In the past, when I traveled, I would take a DSLR camera to take pictures and even take pictures, but as the quality of mobile phone cameras got better and better, slowly my SLR cameras were kept in moisture-proof boxes for many years, and I rarely took them out again, and most of them were mobile phones to go to the end of the world.
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However, if you’re like a moderator who uses your smartphone to take travel photos, what are some useful accessories you need to have? This article will sort out eight must-have accessories for your mobile phone. Check it out below!
Tripod: Stability for Stunning Shots Accessories
If you travel and like to take vlogs, a tripod is basically one of the must-have accessories, especially for capturing beautiful scenery or taking perfect time-lapse photos. Tripods come in different shapes and sizes, and looking for a lightweight and foldable miniature tripod can be quite convenient, in addition to having a good grip on the phone and having a flexible “feet” that can be wrapped around a pole or uneven surface for interesting shooting angles but is also convenient to carry around. Some tripods can even be used as selfie artifacts. No matter what kind of tripod you use, using a tripod can improve the quality of video recording on your phone.
Gimbal: Smooth Motion Accessories, Steady Shots
If you have a place to put a tripod, a tripod can help eliminate shaking, but if you want to move around with your phone and still get a smooth video, you can choose to use a gimbal equipped with a motor and sensors that can counteract your movement and bring stability to your videos. Even if you’re running, walking, or dancing, you can shoot smooth and stable footage.
External Microphone: Crystal-Clear Audio on the Go
Your phone’s built-in microphone may be good for recording short voice memos, but it may not be good if you’re traveling for filming because your phone’s built-in microphone tends to pick up all the noise, such as background noise, wind noise, and so on. If you don’t want these noises and want clear audio, an external microphone is basically a necessity for interviewers and vloggers. There are two main types of external microphones on mobile phones: lavalier microphones and shotgun microphones. The former is better for interviews, and the latter is suitable for capturing great audio from a distance. Most external microphones can be plugged directly into your phone’s 3.5mm headphone jack or USB-C slot and ready to go, making them a small investment and a high-return accessory if you’re looking for video sound quality.
External Lens: Expand Your Filmmaking Horizons
An external lens is a set of accessories that provide a wider shooting angle, ultra-close-range shooting, and the ability to zoom at a long distance. For example, there are mobile phone camera lens kits that come with macro lenses, fisheye lenses, telephoto lenses, and other accessories. Each lens allows you to enhance your film in different ways: a macro lens allows you to shoot tiny things up close, a wide-angle lens is good for capturing beautiful landscapes, and a telephoto lens zooms in on things far away. The external lens adds a slight vignette or softening effect to the edges, which is quite good when shooting movies. In addition to that, the different lenses are generally portable and can be changed quickly, so it is quite convenient.
External Charging: Power Up Your Filming Sessions
If you’re going to shoot on a trip, you’re bound to run into a low battery, and you’ll have quite a headache when you see only 5% of the battery left. So, if you’re traveling to film, be sure to bring a reliable external battery that will allow you to work on the film without having to look for a plug. External batteries come in many different capacities, and the larger the mAh, the more power it can provide to the phone. A small-capacity urine bag may be sufficient for short shooting, but it is not suitable for long-distance travel, so if you need to shoot for a long time, you should buy a large-capacity external battery, such as the 42800mAh external charger that can be found on Amazon.
Automatic Tracking Device: Stay Centered, Stay Focused
Auto-tracking devices are great for independent YouTubers as well as vloggers, as they will want to keep themselves in the frame without constantly checking their angles. These gadgets are usually built into the gimbal or used as a separate phone holder, which is basically a miniature robotic arm that rotates the phone to follow the subject.
There are many great uses for auto-tracking devices, such as keeping track of your own movement around the kitchen while filming a cooking lesson or how many places you’ve conquered when you’re documenting your adventures. There are many different styles of auto-tracking devices on the market, some for as little as $30 , that use a built-in camcorder to track your face.
Teleprompter: Elevate Your On-Camera Presence
When recording a video, if you choke while talking, it will make the whole video very embarrassing. And the teleprompter is the secret weapon that allows you to speak fluently and confidently in front of the camera. Think of it as a virtual cue card that scrolls through your speech right below the camera lens, allowing you to read it naturally and look as if you’re looking at your audience rather than your phone. A teleprompter can enhance your video presentation and is perfect for demonstrations, interviews, or teaching.
There are two ways to use a teleprompter: you can invest in fancy hardware such as the $280 Elgato Prompter, or you can download an app. There are quite a few teleprompter apps for Android on the market, such as Teleprompter for Video, which lets you import your transcripts and control the scrolling speed. The movie teleprompter can also be used in floating windows, so you can use it with your favorite camera app.
LED Light: Illuminate Your Shots and Enhance Your Videos
Without a fill light, indoor footage may appear dull and grainy, and half of your face may be hidden in the shadows when recording outdoors. Thankfully, LED lights can cast a natural glow while eliminating shadows and making your footage look elegant and professional. LED lights are also flexible, and most are dimmable, so you can adjust the brightness depending on your surroundings. If you are conducting an indoor interview, then the LED lights will remove those annoying shadows on the interviewee’s face. The LED lights also highlight every little detail when shooting product demonstrations, and some even have different color temperatures, allowing you to switch from warm to cool depending on your mood.
In conclusion, these eight accessories are essential companions for any traveler relying on their smartphone to capture memorable moments. From stability to audio quality to lighting, each accessory enhances your filming capabilities, ensuring your travel videos are nothing short of spectacular. Elevate your storytelling and share your adventures with the world using these must-have tools.
