GearFrame Guides
The complete camera
accessory guide
Everything beyond the camera body — the gear that protects, powers, and elevates your photography. From memory cards to cleaning kits, we break down what actually matters.
Storage
Memory cards
The most overlooked piece of kit. A slow card can bottleneck a fast camera — causing buffer jams mid-burst or slow video writes. Understanding card specs saves frustration in the field.
| Format | Best for | Max speed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| SD / SDHC | Entry & mid-range cameras | ~300 MB/s (UHS-II) | Most common format; UHS-II requires a compatible slot |
| CFexpress Type B | Pro mirrorless & DSLRs | ~1,700 MB/s | Essential for 4K/8K video; high-speed burst shooting |
| CFexpress Type A | Sony Alpha bodies | ~800 MB/s | Smaller than Type B; Sony-specific ecosystem |
| XQD | Older Nikon pro bodies | ~440 MB/s | Being phased out; CFexpress Type B is backward compatible on some bodies |
| microSD | Action cams, drones | ~200 MB/s (A2) | Look for V30 or V60 video speed class rating |
Video recording
V30 minimum
V30 (30 MB/s sustained write) for 4K. V60 or V90 for higher bitrates or 8K.
Burst photography
UHS-II or CFexpress
High sequential write speeds keep the buffer clearing quickly between bursts.
Casual / travel
UHS-I Class 10
Perfectly adequate for everyday stills and 1080p video.
Carry & protect
Camera bags & straps
How you carry your camera matters as much as how you shoot. The right bag protects your investment and keeps gear accessible. The right strap keeps you shooting comfortably for hours.
Backpack
Best for travel & hikes
Weight distributed evenly. Look for padded dividers, weather resistance, and a tripod attachment.
Shoulder / messenger
Best for street & day trips
Quick access without removing the bag. Ideal for one body + 2–3 lenses.
Rolling case
Best for studio & travel
Maximum protection for heavy kits. TSA-approved locks a must for air travel.
Sling bag
Best for minimal kits
One-shoulder carry, fast swing-to-front access. Great for mirrorless with a compact lens.
Straps make a surprising difference over a long day of shooting.
Neck strap
Included with most cameras
Works but causes neck strain on heavier bodies. Upgrade if you shoot for more than a couple of hours at a time.
Peak Design clip system
Industry standard upgrade
Anchor links replace the standard lug attachment. Attach and detach the strap in seconds.
Wrist strap
Compact carry
Keeps the camera secure without a neck strap. Best for mirrorless and smaller bodies.
Optics
Filters (ND, CPL & more)
Unlike most post-processing effects, certain optical filters cannot be replicated in editing — they affect the physics of light entering the lens. These are the ones worth investing in.
| Filter type | What it does | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| CPL (Circular Polariser) | Cuts reflections, deepens blue skies, boosts colour saturation | Landscapes, architecture, water — irreplaceable in editing |
| ND (Neutral Density) | Reduces light entering the lens — allows slower shutter in bright conditions | Silky waterfalls, long-exposure cityscapes, daytime video with shallow depth of field |
| Variable ND | Adjustable ND from ~2 to 10 stops in one filter | Run-and-gun video; avoids carrying multiple ND filters |
| UV / Protective | Minimal optical effect; protects the front element | Useful mainly for dust and scratch protection in harsh environments |
| Graduated ND | Dark on one half, clear on the other — balances bright sky with foreground | Landscape photography; square filter systems most flexible |
Thread size tip
Buy for your widest lens
Use step-up rings to fit larger filters onto smaller lenses. Cheaper than buying multiple sizes.
ND stops guide
3-stop, 6-stop, 10-stop
3-stop for subtle slow shutter. 6-stop for motion blur. 10-stop for silky water or extreme long exposures.
Support
Tripods & supports
A quality tripod is one of the best investments in your kit — and one of the most carried-once-then-left-at-home accessories if you buy the wrong one. Weight, height, and head type all matter.
Material
Carbon fibre vs aluminium
Carbon fibre: lighter, better vibration damping, significantly more expensive. Aluminium: heavier but much more affordable — a solid choice for most photographers.
Head type
Ball head or pan-tilt
Ball head: fast repositioning, compact. Pan-tilt: more precise control for video and architectural work. Many tripods are sold body-only — budget for a quality head separately.
Load capacity
Always buy above your kit weight
A tripod rated to exactly your camera+lens weight won't hold steady. Aim for at least 1.5–2× your heaviest combination.
- Travel tripods fold under 40cm — essential for carry-on air travel
- Mini tripods (e.g. Joby GorillaPod) are great for vlogging and impromptu setups
- Quick-release plates — Arca-Swiss is the universal standard; avoid proprietary systems
- Fluid video heads are essential for smooth panning in video work
- Twist locks vs flip locks — personal preference, but flip locks are faster in cold gloves
- Spiked feet and rubber feet covers — spikes for outdoor surfaces, rubber for indoors
Maintenance
Cleaning kits
Dust on your sensor shows up as dark spots in smooth areas like sky. Front element grime softens contrast. Regular, careful cleaning is the cheapest maintenance you can do for your image quality.
| Tool | Cleans | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rocket blower | Sensor, lens elements, mirrorbox | First step always — dislodges loose dust without touching anything |
| Lens cleaning solution + microfibre | Front and rear lens elements | Use circular motions from centre outward; never on coated sensors |
| Sensor swabs | Camera sensor | Single-use. Match swab size to your sensor (APS-C or full-frame). Wet type for stubborn spots. |
| Lens pens | Lens elements, LCD screens | Dual-ended: brush on one side, carbon-based tip on the other. Quick and effective. |
| Cleaning tissues / Pec-Pads | Lens elements | Lint-free. Safer than microfibre for coatings if used correctly. |
Light shaping
Flash & lighting
Available light is great — until it isn't. Understanding flash opens up indoor events, portraits, and creative control that ambient light alone can't give you.
Speedlight (hotshoe flash)
Most versatile starting point
Mounts on the camera hotshoe. Portable, battery-powered, TTL metering. Great for events and run-and-gun portraits.
Studio strobe
Portrait & product work
Mains or battery-powered. Far more power than a speedlight. Pairs with softboxes and modifiers for controlled light.
Constant LED panel
Video & hybrid shooters
Always-on light — you see the effect live. Great for video interviews, product photography, and YouTube content.
Ring light
Portraits & macro
Even, shadowless frontal light with a distinctive catchlight. Popular for beauty, macro, and social content.
- TTL metering handles flash exposure automatically — ideal for event shooting
- HSS (High Speed Sync) lets you sync flash above the native sync speed for outdoor portraits
- Wireless triggers give you off-camera flash — transforms portrait lighting dramatically
- Light modifiers: softboxes, umbrellas, and grids shape and soften flash output
Power
Batteries & chargers
Running out of power mid-shoot is one of the most avoidable problems in photography. A solid battery strategy costs little but saves a lot.
Spare batteries
Always carry 2+ spares
Cold weather, video recording, and frequent chimping all drain batteries faster. Two spares is a minimum for any paid work.
OEM vs third-party
OEM for reliability
Genuine manufacturer batteries are more expensive but consistent. Reputable third-party brands (Patona, Hähnel) offer good alternatives. Avoid unknown brands.
Dual charger
Charge two at once
Cuts overnight charging time in half. Some support USB-C for use as a travel power bank.
USB-C charging
Most modern cameras
Many recent cameras charge via USB-C in-body — one fewer adapter to carry. Verify power delivery requirements (typically 9V/2A for fast charge).
Optics
Lens hoods & caps
Unglamorous but genuinely important. Lens hoods reduce flare and protect the front element. Caps keep dust and scratches off glass when you're not shooting.
Petal (tulip) hood
Zoom lenses
Scalloped shape is optimised for zoom lenses' wider field of view — cuts vignetting at the wide end while still blocking stray light.
Cylindrical hood
Prime lenses
Straight barrel design works for the fixed field of view of prime lenses. Generally longer and more effective at blocking light.
Collapsible rubber hood
Compact & travel
Flexible, folds flat, fits in a pocket. Less effective optically but practical for travel kits where space matters.
- Always keep a rear cap on unmounted lenses — the rear element is unprotected without it
- Body caps seal the sensor chamber when no lens is attached — don't leave them off
- Pinch-type front caps are easier to attach and remove than the push-in style
- Keep a replacement front cap in your bag — they're the most frequently dropped item in photography