Neat Items for a Camera Bag...

Mike - I thought this was a neat thread on the digital camera newsgroup:
---------------
Hi,
Roaming around this newsgroup and several photography boards, I've found
several items I would never have considered placing in my camera bag but
are now essentials (at least for myself). Things like velcro tape, bean
bags, and even a space blanket (folds up to extremely tiny dimensions
and acts as a great in the field reflector).

Just wondering if the fine members of this newsgroup have any other
items that one might not consider for inclusion in your bag that have
proven to be useful?

Curious,

Jeff
---------------

- Pringles lid makes a great lenscap for setting white balance... Fits well
over a 58mm filter.
- Ear syringe makes a great blower.
- Car windshield reflector ($2.00 @ Wal-Mart)... but I like your Space
blanket idea too.
- Carabiners. I keep one attached to my Tripod so I can clip my camera bag
to it for stability.

I'm up for suggestions too!

- Harrison
----------------
There have been many MANY times where my old stand-by freebie Motel-6 (or
other) clear plastic shower cap has saved my camera and lens in a downpour,
and...allowed me to both see see and control my camrea through it's clear
material.

With its elastic opening, it fits perfectly around a camera body, allowing
the end of the lens to stick through the elastic part.

Works like a charm.
-----------------
A large heavy-duty zip-lock baggie with a day-light filter embedded
into one of the sides, (the plastic cut away over the clear area of
the filter). So as to provide a quick harsh-environment cover. It
saved my camera from a brief dunking in the bottom of a leaking
crabbing-boat last winter. The camera beside me slid off the seat
and became nearly fully submerged in the 6 inches of water in the
bottom of the leaking boat, but the camera came up unscathed and
fully functional, I just wiped off the filter (and baggie) and kept
on shooting. If you enclose enough air in the bag when you seal it
up the camera will probably even float long enough for any
retrieval.

A compass.

2 compact infra-red illuminators (but that's specific to my camera's
capabilities), for taking extended-range (to 80 feet) wild-life
photos in complete darkness in infra-red.

A folding 5-watt solar-panel that charges my batteries in nearly the
same amount of time as a wall-outlet. Used in conjunction with the
patch-cords and voltage regulators included with a Digipower-9000
battery-pack. (Got the solar-panel for $55, which don't seem to be
available anymore. It's only 1x9x4 inches folded up. Luckily I
bought two at the time, one for me and one for a friend, or he would
have killed me out of envy if he saw mine and found out they are no
longer available.
---------------------

Mike - I edited the list from the newsgroup, but I thought you you would
benefit from this as much as I did. I like the baggie idea a lot!

--
Thom Tapp
Church of the Covered Dish
http://www.cotcd.com

Oops... I thought I was sending this to a friend via e-mail. Sorry for the
duplication!

--
Thom Tapp
Church of the Covered Dish
http://www.cotcd.com
"Thom Tapp" wrote in message
...
Mike - I thought this was a neat thread on the digital camera newsgroup:
---------------
Hi,
Roaming around this newsgroup and several photography boards, I've found
several items I would never have considered placing in my camera bag but
are now essentials (at least for myself). Things like velcro tape, bean
bags, and even a space blanket (folds up to extremely tiny dimensions
and acts as a great in the field reflector).

Just wondering if the fine members of this newsgroup have any other
items that one might not consider for inclusion in your bag that have
proven to be useful?

Curious,

Jeff
---------------

- Pringles lid makes a great lenscap for setting white balance... Fits
well
over a 58mm filter.
- Ear syringe makes a great blower.
- Car windshield reflector ($2.00 @ Wal-Mart)... but I like your Space
blanket idea too.
- Carabiners. I keep one attached to my Tripod so I can clip my camera
bag
to it for stability.

I'm up for suggestions too!

- Harrison
----------------
There have been many MANY times where my old stand-by freebie Motel-6 (or
other) clear plastic shower cap has saved my camera and lens in a
downpour,
and...allowed me to both see see and control my camrea through it's clear
material.

With its elastic opening, it fits perfectly around a camera body, allowing
the end of the lens to stick through the elastic part.

Works like a charm.
-----------------
A large heavy-duty zip-lock baggie with a day-light filter embedded
into one of the sides, (the plastic cut away over the clear area of
the filter). So as to provide a quick harsh-environment cover. It
saved my camera from a brief dunking in the bottom of a leaking
crabbing-boat last winter. The camera beside me slid off the seat
and became nearly fully submerged in the 6 inches of water in the
bottom of the leaking boat, but the camera came up unscathed and
fully functional, I just wiped off the filter (and baggie) and kept
on shooting. If you enclose enough air in the bag when you seal it
up the camera will probably even float long enough for any
retrieval.

A compass.

2 compact infra-red illuminators (but that's specific to my camera's
capabilities), for taking extended-range (to 80 feet) wild-life
photos in complete darkness in infra-red.

A folding 5-watt solar-panel that charges my batteries in nearly the
same amount of time as a wall-outlet. Used in conjunction with the
patch-cords and voltage regulators included with a Digipower-9000
battery-pack. (Got the solar-panel for $55, which don't seem to be
available anymore. It's only 1x9x4 inches folded up. Luckily I
bought two at the time, one for me and one for a friend, or he would
have killed me out of envy if he saw mine and found out they are no
longer available.
---------------------

Mike - I edited the list from the newsgroup, but I thought you you would
benefit from this as much as I did. I like the baggie idea a lot!

--
Thom Tapp
Church of the Covered Dish
http://www.cotcd.com

"Thom Tapp" wrote in message
...

Roaming around this newsgroup and several photography boards, I've found
several items I would never have considered placing in my camera bag but
are now essentials (at least for myself). Things like velcro tape, bean
bags, and even a space blanket (folds up to extremely tiny dimensions
and acts as a great in the field reflector).

Just wondering if the fine members of this newsgroup have any other
items that one might not consider for inclusion in your bag that have
proven to be useful?

I keep several spring-type wooden clothespins rolled up inside a large,
white plastic garbage bag in my bag. When you're out in the field, a nearby
branch can be used to make a pretty good reflector or diffuser to fill in
shadows or reduce harsh lighting, reducing dynamic range requirements. The
combo can function as a windscreen, too.

Note: when used as a diffuser, you should check the white balance, as every
bag I've used provides very warm lighting, i.e., favor red transmission.

"Thom Tapp" wrote in message
...

Roaming around this newsgroup and several photography boards, I've found
several items I would never have considered placing in my camera bag but
are now essentials (at least for myself). Things like velcro tape, bean
bags, and even a space blanket (folds up to extremely tiny dimensions
and acts as a great in the field reflector).

Just wondering if the fine members of this newsgroup have any other
items that one might not consider for inclusion in your bag that have
proven to be useful?

I keep several spring-type wooden clothespins rolled up inside a large,
white plastic garbage bag in my bag. When you're out in the field, a nearby
branch can be used to make a pretty good reflector or diffuser to fill in
shadows or reduce harsh lighting, reducing dynamic range requirements. The
combo can function as a windscreen, too.

Note: when used as a diffuser, you should check the white balance, as every
bag I've used provides very warm lighting, i.e., favor red transmission.