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Photographer Meta Gatschenberger Reviews Her Best Digital Camera Accessories For Beginners |
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Ad • Find The Best Digital Camera Accessories |
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Meta’s Best Digital Camera Accessories For Beginners
Western North Carolina Nature Photographer Meta Gatschenberger Reviews Her Best Digital Camera Accessories For Beginners, which are based on her Personal Ownership, Years of Digital Photographer Experience and Extensive Remote Field Testing on the Remote Hiking Trails of the Blue Ridge Mountains and Blue Ridge Parkway in Southern Virginia and North Carolina.Meta has included some Video Reviews to go along with Her Best Digital Camera Accessories. Meta shoots with Sony Digital Cameras and Minolta Lenses. View Meta’s Camera Bag Checklist
![]() Meta’s Best Digital Camera Accessories
• Smartphone Gimbals• Camera Harnesses and Straps • Tripods and Ball Heads • Camera Bags • Camera Cleaning Kits • Faster SD Cards • Camera Lens Filters • Electronic Accessories • Protection from the Elements • Macro Photography Accessories • Wildlife Photography Accessories • RAW Post Production Software ![]() |
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Meta’s Best Smartphone Gimbals – Watch a Video |
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Ad • Find The Best Smartphone Gimbals |
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Ad • DJI OSMO Mobile 3 Gimbal – For Shooting 4K YouTube Videos on her Apple iPhone 12 Mini, Meta uses the DJI OSMO Mobile 3 Gimbal. This foldable design weighs less than a pound and is portable and convenient. Payload 200g. Ad • Hard Shell Carrying Case – Made for all DJI OSMO Gimbals, provides much better foam cutout protection, plus room for the Grip Tripod. Mesh interior pocket with a zipper enlarges the storage space for cables and accessories. FiLMiC Pro and FiLMiC Remote – The most advanced 4K Video Recorder App ever made for your iPhone. Packed with cutting-edge features for world class video content. FiLMiC Remote turns your iPad or 2nd iPhone into a powerful companion application. ![]() |
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Meta’s Best Camera Harnesses – Watch a Video |
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Ad • Find The Best Camera Harnesses |
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Ad • Cotton Carrier Camera Harnesses – If you’re into Photography, think How you are going to Hike Safely with your Camera. The Cotton Carrier Harness allows Hands Free Hiking! Ad • Side Holsters – If you love the Cotton Carrier System, but don’t need the Camera Harness, buy the Cotton Carrier Side Holster. This handy camera accessory slides over Camera Belts for carrying your Camera on your side. Ad • Sony Leather Hand Straps – A Leather Hand Strap gives you a safe and secure single handed hold on your Camera. This is Meta’s Favorite Camera Accessory. She has Leather Hand Straps on all of her Sony Digital Cameras. Ad • Vietnam Era Jungle Jackets – Meta’s Husband often wears his Vietnam Era Jungle Jacket to transport all of his Camera Accessories on Remote Hiking Trails. The Four X-Large Buttoned Pockets are Perfect for Photojournalists. Ad • Shoulder Pad Cushions – If you carry a Heavy Camera Bag or Tripod, slip one of these Shoulder Pad Cushions over your Shoulder Strap, for less pain and fatigue. Meta uses these on all her Shoulder Straps. Ad • Camera Belts – Meta uses her Think Tank Photo Speed Belt to transport her Multiple Sony Flash Units. It can carry Think Tank Photo Digital Holster Camera Bags, Lens Cases, Camera Accessory Pouches and Water Bottle Pouches. ![]() |
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Meta’s Best Tripods – Watch a Video |
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Ad • Find The Best Tripods |
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Ad • Slik Pro 700DX Tripod – Meta says there are two kinds of Tripods: “The ones that work and the ones that are easy to carry”. This Very Sturdy Tripod has a Short Center Column and works with a Slik Ball Head with Round QR Plate. Ad • Large Padded Tripod Bag – If you own a Slik Pro 700DX Tripod with Pan Handle Head, finding a Padded Case is difficult. The Manfrotto Padded 90 cm Tripod Bag fits the Slik Pro 700DX Tripod, with Pan Handle Head or Ball Head. Ad • Manfrotto Befree Tripod – For Lightweight Travel Photography, Meta travels lightly with her Manfrotto Befree Tripod. Compact Travel Tripod fits inside Meta’s Airline Approved Under Seat Travel Backpack. Ad • Slik Pro DXS Tripod – This Short Sturdy Tripod has No Center Column, so it can lay flat on the ground. This Tripod is perfect for Low Level Macro Photography and Close-Up Photography. Use with a Slik Ball Head with Round QR Plate. Ad • Small Padded Tripod Bag – If you own a Slik Pro DXS Tripod, finding a Small Padded Case is difficult. The Really Right Stuff Small Padded Tripod Bag fits the Slik Pro DXS Tripod perfectly, with the Ball Head attached. Ad • Manfrotto PIXI Mini Tripod – For Ultra Lightweight Travel Photography, Meta travels lightly with her Manfrotto PIXI Mini Tripod. This Table Top Tripod works great for iPhones with the optional iPhone Clamp. ![]() |
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Meta’s Best Camera Bags – Watch a Video |
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Ad • Find The Best Camera Bags |
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Ad • Think Tank Photo Camera Bags – Custom Fit, Camera Bags with Reliable Fused Zippers, Built-In Rain Cover, Padded Shoulder Strap, Side Storage Pockets and Modular Straps! Attaches to Camera Belt. Ad • Lowepro Lens Cases – Store each lens in a Lowepro Lens Case. These soft padded Lens Cases come in many different shapes and sizes and can be attached to Camera Belt or Camera Bag. Add a 5 Gram Silica Gel Pack to each lens case. Ad • Lens Filter Pouches – Lens Filters are a very long term investment. Filter Pouches store and help keep dust and scratches off of your Digital Camera Filters. Filter Pouches can fit inside the top flap of the Camera Bag. Ad • Flash Pouches – Flash Units are Delicate Electronic Instruments. Protect them in Think Tank Photo Flash Pouches. Holds a large Flash with Diffuser. Side pocket holds 8 Energizer AA 1.5V Lithium Batteries. Attaches to Camera Belt or Camera Bag. Ad • Think Tank Photo Camera Accessory Pouches – If you own Adapters, Battery Chargers, Camera Batteries, Remote Controls, etc., carry them in Think Tank Photo Accessory Pouches. Attaches to Camera Belt or Camera Bag. Ad • Water Bottle Pouches – As a Registered Nurse, Meta is always telling her patients to ”Drink More Water”. Water Bottle Pouches are perfect for day hiking and hold a 32oz. bottle. Attaches to Camera Belt or Camera Bag. ![]() |
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Meta’s Best Camera Cleaning Kits – Watch a Video |
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Ad • Find The Best Camera Cleaning Kits |
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Ad • Sensor Cleaning Kits – Those small dark spots in your Photos mean your Sensor or your Lens is probably dirty. If Air Blasting and Vibrating the Camera Sensor doesn’t work, you’ll need a Sensor Cleaning Kit! Ad • Lens Cleaning Kits – Pouch contains one Zeiss Microfiber Lens Cloth, Retractable Lens Cleaning Brush, Optical Cleaning Fluid, Moist Lens Cleaning Wipes and a Zeiss Air Blaster in a Restockable Fabric Pouch. Ad • Lens Cleaning Supplies – Use the Zeiss Air Blaster, then a Moist Lens Cleaning Wipes followed by a Zeiss Microfiber Lens Cloth. Always start in the center of the lens and work outwards to the edge. Ad • Zeiss Lens Wipes – Clean your camera lens on the go with Zeiss Lens Wipes. Each wipe is individually wrapped and disposable for convenient. Disposable pre-moistened wipes make it quick and easy to safely clean optics lenses! Ad • Microfiber Lens Cleaning Cloths – Extremely high-quality, soft, microfiber material absorbs and removes dust, oil, smudges, fingerprints, and dirt. Leaves no scratches, streaks, marks, or lint on Camera Lenses. Ad • BD Alcohol Swabs – For Exterior Camera Cleanup. These 70% Isopropyl Alcohol Wipes remove dirt, grease and oil from your camera and lens exteriors (Not for use on Lens Glass or Glass Filters). Individually wrapped. Carry in your Camera Bag! ![]() |
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Meta’s Best Media Storage Cards – Watch a Video |
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Ad • Find The Best Media Storage Cards |
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Ad • SanDisk Extreme Pro SD Cards – Digital Cameras don’t come with SD Cards! Avoid “Drug Store Brand” SD Cards which cause Slow Performance. Shot Speeds up to 90MB/s. Transfer Speeds up to 170MB/s. Video Capture Rate of 30MB/s. Ad • Lightning to SD Card Camera Reader – Quickly Transfer Digital Images from Your Digital Camera’s SD Card to your iPad or iPhone, to E-Mail or Post Online. Also serves as a SD Card Backup to your iPad or iPhone! Works in JPEG and RAW. Ad • SD Card Carrying Cases – A must for every Digital Photographer. Store and protect your SD Cards from damage and data loss. Keep your SD Cards in one safe location. Soft cutouts hold up to 12 SD Cards. ![]() |
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Meta’s Best Camera Lens Filters – Watch a Video |
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Ad • Find The Best Digital Camera Filters |
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Ad • HOYA HD3 CPL Filters are used to control reflections, provide more vivid colors, darken blue skies and reduce glare without changing the color of the light. Meta has a HOYA HD3 CPL Filter for each Camera Lens. Ad • HOYA HD3 UV Filters are primarily used on Cameras as Lens Protection Filters, but they can also reduce harmful UV light and eliminate any bluish cast in images. Meta has a HOYA HD3 UV Filter for each Camera Lens. Ad • HOYA ND Filters are sold in as a Set of 3 ND Filters: NDX2, 0.3 (1-stop), NDX4, 0.6 (2-stop), and NDX8, 0.9 (3-stop). HOYA ND Filters are used to eliminate bright, washed out images and to control Long Exposures and Depth of Field. ![]() |
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Meta’s Best Electronic Camera Accessories – Watch a Video |
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Ad • Find The Best Electronic Camera Accessories |
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Ad • Red LED Head Lamp – Meta wears a Hands Free Red LED Head Lamp when shooting Night Photography, Sunrises and Sunsets. The Red LED that won’t effect your night vision! Runs for hours on 3 Energizer AAA 1.5V Lithium Batteries. Ad • Sony Wireless Remote Control – Use a Sony Wireless Remote Control to avoid touching your Sony Digital Camera when you take a shot! Meta keeps one in each Camera Bag. Runs on 1 CR2032 Lithium Battery. Ad • 12V Camera Battery Chargers – Meta keeps a Spare Camera Battery on a 12V Camera Battery Charger in her car! There’s nothing more frustrating than getting out on a Hiking Trail with a dead Camera Battery! Ad • Intervalometers – Timed Remote Shutter Releases are required for Time Lapse Photography. Use as a Wired Shutter Release. Attaches to your Tripod Leg in a Protective Case. Read the Intervalometer’s User Manual. Ad • Sony Digital Camera Batteries – Meta uses Sony Li-Ion Rechargeable Batteries. These last longer than “No-Name Brand” Camera Batteries. Rated at 11.8Wh / 1650mAh, Sony NP-FM500H “M” is for Sony A-Mount Cameras. Ad • Sony A77 II Dual Battery Grip – For Time Lapse Photography, a second battery is a must! The Sony A77 Dual Battery Grip holds 2 Sony Digital Camera Batteries and works with the Sony a77 / a77 II Digital Cameras! Ad • Dew Remover – For Shooting Long Exposures on Cool Summer Nights a 4W USB Powered Dew Remover keeps your Lens from Fogging up. When powered by a Compact Anker 3350 USB Power Bank, it can run all night. Ad • Lightning to SD Card Camera Reader – Quickly Transfer Digital Images from Your Digital Camera’s SD Card to your iPad or iPhone, to E-Mail or Post Online. Also serves as a SD Card Backup to your iPad or iPhone! Works in JPEG and RAW. Ad • Red LED Micro-Flashlight – Clips to the Camera Pouch, Camera Bag, Photographers Vest or Tripod Leg. Runs on 2 CR2032 Lithium Batteries. A must have light for All Night Sky Photography. ![]() |
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Meta’s Best Protection From The Elements – Watch a Video |
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Ad • Find The Best Camera Protection |
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Ad • Silica Gel Packs – Meta places one 5 Gram Silica Gel Pack (2” x 2 3/4” Packs) into each of her Camera Bags, Lens Cases, Flash Pouches and Camera Pouches. This inexpensive camera accessory can help protect your Camera Equipment! Ad • LCD Screen Protectors – The Rear LCD Display Screen on Cameras can get easily scratched. LCD Screen Protectors are available for all Cameras. This is the first Camera Accessory Meta installs when she gets a new Sony Digital Camera! Ad • LensCoat Camouflage Raincoats – This Camouflage RainCoat Protects your Camera Gear from Rain, Snow, Salt Spray and Sand. Easy Access to Camera Controls. 8 Camouflage Patterns. Made in the USA. Ad • HotHands – Most Camera Batteries contain water and will freeze below 32°F. Camera Batteries also don’t last as long with they are cold. In Cold Weather, Meta keeps her Camera Batteries wrapped in HotHands Hand Warmers. Ad • Ben’s Deet Wipes – Photography in the Blue Ridge Mountains often involves getting bitten by mosquitoes, ticks, flies, fleas, chiggers and no-see-ums. For the Best Pest Protection, Meta recommends Ben’s Deet Wipes. Ad • Emergency Rain Ponchos – Getting stuck on a Remote Hiking Trail in an afternoon thunderstorm is not good you or your camera. This camera accessory can save your Camera! Keep an Emergency Rain Poncho in your Camera Bag! ![]() |
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Meta’s Best Macro Photography Accessories – Watch a Video |
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Ad • Find The Best Macro Photography Accessories |
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Ad • Macro Photography Clip – Wind is a big problem when shooting outdoor Macro Photography Subjects. This Macro Photography Clip allows confident hold ability of reflectors, diffusers and small items. Ad • Camera Flash Diffuser – A Portable Flash Diffuser can be folded in the storage bag included. Helps eliminate harsh flash light and can help keep your Macro Photography looking more natural and not over blown. Ad • Slik Pro DXS Tripod – This Short Sturdy Tripod has No Center Column, so it can lay flat on the ground. This Tripod is perfect for Low Level Macro Photography. Use with a Slik Ball Head with Round QR Plate. ![]() |
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Meta’s Best Wildlife Photography Accessories – Watch a Video |
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Ad • Find The Best Wildlife Photography Accessories |
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Ad • Tragopan Camouflage Photography Blind – This Camouflage Photography Blind / Hide has windows that can be customized to provide varying levels of concealment or visibility depending on the wildlife being photographed. Ad • LensCoat Photography Blind – This Personal Camouflage Photography Blind / Hide hides you in a standing position. Quiet, breathable, lightweight material as the LensCoat Raincoats. 5 Camouflage Patterns. Regular and Tall Sizes. Ad • LensCoat Camouflage Raincoats – This Camouflage RainCoat Protects your Camera Gear from Rain, Snow, Salt Spray and Sand. Easy Access to Camera Controls. 8 Camouflage Patterns. Made in the USA. ![]() |
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Meta’s Best RAW Post Production Software – Watch a Video |
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Ad • Find The Best RAW Post Production Software |
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Ad • Aurora HDR – Merge HDR brackets for highest quality images and fine-tune with smart tools in Aurora HDR. No halos. No artifacts. No chromatic aberration. Only stunning results, powered by AI. No Monthly Subscription! Ad • Luminar – Elevate your editing workflow with the three-in-one bundle of creative photo editor Luminar 4 plus one-click Inspiration Looks and a collection of impressive skies California Sunsets. No Monthly Subscription! Ad • Sony Imaging Edge – Sony’s Free Imaging Edge Desktop allows you to log into your Sony Account, browse or develop RAW images, and perform remote shooting and more. Free Software for Sony Digital Camera Users! ![]() |
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Contact Meta |
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Ad • Find The Best Minolta Lenses |
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Photos By Meta
PO Box 1571Blowing Rock, NC 28605 1-828-443-4277 Contact Meta
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