"Non photo tools" for the photographers gadget bag - roundup

Compiled from the lists you all provided. Most are self evident in
terms of use. I've added notes. Feel free to add more items, or to add
use comments as you mey feel are required. I'm putting up a webpage
with this stuf, but having some trouble with hostonce at the moment.

Cheers,
Alan.




Tool Use

Penknife
Electricians Tape
Duct (Duck) tape
Gaffers Tape
Flashlight
Caribiners
Garbage bag Protect from condensation coming
in from cold
Coins Battery compartments, phone
calls, parking meteres
Leatherman tool (multipurpose)
Aspirin, Tylenol, Advil
Band aids
Pencil
Pad of paper Notes
Small screwdrivers
Condom (non-lubed) Protect camera lens from rain
Long twist ties
Double sided (tape) Velcro strips
Wide elastic bands Help with stuck filters
Pliers (apart from Leatherman)
Scissors
Knife
Red lens cover for flashlight Conserves night vision
Split rings on packs for caribiners
Baby wipes Hands can get dirty, this is a
quick fix
Level For landscape, architecture
shots (anything needing a 'level' camera)
Tape measure
Spring clamps
Disposable rain pncho Protect from rain; use as a
reflector (if white or grey
Heavy string
Mini bngee cords
Ziplock bags (large)
Conmpass
Memo/Tape recorder
Paper towels/napkins
Sunscreen
Bug repellant
Ground pad
Fire starter
Lighter
Matches
Snake bite kit
Cord
Monofilament (fishing line)
Straight pins
Mints
Tampons At weddings ... Be the hero
Rubber tubing
Safety pins
Tie wraps (self locking)
Mirror
Water bottle (collapsable)
Water treatment tablets
First aid kit
Orange safety tape
Fishing gear
Space blanket
Coin-like variable thickness screwdriver
Box cutter
Lint removal roller
Index cards
Water sprayer dewy flower shots
GPS navigation / recording locations
Machete
Flint & steel for those who don't like matches
Folded piece of aluminum foil
Party noise maker
Compact high energy food
Spare eye glasses In case you lose/break a pair
Sharpie (pen)
Allen wrench (Allen keys)
"Surefire" torch
Short brass tube Use as a blower
Sewing kit
Shower cap (cheap hotel giveaway type) Protect gear in rain
Handerchief with name/home address) Expose first frame with
mailing data in case film gets lost in processing.
Bean bag Lens stabilizer
Sun hat
Knee pads (a la construction worker Low level work is a pain...
Tweezers
Silverized windscreen protector Use as fill light reflector
or gobo
Avery labels
Maps
6 inch (15cm) ruler
4 way screwdriver
Kleenex
Emory boards
Super glue
White pantyhose weddings
Black pantyhouse quickie softening filter
Sewing needle
Thread (black, white, grey, bluweddings, general
Bottle opener
Toothbrush, tooth paste
small combination lock
Florists wire strong, not marking wire to hang
things
Bit of film leader to retrieve film leaders from
rewound (oops) canisters
Thermos

 

webpage
http://www.aliasimages.com/NonPTools.htm

 

[List SNIPPED]

I see several things on the list that I wouldn't have classed as 'tools'.
Not a problem, but as the question asked about 'tools' I didn't include a
number of non-tool items that I carry - reflectors, sun compass, spare boot
laces, step-ladder (OK, that's in the car, not in the bag!) and so on and so
on.

Are these sorts of things worth starting a new list for? Have others
interpreted the question the same way as me and left out some things?

Oddly enough I thought a while ago about posting asking people what things
from the non-photo world they find useful, and was going to start a thread
next time the group looked a bit quiet...




Peter

 

There were no "rulz" for adding things to the list other than that they
be non-photo specific, but used in the pursuit of photography.

What should be done (I'll have to come out of lazy mode) is perhaps
categorizing them in some appropriate way. Right now the whole list is
pretty much as I read them off of the NG.

I've started a simple web page for the stuff, but more structure (and a
"use" column) is needed.

Cheers,
Alan

PS, I'll add your latest items too.

 

You missed out the sun compass (which is quite different from a normal
compass) - or am I the only person who finds this useful?

Good effort; can't imagine how anyone can actually carry a camera
though.

 

Most people don't know how to use a map + compass together (I mean with
a proper methodical approach). A Sun compass is that much harder. (Do
youhave a moon compass too? That would be really fun, would require
tables, etc.).

Just compiling the data. No sweat.


Cheers,
Alan.

 

You don't need a map to use a sun compass (actually, if you have a
watch, and know the date, and the sun is out, you don't need an ordinary
compass either).

Never heard of one.

 

Well in that case.... ;-)

- Tide tables are good when near the coast
- Notebook and pen
- Note of times of sun and moon rise and set, and azimuth (only useful if I
have a compass too...)
- Large white keffiyeh (Arab head scarf) which can keep the sun off me, be
used as a reflector or a diffuser, be spread out so that if I have small
items to put on the ground they don't get lost, etc. (I got used to having
one always with me when I worked in Iraq)
- Bungee cord and loop of fabric for applying tension with my foot to hold a
tripod steady
- Diffuser - pop out type, similar to the reflectors I also have
- Couple of clothes pegs
- Water bottle
- Muesli bars, Kendal mint cake, or similar
- Mug for my tea!
- Hat - usually a Fedora, best lens shade there is

This is before I get on to first aid kit and anything specific to where I am
going and the sort of travel envisaged - insect repellent, survival stuff,
whatever.

Now, you should see what I keep in the car...




Peter

 

[I snipped the list]

One question, After you put all that in your gadget
bag/car/porters/sherpas/indentured servants, wheredaya put the camera???

 

....I assumed that _most_ people could determine their own needs from the
list. You fell through the cracks I guess.

Cheers,
Alan.

 

No Alan, I didn't. It is an all encompassing list, but damn, it long...
You did forget the Polaroid Clearing Bucket, however :~)

 

I'm sure it will get longer over time... !!

http://www.aliasimages.com/NonPTools.htm

Cheers,
Alan.

 

Let's see: you don't know where you are, you don't have a map but you do
have some kind of compass. So then you know where North is.

Then what?

Sorry to sound picky, but I navigate by using a map and compass,
preferably with a watch to track progress and estimate arrivals at
waypoints along the route...

A sport to practise (indeed learn) this is Orienteering.

Cheers,
Alan.

 

Here in Oregon, a sun compass is virtually worthless, and you can't see the
stars after dark either....That's why I carry a GPS receiver and a magnetic
compass when I am tromping around in the woods, or out on the ocean in the
fog........

 

....But then, the point of a sun compass is to work out the position of
the sun at various dates and times of day; in a place where "the sun
don't shine" I guess it would be as much use as a chocolate teapot.

 

Items in my own personal kit :

2 small spiral notebooks
1 large spiral notebook
2 pencils
2 pens
2 "sharpie" markers
1 Gerber Multi-Plier toolkit
1 SwissChamp Swiss Army Knife
1 wallet with separate ID (just in case of loss)
1 pouch with loose change (filled with coins for vending machines or
payphones)
1 pouch with snack bars/survival food (for snacking or if I can't find
anything)
1 wind-proof lighter (don't smoke, useful for emergencies)
1 small backpack (to hold most, if not all of this gear)

Now to the cameras...

1 single-camera SLR bag
Minolta SLR AF body
Minolta 38-70mm zoom AF lens
4 rolls of film - ISO 200/400

1 small Samsonite belt pack camera bag
Polaroid P&S 35mm (for backup)
2 rolls of film - ISO 200/400

That's my "light" rig. If I am going all-out, I've got a big gear bag with
my Canons inside, with plenty of film, flashes, extra ambient/flash meter,
spotting telescope...

Needless to say, I tend to pack what I need, rather than for all
contingencies. ;-)

 

You got the bottle opener but forgot the corkscrew !

 

[snip]

Oh, *that's* what it's for. I just chuck them to catch people's attention,
and to make my photos look a bit more, er, 'dynamic

 

Jeez ... you're right! (My SAK has both... I'll add the corkscrew to
the webpage...)

 

Corkscrew's on the SAK. I think there's a bottle opener there too - but I
usually use my teeth for that.


Peter (Crushing another can of spinach...)