What is the best brand for camera accessories?

Question

I have a Nikon D3100 and i would like a decent tripod....there are loads out there abduction I would like best quality reasonable price. also ideas on flashgun recommendations??? And filters....is it worth getting a lens hood ? And what brand ?? Its just there are since many i can't work out which us the best....thanks

Answer 1

Do you want a large heavy tripod for weddings or landscapes or macro work? Or is a small travel tripod all you want? It's hard to know without some knowledge of what you want it for!



If it's just a general feeling that you'd like to spend some cash and get some bits that might come in useful, I would say don't buy one. You will only bother lugging a tripod around if you know you need it. Otherwise it is just a big weight that gets in the way.



If you do want something serious, here are some tripod reviews:

http://www.techradar.com/news/photography-video-capture/cameras/best-tripods-and-camera-supports-15-tested-1046066



This is the only one that they gave the full 5 stars to:

http://www.techradar.com/reviews/cameras-and-camcorders/cameras/tripods/giottos-mtl9361b-1027720/review



For filters, are you talking about just a screw on UV or sunlight filter or do you mean special effects?

Some people like to have a UV or skylight filter on each of their lenses for protection. Some others claim that it adversely affects image quality. I've had a 50mm lens saved by a filter before and not noticed any big degrading of quality - but I do use high quality filters.



For a reasonable UV or skylight try the Hoya Pro filters, but for effects, Cokin is the king.



I'm not much into effects filters. A circular polariser filter can be useful (but expensive). If you do want a polarising filter don't buy a linear polarising one. Circular polarisers are the only ones which will work correctly with your autofocus system. Neutral density filters can be useful in bright light if you want to get slow shutter speeds for things like those ghostly waterfall effects. I would leave other filters alone for the time being.



For lens hoods, get the ones designed for the specific lenses you have. Generic ones are not particularly useful, and if they are too large they can cause vignetting.



For flashguns buy Nikon. The Speedlight SB-400 is a fine, lightweight and affordable little flash which will most people will find sufficient. If you want to go into zoomed, rotated, bounced flash the SB-700 is a good choice, but it is twice as expensive as the SB-400 and you might find it makes the camera feel a bit top heavy. Forget the SB-600 unless you can get it cheap or second hand. It is effectively superseded by the slightly cheaper SB-700 and I doubt you will need the extra features (or expense) of an SB-900 or SB-910.



If you decide to buy a second hand flash on ebay, stick with models which are in the current range. Older flashes like the SB-28 or SB-50 may look cheap, but they won't give full functionality with digital cameras like your D3100.



By the way, what word were you trying for when you typed "abduction"?

Answer 2

Can't help on the tripod or flashgun front, I don't need/use them.



I use a filter that doesn't do anything except protect my lens from dust and the occasional fingerprint.



I have a lens hood, it came as an accessory with my Nikon 18-105mm lens. I don't really know what it does, I just think it looks cool.



As for brands, best to go Nikon all the way in my opinion.

Answer 3

Tripod - Giottos, Gitzo, Manfrotto, Slik, Three Legged Thing, top end Velbon products



Flashgun - Nikon Speedlights, or Metz AF series. Nikon and Metz products all come with an omnibounce, but a Gary Fong Lightsphere (aka Lambency Diffuser) is nice to have.



Filters - Hoya, Tiffen, B + W. UV filters are useful when roughing it, and CPLs are good for landscapes.



Hood - worth getting one. Just a cheap one designed for your lens. OE parts are pointlessly expensive for what is a fancy shaped bit of plastic. Don't get the rubber ones though.

Answer 4

The thing is, there are a lot of snake oil salesmen in the camera accessory aftermarket. Generally avoid items that are described as "professional" or have "pro" or "professional" in the name.



For SD cards: Sandisk, Lexar.



Tripods: Gitzo, Manfrotto, Benro, Induro, Giottos. There are also some really high-end manufacturers, but you should already know what you are buying if you are sinking +$1k into a tripod.



Bags: Think Tank (the best), Billingham, Domke, Tamrac, Tenba, LowePro, Jill-E (designs for women), Crumpler. This is one time when you should not buy a manufacturer's product as they are not made that well, and they also advertise you have expensive camera gear.



Flash Units: camera manufacturer (recommended), Metz.



Lenses: camera manufacturer (recommended), followed by Tokina, Sigma, Tamron. Avoid all others.



Filters: camera manufacturer, B+W, Hoya, Tiffen.



Neck straps: Crumpler, Think Tank, Tamrac.



Sling straps: Black Rapid.



Remotes - IR and Wired: here it is OK to buy the cheap stuff.

Answer 5

You can get a tripod at any big box store.

Flash,I would only go with a Nikon.

I don't think you'll need a $50 UV filter. I paid $10 for mine, and it works fine.

Yes, on the lens hood if you shoot outdoors. I'd only go with Nikon again.

Answer 6

For what it's worth, I use Canon and have done since the 1970's albeit with a 20yr gap using a Yashica 35mm compact and Olympus P&S digitals. I currently use an EOS 450D (aka Rebel XSi) DSLR and an EOS 50E (aka Elan IIE?) film SLR. I recently bought a 1963 Mamiya 4B rangefinder 35mm. I have run a film through it and am awaiting the results to see if I bought a camera or a paperweight :-) Nikon, Sony and Pentax also make superb DSLRs. Other great Film SLRs - Nikon, Minolta, Pentax, Yashica, Olympus

Answer 7

Batteries, lens hoods/caps, Speedlights/flashes....OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer...Nikon/Canon/ etcetera).



Filters...B+W, Tiffen, Hoya, Cokin



Tripods/heads/ monopods...Manfrotto/Bogen, Slik, Vanguard, Gitzo



I use a lens hood and UV(0) filter on all of my lenses. Remember...if you look at the front end of each lens you will find the filter/cap size marked on it in millimeters. For example... 52mmΦ, 58Φ, 72Φ, etcetera.

Answer 8

The best accessories come from the same brand as your camera and that goes for lenses too. For items that your camera's brand do not make (like memory cards and tripods) go to http://bhphotovideo.com to window shop.