Camera Accessories (but not Bodies, Lenses or software)

[simonsi]

I'll get out the scales. 70-200 2.8+ 2xTC is about as heavy as I go. I was told by someone who used to work for Manfrotto it wouldn't really work with my gear. Let me know how it goes in the field and I'll see what Father Christmas brings!

D300s+70-200/2.8+1.7TC comes to about 2.5Kg by the spec sheets, I'm only going to use it for the 17-55/2.8 and 10-20 Sigma so I'll be nowhere near that even - and the desk test indicates quite stable at that loading.

Oddly the pic is showing right way up for me on OS X Safari but upside down on ios Safari...??? Never had that before to my knowledge...

 

[azstinger]

New Travel Bag?

Any suggestions for a backpack (sorry don't like single shoulder sling bags) that could store a D750, 1-2 lens, battery charger, and a few filters but still function as a normal day pack for touristy things? It seems like just about all the camera backpacks I have seen are purely dedicated to being camera bags. So looking for a bag that preferably has a quick side zipper but then room for snacks, maps, water bottles, junk my wife thinks is cute and I need to haul around for the next 8 hours haha.

I have a great dedicated camera bag so not interested in that.

 

[simonsi]

Any suggestions for a backpack (sorry don't like single shoulder sling bags) that could store a D750, 1-2 lens, battery charger, and a few filters but still function as a normal day pack for touristy things? It seems like just about all the camera backpacks I have seen are purely dedicated to being camera bags. So looking for a bag that preferably has a quick side zipper but then room for snacks, maps, water bottles, junk my wife thinks is cute and I need to haul around for the next 8 hours haha.

I have a great dedicated camera bag so not interested in that.

I got the Lowepro Photo Sport for exactly this usage:

http://www.lowepro.com/photosport

Side point would be that EVERY piece of Lowepro kit I have ever bought is still functional

 

[monokakata]

Any suggestions for a backpack (sorry don't like single shoulder sling bags) that could store a D750, 1-2 lens, battery charger, and a few filters but still function as a normal day pack for touristy things? It seems like just about all the camera backpacks I have seen are purely dedicated to being camera bags. So looking for a bag that preferably has a quick side zipper but then room for snacks, maps, water bottles, junk my wife thinks is cute and I need to haul around for the next 8 hours haha.

I have an f-stop backpack that I totally love. I mention it because although I got the biggest insert it could handle, there are smaller ones -- they would leave room for the other stuff you need to haul. It's really well-made.

I got the Loka

https://shop.fstopgear.com/us/products/mountain/backpacks/loka.html

with the Large Pro insert.

An unusual feature is that you get into it from the straps (back) side, not from the outer side. So, true, it's not a bag where somebody can open the main compartment when it's on you. Top (2 compartments), yes, and there's a shallow compartment on the outer back that could take outerwear (but not a lot of it).

With the insert out it could be a good daypack, but there are no compartments in the main compartment, so you'd have to stuff everything in there. It has a dedicated hydration pouch -- anyway, I love it. Fits in an overhead bin well, too. The last time I travelled I had a D810, 70-200 f/2.8, the 105, 14-24, a Marantz field recorder, Sony RX100, batteries, filters, charger, cables, etc etc.

Not cheap, but beautifully built, and with a small insert it might be what you're looking for.

 

[Dc2006ster]

I am just a hobbyist and shoot family events, grandkids, vacations so do not have the needs of a pro. In the digital age I have had a Coolpix 995, D70, D300 and now have a D750. Over the years I have accumulated a number of accessories some are used more often than others.

Monopod w quick release plate - great purchase. Use it a lot and it is easy to pack in a suitcase. Good substitute for a tripod. Coupled with spirit level is very useful for panoramas.

The Pod - Bean bag with screw. Great for long exposures or time lapse.

GPS - Used occasionally but is useful. Phottix brand is much cheaper than Nikon and it works.

Spare battery - Always had a spare but now I can shoot video with the D750 I have three batteries.

Graduated ND - bought this with a Cokin system which is a pain to use. Now I simply hold the filter in front of the lens to position it.

White balance tool and grey card - never use them.

Rain cover - I had the Kata rain cover but unless you have one of those monster size lenses it is a pain to use. Recently bought a much cheaper Optex which is only a bit of a pain to use but works OK with more consumer size lenses - My largest is 70 -300 mm.

Rocket blower and Sensor cleaner - Once I started using more than 1 lens it was just a matter of time until I got dust on the sensor.

Fong flash diffuser - tried it, not very impressed, I just bounce the flash.

Fast card reader - As file sizes get larger, this is becoming more valuable.

Waterproof dry bag - If I am on a beach all day or on a small boat I wrap my gear in a towel and carry it in a waterproof dry bag. Helps protect it from sand and salt water. Also, depending on the weight, the bag bag may float but I have never had the balls to test this.

 

[Badrottie]

Just bought Joby stuff and Len Hood last week.....

 

[Mr.Noisy]

all my gear and accessories is in the link below, all kept in a tripod bag and pelican case's for easy transport.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Picked up a job for a budding actor who needs full frame body shots. So I thought I'd get a cheap backdrop. I know there are better ones out there, but its not my normal thing.

Also got a cheap umbrella. A bit old school I know, but easier to deal with than a big soft box.

 

[MacRy]

Picked up a job for a budding actor who needs full frame body shots. So I thought I'd get a cheap backdrop. I know there are better ones out there, but its not my normal thing.

Also got a cheap umbrella. A bit old school I know, but easier to deal with than a big soft box.

Looking forward to seeing the results of the shoot. I've been considering getting a cheap backdrop myself for family portraits.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Looking forward to seeing the results of the shoot. I've been considering getting a cheap backdrop myself for family portraits.

I'm sure they will be pretty average!

 

[Apple fanboy]

Anybody got any experience with cheap backdrops? The one that arrived is a little creased and made from some cheap material. Would a bed sheet work? I've got until Thursday next week to explore options.

 

[Laird Knox]

Anybody got any experience with cheap backdrops? The one that arrived is a little creased and made from some cheap material. Would a bed sheet work? I've got until Thursday next week to explore options.

The best bet is always a roll of white seamless paper. When it gets marked or damaged just cut it off and roll out a new piece.

No reason you can't use a bed sheet. A portable steamer used for clothing works wonders for taking out wrinkles. It may be a bit harder to keep the bed sheet perfectly smooth as it may not have enough weight to hang as well as you would like.

What type of material is the backdrop made out of? If it is some sort of cloth you can hang it in your bathroom for a few days and let the steam from your shower work on the wrinkles. The portable steamer will work here as well. If it is a plastic material you can try just letting it hang for a few days. It might relax enough to smooth out.

 

[Apple fanboy]

The best bet is always a roll of white seamless paper. When it gets marked or damaged just cut it off and roll out a new piece.

No reason you can't use a bed sheet. A portable steamer used for clothing works wonders for taking out wrinkles. It may be a bit harder to keep the bed sheet perfectly smooth as it may not have enough weight to hang as well as you would like.

What type of material is the backdrop made out of? If it is some sort of cloth you can hang it in your bathroom for a few days and let the steam from your shower work on the wrinkles. The portable steamer will work here as well. If it is a plastic material you can try just letting it hang for a few days. It might relax enough to smooth out.

It's a plastic/cloth hybrid I think. Looks like kitchen yowl up close. I hadn't thought about paper. Maybe I could see if we have any remnants at work.

 

[Laird Knox]

It's a plastic/cloth hybrid I think. Looks like kitchen yowl up close. I hadn't thought about paper. Maybe I could see if we have any remnants at work.

Rolls of seamless come in many different colors but white, black and gray are the most common and most useful.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/seamless-paper/ci/23680/N/3976090297

You can change the color by adding a gel to your background strobe. Say you put a red gel on the strobe then by varying the intensity of the strobe you can go from pink to red to brown. Using white/gray/black paper has a similar effect as a neutral density filter on your lens - Gray paper will take a couple of stops more power to produce the same colors as white and black even more stops.

Yes, we had spend an evening in the studio photographing nothing but seamless paper. We used several colors against the various papers to see how the color changed with the exposure. It was tedious but it was a good exercise.

If the backdrop you have is some kind of cloth then I would try hanging it up flat in your bathroom for a few days to see if the steam from the shower will relax the threads a bit.

 

[MacRy]

Bedsheets work pretty well. Here's a shot I took of my dog with a bedsheet. As long as you light it right you can eliminate the wrinkles pretty effectively.

 

[kenoh]

Bedsheets work pretty well. Here's a shot I took of my dog with a bedsheet. As long as you light it right you can eliminate the wrinkles pretty effectively.

Hey little fella! Not seen him in ages! Trust he is doing OK? Looks great in this picture.

 

[MacRy]

He's doing great. Can't believe that he'll be four in a few months.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Bedsheets work pretty well. Here's a shot I took of my dog with a bedsheet. As long as you light it right you can eliminate the wrinkles pretty effectively.

I've got two speed lights. So one on an umbrella stand for the subject at about 45 degrees and above. The other one to light the background then for this sort of effect? Or do I need to borrow another speed light?

 

[MacRy]

I've got two speed lights. So one on an umbrella stand for the subject at about 45 degrees and above. The other one to light the background then for this sort of effect? Or do I need to borrow another speed light?

I used two in the configuration you suggested for that shot.

If you have three then this is a good tutorial

 

[Apple fanboy]

I used two in the configuration you suggested for that shot.

If you have three then this is a good tutorial

Thanks. I might borrow a third from work. I will probably have a play tomorrow, but my place is a little small. My background is huge. My lounge isn't!

 

[321estrellas]

I bought a Joby Gorillapod for my Panasonic LX100. I went to Whistler, BC and got some good use out of it, though I didn't really find some really interesting places to wrap the pod.

The one stop over the long weekend where we were going to take a group picture with no one around to take the picture for us, I forgot the gorillapod at the rental home

 

[Apple fanboy]

Needed a 95mm UV filter for my 200-500mm

Didn't want to spend a fortune.

But I did need to make my order up to £20 so got a rubber hood for zoo aquarium shoots.

and a focus checker as it was really cheap.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Old thread resurrection!
Decided to spend a bit of my bonus money that was earning very little interest.
I've been watching some Thomas Heaton Videos lately and I'm planning some days out for Landscape Photography.
So bought some 'cheap' filters!

Saved a few quid as it was Blackfriday.

 

[Alexander.Of.Oz]

Old thread resurrection!
Decided to spend a bit of my bonus money that was earning very little interest.
I've been watching some Thomas Heaton Videos lately and I'm planning some days out for Landscape Photography.
So bought some 'cheap' filters!

View attachment 738117

Saved a few quid as it was Blackfriday.

Bugga! For 103 Pound UK you could have gotten the newest Firecrest Ultra 10 stopper! Formatt-Hitech just had a 25% off sale!

The Lee 10 stopper is notorious for its blue colour cast!

Did you get it as a screw on filter? If you're using it in a traditional square filter holder you will need to look at blocking the sides of it to stop light leaks there, and always plug up your viewfinder too.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Bugga! For 103 Pound UK you could have gotten the newest Firecrest Ultra 10 stopper! Formatt-Hitech just had a 25% off sale!

The Lee 10 stopper is notorious for its blue colour cast!

I know a few people with the Lee big stopper that certainly don't look like they have any issues!
[doublepost=1511567607][/doublepost]

Bugga! For 103 Pound UK you could have gotten the newest Firecrest Ultra 10 stopper! Formatt-Hitech just had a 25% off sale!

The Lee 10 stopper is notorious for its blue colour cast!

Did you get it as a screw on filter? If you're using it in a traditional square filter holder you will need to look at blocking the sides of it to stop light leaks there, and always plug up your viewfinder too.

The screw on filter is the recessed one that reduces some of those issues. I have a viewfinder blackout cap.