Camera Accessories

A small topic is camera accessories. There's a lot available. But you don't really need a lot of it. Some things are just sexy or simply trendy right now.

    Like the ThumbGrip, for example. At first, I just thought, "Wow, that looks professional," when I saw the first photographer using one. A little later, I had my first ThumbGrip on my X-T2 and my current backup camera, the X-Pro 2. And the ThumbGrip actually does make sense. You simply have a better grip. Do you need it? Not with Fujis. Maybe more so with a Leica M. But overall, you don't really need a ThumbGrip.

    What you should definitely have, though, are simple filters. They don't have to be color filters. Initially, for me, it was about protecting the lens with, for example, a UV filter. Especially in street photography or when it's windy. Protecting the glass is never a bad idea. Today, I use red filters in black and white photography for general reasons. Skies look much more dynamic this way. You can save yourself the post-processing, the image editing. After all, you can't get everything out in post-processing.

    I consider the "black dot" particularly important, especially in cities like Berlin. People carrying a color sensor Leica should cover the red dot. Yes, you want people to know you have a Leica. I understand that. But you don't need to signal to people from 100 meters away that you could be a potential victim of a crime.

    Regarding straps and loops, I can only say that you should definitely use them. It's not just that a DSLR like the Canon 5D can quickly become very heavy. For me, the main point is that it prevents someone from snatching the camera out of your hand. Especially important in big cities.

    Another form of protection is lens caps. Again, you should use them. Unless you have a lens hood on the lens, the glass is vulnerable without a filter.

    And that brings us to lens hoods. Like the thumb grip, the lens hood is also a fashion statement. But it also offers many practical benefits. It blocks sunlight. You get better contrast, among other things. It physically protects the lens. Sometimes you really don't notice that you're bumping into something when you're working through the EVF adjusting the bokeh/composition.

    One thing I almost forgot is the loops and attachments. Peak Design immediately comes to mind, and rightly so. Whether for a neck strap or a wrist strap, a secure hold is extremely important.

    Generally speaking, many things are fashion statements. But many things also provide protection. As always, it's about "what brings you personal joy in photography."

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