Best camera accessories and gifts

Manfrotto 190XPROB / Bogen 3001BD tripod review

Cheap and flimsy tripods invariably disappoint, and if you can’t stretch to a decent model, I’d recommend checking out a Gorillapod instead – see below.

Manfrotto (previously known in some regions as Bogen) produces some of the best tripods in the world with a wealth of models to choose from. All but the cheapest models are sold in two parts: the legs and the head, allowing you to find a combination which exactly matches your needs.

The most affordable Manfrotto legs are in the 190 range, with the 190XPROB being one of the best-selling models worldwide. It's sufficiently small and light to be portable, while delivering decent height and stability. It's a great tripod which represents a big step-up from cheap models, although if you're very tall, you will prefer the larger 055XPROB version. Those with bigger budgets who like to travel light should also consider the carbon-fiber 190CXPRO3 version, and again its bigger counterpart the 055CXPRO3 for taller folk. Remember all four of these tripods will need a separate head, and one of the most popular options is right below.

Manfrotto 327RC2 grip ball head

You have to start somewhere though, and the most popular all-round Manfrotto head is the 327RC2 grip ball model which allows you to quickly and easily adjust your camera’s position with just one hand.

There are of course several other heads we can recommend depending on your requirements. Two decent smaller ball heads are the 486RC2 or 484RC2, or if you prefer a traditional three-axis model, the 460MG is light, flexible, and a favourite in the Cameralabs office. If you’re into video, you’ll need a fluid head with smooth panning action, such as the 701HDV, or if you need absolute technical precision, a geared head like the 410 is ideal. If money is tight, the basic 056 Junior head is a good, albeit basic choice, although remember you can always upgrade the head later.

Joby offers four versions. The smallest ‘Original’ model is designed for compacts, measures 15x3x3cm, weighs just 45g and can carry weights up to 325g. Next up is the ‘SLR’ model, designed for smaller DSLRs and camcorders, measuring 25x5x5cm, weighing 165g and good to handle a load of 800g.

After this comes what I consider to be the sweetspot in the range, the ‘SLR Zoom’ model, which measures 25x6x6cm, weighs 241g and can handle a load of 3kg. If you need to accommodate something heavier still, the latest ‘Focus’ model can handle up to 5kg loads, although it costs double that of the ‘SLR Zoom’.

I've attached various semi-pro DSLRs with hefty zooms onto the Gorillapod SLR Zoom and securely wrapped its legs round fences, posts and even tree branches. So long as there’s something to wrap its legs around, the larger Gorillapods can prove invaluable for anyone who fancies taking the occasional long exposure or HDR shot, but likes to travel light. Note, for the greatest flexibility and ease of use, couple a Gorillapod with a decent ball head, such as the Manfrotto 486RC2 or 484RC2.

Photomatix Pro 4 HDR software - receive 15% discount when using coupon 'CameraLabs'

All you then need is the right software to combine them into a single optimised image and by far the most popular and effective is HDR Soft's Photomatix. We've partnered-up with the good folk at HDR Soft to give you 15% discount on Photomatix: simply use the coupon code CameraLabs to receive the discount when checking-out.

PS - if you get hooked-on HDR, I can highly recommend buying Trey Ratcliff's eBook, 'Top 10 HDR Mistakes, and how to fix them' - see above.

One of the simplest but most effective ways to get rid of dust is with a few well-placed gushes from a blower, and they don’t come better than Giottos Rocket Air. Shaped like something Tin-Tin might pilot to the Moon, the Rocket Air Blower delivers powerful gushes of air which should dislodge all but the most stubborn particles. They’re also great for getting rid of dust from nooks and crannies of other components – and stood vertically on its tail fins, they look pretty cool too.

Giottos offers produces several versions of the Rocket in different sizes, with the largest AA1903 model delivering the most powerful blast. Not far behind it though is the AA1900 model, featured here, which I’ve found more than capable while remaining portable. Of all accessories, this is the one I never leave home without.

Hoya 58mm UV Multi-Coated filter

The first step in buying a filter is identifying the right size for your particular lens. The filter thread size, measured in millimetres, is typically printed at the end of the lens barrel and usually indicated by a zero with a diagonal line through it. Canon’s EF-S 18-55mm kit lens has a 58mm filter thread, while the one on the Nikkor DX 18-55mm kit lens measures 52mm. Larger filters are understandably more expensive.

But before you go and buy just any UV filter though, remember that anything you put in front of your lens has the potential to reduce its image quality. A cheap filter can have a serious negative impact, so always go for a higher quality Multi-Coated model instead. Hoya is one of the most respected brands in filters and its Multi-Coated (HMC) range of UV filters won’t compromise your lens.

Hoya Circular Polarizing filter

Polarizers come in two types: Linear and Circular. Circular polarizers, or CPLs for short, are designed to work with the autofocus or metering systems on modern cameras, so this is the type you’ll need to buy for your DSLR. As with UV filters, you’ll also need to identify the right size for your lens barrel, and again it’s worth spending extra on Multi-Coated models for the best quality. If you’re using an ultra-wide angle lens, look out for slimmer polarizers which won’t darken the corners of your image.

Once again Hoya is one of the best brands around for polarizing filters, especially its Multi-Coated (HMC) range, although regardless of the model, always avoid mounting multiple filters on top of each other, such as a polarizier and UV model together. For more information, see my Polarizing Filter tutorial at our sister site, DSLR Tips. Once again remember to choose the right size for your lense: the filter size, measured in millimetres, is typically printed at the end of the lens barrel and usually indicated by a zero with a diagonal line through it. Canon’s EF-S 18-55mm kit lens has a 58mm filter thread, while the one on the Nikkor DX 18-55mm kit lens measures 52mm. Larger filters are understandably more expensive.

This runs off a 9 volt battery, mounts on your DSLR's hotshoe and connects to the microphone input with a standard 3.5mm jack. It's a mono 'shotgun' style mic that's designed to clearly record speech and other directional sounds; the output is duplicated on both stereo channels, so there's sound recorded on both tracks automatically. Register with Rode after buying and they'll also send a muffler to minimise wind noise.

As such it's an ideal upgrade for both indoor and outdoor general use, whether you're filming weddings, sporting events, news, holidays or interviews. If you're impressed with the video quality of your DSLR and want to maximise the sound quality, the Rode VMP is a great all-rounder. Note for ambient stereo sound, the Rode SVM is a better choice.

It's primarily targeted at action sports videography, but the more I use the HD Hero 2, the more I've realised it also makes an ideal 'B-camera' to provide supplemental footage on trips where you wouldn't dare take your primary camera. Remember the supplied housing shrugs-off snow, sand and dirt and will dive deeper than most licensing allows. You could also suction-cup it onto vehicles for a unique point-of-view or film easy time-lapse and not worry about leaving it outside. An upcoming Wifi accessory will also let you remote control it with a smartphone.

In short the HD Hero lets you capture great quality ultra-wide video in almost any situation and costs no-more than a half-decent point-and-shoot compact. That's why it's now accompanying me on all my future trips.

Top-loading camera bags offer quick access to a DSLR, and the Topload Zoom 1 model is one of Lowe Pro’s most popular. It will accommodate a DSLR with a standard zoom or wide angle lens and includes an inner mesh pocket and outer zipped pocket for small accessories like batteries and cards. The fabric is water-resistant and the bag can either be carried on a shoulder strap or looped through a belt.

The Whickey and Cox may look like a conventional rucksack at first glance, but look closer and you’ll see there’s no obvious zips for opening the main compartments. That’s because access to the main storage area is actually from the rear. You take the rucksack off your back, place it face down, then the entire rear panel unzips and opens like a door to reveal the previous cargo. This unconventional design means any thieves sneaking up from behind won’t be able to unzip any major compartments.

Customisable inserts allow you to accommodate a semi-pro DSLR with a hefty telephoto lens, along with three or four smaller lenses or flashes, while a rear sleeve looks after a 15in laptop. If you love the concept, but prefer something smaller – or larger – then go for the Keystone or Karachi Outpost versions respectively.

Photoshop Elements 10 features almost everything most photographers would want or need from the full Photoshop, but presents them in a much easier-to-use manner at an affordable price. Unlike the pure approach of Photoshop, Elements also doesn’t shy away from helping you create popular projects like photo books and slideshows.

It additionally offers photo management and backup tools, even coming with 2GB of free online storage. So if you want to manipulate your digital photos and only buy one program, this is the one to go for. No wonder it's the best-selling photo editing software.