10 must-have accessories for your Nikon Z mirrorless camera

Filters

A polarising filter is a simple but fantastic tool for photography. Using the same science as polarised sunglasses, it reduces glare and reflections – perfect if you are shooting bodies of water or through a window. It can also enhance the colour of blue skies, creating dramatic effects. Neutral density (ND) filters are used to control exposure in bright lighting, meaning you can achieve effects with reduced aperture or longer shutter speeds without overexposure. You can also get graduated ND filters that get lighter from top to bottom (and in a variety of grades and colours). These are great for adding a moody sky without changing the exposure on the lower part of the landscape. Remember that you are essentially putting another piece of glass in front of your expensive lens, so it’s always worth spending a little more on quality. And, when buying a screw-in filter, make sure you get the same diameter as the lens you’ll be using it on.

Take a look at the Nikon range of filters here and our guide to using filters here. 

Spare batteries

Even though battery technology has improved markedly in recent years, you don’t want to be caught short of power when the moment arrives. Pro photographers always have spare, fully charged batteries in their bag just in case. Whether you’re shooting sport, wildlife, travel or in a studio, there’s not always time (or the facility) to recharge the camera, so at least one spare battery that can be changed in seconds can be a real lifesaver.

Get the correct battery or charger for your Nikon mirrorless camera here.

Editing software (stills and video)

Some people are perfectly happy with JPEGs straight from the camera, and with Picture Control on Nikon Z mirrorless cameras you can create stunning, creative results. But for many, editing RAW files is preferable as it offers total control over the final result. Editing is also an essential skill for those taking video. One of the best ways to start with stills is with Nikon’s own NX Studio – a fully featured photo editor that’s easy to use, can generate ready-to-post JPEGs and is completely free! Find out more here. For video, professionals tend to use programmes such as Adobe Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve or Apple’s Final Cut Pro. Many manufacturers offer a free trial period or a free cut-down version if you’re just starting out and want to have a go. And, if you’re on a Mac, even iMovie can work well for beginners.

Remote

Even with Vibration Reduction and a tripod, there are times when you won’t want to touch the camera to release the shutter. With landscapes or astrophotography with a long shutter speed, video work – or even if you just want to be in the shot – you’ll need some form of remote release. This can be wired or wireless and can be as simple as a corded release with one button up to a remote grip with full functionality of the camera. And don’t forget, you can also use Nikon’s free SnapBridge app as a remote for your camera.

To see the options available for remotes, click here.

FTZ II mount adapter

For the seasoned Nikon user who has made the move to mirrorless, the FTZII adapter is an essential purchase. The FTZII mount adapter allows you to mount NIKKOR F mount lenses on the Z mount with no loss of quality, so you can still use the lenses you’ve collected and loved over the years. Around 360 NIKKOR lenses can be attached to the FTZII, with the vast majority retaining auto exposure and 94 having full AF/AE capabilities. 

For more on the FTZII adapter see here.

Camera cage

As you progress in either stills or video, and want to attach accessories, a cage starts looking like a must-have. As well as adding protection to your camera, cages allow you to not only attach things such as lights, monitors and mics to your camera, but actually change the way you work. Handles attached to a cage, either at the sides or on the top, give you access to new shooting angles, while attaching a monitor raises your awareness of what’s going on in the scene.

For more on using a cage, read here and explore cages for your camera here. 

Microphone

A great video needs great sound. And although the internal mic on a Nikon Z mirrorless camera is perfect for quick clips, for a truly professional look and sound an external microphone is a great investment. Microphones come in different styles for different scenarios and are usually split between directional mics that attach to the camera or cage and wireless, lavalier-style mics that are attached to the lapel of a speaker. Sennheiser and RØDE are the two leading brands in microphones. To see a selection of styles, click here.

Read more: What sound captures do I need for professional vidoegraphy?

Tripod

At some point, every photographer or videographer needs a tripod. Wildlife or sports photographers with long, heavy lenses will have a tripod or monopod to take the weight and keep everything steady. Still life and product photographers need a tripod to keep the camera in exactly the same place for each shot. Landscape and astrophotographers use a tripod to take long exposures. Videographers need to ensure correct positioning of cameras in a scene and avoid movement that could take away from what’s happening on screen. Even vloggers need a small tripod to hold the camera.

Having your camera on a tripod also leaves your hands free to do other things and helps to avoid tiredness on long sessions. Tripods come in many different sizes, including ones small enough for a backpack or a desktop, and there are different head attachments available so you can orient the camera in any way you like.

Manfrotto makes some of the best tripods available.