What are the essential accessories for a new Canon EOS camera?

Question

What do I actually need to buy for my new Canon EOS R6 before I take it out for street photography this weekend? Honestly I'm so annoyed because I just dropped 2k on the body here in Chicago and now I'm seeing all these hidden costs. I read online that I absolutely need a UV filter to protect the lens but then these other guys on YouTube say they are a waste of money and just make the photos look soft. Also the SD card thing is a mess... do I really need those expensive V90 cards for just taking stills? I'm already way over my budget and just want to know what is actually essential and what is just fluff.

XyloXpress · Accepted Answer

@Reply #1 - good point! Just curious tho, what specific lenses are you taking out this weekend? Knowing the size helps for filters. I've been very satisfied with these protection methods:

Hoya 77mm NXT Plus UV Filter - basically invisible and keeps the lens clean.

Canon EW-83N Lens Hood - great for physical bumps during street walks. Both work well, tho the hood is my favorite for blocking glare too.

gskemwrfrq · Answer

Wow ok that changes things. Gonna have to rethink my approach now.

samuel_coleman · Answer

Hey, yeah the gear trap is real and it hits hard after dropping that much on a body. Chicago is a great spot for street photography tho. For stills, you definitely dont need V90 cards. Those are mostly for high bitrate 4k or 8k video work. A SanDisk Extreme Pro 128GB SDXC UHS-I V30 is plenty fast for street stuff and wont break the remaining budget. You could grab a V60 card like the Lexar Professional 1667x 128GB SDXC UHS-II if you plan on doing heavy high-speed bursts of the CTA trains or something, but honestly V30 is usually fine for standard single-shot stills. Regarding the UV filter debate, just skip it for now. Unless you are shooting in a literal sandstorm, a cheap filter just adds flare and degrades your image quality. Just use a lens hood to protect the front element from bumps. Its way more effective and doesnt mess with your optics. Since you are hitting the streets this weekend, you really do need a spare battery. Mirrorless cameras like the R6 eat power way faster than the old DSLRs. Get at least one Canon LP-E6NH Lithium-Ion Battery Pack so you dont get stuck with a dead brick halfway through the day. Also, the stock neck strap is pretty uncomfortable for long walks. I usually swap it for the Peak Design Slide Lite Camera Strap because it lets you carry the camera at your side. Just stick to one good card and a battery for now. The rest is just noise.