06/03/2026 4:37 am
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RF Mount Camera & Lens Forum
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What kind of extra gear is actually essential for someone who just bought a Canon EOS R series camera? I finally pulled the trigger on an EOS R8 because I wanted to take better photos of my sisters wedding in Seattle next month but now that I have the box in my hands I feel totally lost and kind of stupid for not realizing how much more stuff goes into this hobby. I saved up for nearly six months working part-time to afford the kit and now my bank account is looking pretty sad so I really need to know what to prioritize after the $1500 I already spent.
The battery that came with it seems tiny and it died so fast just while I was trying to figure out how to turn off the beep sounds in the menu which makes me really nervous for the actual wedding day. Do I need like three or four of them or is there a way to charge it while I'm using it? And then there are the memory cards which are so confusing because some are labeled v30 or v60 and the prices are all over the place and I dont want the camera to stop working right in the middle of the vows because the card was too slow or something.
I also keep seeing people mention these things:
- uv filters for the front of the lens to stop scratches
- extra batteries or some kind of external power
- a real bag because right now I am just using a padded mailer inside my old school backpack
- cleaning kits with the little air blowers
Is a tripod necessary for a wedding if I am just standing in the back or can I just hold it? I am so worried about dropping it or scratching the glass part since I dont even have a lens cap leash and I know I am gonna lose that little plastic cover within a week. I honestly have no idea where to start or if I should just buy a big bundle on amazon but people say those are cheap quality and might break the camera. If you only had like 200 dollars left what would you buy first so you dont ruin your new camera or miss the important shots...
5 Answers
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06/03/2026 5:10 am
The R8 is a total power hog so I get the anxiety. That tiny battery only has 1040mAh which is basically nothing for a full-frame sensor. Be careful with those generic Amazon bundles tho... most of that stuff is just filler junk. Here is how I would spend that last $200:
- Get one genuine Canon LP-E17 Lithium-Ion Battery Pack. Third-party ones are hit or miss and often dont show the battery level on your screen, which is super sketchy during a ceremony.
- For the card, look at the Lexar Professional 1667x 128GB SDXC UHS-II V60. The V60 rating means it can keep up with the data bursts. A slow card might literally freeze your camera while it tries to save files.
- Grab a real bag like the Peak Design Everyday Sling 3L. Using a mailer is risky because one good bump could knock the lens mount or sensor out of whack. Skip the tripod. Handholding is fine for weddings.
10
06/03/2026 5:40 am
I am super satisfied with my R8, but you definitely need more juice. Since your budget is tight, grab the Wasabi Power Battery 2-Pack for Canon LP-E17—it works well and saves cash, tbh. Also, get a SanDisk 128GB Extreme PRO SDXC UHS-I V30 card for reliability. Forget the tripod, just use a Giottos Rocket Air Blaster Large for dust... TL;DR: Prioritize Wasabi batteries and a solid SanDisk card.
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29/03/2026 6:40 am
Can vouch for this
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06/03/2026 4:37 am
TL;DR: Prioritize extra batteries and a fast card. I definitely agree that the battery situation is your biggest hurdle. Over the years, I've seen many people miss the cake cutting because their last bar started flashing. In my experience, you'll want at least three total batteries for a full wedding day since the R8 is pretty power-hungry. Just make sure you get a dedicated external charger too.
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19/03/2026 5:41 pm
TIL! Thanks for sharing
