What’s your three non camera gear purchases for photography?

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sh1209

sh1209

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I would have to say the first one and the best purchase I have ever made would be the cotton carrier vest. This has been a lifesaver for me because I can easily strap a camera body with a 600 mm prime and another camera body on the side holster and walk for 3 to 5 miles with no issues. The second would be the series 4 gitzo monopod which I use all the time. The third would be heated gloves for winter time. These are a must for me because I have so much nerve damage in my hands that once my hands get cold I am done.
 
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I assume you mean best purchase other than camera or lens. It would have to be a carbon fiber tripod. I got my first one - a Bogen/Manfrotto - just before a trip to Europe and it was so much nicer than carrying the heavier aluminum Bogen I had. Later I upgraded to a Really Right Stuff carbon fiber tripod which is even better because I am tall and it extends to full height without the need for a center column.
 
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MrFotoFool said:
I assume you mean best purchase other than camera or lens. It would have to be a carbon fiber tripod. I got my first one - a Bogen/Manfrotto - just before a trip to Europe and it was so much nicer than carrying the heavier aluminum Bogen I had. Later I upgraded to a Really Right Stuff carbon fiber tripod which is even better because I am tall and it extends to full height without the need for a center column.
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Yes, I should’ve made that clear in the title I’ll change that
 
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MrFotoFool said:
I assume you mean best purchase other than camera or lens. It would have to be a carbon fiber tripod. I got my first one - a Bogen/Manfrotto - just before a trip to Europe and it was so much nicer than carrying the heavier aluminum Bogen I had. Later I upgraded to a Really Right Stuff carbon fiber tripod which is even better because I am tall and it extends to full height without the need for a center column.
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I think a carbon fiber monopod just like you say is one of the best purchases I have ever made a lot of times if I’m in a area and don’t want to put the camera on my vest I will leave it on the monopod and put it over my shoulder. It’s super quick to access your camera that way. I ended up getting the RRS monopod head for it and I’ve had really good luck with the whole set up.
 
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StefanSC said:
1) Proper ball head for my tripod. Actually got me to use the darn thing.

2) A high end laptop for fast image processing and using AI Noise reduction.

3) A LowePro Flipside 400 AW that showed me how a good back-pack for carrying gear should look, work and perform.
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That backpack is great. I have the same one
 
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sh1209 said:
You should post a pic of that you have me curious now
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2019 version
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1. Moving over to the Lee's filter system (too many to list)
2. Peli 1520 case
3. Travel cigar humidor for those long time-lapses in the middle of nowhere
 
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sh1209 said:
I would have to say the first one and the best purchase I have ever made would be the cotton carrier vest. This has been a lifesaver for me because I can easily strap a camera body with a 600 mm prime and another camera body on the side holster and walk for 3 to 5 miles with no issues. The second would be the series 4 gitzo monopod which I use all the time. The third would be heated gloves for winter time. These are a must for me because I have so much nerve damage in my hands that once my hands get cold I am done.
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Great thread idea.
 
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Wes Peterson said:
Nope, crawl around in the water behind it.
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Not sure if you made that yourself or had someone else fabricate it but I would think you would be able to sell those. I spent my whole career, a diesel mechanic and pretty good at fabricating things. You definitely have sparked some ideas.
 
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sh1209 said:
Not sure if you made that yourself or had someone else fabricate it but I would think you would be able to sell those. I spent my whole career, a diesel mechanic and pretty good at fabricating things. You definitely have sparked some ideas.
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I did it myself. In a past life I was a welder/fabricator so making brackets and mounting things is kind of second nature.
 
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Wes Peterson said:
I did it myself. In a past life I was a welder/fabricator so making brackets and mounting things is kind of second nature.
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It’s fun making things like that and I miss having a welder at home. I got rid of a lot of the tools I had after getting hurt. That really is a neat creation.
 
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sh1209 said:
I would have to say the first one and the best purchase I have ever made would be the cotton carrier vest. This has been a lifesaver for me because I can easily strap a camera body with a 600 mm prime and another camera body on the side holster and walk for 3 to 5 miles with no issues. The second would be the series 4 gitzo monopod which I use all the time. The third would be heated gloves for winter time. These are a must for me because I have so much nerve damage in my hands that once my hands get cold I am done.
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Been pondering getting a Cotton Carrier (again; had one years ago) for the 600. Any issues with the adapter plate for the Carrier and then wanting to toss the lens into the gimbal/tripod? And yah, re hands. I've frozen mine so often one they get cold fast and then stay cold (or wholly non functional) without a heat source of some sort, chemical packs or otherwise (have a little computer mouse sized 'egg' that I keep in my pocket or glove on the shutter finger hand.
 
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Listed in order of most used.

1) a good backpack. i've used the same one for 12(?)+ years. Lowepro but don't even recall what model and it's not labeled. 400AW maybe? Fits a 500mm f4 w/out body attached or 500mmPF w/pro body attached and lens hood in shooting position.
2) 20L dry bag. Modified it by lining it with 1/2in closed cell foam. Fits 500mm f4/Z9 or 800mm PF/Z9 with hood reversed.
3) CF tripod/gimbal
 
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