Planning a trip abroad? Check out these 12 essential photography accessories for holidays and travelling
Packing all of your photography accessories for your trip can be a mammoth task. Working out what to pack and what to leave is hard enough, let alone ensuring you fit within the luggage weight allowance. We’ve narrowed down 12 of the most essential items to pack, to ensure you get the most from your trip.
1. Ansmann Powerline Vario 1 Charger for All
Perfect for charging Li-ion battery packs, the Ansmann Powerline Vario 1 Charger for All is compact and lightweight, making it ideal for travel. It also comes with a micro USB charging cable, USB power adapter and a USB car adapter, and has several safety features including short circuit protection. Charging starts automatically as soon as you get it connected – just plug in and go.
Click here to buy the Ansmann Powerline Vario 1 Charger for All
2. GoPro Hero 5 Black
GoPro is the market leader of action cameras, and its HERO 5 model packs in plenty of technology to prove just why this is the case. Not only does it offer 4K video and the option of capturing slow-motion footage, but you can also use it to capture 12MP stills too. It’s all packed inside a waterproof casing that lets you go up to 10m underwater without a housing, and it features an LCD on its back so you can view your creations.
Click here to buy the GoPro Hero 5 Black
3. Delkin Secure Digital Water-Resistant Tote
A smart photographer travels with a number of smaller cards rather than a single capacious one, and this water-resistant tote from Delkin is the perfect housing for them. It holds up to eight SD, SDHC or SDXC memory cards and is both shock- and crush-proof to prevent any accidental damage.
Click here to buy the Delkin Secure Digital Water Resistant Tote
4. Lensbaby LM-10 Sweet Spot Lens
A new environment is an ideal opportunity to try out something different with your images, and the LM-10 will help you do just that. Just fit it to you iPhone or Android phone and turn it around until you get the desired effect. Great for those days when you don’t necessarily want to venture out with all of your kit.
Click here to buy the Lensbaby Sweet Spot
5. Manfrotto XPRO A3 Monopod + 234RC Tilthead Kit
Capable of supporting loads of up to 2.5kg, the Manfrotto XPRO A3 Monopod with 234RC Tilthead allows the camera to easily be turned 90°, allowing the user to switch between landscape and portrait orientations with ease. It also features a safety locking system, ensuring its sections stay in place when you need them to.
Click here to buy the Manfrotto XPRO A3 Monopod + 234RC Tilthead Kit
6. LaCie 1TB Rugged Mini Portable Hard Drive
Ideal for those capturing high-resolution images and 4K or HD-quality videos, this 1TB drive from Lacie boasts resistance against rain, shock, pressure and dropage to ensure your images and videos remain safe while you’re on the road. While the USB 3.0 interface ensures speedy transfer rates, backwards compatibility with the USB 2.0 protocol means it can be used with older computers too, and you can even set your own password to prevent any unauthorised access to your files.
Click here to buy the LaCie 1TB Rugged Mini Portable Hard Drive
7. Hoya Pro1 Digital Circular Polariser
Polarisers are one of the best travel accessories you can buy, given how useful they are compared to their light weight and small size. They help to deepen blue skies and make clouds stand out, and also cut down reflections when shooting water or through windows. This model from Hoya can be bought in 52-82mm diameters, with its low-profile frame helping to prevent vignetting and multi-coatings to ensure excellent light transmission.
Click here to buy the Hoya Pro1 Digital Circular Polariser
8. Tamron 16-300mm f3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD Macro lens
Perhaps one of the most versatile lenses currently available, this optic has been designed specifically for Canon, Nikon and Sony cameras with APS-C-sized sensors, with a staggering focal range equivalent to around 25-465mm in 35mm terms (depending on the specific camera used). As such, it can be used for everything from cityscapes from vantage points, street scenes, wildlife and even portraits, while Vibration Compensation technology ensures sharp images at even longer focal lengths.
Click here to buy the Tamron 16-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD Macro lens
9. Manfrotto Befree One Travel Tripod
Manfrotto's Befree One is an ideal travel tripod, portable and ready to be taken anywhere. It extends to a maximum height of 130cm and can hold a payload of up to 2.5kg. Camera support is invaluable for long exposures and night shots – a small, portable tripod will ensure you don't miss out.
Click here to buy the Manfrotto Befree One Travel Tripod
10. Peak Design Everyday Messenger 15
A discreet camera bag that doesn't look like a camera bag, the Everday Messenger is perfect for keeping your gear safe and innocuous. Capable of holding a full-frame DSLR plus three lenses, it features a weather-resistant shell which
Click here to buy the Peak Design Everyday Messenger 15
11. Visible Dust Hurricane Blower
It’s all too easy for your kit to pick up dust when being used on a daily basis, but this Hurricane blower from Visible Dust is one of the best and easiest ways of dealing with it. As a non-contact method of cleaning dust, you don’t need to worry about damaging the delicate parts of your camera or lens (so long as you’re using it correctly, of course). The large chamber and elongated tip allow you to apply a powerful blast of air to your sensor or lens, or even more awkward-to-clean areas such as around the viewfinder.
Click here to buy the Visible Dust Hurricane Blower
12. Black Rapid Sport Breathe
A cross-body strap for active photographers, the Black Rapid Sport Breathe boasts a large shoulder pad with moisture-wicking nylon mono mesh, curved TPE foam, and poly air mesh for optimal comfort. With the integrated underarm Brad Stabilising Strap ensuring that things don't get twisted, you can rest assured that your hold on your camera is secure throughout your adventures.
Click here to buy the Black Rapid Sport Breathe
