Let’s face it: traveling—whether it’s a leisurely visit to another country or an action-packed mountain trek—affords A LOT of photographic opportunities for your Instagram feed. But while phone photography might suffice for casual travelers, more adventurous types might need something more.
Enter the action camera. These small-but-powerful cameras definitely bring a new dimension of photography for those who love adventure. Check out these action camera accessories that you definitely should bring with you on your next trip.
Tripod
A tripod is a must-have for travel photographers, especially those who love taking landscape and long- and multiple-exposure photos and videos. Tripods can also come in handy when you want to dabble in taking photos of the sky, especially at night when the stars are out. You might even capture the Milky Way on a clear night when you go hiking.
Tripods will also help you maximize your camera’s time lapse function (group photos, anyone?). Check out brands made out of aluminum for sturdiness; if you have more money to spare, you can invest on carbon fiber models.
Monopod
The selfie stick is not just for selfies. The monopod comes in handy when you’re planning to use your action camera all day. Bloggers can also use a monopod for quick interviews, for example. This humble accessory can also help you take steadier, clearer 360 or panorama photos and videos. And of course, you can use it for the ubiquitous selfies for the “pics or it didn’t happen” social media uploads.
However, the selfie stick you’re using for your phones might not be robust enough for your action camera. Some mandatory features you should definitely include are hand grips, articulation angles, and extension length. There are even models that can charge your action camera on the fly.
You can also check if your action camera’s brand have proprietary monopods to make sure you don’t have compatibility concerns.
Helmet and Chest Mounts
Cyclists will benefit the most with helmet mounts for their action cameras, especially as they take photos and videos of their trails. However, helmet mounts are also valuable for hikers and mountain and/or rock climbers. Those who routinely explore caves can also document their adventures easily with the use of a helmet mount.
For more stability, chest mounts are also available and can give a different, more interesting perspective in your action shots. Water sports enthusiasts, like surfers and kite boarders, meanwhile, can look for water goggles or diving masks with camera mounts.
A side note: some brands also take pet lovers into mind, so if you take your furry friends with you during your adventures, a pet mount is a must-have.
Waterproof Cases
Most action cameras are already waterproof up to a certain depth, usually 10 meters. However, if you’re planning to take more deep-water photos and videos, a waterproof case will prove invaluable.
Most waterproof cases can handle depths of up to 60 meters (197 feet), which is the standard depth for most scuba diving adventures. You can also find specialized diving masks with attached camera mounts. The handier ones can DIY a basic mount onto their masks, though these might not be able to go too deep, especially with stronger currents.
Drones
Bring your action camera to new heights with aerial photos. Drone photography has been steadily gaining popularity through the years, and some truly breathtaking photos have already made their rounds in the internet and beyond.
Beginners can take advantage of ready-to-fly quadcopters, while more experienced users can look for BNF or bind-and-fly models. ARF or almost-ready-to-fly are best for the DIY enthusiasts or are looking for customizable options. Many drone models can already be controlled by mobile devices, though there are drones that need specific remotes.
On the other hand, some models may be more difficult to navigate than others, depending on the complexity of the internal computer installed, also called the flight controller. More expensive models have additional sensors that make them easier to control.
The next time you travel or go on an exciting outdoor adventure, make sure that your action camera is fully equipped to take on the challenge. Acquiring the right camera accessories will allow you take the most amazing shots you never even thought you could do.
Image source: Pixabay
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