6) Tripod, Level, Light Meter

It’s important to have a sturdy tripod that’s easy to adjust in three directions separately: tilt, forward, and horizontally. A quick release pad is also a major convenience. I use a Bogen with the 3030 head. When I tried the long, heavy 80-200 zoom, I started having problems with the tripod head. I think the zoom lens was just too heavy for it.

If I were buying a new tripod head, I’d buy the same model but with a built in level, the Bogen 3047. Leveling the tripod and camera is really important for photographing artwork. Built in levels would be a blessing.

The other tripod head model that attracts me is the Bogen 3275 (410) compact geared head, for even smoother control.

One of the best things I bought was a level that fits onto the flash hotshoe mount on the top of my camera. It’s a two-way level so it works even when you’re framing a photo in vertical format. If the $30-40 price is just too much, you can buy a tiny keychain level from the hardware store and apply it to the camera top with double stick tape. This works for my digital camera. But I strongly recommend going ahead and buying the camera hotshoe level. It costs less at Adorama than at B&H Photo, but I can’t compare the two since I bought it from B&H as part of a larger order.

Buying an incident light meter was also one of my best investments. I chose a Minolta IVF and have found it a joy to use. Now I think this model has been superceded by a later one. Accessories for the Minolta meters are easiest to find at Calumet Photo.

A less expensive alternative is to use a reflective light meter with Kodak gray cards. You can also use the camera’s built in light meter with the gray cards. But since the gray card should fill the camera viewfinder and be placed in a certain way in relation to the lights and camera, it can be tricky and awkward. The incident light meter makes planning exposures quick and easy. It also makes it easy to compare various lighting and diffusion arrangements well in advance of the actual shooting session.