Tips on items to carry in your bag

Hello all! I was just curious as to little items that you may carry in your bag to get you out of a jam or items that may come in handy while shooting weddings or sports.

For example, I saved a wedding because I had a pack of matches ready when the candles were about to be lit and the lighters could not be found.

Thanks in advance for your tips!!

Dave

Safety pins.

Rubber bands.

Gaffer tape.

Extra batteries for everything.

---Bob Gross---

Little pre cut velcro squares. I velcro everything.

Wanna save the day? Carry a small travel sewing kit. There is always something that is falling off or needs snipping.

- Digital Prophet -

Thanks!! All very good ideas! Keep them coming!!!

Dave

Bug Spray - I found a little ~2-ounce bottle of 100% DEET in a drug store. Stuff works great.

Tiny roll on SPF 30 sun lotion made by Neutrogena. It's about the size of a business card, solid roll-on so no mess. Same store.

Be a little careful with strong DEET. It will act as a pretty good paint thinner. I've seen it cut through the paint job on a car, and it can just as easily cause plastic finishes to degrade, like on a camera. At a minimum, it will remove the ink on some serial number printed labels.

Maybe you could just accidentally spray it toward the lens of the Nikon shooter next to you.

---Bob Gross---

Extra CF cards...
Pancho
Lens Pen
A FAST lens is a must

Yup, Bob, Been there, wiped that serial# and button label off!

Hated all the mess and dissolving plastic - until I found a roll-on, made by Cutter (called "Off!"), that isn't much larger than a large lipstick but gets the job done with absolutely no mess at all.

No matter what camera gear, tripod, backpack etc I have with me, I always have the little fanny pack round my waist with

2 extra batts BP511,
a CF card case (holds 4),
lens pen,
lens cloth and fluid,
little notebook,
pen/flashlight combo ( for writing notes before sun-up)
Cutter roll-on

I've got into the habit of taking this everywhere I go and feel naked without it! The rest of the stuff goes in the backpack or pockets of a photog vest or whatever...

Andy

I thought that I remember reading that high concentrations of DEET (DDT?) also cause seizures andother serious health problems. Of course up here in Canadian the government is recommending using DEET to combat the mosquitos and advance the struggle against the west nile virus.

Vince

It is not recommended to get very much high concentration DEET directly on your skin. However, if you get it on your clothing, it can work pretty effectively. High concentration DEET has been used for years by the U.S. military, but the typical stuff in most stores now is about 1/3 strength, and almost as effective. DEET (Diethyl metatoluamide) is not DDT.

---Bob Gross---

Felt finetip pens
Hand wipes (especially if you've got sunscreen and bug repellant!)
Rain poncho
Large garbage bag (since the poncho won't cover the bag, and can double as a changing bag in a pinch, if I need to use film)
Cable ties
Spare key(s)
Filter wrench
Film leader extracter (again, if I need to use film)