Last Updated on 12/01/2014 by Chris Gampat
We’ve gone through our archive to find some of our favorite accessories for photographers that have come out in 2014. It’s taken us across a journey that appeals to the enthusiast, the mobile photographer, the street photographer, and the person with a discerning taste. This year, we saw a huge emphasis on items being handmade and those also finding a way to be very functional.
So if you’re looking for a great holiday gift, check out our roundup of the best photography accessories that we found this year.
“If youâre spending $318, youâd better get a bag thatâs super awesome. And Zkin surely delivers on that factor. The question that you need to ask yourself is whether you need quick access or not. As a street photographer, I donât often change lenses out and I typically hold my camera in my hand, so itâs not an issue for me. If Iâm shooting on-location portraits, Iâm typically using one lens and light and if Iâm switching lenses then Iâm also probably changing the look of what Iâm shooting.
And in a case like that, I really do like a more fashionable approach. The bag is sexier than most of what Think Tank and Lowepro put out, but we donât think that it can quite match what Holdfast Gear and ONA do.
Still though, itâs a bag that surely deserves praise.”
“I did not think the Domke would be as comfortable as my daily routine, but it was. The Domke Chronicle is nondescript. The logo on the side of the bag can be tucked away. Unlike its grandfather the F-2, the Chronicle has a backbone. It will stand up on its own with its proper padding. This makes it more of a proper camera bag for todayâs camera gear. Even though our Editor-in-Chief liked the Domke F2, I felt that it was a little flimsy and it was never really a choice for me. The Chronicle remedied all the issues I had with the F2 and more. A photojournalist would definitely appreciate this bag. The quick access and the comfort it provides would make the bag great to use on terribly long days where you have to take care of many jobs.”
Great State Classic Skinny Camera Strap
“The Great State Classic Skinny camera strap is a beautiful offering for a pretty darned good price. Theyâre made well, pretty comfortable, durable as heck, and most importantlyâtheyâre minimal. Youâre not going to regret the purchase.”
Cecilia 2.5cm Leather Neck Strap
“The Cecilia leather neck strap is a very fair looking, yet low-key accessory for your mirrorless camera. It does not have all the shiny bells and whistles like a Tap and Dye strap or an accessory from Holdfast Gear, but it also noticeably less expensive at $68. Itâs also one of the few small straps you can expect to stand up to the weight of an ungainly amount of camera equipment.
I had a few handling quibbles with the strap between the round soft leather bumpers and the inflexible neck pad. However, these are both negligible issues that can be resolved with a bit of time and wear.”
Heavy Leather Classic Camera Strap
“Heavy Leather hasnât been making camera straps for a long time, but their offerings are quite a great first attempt. They look nice, and surely feel nice, but theyâre very specialized even for the discerning photographer. We strongly recommend them for concert shooters. What weâd really love to see is a much thinner version for mirrorless cameras.”
Western Digital My Passport Wireless 1TB
“When it comes to working with photographers, Western Digital seems to be paying more and more attention to the needs and wants of a growing community with a plethora of images to manage. The addition of an SD card port is a nice start, but it could indeed be better. Beyond that, the fact that you can carry around your own cloud/drive/server for images is really nice. In the middle of the woods, Iâd be able to access my images for review as long as theyâre converted to JPEGs. The applications are really limitless, and for once, we think that this is a drive that youâll always want to have plugged into your computer and tote along with you as you work due to its pure versatility.”
Figosa Vintage Adjustable Leather Strap
“Figosaâs adjustable vintage leather strap is an improvement on their previous versionsâwhich werenât adjustable at all. As long as youâre not constantly needing to adjust your strap, Figosaâs offering is an affordable option that still looks great. On a personal note though, weâre more partial to the black and darker colors.
In the end, you surely get what you pay for.”
MeFOTO Sidekick 360 Smartphone Adapter
“The Sidekick 360 is a really cool and very fun way to expand your mobile photography, but we feel that it can be taken even more seriously. Hopefully, MeFOTO will develop an even higher end offering. But if youâre looking to get more serious about your mobile photography, then the Sidekick 360 is a great starters gift.”
