Awesome Camera Accessories for On-the-Go Photographers
- LitraTorch 2.0
- E-Image EK610 Professional Compact Tripod
- Haida NanoPro Circular Polarizing Filter
- HEX Ranger Sling Bag
- Exposure X5
photo by bortnikau via iStock
Camera Accessories
Whether you’re on the road because you love to travel or you’re doing it out of necessity for work, you want to have camera accessories that can come along with you without being a burden.
Fortunately, recent years have seen awesome camera accessories made available that are small and portable, yet still pack a mighty punch.
Below, I’ve outlined a few of my favorite on-the-go camera accessories that will make your photography trips much easier.
Table of Contents
The LitraTorch 2.0 is a Must-Have for Travel Photographers
If you’ve spent any amount of time learning about photography, you know that good light is the key to getting a good photograph.
And while it’s perfectly fine to label oneself as a “natural light photographer,” there are times when natural light just won’t cut it.
But if you need to be highly mobile, the last thing you want to do is carry around light stands, softboxes, diffusers, and all sorts of lighting gear.
Instead, stay mobile and use the LitraTorch 2.0, an absolutely incredible light that will shock you with its power and quality of illumination.
I have this little guy (that’s it in the photo above, just above the lens) and it has been a Godsend as I get more and more into on-location work.
It has 16 LEDs that put out 800 lumens of light. Considering it’s just 1.5 inches square, that’s an incredible amount of light!
Since it weighs just three ounces, it’s not like you’ll be bogged down with heavy gear, either.
In fact, you can pick up a handful of these things, throw them in your camera bag, and not notice a difference in the weight you’re carrying.
Better still, the LitraTorch 2.0 is adjustable, so you can set it at 100 lumens, 450 lumens, or 800 lumens to suit the situation.
No matter the light output, this thing has beautiful, crisp, flicker-free light at a color temperature of 5700K.
With a CRI of 90+ and TLCI of 92, you begin to get a picture of just how superb this little light really is!
Add in durable construction, waterproofness to 60 feet, a magnet for mounting it to metallic surfaces, and two ¼-20 mounts, and you have the makings of the perfect little light.
Learn more about the LitraTorch 2.0
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Save Space With the E-Image MA600 Monopod
A means of stabilizing the camera is a must for every photographer, but what you don’t want is a big, bulky, heavy tripod that you have to carry around from one shoot location to the next.
The E-Image MA600 Monopod is a great solution for on-the-go photographers that simply don’t have room for a traditional tripod.
At just 3.1 pounds, this monopod is lightweight, and with just a single leg, it’s form factor is much smaller than a tripod, thereby giving you more room in your camera bag for other gear.
This monopod can support an astonishing 44 pounds of gear, so whether you have a DSLR, mirrorless camera, or a large video camera, you’ll get all the support you need.
Made of aluminum, the MA600 monopod is strong and durable, yet more budget-friendly than carbon fiber options.
The flip-lock design of the leg locks makes setup a breeze and quick adjustments easy as well.
There’s a soft foam grip and a strap at the top of the monopod to give you multiple points of securing it while shooting.
It can extend to nearly 75-inches yet folds down to little more than 25-inches for easy transport. And with a base that spreads 16-inches, this monopod offers superb stability, even if you’re panning to track a subject.
Learn more about the E-Image MA600 Monopod
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Step Up Your Photography Game With a Haida NanoPro Circular Polarizing Filter
When you’re on the move, it’s important to shed weight when you can.
One of the ways I’ve done that as of late is to ditch my giant filter kit and roll with just one filter - my Haida NanoPro Circular Polarizer.
Of all my filters, this one is the most invaluable simply because of the many benefits I gain from using it.
photo by DieterMeyrl via iStock
As all polarizers do, this thing boosts contrast in the sky, minimizes glare off of water and other non-metallic surfaces, and reduces atmospheric haze.
In all these cases, my landscape photos benefit from stronger colors, improved clarity, and gorgeous contrast.
But not all polarizers are made alike, so it’s important to invest in one that offers the highest-quality results. Haida does just that.
The NanoPro coating on this filter offers a number of benefits, including making cleaning an easier task. That’s because dust, dirt, smudges, and moisture are repelled thanks to ten (yes...ten!) layers of coatings.
What’s more, the NanoPro coating has anti-reflective properties to ensure your photos are as clean and crisp as possible.
With high-quality optical glass, a lightweight 5mm aluminum mount, and side knurling that allows for easier and more precise adjustments, this polarizer is definitely a camera accessory that takes up very little space in your bag, but is worth its weight in gold.
Learn more about the Haida NanoPro Circular Polarizing Filter
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Carry Tons of Gear Without Feeling Weighed Down With the HEX Ranger Sling Bag
When you’re ready to head to points unknown, you need a camera bag that can fit loads of gear, but that isn’t big and bulky and difficult to carry.
Enter the HEX Ranger DSLR Sling Bag…
I have to say that I was completely blown away by this bag the first time I laid eyes on it when I met the folks behind HEX at their Los Angeles offices.
I’ve been a Peak Design guy for a long time, and if you know Peak Design, you know the quality that they put out.
But, man, HEX has taken it to another level!
For starters, it’s a compact bag at just 1.3 pounds and 14.5"L x 7.25"W x 4.75"H, yet I can fit everything from my 10 liter Peak Design Sling Bag into this 8 liter Ranger bag.
Why?
It’s simple - HEX has eliminated all the unused space from this bag, which gives you tons of carrying capacity without the bulk.
But don’t think that because it’s slim and trim that it isn’t loaded with features.
This bag has collapsible interior dividers that allows you to customize what gear you carry. The dividers can fold up or be removed completely, which allows the bag to lay completely flat. That’ll come in handy on your travels, for sure!
There are pockets galore, too, including a front-access organizer for the small things you need, a faux fur-lined sleeve for your tablet, and tons of velcro stash pockets. There’s even side adjustable load straps and an adjustable bottom carry strap to bring along more gear when you need it!
Perhaps the best thing about this bag is how it fits.
It’s snug to your body, so it doesn’t knock around as you walk, nor does it pose a threat to slide off and hit someone as you pass by.
It’s super easy to adjust and grab your gear thanks to the YKK zippers with metal pulls. The genuine Cordura material is great looking and durable too.
HEX simply impressed the heck out of me with this bag, which is why it’s my go-to travel bag now!
Learn more about the Hex Ranger DSLR Sling Bag
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Save Time Editing With Exposure X5
photo by lechatnoir via iStock
I enjoy editing my photos as much as the next guy, but when I'm on the go, I don't want to be in the hotel room slumped over my computer editing photos for hours on end. Instead, I want to be out exploring and shooting!
Exposure X5 lets me do that thanks to its ability to streamline my workflow when it comes to organizing and editing my photos.
In particular, there are three features (there are many, many more features, by the way) I especially like that make this some of my favorite photography software...
First, I appreciate the fact that Exposure includes hundreds of presets (like the one shown below). This enables me to add looks to my photos with just one click. In many situations, the presets are just what the doctor ordered, but if I need to tweak them, I can do so quickly and easily.
I can also save the presets that I customize and reuse them again in the future. How cool is that?!
Second, Exposure is just dead-easy to use with an intuitive layout that makes editing images a breeze.
If need be, you can customize the workspace to better suit your needs, too. On top of that Photoshop and Lightroom plug-in support is included so you can more seamlessly migrate your images into Exposure.
The third feature I really love about Exposure X5 is that it allows you to quickly transition from editing images to organizing images without having to switch modules.
Speaking of organizing, you can create smart collections of images based on criteria you specify and use keywords for further organization. You can even choose to retain or remove keywords during image export and import keyword sets directly from Lightroom.
In other words, Exposure X5 is simply a well-designed, beautifully thought-out photo editor and management system all bundled into one easy-to-use workspace.
When you're on the go and time is of the essence, you can't ask for more from your imaging software!
Get a free 30-day trial of Exposure X5 to see just how awesome it is.