Camera Accessories Archives - Page 2 of 3

Monopod

What Is A Monopod? A monopod is a camera support that has just one single leg. They are collapsible, and usually come in different heights with different numbers of collapsible sections. Most popular are 3-section or 4-section monopods, but you can sometimes find ones with even more. The more sections a monopod has, the smaller its full collapsed length is, but this is at the expense of some rigidity as the sections get thinner and thinner. Monopods are an excellent way to support a camera when it isn’t practical to carry a tripod. They are often used by people using …

MultiMedia Card (MMC)

What Is a MultiMedia Card and How Is It Used in Digital Photography? A MultiMedia Card, also known as an MMC, is a form of solid-state memory introduced by SanDisk in 1997. Measuring 24 mm × 32 mm × 1.4 mm a MultiMedia Card is similar in size and shape to an SD card. MultiMedia cards have been used in many digital cameras since their introduction. The introduction of the SD card has seen a decline in use of the MultiMedia Card, but many devices with an SD card slot support the use of MultiMedia Cards so there is no …

NiCad

What Does NiCad Mean and How Is It Related to Cameras and Photography? When talking about cameras and photography equipment NiCad is the name given to a common type of rechargeable battery. NiCad batteries were one of the first successful standards of rechargeable batteries used in digital cameras. NiCad stands for ‘nickel-cadium’ and relates to the materials used within the battery to provide an electrical output. Nikel-cadium batteries have now widely been superseded by NiMH batteries which typically hold two or three times the charge capacity of their NiCad counterparts. NiCad batteries are however still available for equipment originally designed …

NiMH

What Does NiMH Mean and How Is It Related to Cameras and Photography? When talking about modern cameras the acronym NiMH is the name given to a common type of rechargeable battery found in many digital cameras and flash units. NiMH stands for ‘nickel-metal hydrate’ and relates to the materials used within the battery to provide an electrical output. NiMH batteries typically have two or three times the charge capacity of their NiCad counterparts making them an excellent choice for power sapping equipment such as speedlights. NiMH batteries are available in common battery sizes such as AAA or AAA and …

PC Card

What Is a PC Card and How Is It Used in Photography? A PC Card or ‘Printed Circuitboard Card’ is a credit card sized card which can be used to expand the available memory or storage space in a digital device such as a computer. When talking about photography PC Cards could be used in a number of ways. If your computer has PC Card slots then you could use PC Cards to add extra storage space to your device, this could then be used to store your photographs. You could also use a PC card to move photographs between …

QD Socket

A QD socket is a Quick Disconnection system that was initially designed for the firearms industry and then later adopted by the photography industry. The QD system is a 2-part system that featured a QD socket on the camera plate, and a QD Swivel that mates with the socket once the button is depressed. The system is extremely strong and robust, thus able to hold even the largest cameras and super-telephoto lenses with ease. Photography industry companies such as Really Right Stuff, Kirk Photo, Hejnar Photo and Blackrapid all make products that are designed around the QD system. All QD …

Shutter Release Cable

What Is A Shutter Release Cable? A shutter release cable is often called a cable release. Please see the glossary page for cable release to learn more about them and find out when you might want to use one. Additional Reading

SmartMedia

What Does SmartMedia Refer to When Talking About Photography? SmartMedia is a now defunct memory format released by Toshiba in 1995. A SmartMedia card consists of a single flash memory chip embedded in a sheet of plastic, the card features a strip of gold contacts which facilitate the connection between the memory card and the device within which it is being used. SmartMedia was originally intended to be the replacement for the 3.5 inch floppy disc but gained a foothold in the digital camera industry in the early 2000’s. The increase in camera sensor resolutions became problematic though, SmartMedia cards …

Tripod

What Exactly Is a Tripod and How Is It Used in Photography? In photography a tripod is a three legged device which is designed to securely and steadily hold a camera. Most tripods have a central pole and height adjustable legs and are used in conjunction with mount to which a head is fixed. The main purpose of a tripod is to allow photographers to capture images using slow shutter speeds (long exposure) for example in astrophotography where there is not enough ambient light to hand hold the camera with out introducing shake into an image. Tripods are also widely …

Tripod Collar

What Is A Tripod Collar? A tripod collar, sometimes also called a lens collar, is a lens accessory that allows the lens to be mounted to a tripod. When the weight of a lens reaches a certain threshold, it’s no longer safe to mount the camera to a tripod as the weight of that lens would put too much strain on the lens mount. Instead, a tripod collar is used on the lens and this provides an easy way to support your setup under the lens instead of the camera. Large telephoto lenses of 300mm and upwards usually have permanently …