What's Your Favorite Accessory?

ian408

Over the years, I think we all collect little goodies that we use
regularly and maybe couldn't live without.

What item have you purchased that fits this category?

Post a short description about your accessory and if you have one,
a link to where someone might further research the item.

TIA,
Ian

gus

My $19.95 remote...only had it a month & dont know how i lived without it !

pathfinder

I like the cases for my long lenses from Kinesis Gear www.kinesisgear.com


Much more handy than Canon's make up kit luggage that houses many of their L telephotos.

David_S85

Polarized sunglasses. : I strap the little lanyards around the earpieces so I can quickly drop them aside while I get my camera up to my eyeballs.

Why should polarized sunglasses be considered a camera accessory? Ever check how much time it takes to find and then remove your polarizer filter from its case, screw it on, rotate it to see if the shot is helped any with it in front of your lens? The shot is gone by now, isn't it?

Polarized sunglasses can let you pre-visualize the with or without version by simply tilting your head a bit. In about three seconds, you'll know if you need to spend the extra three minutes fishing for your filter. Perhaps you won't miss that shot that never needed the filter.

USAIR

I have several accessories that I can't live without but here's one

Canon Angle Finder


Lets you adjust the viewing angle and also gives 2.5x magnification at a flip of a switch.
But the real reason I like the thing is...
No more kneeling in the mud to get the shot

Fred

Red Baron

I like my Expo Disc - I keep it on my walk-around lens as a lens cap and use it often for setting white balance and taking ambient light readings. It's simple to use, handy and produces good results. There's no question it's an expensive piece of plastic but it works as advertised so, for me, it's worth it. Although I don't own one (yet : ) a Whibal looks pretty good as well.

I'll also second the generic remote release.

ian408

Thanks everyone for your very good suggestions.

Keep'em coming!

Ian

gus

Equal 1st...'The Photoshop CS2 book for Digital Photographers' by Scott kelby.

John Mueller

Epson P-2000

GraphyFotoz

My Gerber Multi-Tool
I use it everyday for something.

Could be useful on those long photo hikes too!

http://www.gerbertools.com/Gerber-Multi-Plier-700-Urban-Legend-8251.htm

Sorry for the HUGE pic!

kdog

I've mentioned this before, but it's worth repeating. This thing is awesome for inspecting your sensor when you're cleaning it.



It's a lighted magnifier and it really lights up and magnifies dust and smudges on your sensor. It takes the guess work out of cleaning, and eliminates having to do multiple passes of cleaning and testing. This thing has really preserved my sanity.

I got mine from Griots Garage, but you can find equal or better ones from other places including B&H.

This is the one I got. http://www.griotsgarage.com/catalog.jsp?&SKU=11841

-joel

ChrisJ

If you own a Digital Rebel, try out the Canon RC-1 Wireless Remote.

http://www.canoncompanystore.com/epages/annex.storefront?ProductDetail=2465A001AA



You can usually find it for $20, same price as a wired remote. You can set it for immediate shutter-release, or 2-second delay. It includes a holder that attaches to your camera strap.

I loved this accessory with my old Canon Elan, and was dismayed that they don't offer it for the 20D.

rainforest1155

Definately this:

have my GPS (more info) with me all the time since SM offers the mapping feature. I use it just as a logging device, not for navigation - therefore the display is more than sufficient.

Sebastian

Se7enUK

The wife.....

No seriously its my Compact Drive PD70X storage device its 70GB and its one of the quickest out there.

Seymore

Don't forget...
Just like GraphyFotoz, the Gerber is always at my side.

But, don't forget that mini Maglight for those 2am trips to the dark ends of the world for the a shot or two. Also, it takes AA's. Carry enough of these for the flash. Just hate dropping the lens cap in the woods...

r1150gsadventure

Victorinox....
Yes, I lov my ...

leroys

Expo/disc
Definatly my Expo/Disc,, I use it to convert my internal reflected meter on my Nikon FM3a to an incident type with a reported accuracy of one tenth F-Stop, Digital photographers will appreciate the virtualy perfect white balance with a warmer version available for portraiture, Really helps to minimize post processing, http://www.expodisc.com/

DanielB

my vertical grip for the 10D. i will definitely be buying one of these for EVERY camera i ever own from now on.

why?
because it adds that extra heft that stabilizes your hands. really don't use it for shooting on the side like intended. i just like the extra space for my palm. otherwise my pinky almost hangs off the edge of my 10D. also, double the shooting time

wouldn't live without one.

FatNakedGuy

leroys wrote:

Definatly my Expo/Disc,, I use it to convert my internal reflected meter on my Nikon FM3a to an incident type with a reported accuracy of one tenth F-Stop, Digital photographers will appreciate the virtualy perfect white balance with a warmer version available for portraiture, Really helps to minimize post processing, http://www.expodisc.com/

Hi!

They have the White Balance version and the Warming version. Which should I use? I've got a 81 warming filter mounted on my lens already. Please let me know. Thanks!

ian408

FatNakedGuy wrote:

Hi!

They have the White Balance version and the Warming version. Which should I use? I've got a 81 warming filter mounted on my lens already. Please let me know. Thanks!

What do you want to shoot?

Personally, the regular version is fine. You can add warming in PS.

Ian

FatNakedGuy

ian408 wrote:

What do you want to shoot?

Personally, the regular version is fine. You can add warming in PS.

Ian

I do a lot of walk-around shooting. General stuff I guess. New to this and read something about a #81 warming filter helping out so that is what I've got on my lens.

Would I keep the #81 filter on while using the ExpoDisc standard filter for WB?

cmr164

Kenko extension tube set.

ian408

FatNakedGuy wrote:

I do a lot of walk-around shooting. General stuff I guess. New to this and read something about a #81 warming filter helping out so that is what I've got on my lens.

Would I keep the #81 filter on while using the ExpoDisc standard filter for WB?

I don't know. I would imagine you'd take it off, balance and put it back on.
But again, I'm not terribly sure myself.

Ian

photobug

Best-spent $20: Sto-fen OmniBounce
[font=verdana,geneva,lucida,'lucida grande',arial,helvetica,sans-serif]As far as inexpensive accessories, it's no contest -- the best $20 I've ever spent on photo equipment was for a Sto-Fen OmniBounce. That little devil really softens shadows on indoor flash shots. I almost never shoot indoor flash without it. It stays on my flash all the time; just drops in my camera bag attached to the flash.

Actually, I have two OmniBounces now ... one for my 580EX and one for my 420EX that I use as a slave flash.[/font]

Art Scott

most liked accessory?????
MONEY!!!! Hands down....I like money the most.....cannot get a good photo with out it ... how else would you purchase that other accessory called a camera???? Dang just could not resist.

CodeSection

ART SCOTT wrote:

WICHITA, KS

Nor could I......GO SHOCKERS!

DanielB

CodeSection wrote:

Nor could I......GO SHOCKERS!

LOVE my Lumiquest Softbox. works like a charm, and EXTREMELY portable.

just stick onto your shoe-mount flash and PRESTO. soft flash, and fill flashes as easy as pie.

DanielB

just 1 more

my "London Fog 'Trench' Coat" during the winter and fall i never leave home without it. great for covering your camera and keeping you warm!
http://store.nordstrom.com/product/product_brandboutique.asp?styleid=2875041&boutique=london_fog&category=2376777~2374612~2380857~2380858&NextStyleID=2874065&PrevStyleID=2874042

wxwax

I guess my beat up old camera bag, that I bought used. I don't use too many gadgets. I will say I'm very happy with the Sensor Brush, I was never very keen about slapping liquid on my sensor.

spartan123

Singh Ray Vari-ND

DanielB

Favorite Accessory thread??
what happen to the thread where you put your favorite accessory?

i found it very helpful. AND i remember an accessory someone mentioned on it that i can't seem to find anywhere. but i find myself needing it quite often. it was like an anglefinder thing that you attach to your viewfinder and it allows you to get low angles without lying down on the ground. anyone know what happend to this thread and where i can find this anglefinder thingy? its for a Canon 10D.

thanks ,

Daniel