If you’re like me, you want to save as many supplies as possible. As with an expensive piece of equipment, there are a few things I wouldn’t recommend getting cheap. This list includes things that are long-lasting and won’t go out of style quickly.
There are reasons to save on gear, for me it’s the ability to travel and explore more of the world. In fact, I write this sentence from quite sunny but cold Stockholm. Although not a budget destination, it is still a beautiful destination. There’s nothing better than coming here for work, but I always arrive a few days in advance to enjoy the city before getting back behind the camera. In any case, I value travel more than gear, so I despise cameras, as well as other things, but never seriously what you’re about to see.
Grip
Grip lasts decades and you need to buy it once. It’s just that if you buy a cheap grip once, it costs twice as much. My reason for getting an expensive controller is that it is reliable and I need it to support thousands of dollars of devices. The grip I own is a Manfrotto/Avenger. Although I didn’t like either brand at first, I now choose those two because I know their product line and enjoy the product. Furthermore, I have not had any problems with their furniture breaking. Sure, I have heavier grips that I like more than the “windfall” stuff made of lightweight carbon fiber. Whenever I buy light stands and other grips, I always buy used, as these stands are decades old. So in a way, I’m saving by buying used, but it’s also not because I’m buying the top grip to support the next two items on this list: expensive lights and expensive regulator. 
Complements
My modifiers are made by Profoto, but I also love and use Godox Para. Both are very high quality and built for professionals. The Profoto OCF line may be a bit behind in how powerful and durable it is, but honestly, I’m a stiffer reflector. From the OCF range, I only own dishes that are beautiful, fun to use and so far quite durable. However, when I have to do anything serious, I get the proper metal regulator and use it instead of the hand disc.
You may naturally wonder what makes modifiers so expensive, I have the answer for you. For example, a cheap and expensive reflector will not be as effective when compared with each other. This is most clearly seen when you compare two beauty products, the metal in the cheaper one will eat more breakfast, as well as produce unwanted effects.
For softboxes, the durability of the material is very important. For example, a premium soft box is less likely to tear or yellow over time. It is also more resistant to heat from light. A comparison I often make is that my cheap umbrella broke after a few months of use compared to my Profoto umbrella, bought and used 3 years ago. I’ve done almost every shot I’ve ever done, and so far so good. Expensive softboxes and soft dimmers will also reflect light much more effectively. The problem some ads have is also solved by having a better quality modifier: shades from different modifiers. I remember renting a softbox, and when it was in poor condition, it was refused to lease. The simple reason is that the diffuser is yellow so I don’t need the CTO filter. If the rental home is spent on good softboxes, they will probably last a little longer.
Warehouse
If you can’t store your images, why take them away? I learned a very painful way of losing files. That’s right, I lost 2TB of footage in a day with no chance of getting it back. The customer isn’t happy, I’m not, and it’s a giant mess. After that day, I was sworn to a robust 3-2-1 backup system. Besides, I also decided not to ignore the drives that I received. So far, the LaCie D2 drive is very well used. I bought two identical ones, and used them as if they were identical. There is a lot of software on the market that will mirror two drives, I am currently trying EaseUs Todo Backup because my previous software was not very reliable. If you have the money to buy a RAID system, buy it. Unfortunately I don’t have one, so I’ll stick with the mirrored two drives for a while.
My workflow system doesn’t stop here. I have two SSDs for the document processing I’m working on. Often when working on location, I get a third drive with all the footage from that day. The reason is that I can’t backup to Backblaze without Internet, but I need a copy of my work somewhere. This is done using a drive that is provided to the customer at the end of the day. That way I stay true to my backup system and make sure no images are lost. When.
Cable Tether
Perhaps the most unexpected entry on this list, but a must-have for anyone who works with a crew on set. Put your ego aside and show the team what you’re up to. They will thank you and you will even get better pictures. The reason I spend so much more on a proper cable from TetherTools is that they are more durable, they can transfer images much faster, are made easier, and have a fun orange color making them second most visible. on startup (after your photographer’s ego). They have an advantage over conventional cables in that they are specially manufactured to transmit data over a distance of 5 or 10 meters. You can also add things like TetherBoosts to increase transfer speeds. In fact, TetherTools offers a comprehensive solution for digital photography hardware. I have bought quite a few things from them and I love their products. Sometime in the future, I’ll build a docking station eventually. I don’t recommend buying a cheap tether cable, as mine is used in every shot. Literally.
So there you have it: some products I don’t recommend are cheap. While equipment is the most boring topic, at least in my opinion some devices make a difference and are worth writing about. I used to look down on all of this and learned my lesson. Don’t be like me.
