Gadgets and Gizmos - assorted photographic tools

Crumpler backpack

Like many photographers I use a variety of camera bags. My photo backpack is made by Crumpler (an Australian company) and is the Whickey and Cox. Unlike some photo backpacks, it opens up through the area against your back, which has two major advantages:

• you don't get water and prickly seeds against your back after you've taken gear out of the bag
• in busy airports you don't need to worry about thieves unzipping the bag while it's on your back!

Crumpler have several sizes of similar bags: I chose this one as I'm able to take it as carry-on luggage on domestic and international flights. With careful packing it often carries: PowerBook, two EOS DSLRs, 17-40mm lens, 100-400mm IS lens, Pro1/87C, 580EX flash, Lightsphere flash diffuser, Wimberley flash brackets, Nexto storage drive, batteries, and various other accessories.

Batteries

Most of my Canon cameras use Li-Ion batteries (NB-2LH and BP-511 types). But lots of equipment uses AA batteries, and I've written a separate article on choosing NiMH batteries and chargers.

As you'll see in that article, my current favourite AA batteries are PowerEx (available in Australia through Servaas Products) and PowerTech (available through Jaycar). My favourite AA charger is the La Crosse BC-900 (which is not currently available in Australia) while the Maha C401FS gets my nod also.

PowerShot Pro1/87C IR camera

I've written about the Pro1 in its own article.

Flash card storage

With several cameras and an assortment of flash cards (mostly CompactFlash, but with the odd SD card also) keeping track of the cards in the field is essential. They should be protected from bumps, dust, and moisture, and shouldn't be dropped or lost: some form of carrier is important. I use several Gepe Card Safe Extremes. These are wonderful: they hold up to 4 cards each, they're dust and water proof (they'll even float!) and are brightly coloured so you'll find them when you drop one. They're well-made: I do not expect mine to wear out any time soon.

In the past I've bought these from B&H, but recently found a local Australian supplier: Kayell. If you can't find it on Kayell's website just give them a phone call. I think they're around AU$30 each.

Be aware however that I recommend you do NOT get the "Onyx" (grey) model: it's hard to find when you drop it. The other choices are red, blue, and neon green.

Apple Computers

For quite a few years I've used Apple computers and the OS X operating system. I may believe that OS X is much better to use than Microsoft Windows, but I try not to brow-beat those people who choose to use Windows!

My laptop is a 12-inch PowerBook (when I eventually replace this it will become a MacBook) which takes up a tiny amount of space in my backpack.

GPS

I use a Garmin eTrex Legend GPS. It's small enough to fit in a pocket easily, and when I'm driving it sits in a windscreen-mounted cradle with power and data connections. I use it to record "tracklogs" of where I have been (this includes timestamps) and I use this data later to automatically attach location information to my photographs (no matter which camera was used and without needing the camera to support direct GPS connection). The eTrex Legend has enough storage to record at least several days of logs before download is needed.

Shoulder strap

The SS-1 shoulder strap from Kirk Enterprises provides an Arca-Swiss-compatible quick-release clamp hanging at your side. All my cameras (and large lenses) have Arca-Swiss-compatible quick-release plates. My EOS and Pro1 cameras have dedicated RRS L-plates, and I have Camdapter and Wimberley P-5 plates for the various other cameras I'm testing. My lenses are currently using either Kirk or Wimberley plates.

The SS-1 strap (which I describe in detail in its own article) lets me easily attach a camera when I need to. Because it supports large lenses from the lens collar, they hang at my side (sometimes complete with flash and Better Beamer flash extender mounted to the camera) without me having to worry about the lens mount straining under the weight.

Gitzo and Feisol Tripods

My main tripod is a Gitzo G1348 carbon fibre unit. This is the 4-section brother of the G1325. The G1348 is unfortunately not imported by the Australian Gitzo distributor (although they do supply spare parts if required) and I ended up sourcing this unit from Canada. I specifically chose the G1348 because:

• It stands taller than the G1325.
  I'm quite tall, and stooping down to my camera is not always a good thing. Especially on slopes where one leg has to extend downhill. I don't always fully extend the legs, but having the option to do that is very useful.
• It folds up smaller than the G1325.
  The less space something takes up in my luggage the better!
• It's a very solid unit, able to take all my equipment without straining. Even the bigger lenses which I occasionally hire/borrow.
  I've heard criticisms from some photographers that the lower leg sections are "pencil thin" but I haven't found their size to be a problem. Even if I was worried about having a very large load on my tripod I would still have the option of only opening up the top 3 leg sections!

I use a Manfrotto 3502 levelling base and an Arca-Swiss B1 ballhead on the G1348, along with Op/Tech USA leg-wraps to protect the carbon fibre legs.

But the G1348 isn't my only tripod: I have a small Feisol CT-3402N tripod (without centre column) which I keep in the back of my car for "emergencies", and use when travelling to remote locations where I can't justify the size of the G1348. Feisol is a Taiwanese manufacturer who sells their equipment directly via their website.

I also use a monopod at times: a Manfrotto 681B (again, this is a 4-section unit that folds up quite small) with a Manfrotto 234 "tilt-head" and a Kirk quick-release clamp. The setup of this head and clamp is described at Really Right Stuff (RRS)'s website.

"Double-bubble" spirit levels

These tiny spirit-levels have bubbles in two axes, and simply slide into your camera's flash shoe. When using a tripod they're very useful to ensure your horizons aren't tilted. They're available from several manufacturers: I have some made by Cullmann in Germany (I bought them from B&H). The Cullmann CU78 has a slight advantage over some other units: the corners are rounded and consequently they won't stab you when you've got one in your pocket!