Security blanket accessaries

[RichL]

Just wondering how many people carry gadgets in their camera bag which over the years they have never, or seldom used. For the past thirty years or better I have carried a Rowi c clamp camera holder and a remote trigger for a strobe in my camera bag. I have never used the remote and only recall one time when the Rowi was put into use yet in the bag they stay. They're more as a security blanket than anything else it seems.

 

[Gumby]

Just wondering how many people carry gadgets in their camera bag which over the years they have never, or seldom used. ... They're more as a security blanket than anything else it seems.

Sure, I have excess stuff in almost every one of my bags: lens cleaning fluid and cleaning tissue. I think of them as dead wegiht rather than a security blanket. But maybe they are a bit of a security blanket because I rarely clean a lens in teh field but think it is a good idea to be prepared for the need.

 

[t.s.k.]

I always seem to have a penlight wrapped with about 3ft of gaffers tape. You'll never find me without them although they've never seen the light of day...or night.
I just retired an small old grey card that I never used and likely won't be replaced.

 

[nikon_sam]

A Mini Maglite AA flashlight...I've got them in Blue, Red, Black & Grey...
I rarely use them for any photographic related issues but I carry them in my bags...

In my 4x5 bag I have a bottle of aspirin...

 

[Roger Hicks]

Backup body.

Needed once.

Once is enough.

That's the sort of security blanket I can live with. When it hits twice or three times (does that fit your definition of 'seldom'?) then the argument is even more compelling.

The same goes for a spare fan-belt in my car. Or indeed, as a young man, a 'packet of three'.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Biggles]

Backup body.

Needed once.

Once is enough.

*nods mournfully*

Truer words...

 

[Chris101]

My Nikon bag would weigh half what it does if I took the stuff I rarely need out of it. Let's see, a flash light, a red bulbed flash light, a pen, a pencil, a pad of paper, Kodak's mini Photo Guide (the one wwith all the wheel calculators) a folding scrim, an 18% gray card, a mini-multi tool, a color halo filter, a half close-up filter, red filter, a clear filter, an electrical shutter release cable, a packet of model release forms, a packet of business cards, tooth picks, tape, several of those little black triangular paper clippy things, a table-top tripod, step-up and step down rings, a yellow blue and green filters, neutral density filter, polarizing filter (all in a removable filter wallet), reversing ring, a flash extension cord, lens hoods I never put on, a regular cable release. Somehow I also fit in the main stuff: a digital body (d2x), film body (f5), backup film body (n80), some lenses (20, 50, 60, 85, 180 and 12-24) and a flash unit. Oh, and the manuals for everything that has one.

The bag weighs a ton. A metric ton at that.

 

[oftheherd]

My Nikon bag would weigh half what it does if I took the stuff I rarely need out of it. Let's see, a flash light, a red bulbed flash light, a pen, a pencil, a pad of paper, Kodak's mini Photo Guide (the one wwith all the wheel calculators) a folding scrim, an 18% gray card, a mini-multi tool, a color halo filter, a half close-up filter, red filter, a clear filter, an electrical shutter release cable, a packet of model release forms, a packet of business cards, tooth picks, tape, several of those little black triangular paper clippy things, a table-top tripod, step-up and step down rings, a yellow blue and green filters, neutral density filter, polarizing filter (all in a removable filter wallet), reversing ring, a flash extension cord, lens hoods I never put on, a regular cable release. Somehow I also fit in the main stuff: a digital body (d2x), film body (f5), backup film body (n80), some lenses (20, 50, 60, 85, 180 and 12-24) and a flash unit. Oh, and the manuals for everything that has one.

The bag weighs a ton. A metric ton at that.

Sounds very much like by Fujica camera kit bag. It would take two men and a boy to carry. Do you really carry all that around? When I was 20 years younger, I still did. Now if the Fujica kit comes along, it is unlikely I will actually carry it any distance. I will simply take out what I think I will use. 20 years ago, I didn't think much of walking around all day with it on my shoulder. Now I am much more careful. Even my Kiev or 167mt kit is likely to stay in the car or hotel room while I carry what I think I will need.

I won't even talk about the Mamiya Super Press 23 outfit. Camera body, 50mm, 100mm 150mm and 250mm lenses, Two or three backs, assorted filters, eight cut film backs, film, other assorted accessories, all in an aluminum clam shell case.. An orthopods delight!

 

[Bob Michaels]

Just wondering how many people carry gadgets in their camera bag which over the years they have never, or seldom used. ..................

My security blanket is always carrying twice as much film as I think I can possibly use. I never, ever, want to think about having enough film.

Like Roger, I carry an backup camera body and lens if I am going more than a few hours away from home. Only needed them twice but those times made it worthwhile.

Other than that my camera bag is only camera (maybe two), 2-3 lenses, much film, extra batteries, and a folding spiral notebook and ball point pen. Even then I leave everything in the car except one body with attached lens, pocket full of film and an extra battery.

Things I once carried in the car but have now deleted include: tripod, flash, filters, very wide or very narrow lenses, and different film types.

 

[back alley]

no extras...a small flashlight on the rare evening shoot...

 

[Frank Petronio]

Olympus Stylus
5-6 CR123 batteries
LED flashlight that uses CR123 batteries
cable release
spare lens cap
blower bulb
lens pen
t-shirt
dental floss
Clearasil
eye drops
folding toothbrush
toothpaste
Magnum Condom x500
Viagra Megadose
KY
Hustler DVD
Aspirin
Band-Aids
cold sore cream
Crack Pipe
spoon
Small plumbing torch
Bottle of fuel
4x Bic lighters
surgical tubing
small plastic baggies
portable scale
bottled energy drink
smelling salts
9mm Glock
4 clips

 

[BillBingham2]

Used to carry:
Two dollars worth of dimes for phone calls
One big Green Garbage Bag
3x5 note cards for lighting adjustments and/or notes
Two large zip lock freezer bags
Ten feet of gaffer tape
Five rubber bands

B2

 

[Nomad Z]

I'm the same as Bob regarding film - always carry more than I think I'll use, and a few rolls of something else (faster or slower) in case conditions change. Always have cleaning materials in the bag - lens pen (for the brush), microfibre cloth and lens fluid. Usually have a blower as well. Hardly ever used them in the field, but it makes sense to me to have them - you never know.

Don't really carry a spare body - if I do have two, it's because I'm using two types of film. However, my Rollei 35S is always in my jacket pocket. Notebook and pen in another, and a small LED torch and a tiny clip-on Yashica light meter in a third.