While window shopping is always fun Lens $14,000, the best value for the dollar can be had with some simple accessories for $30 or less. Over the past year, I’ve found 4 items that have had a permanent place in my handbag – these are my favorite cheap and handy accessories that can fulfill a variety of roles.
Multi-tool tripod
I’ve carried a Leatherman-style multi-tool in the past for hiking and landscape photography, and it has come in handy a few times. Whether I’m using the pliers to pull some cactus out of my boots, or using the bit driver to tighten the stand, it’s a great tool to have around. However, if you’re just shooting around town, it can be overkill from both a budget and size perspective. Not to mention, some tools are not suitable for most photography purposes.
Instead, check out one of the photography-focused all-in-ones. Smallrig, my favorite producer brackets Lalso make a this variety of tools. They feature a variety of tools focused on the photographer and videographer – think Phillips screwdrivers, flathead screwdrivers, Torx and allen screwdrivers, and a threaded storage hole for spare screws. Individual models have slightly different payload tools, but all of them will suit photographers much better than an outdoor-focused all-in-one.
The special thing about this type of tool is that you can easily put it in your pocket and forget about it. Since it doesn’t have any sort of blade, it’s less of an issue to carry while traveling (make sure you’re following the rules of placement and err on the side, of course). It’s also smaller, lighter, and doesn’t require any other accessories to be useful.
Mini LED light
I was also amazed at the function of the mini LED. One of my favorites is cheap W64RGB, a small RGB LED about the size of an Altoid’s tin. With its small size and built-in USB-C rechargeable battery, I started with just keeping this light in a small pocket in my handbag. So far, I’ve used it for a B roll light for product shots in place of a separate light with gel, small area light when setting up for a night drone flight, and as a video light” main” when recording vlogs. If you like painting with light, this can also be a great choice, thanks to the bright RGB modes and interesting square factor – it’s a great contrast to the more rounded, intense lighting pattern. higher altitude from the flashlight.
Even at the brightest setting, it can get around 2 hours of light, which can be extended up to 15 hours at the dimmable setting. Lighting control is easy, with one dedicated control switch controlling brightness and another controlling color or function in other modes. Talking about other modes, it also has many special effects modes, simulate lightning, fire truck, candlelight or others.
While it won’t compete with a full-size light panel, it can produce a perfectly reasonable amount of soft light for the size and price, and is easy to operate. It comes with a threaded mount, cold base, and even a magnetic baseplate, making it a simple and self-contained package.
Rocket blower
The Giottos Rocket Air Blaster It’s a bit less multi-functional than the other entries on this list, but does one thing well: generates a powerful stream of clean air that’s still subtle enough to be used inside the camera. I’ve had one for years, and at this point it’s possibly the oldest device I still use. In all that time, it holds well, unlike some similar products where the rubber breaks down quickly.
The rocket blower is perfect for dusting your gear, cleaning off-camera sensors, dusting your laptop screen before using a cloth, and any of the hundreds of cleaning jobs. other births you can think of. I recently flew my drone from some dusty locations and the rocket blower was so helpful in wiping out both the gimbal and the camera, that I chose another one just for his drone bag.
It is also a great alternative to canned air when cleaning around the office. Since there is no propellant, it won’t leave residue on the screen or leave an odd chemical smell in the air. If you are looking for even more power, consider DataVac . electric vacuum cleaner. It’s more expensive and not nearly as portable as the Rocket Blower, but even more powerful than “canned air”.
Bongo Ties
Whether you’re packing cables to put in your pocket, securing your tether cables to a tripod, or even just managing cables around the office, BongoTies is my new favorite. I’ve used those little Velcro straps and zip ties in the past, but the BongoTie strikes the perfect balance between ease of use and durability. The closing mechanism, where you thread a small bamboo knot through the rubber ring, is easy to do, even with one hand. It’s pretty safe to use while still being easy to “remove” at the end. Plus, they come in a variety of colors, making it possible to uniformly color groups of cables with a little preparation.
Compared to zip ties, they are gentler on your cables, as well as reusable. Unlike Velcro straps, they don’t get caught or entangled in fabric, camera bags, or anything else. They’re also completely adhesive-free – some cables react poorly to gaffer tape, leaving a sticky mess behind. As such, they’re my new favorite way to pack any cable, and for just a few dollars a bag of them, they’re a great value. While not a complete replacement for a roll of gaffer tape, I look for these first whenever I need to manage my cables.
Conclusion
I’m a huge fan of cheap and versatile accessories, and I think some modest tools might be overlooked in the camera gear’s coverage. Do you have any inexpensive tools that you find indispensable when shooting?
Courtesy lead image of Jp Valery
