Every photographer knows how much a stuffed camera bag can weigh…
Especially if you have to carry it for a long time. I promise you won’t even notice these five things in your camera bag – until comes a moment when you really need one of them. Make sure you pack these with you right away!
1. Camera strap(s)
I stopped using the camera strap that comes with the camera (DSLR) quite awhile ago now. My fundamental gripes were as follows:
- Not at all comfortable to wear around the neck, especially if you have a long lens attached to the camera.
- Didn’t particularly like the camera brand name in bright colors screaming out to potential camera thieves that you have a nice camera worth taking!
- The strap was a nuisance when the camera was mounted on a tripod.
- Because of the strap length, it was irksome and fussy putting the camera back into the camera bag.
I like to switch from handheld to mounting the camera on a tripod when I shoot. I do however, like the security of a strap when holding my camera. Some years back, I found a useful DIY tutorial online, outlining how to make a camera wrist strap using paracord. Take a piece about 27 inches long and make a loop about 7-7.5 inches long by tying both ends together into knot. I used a simple overhand knot but you could use a more sophisticated knot such as a Lanyard knot. You will need to burn the ends of the cord, after the knot, to stop it from fraying.
2. Wrist rubber band to prevent zoom creep
I used to own a Nikon 18-200mm VR lens. It was a great versatile lens. But after some time, when I would take macro or overhead shots, where the camera is at 45 angle or more, I’d notice the lens would creep (move slightly due to gravity). I found this neat solution online to put a wrist rubber band around the zoom ring and the barrel of the lens. It worked and was a perfect solution to prevent the lens from creeping.
3. Ziploc bags and cable ties
Sandbag(s) are great for adding stability to your lightstand or tripod. But they are not practical to bring with you on vacation or on a day trip. This is where having a couple of Ziploc baggies with you in your camera bag are ideal.
If you are away on vacation, purchase a bag of dried beans, rice, or soup mix. Make a small hole near the top of the bag, place a cable tie through the hole and create a plastic ring.
Read the full article over at Digital Photography School.
Source: Digital Photography School
