Non-essential items that are actually essential to you

What items that are generally considered optional, you find to be fundamental to your photography? I'm thinking of stuff like battery grip, remote shutter, filters, tripod, monopod, flash bracket, sling strap, etc. What are your most essential non-essentials? If possible be specific about the items you own and love so that others can obtain them as well.

Gaffer's tape.
Rogue grids.

1. A plastic bag. Rain is bad for cameras, flashes and lenses. A plastic bag is cheap insurance and you can bring it no matter the size of your kit.
2. Tiny pocket size AAA flashlight. I use an insanely bright and focusable Ultrafire Q5 for $7US. If you like working in the dark it comes in handy several times a night.

Hoodman Loupe.
Microfiber Camp Towel

Rubber bands to separate stubborn filters. Herringbone Hand Grip...... just because!

I find it essential to eliminate the non-essential. It removes distractions and allows you to shoot.

Duct tape
Light stick
1-Gallon zip-lock bag

Stuffed animal finger puppets - I tie those around my lenses using a hair tie
Squeak toys - to get little ones' attention
Small bubbles bottle - I give them during a shoot to incorporate bubbles or afterwards to reward kids
Notebook - I keep all my thoughts and shot ideas for each shoot, especially something new I want to try

I have a pocket screwdriver made from a small, flat, triangular piece of stainless steel whose corners are cut off for the screwdriver blades. It's about 1 1 /2" in size. It's always in my kit.

A bean bag to ret under my lens when I'm without my tripod

nebula_42 wrote in post #16402447
I have a pocket screwdriver made from a small, flat, triangular piece of stainless steel whose corners are cut off for the screwdriver blades. It's about 1 1 /2" in size. It's always in my kit.

I'd love to see pics of that!

I definitely second the plastic bag for rain protection, and flashlight (need to look into one for EDC)...

Rubber bands. You never know when you'll need them.
Tape
Bottled water - When you're running around like a chicken without a head, there's nothing better than some water when you need it.
Tissues - I need to occasionally wipe the eye piece of my camera. A hectic shoot causes a lot of sweat.

A supply of eneloops. Does that count?

screwdrivers for reconfiguring grip stuff (plates, clamps, heads)

gaff tape (i most often use it to hold lenses at a focal length and cover the drop in filter slot on my 400 if the shoot goes from day to night and i forgot my uv and don't want to leave the polarizer in)

phone charging cable because my phone always dies

nail clippers because days out in the hot sun never fail to leave me with hangnails

carabiner to clip my mounted camera's strap to the fence in case my magic arm fails (in never has)

In no specific order...

Zacuto Z-Finder Pro 2.5X
B+W 77mm & 82mm #110 (10-stop) Neutral Density Filters
4x6 Singh-Ray "Daryl Benson" Reverse ND Graduated Filter 3-stop (and Lee FDK)
B+W XS-Pro Kaesemann CPL with Multi-Resistant Nano Coating (72mm + 77mm + 82mm)
B+W Stepdown Rings (various 72mm - smaller)
Fotodiox Filter Wrench Kit
Kata PL-LT-317 Sling
LensPen Pro Camera Cleaning Kit
Alta Tactical Military Knee Pads

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