Here are five things we might not think we need, but could turn out to be very useful to have. I curated them because I use them all myself. They also happen to be small items that make the perfect stocking stuffers—so pass this article on to friends and family if they’re short on ideas for what to get the photographer in their life!
PolarPro Defender Body Cap
When I travel, I separate my camera from the lens because I can fit everything into a small bag or pack much more easily. Instead of the boring old plastic body cap the camera brand gave you, I figured why not use this very stylish aluminum cap from PolarPro. It not only looks great; it’s incredibly functional, too. There are three colors to choose from: black, desert, or forest.
It comes with a choice of three rubber inserts that fit an AirTag, CFexpress Type A, or SD card. They hide inside the cap, accessible by removing a quick-release button.
The Defender Body Cap is available for Z, E, RF, EF, L, and X mounts and retails for $49.99.
Think Tank Red Whips
These very useful elasticated adjustable cable ties come in a pack of ten medium whips and two long. I use these for my USB-C and XLR cables. It’s worth carrying a couple of these in your camera bag, and I like that they’re bright red and easy to see and find if they get buried.
Red Whips retail for $14.75.
WANDRD Zipper Pullers
These are such a simple little thing, yet they make a huge difference when out on a shoot. They make opening your bag or backpack easier. The pack of zipper pullers includes six U-pullers and six straight pullers. The U-pullers are very easy to grab with gloves on, which I’ve found useful. They’re one of the most functional puller designs on the market and fit most zipper pulls on most bags.
They come in a variety of bright colors, so it’s a nice way to see a zipper in low light and also customize your bag. They retail for $19.
Freewell Pro Card Reader
This is a convenient way to transport a variety of memory cards on a trip and transfer data to a computer or backup device, too. The plug-and-play Pro Card Reader features:
- one CFexpress Type B card slot
- one CFexpress Type A card slot
- one UHS-II SDXC card slot
- one UHS-II microSDXC card slot
All four slots can be used simultaneously and achieve transfer rates of up to 10 GB/s.
A lockable slide-off aluminum case safely holds:
- 1 CFexpress Type A card
- 1 CFexpress Type B card
- 3 SD (UHS-I and II) cards
- 6 microSD cards
It also has 2 nano-SIM slots and a removal tool. It comes with a carabiner and a USB-A to USB-C adapter.
As someone who uses four different cards on my camera and video gear, this has proven to be an essential tool. It retails for $99.99.
Harlowe Iris 5W Spectra RGBCW LED Light Kit
Every photographer and videographer should carry a small light in their bag. I’ve carried one for many years, but recently discovered this little kit from Harlowe and can’t recommend it enough.
The Iris 5W Spectra is retro-styled, beautifully made, and the most versatile tiny light on the market. It has a built-in battery that lasts up to 2 hours, features tunable CCT from 1700 to 10,000K, is 0–100% dimmable, and is IP54 rated.
The Harlowe Iris Spectra RGBCW Creator Kit includes:
- Magic lens
- adjustable lens
- aperture ring
- fresnel lens
- frosted dome
- V-mount connector
- USB-C charging cable
- pouch
It retails for $229.
No comments yet