Like many of us, I am on a budget. I want to save money and buy things that I perceive to be a good deal. As you are aware, there are third-party options for just about everything in dealing with our cameras. Some are absolutely worth it and some just don’t make the cut. Here are a few products that I have found worth saving on and a few I have found that ended up wasting more money in the long run.
Intervalometers.
I have been shooting Canon most my career. Truthfully the Canon brand intervalometer used for timelapse and remote shooting is way too expensive. I bought a couple cheap knock offs for $10 and they work perfect. Now I just use my Trigger Trap. The app for my iPhone is free and the cord to connect my Canon is around $30. I have more options and better control using my $30 product versus several hundred dollars from the Canon brand intervalometer. I love how more and more cameras are just including this feature within the camera itself.
Battery Grips
I find these are great to have on your camera especially when shooting long days for events such as weddings. This will depend on what camera you have but in my experience, the knock off version for many of the Canon cameras are well worth the savings in buying third party. Do your homework though and read the reviews found at many online retailers. My experience is to go for the knock-off.
Batteries
I have bought and used my share of knock-off batteries. In my experience they save you money in the short term (and are NOT worth it). Right now not ONE of my knock off batteries still work to this day. Even over the weekend I put one in my camera that was fully charged and 15 minutes later it was dead. This is not ideal to have happen on a shoot. My advice, stick with the brand name for your camera. If you have had a different long term experience with your brand of camera and third-party battery, let me know.
Tripods
I believe many of us have bought the no name cheap brand tripods as we began our photography journey. I also hope most of us have learned, they aren’t worth it. Save your money and get a well-known brand name tripod that will last you for many years.
Lenses
This can go either way, so always read reviews before buying. I try and keep an eye out on third party lens companies like Tamron or Sigma. They’re companies strictly dedicated to making lenses and some of those lenses are known to out perform a Canon L-Series and even a Zeiss lens. Do you homework. I know many Pros who use nothing but third party lenses.
The Bottom Line
Do your homework. Many times the investment is worth the cost of trying to save money up front. Other times, its clear to go off brand. Read reviews, ask other photographers, and do your research.
You can find Pamela on IG & Twitter @pamelaannberry
Hi I read this article with interest, especially as I had alway wondered about buying a generic camera grip. I have purchased generic batteries and have not had your experience with them: I am still using them some 6 years later with no noticeable reduction in power. They were purchased from 7DayShop after recommendation from other photographers (https://www.7dayshop.com/products/7dayshop-compatible-canon-bp-511-bp-511a-bp-512-digital-camera-battery-twin-pack-DB02TWINPACK). Thanks for an informative article.
Thank you for your insight. I wish more than anything my off brand batteries worked. I did get a few years out of them but It was frustrating when I was shooting a timelapse over the weekend. :D And other photographer recommendations are the best.
Great question! I think there are some 3rd party products which are really great, especially when it comes to lenses, where Sigma produces some great quality lenses with their new Art series, better than canon does for the amount of money it is absolutely worth it. Battery grip and batteries for Cameras i had the same experiences. In the beginning you think its good quality but when using this stuff every day it shows some big problems, especially when it comes to batteries. If you buy cheep, you buy twice.
Hi I read this article with interest, especially as I had alway wondered about buying a generic camera grip. I have purchased generic batteries and have not had your experience with them: I am still using them some 6 years later with no noticeable reduction in power. They were purchased from 7DayShop after recommendation from other photographers (https://www.7dayshop.com/products/7dayshop-compatible-canon-bp-511-bp-511a-bp-512-digital-camera-battery-twin-pack-DB02TWINPACK). Thanks for an informative article.
Thank you for your insight. I wish more than anything my off brand batteries worked. I did get a few years out of them but It was frustrating when I was shooting a timelapse over the weekend. :D And other photographer recommendations are the best.
Great question! I think there are some 3rd party products which are really great, especially when it comes to lenses, where Sigma produces some great quality lenses with their new Art series, better than canon does for the amount of money it is absolutely worth it. Battery grip and batteries for Cameras i had the same experiences. In the beginning you think its good quality but when using this stuff every day it shows some big problems, especially when it comes to batteries. If you buy cheep, you buy twice.
Hello! From my own experience, I agree with what is described in this article, but I do not agree with the section on lenses. I am a wedding photographer with 8 years of experience and have never regretted that one day I bought myself a top-end original Canon zoom lens 24-70mm f2.8 usm L II for around 1800€. Perhaps 80% of all my photos and videos were shot with this lens. I also used lenses from Sigma and Tamron, but each time they sold out due to a lot of misses in focus. Perhaps now the situation has changed a… Read more »