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So you just bought your first DSLR? Congratulations. If you're anything like me however, you've just opened Pandora's box. Half the fun of any new toy, particularly a digital camera, is all the other new toys you get to buy to "enhance" the experience. So what are some of these other fun toys?

One of the first things you'll need to buy is a camera bag. There are far too many to choose from. Backpack, sling bag, messenger bag, the choice is endless. Whatever you choose, go big. You will invariably find that you want, nay need, more and more gear and so will need a bigger bag. A good place to search and find reviews is www.cambags.com.

Chances are, your camera came with a lens. Many will try and tell you that this lens is inferior and you should immediately rush out and spend thousands on better glass. This is simply not true. Granted, the lens is generally an entry level one, but is useful when learning your photographic style. You will soon learn what your needs are by using this basic lens. Do you need something with a longer telephoto, a wider wide angle, a longer zoom? Do you need something with a faster aperture for lowlight photography? Take pictures, figure out what you like to shoot, then go spend money on good glass. IF you do decide to upgrade, www.photozone.com is a good place to start your search.

Do you need a flash? I unfortunately can't tell you that. Many of you have upgraded from a digital point and shoot and are looking to take better pictures. One of best ways to do that is to avoid your new camera's built-in flash. It will provide you with results very similar to a point and shoot. Now, do you need to spend several hundred dollars on an external unit? That is a question only you can answer. If you take mostly landscapes and many outside shots, you probably won't. Indoor shots more often require flash unless you have a fast lens (low f-stop) that is better in low light. If you do decide to purchase an external flash unit, find one that bounces and swivels so as to avoid harsh, straight on lighting.

Those are the big things one can spend one's money on. There are a plethora of little things too.

An extra battery is one of the first things you should buy. There is nothing worse than missing those last few shots because your camera died. Another necessity is an extra memory card or two. Memory is so cheap now there is no reason not to have a spare to ward off the possibility of card failure. Some would recommend a larger card so as to not change cards while shooting. Personally I have several smaller cards in the rare event that one of them fails, I don't lose everything.

Filters are important too, but are a personal choice. There are many varieties to be had. Some are simply clear and serve to protect the glass of your lens. Others are shaded to produce a variety of effects on your photos.

Tripods are useful when taking pictures in low light or when taking landscapes. They come in a variety of flavors including aluminum and carbon fiber. If a tripod is too cumbersome, a monopod might fit you better. They aren't quite as stable, but are less cumbersome than a tripod. A cable release or remote is useful with a tripod so that once your shot is composed the chances for user induced camera wobble are greatly reduced.

There are many other options beyond what I've listed. A brief search of Amazon.com or any reputable camera store will have you filling up your wish list in no time. So, go forth, take pictures, and buy good gear.

Learn more about this author, Merrell.
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