Common Video Camera Peripherals You Should Own

There are a lot of add-ons for home digital video cameras, and here are a few that you can't live without.

Never Enough

Just having a digital video camera is hardly enough to get everything you need. The camera itself is a sensitive device that often needs special care and consideration. There are a number of peripherals that both protect your camera and help you shoot more effective video.

Tripod

The standard peripheral that everyone must have is a tripod. This is the most basic add-on that stabilizes your camera for clear filming. Without this you are running around in a shaky world, where the images are not even close to professional. Almost every shot you take should be stabilized on a platform, and the tripod is the best for this. If you have a little bit of money to spend you should get a tripod with a floating head so that rotating and moving the camera while attached to the tripod is significantly smoother.

Lens Filter

The digital video camera’s lens can be a very sensitive piece of the total camera. A clear lens filter can protect this part of the camera from accidents or standard wear and tear. These tend to be very cheap, always running under thirty dollars, so you have no excuse to not go and pick one up.

Extra Battery

Batteries go bad, and die when you are on location. Make sure to always have at least one spare battery around, mostly to give yourself a little insurance that you will be able to capture the images you want as they are happening. There is nothing worse then your battery dying right before your daughter blows out the candles on her birthday cake. Many cameras also do not come with their own battery charger, so make sure to check this out and get one if you need it.

Advanced Peripherals

If you are looking to begin doing some more advanced filming, or if you would just like to have fabulous records of family events, then there are some more professional peripherals that you need. Sound is an important aspect of video, but if left up to the onboard microphone it is often shoddy. Pick up a nice boom microphone to use in open situations. These can be kind of expensive, and always run over seventy-five dollars. If you want to get really advanced it may be useful to get a set of wireless lavaliere microphones that you can attach to your friends and family. Another thing you have to think about is lighting, and since you are not trying to put together a Hollywood production you need something that is simply going to help you capture an image. A high-quality video light that will attach to the camera itself is an advisable purchase, but will run you well over a hundred dollars.

Know What You Need

Cameras and associated equipment is expensive, so make sure you know what you want before you head to the store. Otherwise you could spend your child’s college fund on all the new gadgets.