Last Updated on 05/15/2019 by Mark Beckenbach
Landscape photography will become much easier, and you’ll spend less time in post by using these accessories.
Landscape photography is one of the most enjoyable genres of photography. You get to be out in nature, but that doesn’t mean it’s always easy. Getting to your location, finding perfect compositions, waiting for the best light, and being able to get the image right in camera requires more skill than you might think. Fortunately, there are some great filters and accessories on the market that can help you capture stunning images in camera. This means that after a long day of hiking and shooting, you won’t have to spend hours in post processing. Like other genres of photography, getting your landscape images right in camera will save you so much time later on when it comes to editing. By using filters such as polarizers, ND filters, graduated filters, light pollution filters (handy for night time landscapes, cityscapes, and astrophotography), and by using tripods that can help ensure your shot is level and your gear is stable, you will save countless hours in post. Let’s take a quick look at some affordable filters and tripods that will help you get stunning images, and that will make landscape photography much more enjoyable.
Breakthrough Photography X4 Circular Polarizer
Here are the pros and cons from our full review:
Pros
- High build quality
- Nano Coating for dust resistance, water repellent, and therefore easier to clean
- Weather resistance, said to be designed specifically to resist salt water
- 25 year guarantee
- Greater light transmission is beneficial for stopping motion (in sports or wildlife photography, for example)
Cons
- Difficult to remove
Buy now ($129-$199): Amazon
Neewer Complete ND Filter Kit for Cokin P
Here are the pros and cons from our full review:
Pros
- Loads of filters
- Loads and loads of very well built (though I’ve felt better) step up rings
- Easy to use ND filter holder
- Very affordable
- Comes with a nice case to carry everything
- Great image quality
- If you don’t like the image quality, it’s very ease to embrace any flaws it has with modern cameras
Cons
- Filters are prone to fingerprint smears
Buy now ($21.99): Amazon
Pro Tip: Landscape photography may look easy, but it requires a fair amount of skill and patience to get the perfect shot. You need to be able to find the perfect composition, you have to wait for the right light, you need to shoot manual so that your exposure is perfect, and you have to know how to edit the image to make it look its best. If you’re new to landscape photography, and you want to learn all the ins and outs of the genre, this guide will walk you through every step of the process, and will help you create images that will stun viewers. The best part is that it’s only $29. What a bargain.
Irix Edge Light Pollution Filter
Here are the pros and cons from our full review:
Pros
- Nice textured grips around the ring of the filter make it easy to handle
- Fantastic build quality
- No loss of image quality
- It really does what it says it can do. Sodium lights will no longer cast yellow hues in your pictures
Cons
- Honestly nothing that we can think of. It just works
Buy now ($73-$116): Amazon
Vanguard VEO2 235CB Tripod
Here are the pros and cons from our full review:
Pros
- Solid build quality
- The rubber sections for the legs feel really good
- If you’re on the sand, they will keep dust and dirt from getting into the legs
- Pretty much all the versatility that most photographers will need providing they adjust carefully
- Lightweight
- Fits onto the side of most backpacks
Cons
- We wish there was a hook at the bottom to weigh the tripod down
Buy now ($146.09): Amazon
Pro Tip: Having the right equipment is one thing, but being able to get your gear to the location you want to shoot is another. Perhaps one of the most important accessories we can have is a comfortable bag. Not only will a camera bag hold, and protect all of your gear, it can make the difference between being uncomfortable and comfortable on a long hike or trip. It’s vital to have a bag that will protect your gear from the elements, and that will not destroy your back. The Kenora 4th Gen from Portage Supply does all of these things, and is incredibly affordable.
MeFOTO Roadtrip Leather Edition Tripod
Here are the pros and cons from our full review:
Pros
- Well built
- One leg can be unscrewed to turn the unit into a monopod. That’s seriously cool!
- Sections can easily and quickly be deployed just by gripping them in the right place and twisting
- Stylish
- Fairly intuitive
Cons
- Friction control is really subtle
- Tripod plate could use a D ring instead of needing to take a key out to unscrew it from your tripod
Buy now ($199): Amazon
Manfrotto BeFree Compact Travel Aluminum Alloy Tripod
Here are the pros and cons from our full review:
Pros
- Fantastic and perfect for travel
- Lightweight
- Reliable
- Stays secure
- All the adjustments that a photographer could really need or want at the price point
- Two way release ensures that your camera doesn’t slip out of the ball head
Cons
- Doesn’t really have a whole lot of support for the Peak Design Capture Clip
Buy now ($189.88): Amazon