What’s the one thing all photographers are guilty of?
Gear lust!
It seems that no matter how much gear we acquire, there’s always something else that we MUST have.
I’m certainly guilty of this, and I’m willing to bet you are too.
But, I’d like to argue that aside from the essentials like a camera body, a few great lenses, an excellent tripod, and some killer filters, there’s not much that the typical photographer absolutely must have in their kit.
That being said, there are plenty of awesome gadgets and gizmos that make photography easier, more fun, or both.
I’ve found a few such gadgets that, if you ask me, should be on your list of must-haves.
Let’s check them out!
Pulse by Alpine Labs
I’ve written about pulse in the past. As I said then, it’s a fantastic product that makes creating stunning timelapse videos a veritable breeze to make.
It’s one of my favorite gadgets, hands down.
But to characterize Pulse as just for timelapses is selling this little guy short.
It’s a feature-packed remote that facilitates shooting traditional videos, still photos, heck, even selfies!
What makes it so innovative is that Pulse is controlled wirelessly from your phone from up to 100 feet away.
And when I say “control,” I don’t just mean firing the shutter.
You can take charge of everything from ISO to aperture, shutter speed to the timer. You can also control up to three cameras!
Better still, Pulse doesn’t have to always be connected to your phone. Once you’ve dialed in the settings, you can take off, and Pulse will do the rest. Watch the video above to see just what can be done with this awesome gadget.
Pulse even turns your phone into a live view monitor. Check the histogram for every shot you take and see thumbnail previews of images too.
All that in a hot-shoe mounted gizmo that weighs just 1.5 ounces and is priced under $100!
Whether you’re just starting out in photography or you do this for a living, Pulse is something you definitely need in your kit.
LockCircle Camera Body Cap
If I had to name one thing I like the least about photography, I’d put cleaning my gear at the top of the list.
It’s just such a drag, and even though I know it needs to be done, I find myself putting it off and off until I break down and finally do it.
But I found a way to keep my sensor cleaner for longer…
The LockCircle camera body cap is unlike any other body cap you might find.
This bad boy is made of billet aluminum, so you’re sure it stands up to the bumps and bruises it might encounter as you work.
The tight seal the LockCircle creates helps prevent dust from getting into the camera body, and it can’t be removed unless you press the lens release button on your camera.
That means it stays in place, safely and securely, which means fewer cleaning sessions! Anything that allows me to shoot more often and spend less time cleaning my camera is a must-have item in my opinion.
Like Pulse, LockCircle is easy on the pocketbook. Pick one up for Canon EF mount cameras and Nikon F mount cameras for under $80.
GearEye Gear Management System
As your collection of gear grows, it can be hard to keep track of where everything is.
Not anymore.
As you can see in the video above, the GearEye Gear Management System helps you keep your gear organized and tracked, that way you’re never left wondering where your second camera body or nifty fifty lens is at.
All you have to do is place an RFID GearTag on your gear and GearEye will track it for you.
Access GearEye with the accompanying smartphone app and you can account for everything that’s been tagged, all with one tap of the phone’s screen.
This is especially handy for photographers that have gear for specific purposes. For example, if you currently need your landscape gear in your bag, GearEye will let you know if something that should be there isn’t.
Not only that, GearEye will help you locate the missing gear if it’s in range. That’s a lifesaver if I’ve ever seen one!
Once it’s released (check the Kickstarter page), it’ll only be about $200 for the standard package.
So for less than $400, you can get three of the hottest, coolest, and most functional photography gadgets currently available. In the photography world, $400 isn’t much money at all!
And the best part?
These gadgets aren’t just something to have for fun. Each one helps address a different need that will help you create better photos.