Camera Buying Tips - Don't Forget the Accessories

If you are going to be purchasing a camera here are a few tips concerning accessories. The advertised price of the digital camera you are yearning for may be amazing low, but don’t forget to leave room in your budget for the extras.
Back in the days of point and shoot film cameras all you really needed was film and batteries. But now it is different. Photography and computers are now interlinked so you should consider peripherals such as photo editing software, LCD screen shades, card readers, cables, printers and paper.
Batteries come in all shapes and sizes. Most digital cameras do not use the AA or AAA batteries. Instead a special rechargeable battery pack is required because a digital camera is a complicated device demanding plenty of power, especially if you are using the flash. To avoid missing a great photo opportunity because of a dead battery it is a good idea to purchase an extra battery. That way, you can shoot lots of pictures of Jimmy blowing out the candles on his birthday cake and opening his presents. Then when your battery power gets low you just replace it with your spare battery and keep shooting as the birthday boy continues with his cute antics. Meanwhile the first battery is placed in the charger and will be ready to go by the time you see the low battery warning again.
Film has now been replaced by memory cards but just as people used to run out of film, they now run out of memory. So when purchasing a new camera, make sure you get enough memory. The camera manufacturers often include a starter memory card which holds only a small volume. The day you leave the camera store you don’t necessarily need to have a stack of memory cards, but you should plan to have at least one memory card in addition to the one that ships with the camera. Perhaps in the coming months you may need to buy more memory cards. Memory is one rare item that despite recent economic downturns continues to drop in price.
You may or may not need to buy a memory card reader. Recently some laptops have a built-in card reader so if you have one of those you are all set. If your desktop computer or laptop doesn’t have a built-in card reader, you should purchase a memory card reader. The most convenient type are the ones that connect with a USB cable. Many of them can accept more than one type of card. Just be sure that the unit you end up choosing accepts the card that your camera uses.
Digital cameras are very sensitive to dust. So you should buy a camera case to protect your camera equipment not just when you are out shooting but also when it is stored away at home. Many people go for weeks or months without using their camera so don’t let a camera sit there and collect dust. A cleaning kit may be worth considering, too. A soft bristled brush or air blower can keep your lens free of dust and debris. There are lots of sensor cleaning products, too.
This time of year the stores are selling plenty of cameras and if you are going to be one of the many shoppers keep these tips in mind.