier to carry several items at one time and has been known to double for camera support when I needed a tripod.