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Gaffer’s Tape
Gaffer’s
tape is usually associated with working in a studio, where there are
cables and set elements that need to be secured. But carrying a little
roll of gaff in your bag can come in handy when you want to tape up a
makeshift bounce card, patch up a broken piece of equipment, or cover
the ports on your camera in a dusty environment. Because it won’t leave
any goo behind when you take it off, you can use it on expensive gear
and objects wherever you’re shooting. Many brands make gaffer’s tape.
Look for one that offers small rolls that won't take up too much space in your bag, like microGAFFER. |
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Ties
Another
way to secure your gear in the field and keep it organized in your bag is with a tie. Cable ties like the Kupo EZ-TIEs shown here have hook-and-loop fasteners, while plastic zip ties give you an even stronger attachment when you need to strap your camera bag to the back of a motorbike or keep it from falling overboard. Just make sure you have a knife (see below) to cut your zip ties open. Elastic bands can come in handy too, especially for attaching makeshift
modifiers to your flash. Get the ones that are made for ponytails and
don’t have a metal component. They’re wrapped in fabric so that they won’t
stick or scratch your gear. You can find them in black at just about any
drug store. |
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Multitool
A
multitool is useful for, yes, multiple purposes when you’re shooting in
the field. You can use its screwdriver to fix your tripod or flip out a
knife to cut open a zip tie. This one from Gerber works as a little
tripod too, and it has a suction mount for setting up your camera phone.
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AA Batteries
You
have a flash, right? Next time you stick it in your bag and realize
later that the batteries inside are dead, you’ll thank yourself for
keeping a spare set of AA rechargeables and a charger in your bag. Look for
low self-discharge batteries that won’t run out of juice too fast while
you’re not using them. |
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Rosco Cinefoil
It’s
not always practical to carry a bunch of lighting modifiers in your
bag, especially if you’re traveling light with a messenger bag or a
lightweight backpack. But you can find space for a sheet of matte black Cinefoil in just about any bag. Cinefoil is a heavy metal foil that you
can shape into a modifier for your flash, like a snoot or a flag. Just
tape it in place with your gaff or secure it with an elastic band. If
you’re shooting something small, like a flower in the field, you can use
it for a black background, too. |
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Brush
Dust is everywhere. It
will get on your lens. It will gather in your viewfinder eyepiece. Always keep a brush in your bag so that you can make those annoying particles move along. A retractable
lipstick-style brush like the one from Edmund shown here will be sure to
stay clean. You can also opt for a blower brush, which has a bulb that
you squeeze to blow dust away with little puffs of air.
Make sure you get one with soft bristles that’s made for cleaning
optical surfaces so that you won’t scratch your optics.
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LensPen
If you get a smudge or a fingerprint on your lens, you can whip out this pen-shaped lens cleaning tool and make it disappear. It has a tip infused with a non-liquid cleaning compound, which means you can clean specific areas quickly, you don't have to worry about it drying up, and you won't have to fish it out and put it in a baggie when you go through security.
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Microfiber Cloth
If your lens gets wet or seriously dirty, a brush and a LensPen just won't cut it. Carry a microfiber cloth for the big jobs. Just make sure you don't scrape your lens with grit by rubbing it in with the cloth. A microfiber cloth can come in handy for wiping off the whole camera body and other gear in a dusty or wet environment. A gazillion companies make microfiber cloths. The Spudz cloth shown here comes in its own attached protective cover to keep it clean, and has a clip that you can use to attach the cloth to the outside of your bag when you want to keep it handy.
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Camera Wrap
Carrying a couple camera wraps, like the 10-inch Tenba Messenger wrap shown here, will let you add a little extra padding around delicate gear. If you're putting a small item in a large bag compartment, a wrap can help it fit more snugly. Wraps also come in handy when you want to take just one or two items out of your camera bag while traveling and carry them in a purse or a regular bag for the day.
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Collapsible Reflector
You
don’t always have to carry a flash to shape and improve the light on
your subject. Sometimes a reflector will let you do the job with
available light. A collapsible one will fold up small enough for you to
slip in the back of your bag, and a reflector with a reversible cover in
different fabrics will let you change the look of the light. This
5-in-1 reflector from Creative Light
gives you silver, gold, black, and white surfaces. When you take the
cover off, it works as a translucent diffuser so that you can soften
harsh light.
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Plastic Zip-Top Bags
Zip-top bags take up almost no room and come in handy for multiple purposes. If you're hiking in Alaska, seal your camera inside a big before taking it inside a warm building to keep the optics from fogging up. Throw your lens cleaning solution in one at the airport. If you find yourself in a strong wind and need to give some extra stability to a tripod or a lightstand, dump some rocks or sand or even water in a bag and attach it with some gaffer's tape or an elastic band.
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Gray Card
You can use a gray card to get a precise exposure reading with a spot meter or include it in one of your shots for color balancing when you're back at your computer. The 4x7-inch X-Rite ColorChecker Gray Balance card shown here will take up almost no room in your bag For more extensive control over color, consider X-Rite's diminutive ColorChecker Passport.
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