Companions at a shoot

If you are an amateur looking to go pro, here’s the kit you need to carry with you on every assignment.

As any professional photographer will tell you, the right kind of accessories make all the difference between a great shoot and an Okay one. Here's how you gear up.

Lexar's 600x CF card writes at 90 MB/s, the fastest of them all so far. Available in capacities of 8 GB, 16 GB and 32 GB, this provides increased speed and performance. Additionally, Lexar also has released Express Card Compact Flash reader to accelerate the download rate to the destination folder. It is a portable high-performance reader that requires no cables and connects directly to the computer, PC or Mac.
How much? ₹9,450 (16 GB); ₹16,450 (32 GB)

SanDisk's Extreme Pro is a CF card to match the demands of new DSLR features such as 1080P video recording to write/read at a faster rate. Available in 16 GB, 32GB and 64 GB capacities, it is UDM 6-enabled with enhanced super parallel processing. SanDisk claims that the card is capable of working in temperatures from 250°C to 850°C and withstands serous impact.
How much? ₹16,850 (32 GB); ₹32,500 (64 GB)

Camera bags
Lowepro Fastpack 350: You can comfortably pack 2 SLR bodies, couple of lenses, laptop and accessories. Its side entry compartment is helpful in pulling out the gear real quick. It's one of the best I have used in recent times.
How much? ₹4,500

Tamrac's Aero speed Pack 75 is a comfort backpack with ease of use for an active photographer. In addition to body, couple of lenses including 70-200 mm, accessory pockets hold memory cards, lens caps, and even a jacket for any adversities.
How much? ₹3,850

Airport Antidote V 2.0 from Think Tank is a great bag for amateur gear. Two camera bodies fit vertically and the lenses fit on top of each other into compartment easily. The bag has a wide selection of dividers to create lots of internal compartments.
How much? ₹8,200

Tripods
It is important to invest on sturdy tripods than just flimsy legs. Important factors to consider are weight, portability, speed and of course the price. Although a bit expensive, I strongly advice the carbon fibre, which is 30 per cent lighter.

Gitzo GT-1541T Traveler 6X: My favourite, carbon fibre lightweight tripod is a great asset for daily photographic needs. Its ergonomics and build quality are the best in the industry.
How much? ₹25,750

Benro C-168 carbon fibre tripod is just right for carrying lightweight and optimally sized tripod. It supports up to 8 kg weight and absorbs vibrations that might interfere with getting the right shot. Setup and folding time is very simple.
How much? ₹18,000

Manfrotto 441 is a carbon fibre premium quality 3-leg tripod that can be setup and put down in a matter of seconds. It uses the easy to use locking lever type of fastening as opposed to twist lock.
How much? ₹39,000

Bhaskar is an award-winning photographer. His new book The Fragile Forest: Inside Brazilian Amazonia is scheduled for release.