Some people call photography a hobby, some call it a full-time occupation, and others say it's just something they do a little bit when they're having a good time. I often think of it as the "white horse." In case you missed Laid Back's big hit by that name or are under the impression I'm making some kind of merry-go-round reference, let me be clear: I'm talking about a habit that will captivate you with the elation of getting a great shot and watching it materialize on a smooth sheet of paper or a big, sparkling screen, then steal all your time, spend all your money, and leave you wishing you had just another $100 for a multicoated polarizing filter. If you're into video, it's probably only a matter of time before you start pilfering your mother's jewelry and lying to your significant other about how you spent the afternoon (only the fallen understand how you can lose a whole day just editing and reediting a two-minute clip).

Along with the scent of autumn in the air, I smell danger. We've entered the season of preholiday advertising, and this year is even more perilous than the last for those of us who are easily mesmerized by photographic baubles dangling before our eyes. That's because it's a Photokina year. Every other autumn, Köln, Germany, is overrun by an international horde of photo fanatics who have come to wander in a daze through the vast expanse of shiny new gear laid out by manufacturers. The impressive quantity of new camera announcements we've seen in the weeks before the show, which opens on September 28, signals just how overwhelming the number of temptations will be. If you've been waiting for your options to expand before buying a camera, your moment has arrived. A raft of point-and-shoots have been announced in the lead-up to Photokina, and the consumer dSLR market has grown to include promising new models from Canon, Konica Minolta, Pentax, and Olympus.

Identifying the critical upgrade
But what do you make of all the new stuff if you've already bought a camera and have a little left to spend? One reader who must have sensed the impending photo-equipment deluge wrote in a couple weeks ago with this very question. He explains:

"I recently received a gift of $500 from a relative...I purchased a Nikon D70 a while ago, with the kit lens and a 1GB Lexar CompactFlash card, so I have the essentials taken care of. My question is what I should focus on next. Should it be a sturdier tripod and mount, a good flash, perhaps a better zoom lens, a photography or Photoshop class, or some assorted accessories? Every time I think I have it figured out, something else vies for my cash...Besides the camera and lens, what do you consider to be a critical upgrade?"

Even though I know the real story is probably that you hocked your relative's diamond cuff links to get the $500, I'm going to try to help you out:

1. Pick one type of photographic subject and buy the basic gear you need to capture it at the highest quality level you can reasonably afford. Even if you have to choose arbitrarily, devote your attention and funds to a limited goal. For example, if you choose portraits, that might mean buying a fast 105mm lens and some light reflectors. Your eye and hand will improve, and you'll get a better idea of what you like to shoot and which gear you need to do it. If you conclude that you've picked the wrong subject, you can sell that high-quality gear and buy what you need for another type of subject.
2. Get a couple of good books and take free online classes (you can start with CNET's classes at Help.com) before you pay for a course. I like the books that show photos along with diagrams of how they were set up, with light sources, camera-to-subject distance, and so on. F+W Publications offers some of them. Taking a class from a talented instructor is great, but if you have limited funds, you can learn a lot for free on the Web or sitting in the cafe of your local bookstore. Building a foundation of general knowledge will help you make a better choice when you have money for a class in the future.
3. Shop for quality, not quantity. Carrying too much gear around can be a pitfall. First of all, it's heavy--there's often a physical aspect to photography, especially videography, so it's best not to impede your movement if you don't have to. Second, it can lead you to spend a lot of time switching lenses and fiddling with gadgets instead of thinking about how to get the most interesting results with just one lens or technique.
4. Consider buying a prime (fixed focal length) lens instead of a more expensive zoom lens. Working with the limitation of a particular focal length can make you a more creative, resourceful photographer.
5. Consider buying third-party lenses. If you have a digital SLR, your options in this area are expanding quickly. Third-party optics manufacturers such as Sigma and Tamron are coming out with lots of new lenses that are optimized for digital cameras.
6. Don't forget about teleconverters and extension tubes. They increase the versatility of your optics and are generally much less expensive (and bulky) than another lens. Check the Web site of your camera manufacturer for information on available tubes and converters.
7. Don't buy a tripod until you miss not having one. If you find yourself doing a lot of long exposures or want to concentrate on still-life, macro, or low-light photography, by all means get one. Likewise, if you're shooting video, a set of legs with a fluid head will go a long way toward improving your footage when you're not moving around with the camera. But don't buy a tripod just because it seems like a good idea in general.
8. Unless you travel a lot, don't buy a camera bag until you've put together your set of equipment. A well-made camera bag can be quite expensive, and I don't think it's worthwhile to buy a cheap one. Buy a couple of cloth camera wraps to protect your equipment while it's in a backpack or a shoulder bag and wait to get a camera bag until you know exactly what type you need and what you'll put in it.
9. Consider buying used equipment. Over the years, I've had numerous good experiences purchasing photo gear from sellers on Craigslist and eBay, as well as from KEH. Just make sure any lenses you buy have clean glass.
10. Borrow or rent before you buy. If it won't take too much out of your budget, try out the equipment you're contemplating buying for a day before making a decision. Anyone in an urban area should be able to find a camera store that rents equipment. Make sure the store you buy from has a decent return policy and use the equipment you've bought before the return period expires to make sure it's what you need.

I know what you're probably thinking now: This is all well and good, but will you just tell me what to buy??? OK, OK--buy an external flash unit. Photography is all about making good use of light, so there's a lot you can learn--in both technical and aesthetic terms--from acquiring the skill of using a controllable light source. An external flash will be a big improvement over a built-in one if you use it well, and it can increase your creative options in any lighting situation. For a video camera, buy an external microphone and some headphones to plug into your camera so that you can monitor the sound being captured. Bad audio is the bane of amateur video. And whatever type of camera you have, buy a few basic maintenance items, including a UV filter and a good-quality brush for keeping your lens clean. Protect the investment you've already made.

I'm on my way out to the pawnshop right now, but I'll be back later to see what you have to say about this. What was the best camera accessory purchase you've ever made? What was the least useful? TalkBack to me!