Ok so I am sure I am not the only one with a squeaky tight budget. So there are some things you can improvise on and other that are reasonably priced but must haves. So here is my list of basics.
UV filters one for each lens plus a spare.......check
Lens cleaning solution and cloth..................check
Blower to clean image sensor......................check
Clear and colored saran wrap with
hole in center (for fog filters).........................check
Homemade shaped bokeh filters..................check
Rubber bands to hold on homemade filters....check
Plastic spoon............................................WHAT?
Yes a plastic spoon. If all you have for flash it the one that came on the camera then this work great to defuse it, and it doubles as a source point to set custom white balance.
Nice! I never thought of the spoon trick. Here's a video on how to mod a pringles can into a huge macro lens http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGdE15Qj3iA
I haven't had a chance to try it yet but I'm hoping to soon.
duct tape - even about 20ft or so on a small roll of some sort, pocket knife (unless flying) i have found several useful times duct tape came in quite handy.
Great thread. I'd also add a homemade beanbag. I used one yesterday while photographing birds from the car. I balanced a drawstring bag with a few bags of lentils inside it, on the window of the car and rested my camera on it.
Polarising filter - not exactly cheap, but I couldn't do without one - not just for skies and clouds, but enhancing colors (fall foilage), reflections, water. One lives on my kit lens and don't bother with a UV
If you have a flash, I found those little boxes of cereal that come in packs, one of those will fit perfectly over my flash - made a homemade "snoot" out of it. Also have a small piece of foam that I can wrap around it and secure with rubber bands to funnel the light.
Pieces of white foam board - different sizes - for reflecting light or blocking wind or as a background when talking shots in the garden.
Will "borrow" a plastic spoon from the canteen at lunch I think. :-)
I personally fancy a lightscoop ( http://www.lightscoop.com/) but might try making one out of a compact mirror first to see if they really do work.
Love all these great suggestions! My survival tip is using an old beat up camera bag- so no one ever wants to rob me. And extra lens covers- I'm forever losing them for some reason.
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I haven't had a chance to try it yet but I'm hoping to soon.
If you have a flash, I found those little boxes of cereal that come in packs, one of those will fit perfectly over my flash - made a homemade "snoot" out of it. Also have a small piece of foam that I can wrap around it and secure with rubber bands to funnel the light.
Pieces of white foam board - different sizes - for reflecting light or blocking wind or as a background when talking shots in the garden.
I personally fancy a lightscoop ( http://www.lightscoop.com/) but might try making one out of a compact mirror first to see if they really do work.
- camera remote (the tethered ones are pretty cheap)
- reverse mount (about 10 bucks to play with macro)
- extension tubes (if you are willing to try manually focusing, you can get a set of these for like $10-20)