Inexpensive gadgets and accessories you can't do without.

[Bob Gundu]

Velcro-style tomato vine ties which come in a continuous roll. Rip off whatever length you need. Trouble is, everyone else rips off whatever length they need and the roll is gone pretty quick.

I have rolls of this stuff. So cheap but uber useful.
http://www.ebay.ca/sch/i.html?_trks...lcro+ties&_nkw=velcro+ties&_sacat=0&_from=R40

 

[Bob Gundu]

Just in case when you need a power socket and it can't be found! Use this gizmo to plug into a light socket.

 

[Chris McKechnie]

I LOVE these...have several of them. Last forever. Power a wide range of devices from 5v-19v output! iPhones/ipads, Paralinx, monitors, etc.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/618847-REG/Tekkeon_MP3450I_myPower_ALL_Plus_MP3450i.html

 

[Ben Scott]

I LOVE these...have several of them. Last forever. Power a wide range of devices from 5v-19v output! iPhones/ipads, Paralinx, monitors, etc.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/618847-REG/Tekkeon_MP3450I_myPower_ALL_Plus_MP3450i.html

I'll see that, and raise you the £20 version I have

http://www.amazon.co.uk/EasyAcc®-10...UTF8&colid=U087OHXH1PE7&coliid=I2HN318ZMU8NJ9

2 x USB outputs 1x 1a and 1x 2a. Charged my HTC One phone from dead to full in under an hour.

 

[Ben Scott]

Just in case when you need a power socket and it can't be found! Use this gizmo to plug into a light socket.

That looks both awesome and terrifyingly dangerous. I want many.

 

[Jeff Whitehurst]

I got this dinky tripod at a drugstore for like $30 on sale, and used the head parts to make a pan handle mounted REDMote controller. Adjustable angle, quick release, lightweight and strong.
http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-Compact-Panhead-Cleaning-Coolpix/dp/B00407OJGU

 

[Curt Pair]

Here's my $9 mic case, which holds a shotgun mic, shock mount, noga arm and XLR cable securely and fully assembled. Just take the rig out of the case and screw it on, instant scratch mic. Waterproof, dustproof, impact resistant and somewhat pro looking. Fully gasketed with rubber seal, lanyard hole, molded clip and it doesn't roll. Also like the red color, which makes it easy to locate and hard to lose.
http://www.lowes.com/pd_367048-1703...rch=welding+rod+case&productId=3474867&rpp=48

This is AWESOME! I've got another "not as pro" looking way to ship/transport my mic in a blimp... Hopefully they'll have a larger diameter tube too! Thanks for sharing!

 

[Clint Lealos]

Not super cheap, but super useful… TrekPak dividers.

 

[Ben Scott]

Trekpak dividers are the greatest invention in the history of anything ever. Sadly however, they charge almost as much as the dividers cost to send them to the UK, which frankly, is bullshit.

Luckily i picked up a Trekpak'd Peli 1510 while I was in Chicago last year and brought that case back as my carry on. The dividers and the case were cheaper than just getting the dividers sent to the UK. Crazy.

 

[Tom Greenberg]

I'm loving this thread…so many good ideas! I'm seeing a lot of things that I just have to have! I already use some of them, like TrekPak dividers (got 7 cases with them), the Viewfactor SSD cases, and of course Velcro cable ties. But I'm kind of surprised no one has mentioned my all-time favorite…Zip Ties. I keep a pack with a bunch of different sizes and colors in my camera kit and use 'em for everything from holding a mic cable temporarily in place on a talent's jacket, to positioning a bounce card on a C-stand, to fixing a broken barn door on a light.

 

[Ben Scott]

I got this dinky tripod at a drugstore for like $30 on sale, and used the head parts to make a pan handle mounted REDMote controller. Adjustable angle, quick release, lightweight and strong.
http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-Compact-Panhead-Cleaning-Coolpix/dp/B00407OJGU

I don't have a redmote but that's some genius lateral thinking right there

 

[Bob Gundu]

I'm going to give a shout out to Berkey systems. I find myself every month getting something. I have a collection of these handy blocks.

http://www.berkeysystem.com/store/blocks/

 

[Ben Scott]

I'm loving this thread…so many good ideas! I'm seeing a lot of things that I just have to have! I already use some of them, like TrekPak dividers (got 7 cases with them), the Viewfactor SSD cases, and of course Velcro cable ties. But I'm kind of surprised no one has mentioned my all-time favorite…Zip Ties. I keep a pack with a bunch of different sizes and colors in my camera kit and use 'em for everything from holding a mic cable temporarily in place on a talent's jacket, to positioning a bounce card on a C-stand, to fixing a broken barn door on a light.

Oh my God, how could I forget zip ties? Great shout.

Ooh I'll add another one in here. For when I'm using tiny wee Contax Zeiss primes but wanting common 77mm filter threads AND wanting to be able to fit a follow focus in between the lens and mattebox - usually an issue because they are so tiny. $20

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/49-52-55-58-62-67-72-77-82-mm-step-up-ring-lens-hood-/180505661549

 

[Clint Lealos]

Not sure it qualifies as a gadget, but it only costs a couple bucks and has come in handy more than I ever thought it would… the Honey Bear Flare! Don't knock till you try it

 

[Ben Scott]

I think I need to see that bad boy in action!

I'll swap you for some images using a crappy old 52mm close up adapter that was lying around - price £0.50 on ebay.


Nadine Shah - To Be a Young Man by Soma Pics, on Flickr

and an old UV filter with blue lines drawn in sharpie on it. Price £0.00 (plus the price of a sharpie I guess )


Nadine Shah - To Be a Young Man by Soma Pics, on Flickr

 

[Nick Morrison]

Not sure it qualifies as a gadget, but it only costs a couple bucks and has come in handy more than I ever thought it would… the Honey Beer Flare! Don't knock till you try it

HAHA. Love this. WOW. Can I say "sweet"?!!

 

[Clint Lealos]

Ben, love the blue sharpie idea! Nice shots.

 

[Shane Kelly]

I find this pretty useful:

 

[Tom Greenberg]

Perfect for so many occasions, including those "client expectation adjustment" sessions that are sometimes necessary

I find this pretty useful:

 

[Phil Holland]

I'll add a couple thingies to this rad list.

LED and other types of flashlights. I have an insane amount of various types of these, but sometimes they are a life saver on setups. You'd be surprised at the versatility really. Mostly ranging from $5-$500 bucks.


My trusty Multi-Cart at around $200 when I purchased it:

While not as stable as other carts, I bought this years ago and it's easily been one of the most useful collapsible dollies and carts I've ever had.

It's been through hell and has been everywhere:

Also a couple hundred bucks if you can find one on sale, the Induro DR Hi-Hat. I don't bother carrying around my other hats and boards now since I bought this thing. I saw these on sale over the holiday for $150.

i'll second anything involving velcro or bungies. All my cables of 2 feet and up have velcro ties and that's just nice and tiddy. Clients have even noted that they like the concept. Clamps and other grip gear are going to make this list for sure.


One other lighting related one. Photoflex Litepanels. They deploy quick, can diffuse or bounce, and are lightweight. You can occasionally find these on sale for a under a couple hundred bucks, used even less. I don't have a grip truck, so these make a hell of a lot of sense: