Travel

Essential Nikon D800 Travel Acessories

Looking for protection for a Nikon D800 or similar expensive DSLR? Here are some essential items that you can use to protect your new digital camera while on vacation.

To me, every travel destination offers an exciting new opportunity for  photography.  Before visiting any future travel destination I usually browse through the photos on Google to see what images other photographers have captured, and  imagine how I might improve on them if I happen to visit the same spot.  If you plan on traveling with your new  DSLR, here are some “must have” travel accessories for the Nikon D800 and other professional cameras  that will help you protect it  and make using it more enjoyable.  DSLR   “protective items” fall under the category of “camera protection,”  which includes things like “camera skins” or covers, lens skins, waterproof camera cases and UV lens protectors.  Functional accessories  are those things that help you get the most from your digital SLR, such as extra lenses, tripods, remote shutter release controls, etc.

Nikon D800 Camera Armor Or Skins

As of April of 2012  there were no commercially made camera armor for the Nikon D800  available on the market.  There are however some universal protective skins that will fit a Nikon D800,  such as the BodyGuard by LensCoat.  Granted you will lose some ease of access to certain buttons, however products such the BodyGuard  can be easily slipped on and off depending on the circumstances you’re shooting in. You can reach most of the controls of the Nikon D800 through the slits in the side of the cover. In my case I had a family member who is good with a sewing machine make some alterations to the cover so that I could reach vital buttons easier.

LensCoat Lens Protection

People who have used the neoprene LensCoat  “lens skin,” or  lens protection system  either love it or hate it, there is no in between.  This system comes in a series of precisely cut segments  of fabric covered neoprene rubber that fit each part of a Nikon or Canon lens. With the LensCoat  system attached to your lens you can still operate the manual focus control, telephoto, and have access to switches such as the “autofocus on–off” button. LensCoat   comes in a variety of patterns, from plain black to “urban camo,”, RealTree camo and more.  I personally use both the BodyGuard and LensCoat  products  to protect my Nikon D800 DSLR.

 A Waterproof Camera Carrying Case or Backpack For the Nikon D800

If you plan on doing any sort of adventure travel and taking your Nikon D800 or other DSLR  along  on vacation, you should have a rugged, water resistant carrying case or backpack. I prefer a  camera backpack for the simple fact that I usually  end up carrying a number of lenses and a small tripod with me wherever I go. I really like the LowePro Flipside 400, which  allows you to store enough accessories for almost any kind of  photography you might get into. If you’re looking for something a bit more compact and well suited for day hikes, consider the smaller version, the LowePro Flipside 300.  Both have extra compartments for items such as  lenses, filters, batteries, chargers, memory cards and even a snack or two.

 Be Sure to Use a UV Lens Protector On Every Lens That You Use

When  it comes to UV – Haze  filters, the old expression “you get what you pay for” holds true. The difference between a $15 UV  filter and a $85  filter is that the expensive one will have more layers of coating on the lens and will most likely have better  overall optics, meaning less distortion  in your photos.  Multi-coated UV  lens  filters can last for years when  properly taken care of,  however I have found that cheap, poorly coated UV  filters will generally last  only about a year before the coating starts to wear off and they become unusable.

 Always Carry A Waterproof Memory Card Holder On Vacation

If you plan on taking a lot of photos on your vacation, make sure that you carry several extra 16 or 32 GB  memory cards and a waterproof case to store them in. One waterproof case that I always take on vacation with me is the  Pelican 0910  case which holds 16 SD cards.  This inexpensive case is  “water resistant,”  but not waterproof. It will generally keep your memory cards safe and dry unless you submerge it for an extended period of time.

Other items that I would recommend taking along on vacation with your Nikon D800 or other DSLR  are a lens cleaning kit which includes a Rocket Blower,  microfiber cloths and a LensPen  brush.  Also, extended warranty plans are generally not a very good investment, however if you travel often, as I do,  you may find that they are worth the money if your camera becomes damaged. Look for extended warranty plans that cover impact as well as mechanical malfunction.

Functional Travel Accessories For Nikon D800 And Other DSLR’s

Functional accessories are those items that enable you to use all of the features of your new DSLR  on vacation.  Depending on where you’re going, you may want to take landscape or other types of photos in low light conditions. To do so you’ll need a sturdy yet lightweight tripod suitable for travel.  Travel tripods generally use carbon fiber legs to reduce weight.  I  personally like the Ravelli  carbon fiber travel tripods, however there many brands on the market such as Manfrotto, Dolica, and Tamarac.  If you’re not going to be using a superheavy lens, a very nifty little travel tripod is the Tamrac TR406, which uses shock corded legs such as those found on some tents. It can handle cameras and lenses up to 3 pounds and only weighs 11 ounces.

If you have any ideas regarding essential travel accessories for the Nikon D800 or other DSLR cameras, please leave your comments below. Thanks!