These aren’t listed in any particular order and I don’t think in any order of importance either although if you were to push me for an answer I would place a tripod as my number one accessory. It will also depend on what type of photography you are pursuing as to which one will be number one to you. They are, however, accessories that I would list as essential to a photographer’s gear bag.

1. A tripod

If you don’t already have a tripod then get yourself one. Buy the most expensive one you can afford. A good solid tripod is essential to the kit of a photographer. There are many occasions when light conditions aren’t great and the extra stability helps you create crisp, sharp images. Just a little camera shake will cause blurring to some degree in the final photo. A tripod is especially useful when shooting close-ups of flowers and small creatures and will help you to have complete control of your images.

2. Remote shutter release

This is coupled with the tripod and is essential when avoiding camera shake. Even when your camera is mounted on the tripod, the simplest action like pushing the shutter button can still cause camera shake and prevent you from taking the sharpest images. It works very simply either connected by a cable to the camera or using an infrared connection to activate the shutter.

3. A good circular polarising filter

A polarising filter cuts down glare and reflections off shiny surfaces. Those of you who have ever owned or used a pair of polaroid sunglasses will know the effect that it has on shiny and reflective surfaces. This includes shiny foliage as well. When using polaroid sunglasses while looking at water you are able to see below the surface if the water is clear. The sky becomes bluer and the green vegetation greener.

If you are a landscape photographer you will really benefit from a polariser. I consider this essential. One tip though is that you should always use one that has an equivalent or higher quality of your lens. There is no point in putting bad glass in front of quality glass.

Remember that these are my three top choices of accessories in no particular order. You need to choose which ones will serve your particular needs the best. I use all three equally but maybe if my photography changed slightly I would add another one or two to my list. Happy shooting!

You’ve spent your hard earned money on your first digital camera or perhaps your first digital SLR and you want to do more than just take photos on automatic. Do you start reading your manual, should you take a course or perhaps buy some digital photography books? The big question is where and how do you get started? I have some great digital photography tips to help you on the road to becoming a real photographer.

Just because you aren’t going down the route of professional photography it doesn’t mean that you can’t take top photos like the pros. Any new piece of technology can be quite daunting to the newbie or amateur, but, not worry as there are a few simple steps that will get you going.

1. Get the feel of your camera

Before you open the manual or read any quick start guides play with the camera. Make sure that it is on automatic and shoot some photos. Get the feel of the camera. How the shutter button feels and how the camera sits in your hand. It’s going to be your photography companion for a while. Most of all get to know the various buttons, NOT what they mean or what their functions are, but where they are situated. Carefully press any buttons and see what happens. The reason you want to familiarise yourself with the camera is that when you read the manual and it refers to a button with a star and moon you will know where it is. Once you know where all the buttons are you will be able to follow the manual.

2. Read your manual

What you need to do is take a highlighter pen and start at the beginning of the manual and highlight all the section or chapter headings that you know and are competent with. Once you’ve done this you can start working through all the un-highlighted sections in order to understand the features or settings mentioned in those chapters. If it gets too technical go on to the next section and once you are familiar with that part of your camera highlight the section in the manual. When you have finished this exercise you will know what you need to get help with or read up about.

3. Experiment

This is a logical exercise as you need to start at the beginning of the manual and try the different settings and work out how they affect the final image. Take for example white balance. This has no meaning to a non-photographer as it is something unique to digital and needs to be mastered. Shoot an image then change the various white balance settings and see what happens. Try this on all the different features on your camera. What you want achieve is an understanding of all the buttons, menus and knobs on the camera. Only then will you get creative with your compositions and final images.  By understanding your camera’s controls you will understand what effect they will have on your compositions.

Unless an artist or a workman has an intimate knowledge of the tools of their trade they will never rise to a level of competence necessary to be skilled at what they do. You need to get to a level of being able to change settings with your eye glued to the viewfinder of your camera. Operate it in the dark. This may seem weird but photography is all about capturing a moment in a sliver of time and sometimes there just isn’t the time to think before changing a setting. It may seem a big task at first getting to know your camera, but as you learn digital photography it will form the foundation of all great images in your future. Practise makes perfect as the old adage goes so take the time and make the effort to practise. Happy shooting!

Let’s get down to the bottom line. We have had enough of this debate and need to look at the reasons. I suppose it’s like whether a BMW is better than a Mercedes or a Lexus is better than an Audi. There will never be a definitive answer for as long as both manufacturers perpetuate the race. Some photographic forums have now banned any discussion around this debate. So why does the debate continue? Is it for the sake of debating or are there factors that need to be taken into consideration.

The following criteria will help you make a decision about which camera is best for you.

1. Personal preference

This is an important one. I admit to being a Canon user because the first camera my Dad gave me was a Canon. I fell in love with it and it became my companion. So I like Canon. I like the way it looks and I like the way it feels to hold. It’s just my personal choice and feeling about the camera when looking at it. Nothing else. The Nikon may be a better camera for all I care but Canon is the one for me. Plain and simple.

2. The Purpose

For what purpose are you going to be using your camera? The reason I include this as one of the criteria is you need to know what the predominant purpose will be be. Both camera manufacturers have a huge range of digital slrs and within those ranges some are better than others for particular purposes. And, that is just within their own brand. So when looking at both brands some will be better for particular purposes. For example you may need a camera that has a fast frame per second rate and writes fast to memory card. Within a particular bracket Nikon might be better in this area than Canon so Nikon would be the one to choose.

3. The Price Range

This is linked to the previous criterion. Within a particular price bracket the one camera may have more of the features you require. So with this price constraint in mind you may need to go for the cheaper range in order to get these features. So perhaps in this price range the better of the two cameras might be Canon.

4. The Conditions of Use

This is a very important one. If you are a traveller you may find that the Nikon in the range you are looking at is more rugged than the equivalent Canon although the Canon has some better features. You would choose Nikon rather Canon because it is more suited to travel. Other factors like dust and moisture seals and will determine which you choose based on the camera that has these features, if you will be using the camera in a more humid or dusty environment.

I don’t think the aim of any manufacturer is to build the perfect digital camera for all situations and conditions. I personally feel it would be impossible probably due to the costs involved. It boils down to the issue of personal choice which usually helps the camera manufacturer make more money. Better to sell two cameras that cover all the needs of a photographer than one.

My advice to anyone needing to make a decision about purchasing a Nikon or a Canon digital camera, is to look at all of these criteria and make a decision for your particular photographic needs. The brand of camera should be the last thing you take into consideration. If you do, you will quite likely find yourself limiting your choice based on preconceived ideas.

This may sound a little different to the average recommendation and definitely won’t make the camera sales assistant happy. They’ll always try to sell the camera with the most features at the highest possible price you can afford, or, maybe can’t afford. It’s economics to them. Very few sales people will sell you what you need. And most first time buyers don’t really know what they need.

So here’s the bottom line. As a beginner you have no idea which camera you need or what features you require beyond the basics. Should you get a compact, a prosumer or an SLR? Should it be an entry level SLR, a semi-pro or a full on professional camera? All these questions can be answered but mostly not when you are buying your first camera.

Here’s the simple answer. The camera you need to buy is the one that is going to allow you to take photos without spending a lot of money. A simple entry level camera that can take photos is the only requirement.  You emphasis should be on learning photography.

At this stage of a beginner’s photography journey you are not going to know what you need and what features you require. You are going to learn photography by experimenting and trying out the ideas you may have. Only once you have an understanding of the fundamentals of photography, a knowledge of your particular camera and an idea of what type of photography you like, will you be able to make an informed decision.

You may want to continue just taking snapshots of family occasions and the odd action photo at the kids school. On the other hand you might be so inspired that you want to immediately buy a mid-range DSLR and work towards becoming a professional photographer. Spending a lot of money on your initial purpose which may not suit your needs is not advised. That money should be spent on the camera that is right for your particular needs.

Here are three questions to ask yourself when looking to make that initial purchase.

1. How serious am I about photography?

If this is a whim or passing fancy acknowledge it, and spend your money accordingly. If you have dreamed about this time all your life and really want to get serious about your photography then spend according to your budget. Don’t spend more than you need to and wait until you understand what your future requirements will be.

2. What do I want to achieve from my photography?

Do you want to enjoy it as a hobby, gain enough ability to sell your images to finance your hobby or do you want to become a professional photographer? Knowing this will enable you to head in the right direction and help you make your final camera decision.

3. How much money am I prepared to waste if photography is not for me?

I have said this before but it is important enough to repeat. Knowing your financial limits will help determine what you entry level purchase will be. Don’t spend more than you can afford to waste. It may put you off photography for life.

What you need to understand is that you must not be pushed into making a decision on any digital camera. Take you time and don’t spend more than you can afford . Concentrate on taking photos with your first camera and get to know your needs in order to make the best possible purchase on your second camera. Photography should be fun and never a financial burden.

The 18 megapixel sensor is a step up from the 500D’s 15 megapixel system although to really notice the difference the increase you need a full 50% size increase. It’s significantly increased movie mode will also make it a hard competitor to beat. Although it replaces the 500D, the 500D will continue to be sold for the rest of 2010, most likely at a more attractive pricing structure.

Let’s take a look at some of the improvements and additional features Canon has added over the current 500D offering.

1. 18 megapixel sensor

This is a great improvement and takes it to the leader in it’s class. Although megapixels are not critical to great images it still is a great feature to have. How it handles those extra pixels is what counts. The sensor is similar to the 7D’s but not the same while using the same vibration technology to get rid of dust.

2. LCD screen

This is the first Canon camera to have a genuine 3:2 ratio screen which displays exactly what you see on the sensor. There is no cropping reflected on the screen. This is not the crop factor we are talking about, just the size displayed on the LCD. They haven’t increased the size of the screen but have upgraded the resolution which gives you increased clarity and a better ability to check your images while shooting.

3. iFCL metering system

This is another great improvement by Canon over the 500D, a real advance in the use of technology in metering systems. It features the new 63 zone system which continually analyses colour, luminance and focus simultaneously. This provides far more accurate and consistent metering and was up till now found in the more expensive cameras such as the 7D.

4. ISO

Graininess is kept to a minimum by the Digic Four processor but the 550D offers the standard ISO 6400 expandable up to 12800. This increase allows photography in low light situations where flash is not permitted.

5. HD Video

You now have full control over frame rate and the ability to capture fast moving subjects by manually adjusting settings. There are a number of improvements when shooting at 1080p and 720p. Again the choice of frame rates increases the desirability of this camera over its competitors.

I’ll be taking a serious look at this camera. It has the same look a feel as the 500D as Canon does not make major cosmetic changes very easily. All the controls are basically in the same places and by upgrading you don’t need to learn a whole new series of positions.

These are just some of the improvements over the 500D giving you an upgrade worth while. Making the decision to go from 500D to 550D would be a personal one and whether it’s worth it to you paying for these additions, I’ll leave that to you. Overall it’s a great little camera and a leader in its class. However, before making the change, check out the review sites and see if the features are what you are prepared to pay more money for.