Handy little things in your bag... what do you have???

[markelliot]

Hi all...

I was just wandering what handy wee gadgets or items people carry in their camera bags... and why?

I always carry a wee torch, swiss army knife, a few plastic bags and rubber bands... but looking for other usefull gems from people!

Mark

[Joe T]

Earplugs for drag racing and F1! :D

[animal168]

gaffa tape :thumbs: always have some wrapped around tripod or stuck inside bag. very handy stuff

[jolsterj]

plasters, packet of tissues, celotape,

[Nikon Man]

A tool for removing stones from horses hoofs..:p

[Flash In The Pan]

A camera....:shrug:

[candlestick]

Dead flash batterys! :D

[Veracocha]

A PDA with Collins Bird guide loaded on it.

[Loopy]

Leatherman
Piece of string (if no tripod available)
Lipgloss

[mastertrinity]

a little book for writing any notes about the camera e.g. how to turn on the camera
an army knife
a reading book for when i stay out for ages
a mini flatpack tent (if needed)
and very important food and coke lol

[Mike Hoyer]

Set of screwdrivers. On my second set now, after I forgot to take them out before going through Stansted airport. Only found them on the second time through though...

[Liam]

Light meter.

[welly]

Pretty much my entire life. Everything I own (more or less) lives in my camera bag and that comes with me everywhere. Camera gearwise - remote trigger, lenspen, rocket blower, spare rechargeable AAs, USB cable or memory card reader, ball bungees (these are brilliant).

[dseered]

Durex, Gaffa tape on the lens hoods, Space Blanket, dayglow tabard, PL Insurance, Golden Virginia pouch, Rizla and Swan Filters, Rizla wrapped in cling film, cereal bars and dried fruit, dog biscuits, a book, i-pod and headphones. I am looking at my bag, can't be arsed to go to to it and see what else is in there !

[gazedd]

Durex, Gaffa tape on the lens hoods, Space Blanket, dayglow tabard, PL Insurance, Golden Virginia pouch, Rizla and Swan Filters, Rizla wrapped in cling film, cereal bars and dried fruit, dog biscuits, a book, i-pod and headphones. I am looking at my bag, can't be arsed to go to to it and see what else is in there !


Lighter... hehe!

[schrismonkey]

a leatherman is a must and an emergencychoc bar (that always gets eaten) a binbag

and a notebook

[dseered]

Lighter... hehe!

Oh yeah, I am going to buy 10 of the bloody things, all very well having the kit to make a fag, no good on a nature reserve with no-one that smokes !

[annao]

lipgloss, diary, tampax etc...its just an extension of my handbag!

[hashcake]

Lipgloss

Is there some secret photography trick for using lipgloss that no one has told me about? :D

[hashcake]

Durex

I am dying to hear your reason for taking these out when togging!

[Martyn...]

I am dying to hear your reason for taking these out when togging!

Waterproof the lens I would think...and hope :D

[AliB]

Ohh let me see, Notebook and pen. Compass (it's a keyring so it's on a zip) A bin bag folded up for emergency waterproofing. Cereal bars. Spare socks. A hairband (very much needed on windy days)

I wish I'd had allen keys when one leg of my tripod flew off up in the Highlands.

If I'm going anywhere really wild I'll take a load of decent survival gear but that's not in my usual bags.

oh and a monkeh!!! :)

[JDholic]

double post- please delete

[JDholic]

I'll just check, this could take a while.
4d maglite
spare batteries for maglite
walkie-talkies x2
pro plus
post it notes
pen
and Toffee Crisps!!

[Loopy]

Is there some secret photography trick for using lipgloss that no one has told me about? :D

I'm going out on a limb here but i reckon 99% of the female togs will have one in their bag. (possibly some of the men)

You never know when photographer becomes photographed.

I suppose you could smear it on a skylight for a soft focus effect......

[quedash]

Note book , passport, bus fare. light, you never know !!

cheers

[2blue4u]

bottle opener

[Jayst84]

LED torch, lens pen, lots of batteries, water, sun-cream although that's probably not so important back home. :D

[Naboo32]

Garmin eTrex GPS tracker.

After hours, running around the forest in circles, chasing wild birds (the sort with feathers ;)), it's often pretty handy to know which way "home" is :p.

[swanseamale47]

I am dying to hear your reason for taking these out when togging!

Condoms have lots of uses, (as well as the obvious) carrying water (support it in a sock) a spring trigger for traps, keeping muck out of gun barrels, waterproofing things..... and lets face it you never know how lucky you might get.
I carry an LED torch + spare batteries, small back up flash gun, black bag, small first aid kit, pencil and paper, small knife, small market clamp (for taking in slack in clothes) gaffer tape, and a lightweight waterproof jacket. Wayne

[markelliot]

just thought i'd bump this as bought a new camera bag and have more space to fill... so anyone any other handy items lurking it their bags!

M

[chewyuk]

1. Pillowcase
2. Set of Allen Keys
3. Compass
4. Torch
5. Energy Bar
6. Hand Warmers - Those ones you can press the metal clip and they warm up.
7. Box of matches

[ruvor]

hipflask, handwarmers, emergency packet of cigs - i unfortunately seem to have several emergencies a day at the moment.

[leon1p]

- Spare socks for me.. Nothing worse than going home from a car rally with swamp water socks on.

and Camera Instructions

[chewyuk]

hipflask,

Knew I forgot one!!

[68lbs]

1. Pillowcase

WTF?

[chewyuk]

WTF?

Go on - Have a guess :)

[68lbs]

Go on - Have a guess :)

You like to get your head down waiting for some decent light to come along?

You enjoy a spot of solo sack-racing?

You sit on it and don't care if you get a damp arse?

:shrug:

[chewyuk]

The first is so appropriate, but no cigar I'm afraid.

I use it to change lenses in windy, tough, rainy, dusty conditions. Put the camera inside and the lens and hey presto. It's light and works a treat.

[68lbs]

I use it to change lenses in windy, tough, rainy, dusty conditions. Put the camera inside and the lens and hey presto. It's light and works a treat.

Now that's a neat idea! :thumbs:

[steve172]

^^ Pillow case is a good idea!

[Crazyhorse]

Fingerless gloves and woolley hat (even in the summer) I've been to Rotherham you know:lol:
Hair tie
Plastic rain cover
Whistle
Small squeeky toy
Empty crisp packet or similar
Pen
Bottle of water (in one of the outside pockets)
Purse
Car keys
Small torch
Swiss army knife

Lisa :)

[andy_fozzy]

The first is so appropriate, but no cigar I'm afraid.

I use it to change lenses in windy, tough, rainy, dusty conditions. Put the camera inside and the lens and hey presto. It's light and works a treat.

:clap::clap::clap:

[chewyuk]

Re - Pillow case - Sometimes the simple things are so easy to forget.
Just find one the wife isn't using :)

[buckas]

arctic butterfly
dog biscuits
hv20 camcorder

[itsdavedotnet]

another +1 for earplugs.

Surefire EP3s are the way to go if you shoot / film gigs (or I guess motorsport) regularly - for me, you can put an acoustic tube radio earpiece into them, they fit underneath normal headphones, and the attenuation of them is awesome (all of which are important when I'm filming - I often have 2 different things on in ear headphones, and then a seperate talkback feed over the top of that in closed back headphones...). Worth every penny of the £13 or so that they cost. They're designed for tactical police / military etc, and really effective, though you can still hear low level speech etc.

A justin clamp style thing for rigging up a remote strobe / camera is a pretty useful thing to have.
A small cheap mini tripod is great for the same reasons.

A karabiner to attach your camera bag to the bottom of light stands to weigh them down, or attach it to tables / chairs if sitting down or whatever to stop it being stolen from right under your feet.

Pens - a permanent marker (thick) and 2 ballpoint pens.

Small roll of insulation tape - great for holding things to other things, gels to flashes if the velcro fails or whatever, positioning props, etc. Don't use black because then you can't write on it with the above permanent marker.

small microfibre cloth and rocket blower - if you somehow manage to get dust onto your sensor that the rocket blower can't fix, it's time to move to your second body and worry about the sensor at home in favourable conditions with good light, not trying to artic butterfly it in the rain...

photographer's rights leaflets, model release forms.

a lanyard tends to live in mine, I've been at events where theyve given us accreditation badges on pieces of string or really small uncomfortable and unsafe (without safety release catches) lanyards.

[ROFL2K9]

The first is so appropriate, but no cigar I'm afraid.

I use it to change lenses in windy, tough, rainy, dusty conditions. Put the camera inside and the lens and hey presto. It's light and works a treat.

Cool, just wondering though if a see-through plaggy bag would be better so that you can see what you're doing from the outside and to stop fibres from the pillowcase getting in your camera?

[alexisonfire]

lipgloss, diary, tampax etc...its just an extension of my handbag!

Same as Pete Carr...

[Gremlin]

Clothes pegs and string

[Norseman]

I am dying to hear your reason for taking these out when togging!

Hashcake, you are obviously a pessimist, while dseered is an optimist! :D

[andy_fozzy]

arctic butterfly
dog biscuits
hv20 camcorder

:thinking:

[Amp34]

The first is so appropriate, but no cigar I'm afraid.

I use it to change lenses in windy, tough, rainy, dusty conditions. Put the camera inside and the lens and hey presto. It's light and works a treat.

Also you could use it as an emergency bean bag if you find some sand/pebbles to fill an end up?

[kardo]

Tha padding inside the bag:D

[itsdavedotnet]

Tha padding inside the bag:D

apparently the insides of most lowepro bags is approximately 18% grey if you're really desperately stuck for a WB reference :D

[PsiFox]

A camera....:shrug:

No lens then?

[kardo]

apparently the insides of most lowepro bags is approximately 18% grey if you're really desperately stuck for a WB reference :D

exactly

[Chaz Photos]

Lots of the above
PLUS a small miser bottle with water in it

[Kryptix]

Ball Bungees. Found them really useful lately when securing my 580EX II's to posts or whatever.

Good thread.

[andrew748]

mini squeaky rubber chicken

good for kids and dogs

[Phobic]

this is like an episode of the Generation Game :D

Lenspen is there for me, it's a great little thing.

Ipod.

Car keys!

[robbytherobot]

Small squeeky toy
Empty crisp packet or similar


?? :p

[bigbigblue]

A sheep tick removal tool for my planned trip to CAD West :D

[Claymore]

this is like an episode of the Generation Game :D

Lenspen is there for me, it's a great little thing.

Ipod.

Car keys!
Cuddly Toy, Trouser press, Tiffany style table lamp........... Good game!

[jack-thompson]

some plastic covers you never know when it will be raining

[Crazyhorse]

Originally Posted by Crazyhorse
Small squeeky toy
Empty crisp packet or similar

?? :p

For when I'm shooting dogs, comes in handy to get their attention. :lol:

Lisa

[OneTen]

On top of the usual photographic bits and bobs:

- Kneepads
- Swiss army knife
- Roll of double-sided velcro
- Camo hat

[Naboo32]

Same as Pete Carr...

:lol: LMAO!

[Crazyhorse]

On top of the usual photographic bits and bobs:

- Kneepads
- Swiss army knife
- Roll of double-sided velcro
- Camo hat

Richard what sort of kneepads do you use? I could do with some.

Thanks

Lisa

[zak5ive]

Black bag, leatherman, tape, etc PLUS my PDA with the following loaded:

Ephemeris 1.0 - Enter the date and the location and Ephemeris will give you sunrise and sunset, moonrise and moonset times.

DOF 1.0 - DOF is simple little program that allows you to enter the known variables and instantly determine where to focus your camera, what the near and far focus points are, and the hyperfocal distance (the point at which infinity will be in focus).

Expose 1.0 - In essence it's an exposure calculator, not unlike those that existed in circular slide-rule form back in the '50s and '60s. Enter the film speed being used and either the aperture or shutter speed. When you select the current lighting conditions the calculator will display the missing variable.

PDF reader - so i can take my camera manual and other books i might need.

Resco Picture Viewer - Guess :-)

Universal Translator - for when i go to Scotland :-)

TomTom + Maps - for the car.

Memory Maps UK - for when i am out of the car :-)

I also have a compass prog that is quite good plus some games, Skype, WiFi locator, etc

Garry

[mastertrinity]

what sort of pda do people use because im quite interested in getting one

[OneTen]

Richard what sort of kneepads do you use? I could do with some.

Thanks

Lisa
Hi Lisa, I use Web-Tex Knee Pads (http://www.web-tex.co.uk/knives-and-holsters/web-tex-knee-pads/prod_1256.html) bought for a tenner off eBay. They're very comfortable and durable. I did have some foam ones from a DIY store that fell apart very quickly. My knees are pretty shot from years of cycling and I find the knee pads help enormously.

[buckas]

:thinking:

usually have my camera bag with me when walking the dog :)

[Crazyhorse]

Hi Lisa, I use Web-Tex Knee Pads (http://www.web-tex.co.uk/knives-and-holsters/web-tex-knee-pads/prod_1256.html) bought for a tenner off eBay. They're very comfortable and durable. I did have some foam ones from a DIY store that fell apart very quickly. My knees are pretty shot from years of cycling and I find the knee pads help enormously.

Thanks Richard, I think I'll get some, I spent two days kneeling on hard ground the other month and it damn near killed my knees. I thought cycling was supposed to be good for you. :lol:

Thanks again.

Lisa

[inaneredstripe]

small can of deodorant. you can get a sweat on at all day weddings.
paper kitchen towel. wiping a tear from a bridesmaids eye.
mars bar. for those peckish moments.
biz cards. never know when that opportunity will come along to sell yourself.
pens and paper.
the rocket.

[Shadow]

The cheapest thing I carry is kept in my Tripod bag which is a 1p coin. If I forget my multi tool I use the coin to do up the QR plate when attaching it to the camera as it fits both plates I have and does them up nice and tight.

[david1701]

Ephemeris 1.0 - Enter the date and the location and Ephemeris will give you sunrise and sunset, moonrise and moonset times.

DOF 1.0 - DOF is simple little program that allows you to enter the known variables and instantly determine where to focus your camera, what the near and far focus points are, and the hyperfocal distance (the point at which infinity will be in focus).

Expose 1.0 - In essence it's an exposure calculator, not unlike those that existed in circular slide-rule form back in the '50s and '60s. Enter the film speed being used and either the aperture or shutter speed. When you select the current lighting conditions the calculator will display the missing variable.


what OS is your PDA running as I run wm6 on my mobbi and I can't get epheremis to run, had DOF and Expose running for ages but epheremis is an exe file with attached text which upsets wm.....

[DDP]

Apart from the obvious stuff I carry
- leatherman
- plasters (with one cut into small pieces to go over the AF button on my 70-200 so I don't knock it to MF by accident)
- nurofen
- tissues
- mints

All handy to have when shooting weddings.

[markelliot]

small can of deodorant. you can get a sweat on at all day weddings.
paper kitchen towel. wiping a tear from a bridesmaids eye.
mars bar. for those peckish moments.
biz cards. never know when that opportunity will come along to sell yourself.
pens and paper.
the rocket.

A lynx bullet... that's a def idea... could have done with that on sat... as was a very humid sweaty long day!

Def need to re read this whole thread and go through ti writing a list... some really good things... may never use them but so much better if you end up needing them... one thing I def want to get after sat is a wee stool... was waiting allot for light and a stool would have been usefull!

M

[bigbigblue]

one thing I def want to get after sat is a wee stool...
M
Worth looking at a Walkstool - not cheap (by a long way), but very comfortable, light and strong. No connection with Walkstool other than being a happy customer.

[markelliot]

I just thought pof another one which would have been usefull at the weekend... a bottle of that handwash stuff without water... you know how it is... nip behind a bush... or slip in the mud... but it's just before lunch!

M

[packham]

A rocket blower!

[magpieant]

I pack SimonTalm (from this forum) in my camera bag.

He's only small and anyone who knows him knows that if he hasn't got one, it's not worth having ;)

Cheers

Anth

[fracster]

Oh yeah, I am going to buy 10 of the bloody things, all very well having the kit to make a fag, no good on a nature reserve with no-one that smokes !

Damned right,always got two spares.....:thumbs:

[2Thumbs]

Good quality LED torch (Fenix LD20 in my case)
Fingerless gloves.
Protection filters.
LensPen.
Business cards.

[DoubleT]

ive got a foldup kneeling pad i bought from a hiking shop , so i can sit on it if the ground is wet or cold, and also to save the wet spot on the knee cap of your jeans

[sheddy]

A small length of pipe insulation.

[Claymore]

Some of these lists aren't unlike Ted Bundy used to lug around in the boot of his car?
As far as carrying knives what the law regarding size/type etc? I always have a knife in my jacket when out in fields etc and as we don't have any Plod around here never bothered about it being legal etc.
I tend to leave the Claymore for special occasions like unruly tourists etc but some of the other locals are usually tooled up with hunting knives and rifles (we live out in the wild)
Poaching is a local sport and its not uncommon to have the odd Rambo jump out in our forest! but luckily my Rottie see's them off LoL
Good Day chaps
The Laird of Glencairn

[will69]

Millets sit matt.

[paddyfrog]

Toilet roll, comes handy often enough

[jolsterj]

Have lots of the above stuff......and money for the parking meter should i see somewhere i want to photograph and have to pay to park.

[markelliot]

Some of these lists aren't unlike Ted Bundy used to lug around in the boot of his car?
As far as carrying knives what the law regarding size/type etc? I always have a knife in my jacket when out in fields etc and as we don't have any Plod around here never bothered about it being legal etc.
I tend to leave the Claymore for special occasions like unruly tourists etc but some of the other locals are usually tooled up with hunting knives and rifles (we live out in the wild)
Poaching is a local sport and its not uncommon to have the odd Rambo jump out in our forest! but luckily my Rottie see's them off LoL
Good Day chaps
The Laird of Glencairn

I am also a fellow Laird of Glencairn!

I take it you got your title as a gift in a box like myself!

Nice to meet a fellow Laird... have you been to survey your lands yet?

M

[Bachs]

A mattress...in case I bump into any girls I know, and a bottle of 'Avon Skin So Soft'...nothing to do with girls, it's for the Scottish midgies, they hate it.