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What are the essential accessories for a Sony a7 IV street photography kit?

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I just got this really expensive camera the Sony a7 IV because I wanted to take photos of people in the city when I go to Chicago next month but honestly I have no idea what I'm doing. I feel kinda dumb even asking this but like what else do I actually need to carry around? The guy at the store tried to sell me a bunch of stuff like filters and extra batteries and this giant bag but I just want to keep it simple and not look like a huge tourist. I have about 400 bucks left for extras. Is there anything that is like a must have for just walking around for hours? Like do I need a special strap or something so my neck doesn't hurt? I'm totally lost...


5 Answers
12

OMG you are gonna love that camera! The a7 IV is basically the perfect tool for Chicago. To keep it simple and comfy, here is what I use:


10

Building on the earlier suggestion, you really want to stay low-key in a city like Chicago. Giant camera bags are basically magnets for attention, so I would go with a stealthy sling instead.

  • Bellroy Venture Sling 6L
  • This one is solid because it looks like a regular cross-body bag but fits the a7 IV and a spare lens easily.
  • LensPen NLP-1 Cleaning Tool
  • Youll definitely get dust or smudges on the lens while walking around. This is tiny and fits in a pocket.
  • SanDisk 128GB Extreme PRO SDXC UHS-II V60
  • Since you want to save some cash from that 400 bucks, these are way cheaper than the top-tier cards but still plenty fast for street shots. Its a learning curve for sure, but honestly just keep the camera in Aperture Priority mode at first... it makes things way less stressful while youre out there. You're gonna do fine!





5

You might want to be careful about storage speed for that camera. Id suggest these:


2

Honestly its ridiculous how much they expect us to pay just to get out the door with a camera these days. I felt exactly the same way when I got mine... just totally overwhelmed and kind of annoyed at how much extra junk they try to push. It feels like a total scam sometimes because you spend all this money on the body and then realize you need another few hundred just for the basics. I have had such bad luck with gear lately:

  • Accessories that feel like cheap plastic but cost a fortune
  • Straps that are supposed to be comfy but end up killing your shoulder
  • Brand name stuff that just doesnt live up to the hype It really drives me crazy that quality seems to be going downhill while prices keep climbing. I went through a whole phase of buying things I thought were essential only to have them fail on me during a shoot, which was super disappointing. Just be careful out there because some of these store recommendations are honestly just them trying to clear stock. Its tough starting out tho, especially when you just want to take photos without feeling like a target or a tourist. Im here if you want to chat more about what to avoid, I have seen it all at this point.


2

Late to the thread here, but looking at your kit, the internal stabilization on the a7 IV really changes how you approach accessories. I have found that you dont need nearly as much support equipment as people suggest. When I first transitioned from my old DSLR setup, I was obsessed with having the perfect bag and multiple filters for every situation. It was a very methodical process of trying to optimize every ounce of weight. That logic totally failed me when I spent a month traveling through rural Italy tho. This massive kit I brought was supposed to prepare me for every lighting scenario, but it mostly stayed in the hotel. I spent the whole time just using one lens and a basic shoulder strap I found in a local shop. It made me realize that the more I thought about the gear, the less I thought about the composition. I spent so much time worrying about whether my sensor was getting dusty that I missed a perfect shot of a festival in the square. Anyway, the camera is a tool, not a lifestyle... but yeah.





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