Every serious photographer will tell you that camera gear is as important as the camera itself. The gear is the tool you need to accomplish your task. Just concentrating on your camera and forgetting to pay attention to the rest of the gear won’t give you the desired results at the end of the day. Some photographers on the other hand put too much emphasis on the gear that they either incur unnecessary expenses by purchasing the gear they don’t need or end up buying accessories they can easily do without.

The common gear mistakes by photographers can range from misuse of the gear to having the wrong gear. Here are a few common gear mistakes you must avoid to ensure that you have great pictures or you don’t incur extra expenses.

Mistake # 1: Zero or poor maintenance

Taking care of your gear should be part of your professional life as a photographer. Even without being reminded, many photographers will always clean their camera lenses, the body and probably a few other items in their collection. The problem is some photographers do so the wrong way. To start with, many photographers use their handkerchiefs or even their shirts to clean the lenses. It should be noted that the optical glass used to make the lenses is so sensitive to scratches that even the softest of fabric may seem like sandpaper to the lenses. The cost of repairing a damaged lens can at times be more than the cost of buying a new camera body! This could be avoided by purchasing microfiber clothes which are purposely meant for cleaning lenses. I recently purchased one from a supermarket for only Rs. 90 and it works so well for me.

Apart from cleaning the lenses, you should also clean the camera body as well. Camera bodies are very susceptible to dust and this can damage them or even have some of the dust particles find their way to the lenses or the inside of the camera. But one mistake many photographers do here is using the wrong tools to clean their camera body. Some use chemicals sold by door to door salesmen that promises to magically restore any surface on earth to look as good as new. Well, be warned; some chemical can permanently damage your camera and you should only use the microfiber clothes or/and rocket blowers.  You should not forget to clean and service movable parts of you tripod as well.

Mistake # 2: Cheap or wrong gear

It’s true that photography gear can be really expensive and often we are tempted to go for cheaper options. The bottom line is cheap is expensive. A cheap tripod for example may seem like a good idea. There are tripods that will cost a meager Rs. 750 as compared to the ones that go for Rs. 4500 and above. The truth is the expensive ones are more durable and easier to use. In the end you can use them for years and will assure you sharp photos.

Another example is the UV filters. A visit to a photography shop will present you with various options for UV filters. An honest shopkeeper will tell you which ones are original and which ones are ‘local’. They look the same but there is a huge difference in quality and prices. DON’T be tempted to go for cheaper ones as they will often not work or will give you soft photos ultimately.

The last example is the camera bag. As a lover of your camera, you will do anything to protect it. The mistake here arises when you are tempted to buy those flashy looking bags only to later realize that it does not actually fit some of your gear or it is not easy to carry along. Take time before buying a camera bag.

Second hand gear may be a better option but the problem is you may end up buying gear whose parts are no longer manufactured hence posing a big problem in case of damage.

Mistake # 3: Indulgence

I am talking about impulsively buying the gear just because it is new in the market and the allure is overwhelming. This may lead you to buying pricey stuff that you will soon realize is not as good as they advertized. One thing you can do is to wait for a few more months after a gear is launched then buying it. Often what cost around Rs. 20,000 at launch will cost Rs. 11,000 a year later and it will do you as good.

	Quick read: The common gear mistakes by photographers can range from misuse of the gear to having the wrong gear Use of wrong materials to clean your lenses can badly damage them. This could be avoided by purchasing microfiber clothes which are purposely meant for cleaning lenses Avoid purchasing cheap gear as in the end it may prove too costly for you Don’t impulsively go buying the gear just because it is new in the market and the allure is overwhelming. Wait for a while until prices come down.