Mirrorless Camera Accessories You Need Right Now
Photo by Jeff David King on Unsplash
I don’t want to say that the days of the DSLR are done, but I can’t help but wonder how many more years that the likes of Canon, Nikon, Sony, and other major companies will continue to make them.
With so many mirrorless cameras now available, and with Canon and Nikon jumping into the mirrorless deep end as of late, more and more photographers are bound to make the switch to mirrorless.
The question is, once you go mirrorless, what accessories do you need to complete your kit?
Here’s a few recommendations that I’ve enjoyed using with my Nikon Z7, Panasonic GH5, and Sony a6400 as of late.
Top Mirrorless Camera Accessories: Haida 77mm NanoPro Multi-coated Circular Polarizer Filter
I picked up a Zeiss Batis 18mm f/2.8 lens a few months ago for my Sony a6400, and I enjoy using that combination of camera and lens for shooting landscapes.
On the a6400, which is a crop sensor camera, this lens has an effective focal length of 27mm, which isn’t as wide as I’d like for some landscapes, yet it still provides a pleasing view of the subject matter.
More to the point, this lens is ludicrously sharp, so elements from near to far are rendered in gorgeous detail.
Helping matters is my Haida 77mm NanoPro circular polarizing filter.
At just $80, it won’t break the bank, which is a good thing since that Zeiss lens isn’t exactly cheap.
But just because it’s an affordable filter doesn’t mean that it skimps on performance…
Like any quality circular polarizer, this filter helps reduce reflections and glare off of water and non-metallic surfaces while also minimizing atmospheric haze.
On top of that, the filter boosts the contrast in the sky, making the white clouds brighter and the blue atmosphere deeper and more saturated.
And since this filter is made of optical glass, I get excellent clarity, contrast, and color fidelity.
Additionally, Haida has incorporated 10 layers of multi-coatings to minimize reflections, protect the filter, and reduce the need for cleaning because oils and water bead off the surface of the filter.
I appreciate the thin mount on this filter, too - just 5mm thick, it doesn’t cause vignetting when used with a wide-angle lens.
This is just a well constructed and well-designed filter that will help you achieve improved photos with your mirrorless camera.
Learn more about the Haida 77mm NanoPro circular polarizing filter
Top Mirrorless Camera Accessories: E-Image EK650 Professional Video Tripod
When I’m out shooting videos with my Panasonic GH5, I need a good, solid tripod to support the camera, and for that, the E-Image EK650 is a great choice.
Not only does this tripod support up to 11 pounds of gear, but it also offers a nice height range of 30.5-66” so I can vary the eye level of the footage I’m shooting.
The fluid head that comes with the tripod has a 75mm bowl and a fixed counterbalance that allows it to support the weight of your gear. There are also independent pan and tilt locks, a quick-release plate, and a removable right-sided pan bar.
The tripod has twist leg locks that make for easy setup and help prevent accidental disengagement of the lock, as sometimes occurs with flip-lock mechanisms.
To give the tripod more support, there’s a removable mid-level spreader that improves stability as well as removable rubber feet with spikes underneath, which are perfect for uneven or slippery terrain.
At around nine pounds, this tripod is lightweight enough to easily carry from one location to the next, too.
This tripod has been a durable, reliable rig addition to my kit and has proven its worth whether I’m filming in the studio, in the city, in the country, and points in between. And at $200, it’s well-priced!
Learn more about the E-Image EK650 Professional Video Tripod
Top Mirrorless Camera Accessories: HEX Ranger Sling Bag
Okay, okay, the HEX Ranger Sling Bag is marketed as a DSLR bag, but this thing is so versatile and so well put together that it can certainly be used to carry mirrorless gear like my Nikon Z7.
What makes this a great mirrorless bag is that it is designed with the utmost attention to detail and use of space.
Where other sling bags are on the bulky side and often don’t fit you all that well, the HEX Ranger fits snugly (but not too snugly!) and stays in place on your bag as you maneuver around.
Shooting with a mirrorless camera is all about taking advantage of its small form factor and light weight, and this bag mirrors that.
It weighs just 1.3 pounds and measures 14.5"L x 7.25"W x 4.75"H. As you can see above, it hugs your body and is totally unobtrusive, yet easily accessible to get your gear.
Speaking of access, this bag has a large top opening to access your gear and tons of pockets for storing your phone, glasses, keys, tablet, memory cards and other items.
This bag is made of premium, water-resistant Cordura and has genuine YKK zippers with custom metal pulls that offer superior durability and performance.
Inside, the fold-out bottom panel allows the bag to be folded flat for packing while the fleece-lined main compartment offers configurable and removable partitions to keep your gear safe and sound.
HEX simply thought of everything when they designed this bag. And since it can hold eight liters of gear, you can bring your mirrorless camera, a couple of lenses, a tablet, and other accessories, no problem!
Learn more about the HEX Ranger Sling Bag
Top Mirrorless Camera Accessories: Camera Canopy
Try as you might to predict the weather and rely on the weather forecast, at some point you’re going to be out shooting and find yourself in a rain storm that wasn’t expected.
More to the point, there are many occasions when you might want to go out shooting, only to find that the weather is rainy and dreary. That shouldn’t stop you from going out to take photos, though.
A while back, I picked up a Camera Canopy for my Nikon Z7, and it has been a great addition to my kit for those days when the rain just won’t go away.
What’s so clever about the Camera Canopy is that it attaches to the hot-shoe mount of the camera and covers both the camera body and lens from above.
That means that you have unencumbered access to the camera’s buttons and LCD, which is certainly not the case when you use a typical bag-like rain cover.
What’s more, since the Camera Canopy extends beyond the end of the lens, it protects the lens glass from moisture so you can shoot during a downpour without worrying that water droplets are going to interfere with the shot.
If you’re a landscape photographer with a mirrorless camera, Camera Canopy is a must-have for your kit!
Learn more about the Camera Canopy for Mirrorless Cameras
Top Mirrorless Camera Accessories: Litra Torch LitraPro
No matter if you’re taking still photos, videos, working in the studio, or working in the field, having a solid light source is a must.
But what you don’t want is to lug around big, heavy lighting gear, which is why the Litra Torch LitraPro is my go-to light.
Measuring just 2.8 x 2 x 1.2" and weighing 6 ounces, this little light is ultra-portable and won’t take up hardly any space in your camera bag (that’s it on top of my Sony a6400 below).
But don’t think that because it fits in the palm of your hand that it doesn’t pack a mighty punch…
With 60 LEDs that can pump out 1200 lumens of brightness, this little light punches above its weight class.
Not only that, but the LitraPro is a full-spectrum bi-color light so you can adjust the color temperature (from 3000-6000K) to suit the specific shooting situation.
It puts out good quality light, too, with a CRI of 95.
On top of all that, this light has a 10-hour rechargeable battery, multiple mounting points, Bluetooth, and is waterproof up to 90 feet.
In other words, it’s a go-anywhere, do-anything light!
Learn more about the Litra Torch LitraPro
Top Mirrorless Camera Accessories: Batteries and Battery Chargers
Mirrorless cameras don’t offer the same battery performance as their DSLR cousins, so it’s important to have extra juice on your outings.
For all three of my mirrorless cameras, I have three spare batteries, all of which are fully charged the night before a shoot.
Likewise, a dual battery charger enables faster charging, that way they’re ready to roll for the next day.
Though batteries and chargers aren’t as sexy as the items outlined earlier, they’re still a necessity!