Camera Phone Accessories

A common problem faced when shooting pictures with any digital camera is blurry pictures caused by small hand movements when holding the camera. A good standalone digital camera offers optical image stabilization which can counteract the small hand movements that occur, but in general, camera phones don't have this feature although a few may offer digital image stabilization.

In addition, holding a camera phone steady can be particularly difficult due to it's tiny size. It can be important to learn to hold the camera phone firmly and to brace yourself to limit movement. You can brace against a wall, a tree, a car, or any other stationary object. Most people tend to hold a camera phone with one hand, but if you grasp with two and hold your breath when pressing the shutter button, then you're likely to get a picture with better focus.

Another option for assuring a steadier shot, is a tripod. Tripods are often used with standalone cameras, but they are great camera phone accessories as well. Clearly, you want something small and highly portable. There are a few dedicated camera phone tripods on the market.

Professional photographers protect their cameras with properly constructed bags. Padding protects them from falls, but they also reduce exposure to sand and dirt and provide insulation in cold weather. Camera phones also benefit from cases for the same reason. Of course, carrying your cell phone next to your body can also help keep it warm. Some experts also recommend carrying a plastic bag to put the phone in before coming inside from the cold, to assure the phone doesn't get condensation on it.

For those who will be potentially exposing their camera to water, waterproof cell phone cases are important in case they are splashed or dropped into the water. Using a camera phone underwater is possible at a limited depth with some of these cases.

If you're the kind of person who takes your photography a bit more seriously, there are a variety of small add on filters and lenses that can be great camera phone accessories that allow you to capture better images. Wide angle lenses can help you get more in a shot. For instance, if you're in a room trying to get a picture of the whole family, you're more likely to fit them all in with a wide angle lens. Telephoto lenses can help get better images of things that are further away from your camera. Fish eye lenses are common, magnifiers can help you get up close, and inexpensive filters can add special effects.

The lens of your camera phone, just as on a standalone digital camera, is the most important part of the device in capturing quality images. For it to function properly, you need to take care of it. It should be clean and lint free. It should be kept dry and cleaned only with cleaners made especially for camera lenses. Microfiber cloths are sufficient for removing dust and light fingerprints. Lens pens can be great for more stubborn problems.

The lens should be protected from scratches. If your camera phone doesn't have an electronic lens cover, then a case is wise to use.

Getting your own picture can be a bit tricky. Certainly a self-timer helps by allowing you to take the shot without having to trigger the shutter button. It helps to keep the camera steady. Of course a self-portrait mirror helps you place yourself within the frame the way you want. You can find small stick-on convex mirrors that can do the job if you affix them near the lens of your camera phone.

Camera phones are notorious for their limited low light performance. If your camera phone doesn't have a flash, you can add one in some instances. Some photographers add an external slave flash to provide more light than their camera phone flash can provide or they use an external LED light to add illumination as well.

Photo Credits:
Introduction: TheAllNewAdventuresofMe.
Combating Blurry Images: Titanas

Getting More Creative: Marco Gomes