Indispensable little accessories

not so much in my bag but on it,
I travell alought and i carry a ton of junk with me, becuase i might need it and i have it so i should bring it with, so my bag is heavvvy its a domke J1 jounalist bag so it can fit a ton and my shoulders hurt alot in airports and what not, and i suffer from the same thing but worse with my dive bag that weighs in at around 80 pounds so i went on ebay and bought 4 golf club bag replacement straps for 2 dollars each and 5 dollars or so shipping, moddified them to use carabiners instead of plastick clips or cheap metal clips. and wallah no more sore burning shoulder from a lightly padded 1.5 inch strap. it works perfect, and it should golf bags are heavey and they are meant to be carried all day.

additions, zeiss wet cloths, 3m micro fiber lens cloth, a garbage bag for when it rains, or when i go from air con to warm weather or winter to indoors, just put the plastic bag around your camera bag and seal it up a bit then wait an hour or so befor taking it out so that the contents dont get a bunch of condenation in them. also i carry a sarong with me as it works out as a nice ground mat if i need to lay some things out and it is big enough that if the wind picks up i can wrap it around my gear to keep sand and what not out

With a forthcoming trip to Darwin (and maybe Nepal), I thought it might be instructive to mention a few of the other gadgets that come with me:

1. Travel towel
The microfibre travel-towel is useful to wipe sweat (and other things) off camera gear in hot humid climates. It doesn't take up much space, but often handy.

2. Swiss Army Knife
Having a knife makes it easier to explore under bark for creepy-crawlies, detach leeches, bee-stings and dig parasites out from under your skin. The tweezer can make it easier to remove barbs from vegetation.

3. Comfortable camera straps
Hanging a camera off your neck or shoulder that isn't comfortable will aggravate and annoy you. It can lead to neck pains. The camera straps that come with cameras are typically too narrow.

I use a wide tamrac suede strap that has foam lining inside the suede. It works for me.

4. Rubber bands
Good to help secure improvised rain covers onto a camera and lens

I copied this list from an old web page I used to have up.
Formatting didn't copy well, read patiently.

"" The other photographic tools list ""

I doubt anyone would need all or even a quarter of this stuff on any given outing, but pick and choose as you need.

Warning: many items here will not make it through airport security.!!


Penknife     Whether a simple one blade penknife or a multipurpose "Swiss Army" knife, always handy. Remove before traveling on airlines.
Electricians Tape     
Duct (Duck) tape     
Gaffers Tape     Preferred tape of photographers as it comes off easily and leaves little or no residue
Flashlight     For night shooting a small flashlight is a must. To conserve night vision, the addition of a red filter is recommended. A larger flashlight can be used for light painting.
Caribiners     Small and regular size to gang things, clip them to your pack, keep them from bumping, etc.
Garbage bag     Before coming in to the warmth from cold weather, put your entire photo bag into the plastic bag. Force out all of the air and twist tight. Bring inside and let rise to room temp over an hour or so. Prevents condensation.
Coins     As a screwdriver for battery compartments, to make payphone calls and for parking meters.
Leatherman tool (multipurpose)     Great multi tool for all reasons
Aspirin, Tylenol, Advil     Headaches, sprains happen
Band aids     Cuts
Pad of paper, Pencil, Pen     Note taking
Business Cards      You never know when contact info should be exchanged
Model Release Forms     If shots might be published, sold, etc.
Invoice blanks     If invoicing for payment occurs on site
Proposal blanks (or pro-forma invoices)     If a proposal for services is made on site
Small screwdrivers     Camera parts sometimes come loose for mysterious reasons
Condom (non-lubed)     Protect camera lens from rain (Ok, won't work with an 80-200 f/2.8 ... but smaller lenses..) Also to store a variety of small odds and ends and keep them dry.
Long twist ties     To hang things or to hold together. Fishing for dropped parts.
Double sided (tape) Velcro strips     To hold up backdrops and a million other things
Wide elastic bands (like the ones used to tie asparagus at the supermarket)     Help with stuck filters
Pliers (apart from Leatherman)     
Scissors     Might be built into the larger Swiss Army knives
Knife     A larger knife for some situations is useful
Exacto Knife     For precise cutting of foam boards, paper props, etc.
Red lens cover for flashlight     Conserves night vision
Split rings on packs for caribiners     Add to packs and bags so caribiners can be quickly used
Baby wipes      Hands can get dirty, this is a quick cleanup. Impromptu portraits of kids (of all ages) may need a quick face/hand wash
Small Level     For landscape, architecture shots (anything needing a 'level' camera) Levels that fit the flash accessory bracket are available
Tape measure     Documentary shots; measuring materials on location.
Spring clamps     A bit bulky, but can be used to hold things in place
Disposable rain poncho     In case of rain, or as a sun shade, reflector, scrim, gobo.
String (heavy, light)     More prop material
Foam core art board     Mounting, refletors, gobo, background
Mini bungee cords     More prop material and can be used to hold things together
Bungee cords      As above. Can also be used attached to tripod with weight of foot to add stability by pressing to ground
Ziplock bags (large)     Protect parts from moisture/condensation/dirt
Compass, Sun Compass     With maps to orient and navigate. A sun compass is not as practical in most cases
Memo/Tape recorder     A compact memo recorder is great for taking notes on exposure, location details, etc.
Paper towels/napkins/towels     Cleanups are always around the corner. Sitting models in certain places may require protecting their clothes. A towel is extra padding to protect gear. Can also be used as a rest for long focal length and or long shutter speed shots
Umbrella     Protect your equipment (you too if there's room!) from unexpected rain
Can be used to block light from reaching the lens and causing flare
Sunscreen     Don't get burned. Note that some sunscreens may damage camera parts and optical coatings
Bug repellant     Warning: Some bug repellents may damage camera parts and optical coatings
Ground pad     If a lot of sitting, squatting, lying down is in your photo day.
Fire starter     This is more in the 'survival' category
Lighter, matches     C'mon baby light my fire...
Snake bite kit     C'mon baby suck my bite...
Cord     More prop support
Monofilament (fishing line)     Prop support or you never know what may be biting
Straight pins     Props and clothing repair
Mints, Clorrets      Be kind
Tampons     At weddings or other social events be the hero.
Rubber tubing     Great to tie down props
Safety pins     Props and clothing repair
Tie wraps (self locking)     Very secure attachments
Mirror     Various uses from weddings to survival
Water bottle (collapsible)     Don't get dehydrated
Water treatment tablets     If you need to drink from the wild, running water (a stream or fast river) is cleaner than a pond or lake. Use water treatment tablets to avoid the revenge of local ghosts. Boiling water for 20 minutes is effective too.
First aid kit     Even a small kit will help for those cuts and abrasions that occur on a hike or location shoot
Orange safety tape     Mark dangerous areas, signal for help
Compact Fishing Kit     Another in the 'survival' category
Hand warmer     Chemical based pouch where you 'snap' a metal part, and the pouch releases heat for an hour or so. Pouch can be restored by simply boiling it in water
Space blanket     Beyond the survival category (conserve heat, signal), can be used as a reflector or gobo.
Coin like variable thickness screwdriver     Coin-screwdriver
Box cutter     Very sharp knife for various uses
Lint removal roller     Someone always shows up with lint
Index cards     Record info, people's e-mail addresses, etc
Water sprayer     Dewy water shots of flowers and spider webs
GPS     Navigate, record points of interest
Machete     Nature shooting sometimes requires cutting out a 'niche'. Survival tool too.
Flint & steel      Survival category (fire starter)
Folded piece of aluminum foil or a whole roll in the lighting props bag     As a reflector, gobo, signaler, to keep things in, etc, etc.
Party noise maker     Survival, to signal to group, to warn large animals that you are coming (they'd rather avoid you)
Compact high energy food     Long days and treks require food
Spare eye glasses     In case you lose/break a pair
Sharpie (permanent marker pen)     Writes on many surfaces, including the film canister that you just underexposed by two stops and consequently needs a 'push'
Allen wrench (Allen keys)     Part of tripod adjustments in the field
"Surefire" torch     Very quick fire starter
Short brass tube     Use as a blower
Sewing kit     
Shower cap (cheap hotel giveaway type)     Protect gear in rain
Handkerchief with name/home address     Expose first frame with mailing data in case film gets lost in processing.
Bean bag     Lens stabilizer
Sun hat     
Knee pads (a la construction worker)     Low level work is a pain...
Tweezers     
Silverized windscreen protector     Use as fill light reflector or gobo
Avery labels     
Maps     
6 inch (15cm) ruler     Usually for documenting. Place in image with subject
4 way screwdriver     Another multitool
Kleenex     
Emory boards     to clean battery terminals/contacts
Super glue     You never know what might need a quick repair
White pantyhose     Weddings (the hero role again)
Section of black pantyhose     quickie softening filter (use rubber band to hold it in place)
Sewing needle     
Thread (black, white, grey, blue)     
Bottle opener     Often in "Swiss Army" knives and there are still bottled products that don't have twist off caps
Corkscrew     Again, often in Swiss Army knives. During breaks, du pain, du vin et du Boursin is a nice way to relax.
Toothbrush, tooth paste     After the pain, vin et Boursin
small combination lock     Where lockers may be provided
Florists wire     strong, non marking wire to hang things
A short length of old film leader     to retrieve film leaders from rewound (oops) canisters
Thermos     Preferably with something to drink in it
Spare shoe/boot laces     They break too, usually at the worst time
Small step ladder     Could be part of a rolling toolbox

aegisphan wrote: I find that lens tissue is too rough.

Lens tissue (eg Kodak) is meant to be used with a cleaner (eg Kodak lens cleaner) in tiny amounts. I've been using it for 20 years with no seen negative effect on my lenses.

1. Clean with the cleaner (less than a tiny drop) in a wadded tissue.
2. Use a dry tissue for any excess or streaks.

Face it, lens glass and coatings are VERY hard. Lens tissue won't harm the lens or coating.

Just a few odd items in addition to the more usual items:

Hand "Wet Wipes".

Small pack of tissues.

Headache tablets.

If I'm using the backpack I'll also carry an ex-army Poncho that folds flat and can be made into a shelter.

Edited by RobY - 15 April 2010 at 15:01

nigelbrooks wrote: I am also told it floats. Must try to check that out someday -NOT.

Maybe a smart idea to check out how well it floats, by taking the camera stuff out of it, fill it with pebbles and try to put it into a tub of water at home and check out if any water has entered and whether the combination actually floated. That knowledge might come in handy in a pinch !

Edited by roweraay - 07 July 2010 at 15:34