Ten Accessories Worth the Weight

One blessing/curse of SLR ownership is that you can add to your camera. You can screw on, snap on, and slide on all kinds of accessories.

The photography magazines and Web sites are seething with possibilities, all of which seem attractive and useful when you read about them. Here, though, are some of the most popular (and useful).

Camera Bag

Camera bags come in all shapes and sizes: backpacks, belt packs, tummy packs, side-sling packs. (Some of them scream, "There's an expensive camera in here. Steal me!")

The point, though, is that you need a bag to contain your camera and lenses, shield it all from little bumps, and keep it all dry.

Lens Cloths

The lens on your SLR isn't actually that risky. If fingerprints or dust get on the outer lens (the part usually covered by a lens cap), it may not even be visible in your photos.

Still, if it does get gunked up, you need a lens cloth—a soft little cloth that leaves no lint behind (as a Kleenex would do). Or you can get lens-cleaning tissues, which come all together in a little stapled packet.

Lens Cap Leash

Whatever genius came up with the fundamental design of an SLR must have run out of steam when it came time to design the lens cap. It's just way too easy to drop, to lose, and to forget. When you want to use the camera, what are you supposed to do with the lens cap? Just carry it around.

A lens cap leash is a $2 elastic band that goes around the lens barrel; a thread connects to the lens cap itself. Now when ...

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