Photography equipment
Tripod
A tripod is a portable three-legged frame to which a camera can be attached. There is a plate on the top of the tripod which comes off. This is screwed onto the underneath of the camera to ensure that it doesn鈥檛 fall off when in operation.
A tripod is essential for long shutter speed photography because it keeps the camera steady. It reduces the risk of camera shake. They can also be used for other purposes, such as portraiture work or still life photography for product/advertising work.
Flash gun
A flash gun is sometimes referred to as a 鈥speedlight flash鈥. It is an attachable light source that can be controlled by the photographer. It automatically fires when the shutter button is pressed.
These can be complex pieces of equipment which require a good understanding to get the correct lighting conditions for different effects. Using a flash gun allows the photographer to freeze motion in a photo with a burst of light and this can be especially useful if you are shooting in low light.
Studio lights
Studio lights enhance the quality of photography. They allow consistent lighting. Adjusting white balance and colour temperature on the lighting equipment makes sure the quality is accurate.
Lenses
Different lenses have different focal lengths, which is the distance between the lens and sensor. Different focal lengths will determine how much of a scene is captured.
Common lens types:
- Macro lenses - for close-up photography. Their design allows them to produce sharp images at close range.
- Telephoto lenses - zoom lens with multiple focal points that allow you to focus in on objects in the distance. Sports photographers use telephoto lenses to capture action at a long distance.
- Wide angle lenses - used for fitting a large area into the camera frame. These are useful for landscape or street photography.
Memory/storage cards
A digital camera has a limited storage space. This will fill up quickly without a memory card. Different cameras require different memory cards, so check the model required before buying one.
Memory cards have different codes, like XD, SD, SDXC and SDHC and come in various storage sizes, like 2GB, 4GB and 64GB. GB stands for a gigabyte and the higher the number, the more that can be stored on it.