Accessories for the Field

You’ve got your camera and tripod, but hold on—there area few additional items you might want to carry with you on your shooting expeditions. We asked several professional photographers what accessories they don’t leave home without.

When it comes to scanning for birds, binoculars are a far better tool than your camera. Celestron’s Nature DX 8x32 binoculars ($120; celestron.com) offer considerable quality for a budget-friendly price, feel good in the hand, and produce sharp images; for more binoculars, see our complete 2016 guide.

Weather can change quickly, so make sure you have a rain cover for your camera and lens. Brands like AquaTech and LensCoat make covers designed especially for your gear, but a garbage bag or shower cap works just fine in a pinch. Shown here: AquaTech All Weather Shield ($100; aquatech.net).

Balancing your camera on a lumpy log is a cinch—just plop it atop a beanbag. Several companies, including The Pod (starting at $22; thepod.ca), Kinesis (starting at $23; kgear.com) and LensCoat (starting at $28; lenscoat.com), make cushions specifically for photographers. For a more budget-friendly option, simply pick up toy beanbags.

Sometimes the shooting goes so well that you lose track of time. Carry a flashlight or headlamp to make sure you don’t have to stumble back to the car in the dark.

With an 80-lumen beam that extends 150 feet, and leaves your hands free, Petzl’s Tikka headlamp ($40; petzl.com) is a classic. If you’re more of a flashlight person, check out the bright, lightweight, durable torches made by Fenix (fenixtactical.com), Brightex (brightexlabs.com), or Maglite (maglite.com). 

A multi-tool means you’ll never have to worry about cutting a branch, tightening a screw, or fixing something on the fly in the field. We’re partial to the Leatherman Wingman ($40; leatherman.com), a pocket-sized stainless steel tool with spring-action jaws, and the small but mighty Swiss Army Climber ($30; swissarmy.com), which comes fully loaded: two blades, scissors, toothpick, and more.

A hat is indispensible when you’re out in the sun for hours on end. Many professional photographers swear by hats that provide full coverage, including the back of the neck, like Patagonia’s Vented Spoonbill cap ($31; patagonia.com). If full-coverage hats aren’t your thing, consider carrying a buff that can be worn as a scarf, bandana, and facemask, such as L.L. Bean’s High UV Buff® Headwear ($23; llbean.com).

Need to clean off your lens? Don’t use your shirt. Instead, carry a retractable LensPen ($15; lenspen.com) or a microfiber cloth (starting around $5; bhphotovideo.com).

A squeeze air blower is handy for removing dust from sensitive or hart-to-reach places on your lens or camera. The large Giotto Rocket Blaster ($17; giottosusa.com/rocket-blasters) is a favorite among professionals.

Organize cords. Store extra memory cards and zip-ties. Prevent your bug spray and sunscreen from leaking all over your gear. The Ziploc Slider Freezer Bag (ziploc.com) may just be the world’s most versatile field accessory.

Shooting can take a lot out of you. Make sure you carry high-energy snacks, such as Clif Bars (clifbar.com) or LaraBars (larabar.com), and plenty of water.