A Camera's Best Accomplices

Industry experts pay as much attention to the selection of their camera accessories as they do to their cameras; which calls for a deep dive into the world of these enablers

- Anisha Gakhar

If there’s one thing a cinematographer is quite fastidious about, it is his camera. As much as we would like to bestow the credit on the camera itself, it would only be reasonable to acknowledge the importance of accessories that a camera requires: to perform its function in entirety. According to the Grand View Research report, the camera accessories market is estimated to flourish at a CAGR of more than 4% globally, over the next four years. It is fuelled by many growth factors, one of them being the increase in the use of high-end, and technologically advanced cameras.

Camera accessories are primarily used to enhance efficiency, usability, shelf-life and accessibility of cameras. Leading DSLR and digital camera manufacturers are churning a wide variety of these accomplices to cinematographers and DOPs. Accessories including rigs, heavy-duty bags, optical photographic filters, lens accessories, Steadicam camera stabilising systems, lighting equipment, camera covers, tripods and support systems, are trending tools used by industry experts. Other accessories gaining momentum are battery packs and grips, tripods, remote releases, flashguns, soft-boxes and diffusers, SD cards, lens filters, monitors and colour calibrators.

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Some camera accessories are standard requirements for any DoP, but with continuous R&D, the basic requirements are evolving daily. For cinematographer Kiran Deohans, an electronic remote follow focus unit is a go-to product, especially when the location is cramped and there is little or no space for the focus puller. Deohans said, “Sometimes the script and the location demand a hand-held shot, for which the hand-held, 3-Axis camera, Gimbal is the best option. Wireless control of camera with Alexa SXT-W helps to eliminate the need for long wires meant to connect the monitor and the camera.”