Adapting non photo items to photo use.

I'd like users to contribute their experience in adapting non photography items to photo use. Some photo gear is either ridiculously expensive or sometimes there simply aren't good tools available. So if you found some storage bag, box etc, or Some other photo hack you'd like to share, post it here.

If you need a bag to organize your light stands, umbrellas etc.look for ski bags. If you live in a mountain area or large metro area with skiers they are surprisingly easy to find. They often have dual zippers so you can access it through the side or top.

I use a jar opener as a follow focus for my lens. A underwater utility case for a cheap camera case. Works the same as a Pelican for 10% of the cost. Foam lined and o ringed.

There's an awesome thread here dedicated to using a piece of 4x5 welding glass as a 10 stop ND filter. Makes for some very apocalyptic scenes like this one in downtown Atlanta at around 3:20 PM just before Rush hour. Believe me, there was LOTS of traffic but it was moving along quite nicely. This was a 400+ second exposure probably at f/11. The EXIF data on Flickr seems to be a bit off timing wise. I don't know why.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/bBqu​jW

Great stuff, keep em coming. I picked up a couple of bags designed to carry cargo ina car top luggage rack. They are fantastic for holding the entire collection of gear. I drive a pickup truck with a camper shell and even though I had lights in one case, modifiers and stands etc in their own bag\case the gear tended to slide around and become disorganized. With the cargo bag all the small organizers fit inside, stay together, and out of sight. If necessary the whole kit can be carried although it's pretty heavy but the bags are ruggedly constructed.

Here's a handy device if you want to use a smart phone or a tablet in place of the camera's display. It comes in two versions - one for phones and a larger one for tablets. Even though I found it at B&H, it was being sold as a music device. When I searched for a something that would clip onto a tripod (seems obvious to me), a found very little and what I found was klunky and high priced. So it occurred to me that a mic stand might work and the iKlip popped right up. It's about $40 and works really well. You can clip it to either a tripod leg or center post and then adjust the phone or tablet to whatever position you need. I'm posting a couple of photos of my set up. It's very simple.

I bought a bunch of bag inserts with compartments (with velcro) and placed them all in a carry on bag/backpack on wheels. I have 2 FF cameras, 5 lenses, 3 flashes, transmitters, laptop and small stuff for shooting events. If I need less gear, I take the dividers and place them in my smaller backpack Couldn't justify spending over $400 on some well known brands for camera gear. Total cost maybe $90 including the roll on bag

Harbor Freight aluminum "tool boxes" with pick and pluck foam.

http://www.harborfreig​ht.com …inum-case-69318-8538.html

Not as durable as a pelican, also about 1/8th the price.

nice but very small and no wheels

You can see some non-standard things I've used in the threads here: FAQ - Studio Lighting

Do you Cobble? (Slide duplicator)

Camera Modifications, Hacks, Cobbles, and other great ideas...

Some of these need to be updated: ** DIY Projects **

Another DIY light box, with build and test pics

New DIY Light Box Design

Portable AC Power Supply - DIY

I did a DIY Flash Bracket and Beamer a while back. Milk carton separators, reading magnifier and Duck tape for the Beamer and some alloy strip for the bracket.

gonzogolf wrote in post #17673099
If you need a bag to organize your light stands, umbrellas etc.look for ski bags. [...]

Baseball bat bags also work great.

I tried looking for bat bags at Acadamy and Dicks... I found these from someone else:

On-Stage SSB6500 Heavy Duty Speaker & Microphone Stand Bag

http://www.ebay.com …96790?hash=item​27ef573e76

Bought one, love it, bought another, and looking at a third. Nicely padded, and plenty long enough when you get the right model.

pat.kane wrote in post #17675458
Baseball bat bags also work great.

If you are using compact stands

an egg timer (from ikea) can be used to pan a go pro (or iPhone) for time-lapses (providing you don't mind it panning to the left, at a set speed of 360 degrees an hour)

I hacked mine with a phone holder off a selfie stick - next mod is a arca plate for the bottom.