Don't Leave Home Without These

No matter what kind of camera you have, these six accessories will put more keepers in your album.

1. There is no such thing as having enough memory cards. If you want one gigabyte of memory, buy two 512 cards instead -- it costs about the same, and if a card goes bad, you have a working backup. The same goes for film -- carry extra. One gigabyte of Compact Flash memory typically costs about $50.

2. You don't want your camera to die when you're just about to snap that snowy egret you've been patiently stalking. Always carry fully charged extra batteries. Batteries specific to a camera can cost up to $100; standard rechargeables can go for less than $10 for four.

3. If you can't always plan to have the sun in the right position -- and you can't -- get a lens hood , which shields the glass from glare. You'll get shots that otherwise would have been spoiled by streaks of light and flare. Hoods run from about $5 to $30 depending on lens size.

4. There is only one filter you really need, but you really need it. A circular polarizer reduces glare from water and glass, and adds dramatic definition to snow and clouds. It can improve light and shadow in almost any photo.

Prices vary from $20 to $300, depending on lens size but also the quality of the filter (some aren't even glass but resin). Expect to pay at least $50.

5. To get those beautiful evening shots of amber streetscapes and indigo skies, a tripod is a must. Look for a tripod that is lightweight; you'll carry it all day, although you need it only at dusk and dawn. Make sure it has a solid, maneuverable head.

A $20 tripod give basic support for small cameras, but more money buys steadier, lighter-weight, easier- to-adjust models that handle heavier cameras with long lenses. For $600-plus you can get a carbon fiber tripod that weighs 2.2 pounds and supports nine pounds of camera.

6. Why do pros love the Giottos Rocket Air blaster ($10)? This squeeze bulb, which shoots a whoosh of air to loosen dust from camera parts, has small rocket-style fins that keep it from rolling away like traditional dust bulbs. While canned compressed air can leave a permanent film on a digital camera sensor, the Rocket Air won't.

-- Roy Furchgott