You don't have to be a National Geographic photographer to take your digital camera on the road. Whether you're embarking on a week-long vacation, a weekend getaway, or even just a day trip, you might want to bring your digital camera with you for better photos than you can snap with your phone alone. But what accessories do you need to take the best photos and to keep them safe? I've rounded up a collection of gear designed for traveling photographers. You won't need to bring everything on this list unless you really are a Nat Geo pro, but you can use the list to find all the essentials that work for you.
Put it in a proper bag: How do you carry your digital camera? If you're still stuffing it into a backpack designed for schoolbooks or not using a protective bag at all, consider upgrading. No bag is perfect for all setups, which is why you'll find roughly a million of them for sale in camera shops and online; but you can narrow the field by looking for a case style that best suits your lifestyle and equipment (a backpack versus a messenger bag, for example). Look for a bah with a healthy amount of padding and with separate compartments for lenses and other accessories you want to carry. Some camera bags have room for electronics like an iPad or laptop, as well. For additional pointers, check out TechHive's camera bag roundup.
Keep the rain away: When you take your camera outside, you may face a risk of rain—and with rare exceptions, cameras aren't designed to thrive in wet environments. At a minimum, to avoid damage to your camera and lenses from unexpected showers, grab a disposable rain cover like the Op/Tech USA Rainsleeve (two for $7)—you can even use it to take smartphone photos in the rain. For heavier-duty options, consult TechHive's rain cover roundup.
Carry spares: The longer you're away from home, the likelier you are to run out of something useful, like battery power or snacks. It's a great idea to equip yourself with two fully charged batteries when you hit the road—one in your camera and a spare in your camera bag—plus a charger if you're going to be away for more than a day. And since memory cards are crazy cheap these days, it makes sense to carry two or more such cards. Don't rely on a single card, no matter how big it is, because if you do and it fails, you're out of business.
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