What is absolutely, positively necessary to carry in your camera bag ?

lesmore49 · 08-12-2019, 03:06 PM - **1 Like**

I'm not talking about cameras and lenses...I'm talking about ancillary equipment, supplies, etc. Things like extra flash batteries (AA in my case), lens cleaning supplies...air brush blowers, lens cleaner fluid and cleaning sheets, multi tool (avoid carrying across borders nowadays), portable, small flash reflectors, filters, etc.

One thing I carry is a card issued by Canadian Customs that lists my camera equipment descriptions /serial #s that I have bought in my home country as proof that I'm not trying to 'slide' equipment bought in other countries...when I cross borders. It's free, and signed/stamped by Canadian Customs officials. Handy to have on occasion.

What do you consider absolutely, positively necessary to carry in your camera bag...aside from camera/lenses/flashes...in your bag ?

victormeldrew · 08-12-2019, 03:09 PM

A spare battery.

noahwc · 08-12-2019, 03:20 PM - **2 Likes**

An empty SD card always stays in my bag for when I inevitably forget to put one in my camera before leaving home.

hcc · 08-12-2019, 03:22 PM

Fully-charged spare + fibreless cloth to clean your lens + USB cable to download your photo (+ spare SD card if your have only one card slot).

My take for a small absolute minimum!

tokyoscape · 08-12-2019, 03:36 PM

it is a L-blacket and a wireless remote control for me.
I can forget any accessory at home but if I forget one of the two, I will be very frustrated with myself.

**c.a.m** · 08-12-2019, 03:45 PM

Spare battery, spare SD card, CPL filter, small cleaning kit, and a small flip notebook and pencil.

- Craig

disconnekt · 08-12-2019, 03:48 PM

For me its pretty much just spare batteries, a lens cloth, a lens hood & polarizer.

Dan Rentea · 08-12-2019, 03:54 PM - **1 Like**

Analgesic pills and Band-Aid.

I always have those hidden in my backpack.

photoptimist · 08-12-2019, 04:08 PM

Good lists so far.

I also add:
•*A card with my contact information on it so of the bag is lost there's a non-zero chance of return.
•*Some cash (usually $20)
•*my wits -- gotta store them someplace and they are easy to misplace!

dave2k · 08-12-2019, 05:20 PM

Spare battery
Lens brush
Filter wrench, either one or two depending on which filters I have
Identification card in the bag

**BWG** · 08-12-2019, 05:30 PM

A lens pen like these. Lenspen Pro Pack with DSLR Lens, MicroPRO & FilterKlear Cleaning Pens with Cloth Pouch https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01E7EV210/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_ysGuDbCQKNJC7?tag=pentaxforums-20&

**Lowell Goudge** · 08-12-2019, 05:33 PM

Spare batteries, memory cards, and depending on location, a pocket knife with corkscrew, and first aid kit, with bandaids one tensor bandage, benedryl for allergic reactions, and some form of topical bug bite medicine.

selfnoise · 08-12-2019, 05:46 PM

Don't forget that tripod plate!

Personally I always have a tick removing tool for those close encounters.

**Riggomatic** · 08-12-2019, 05:53 PM - **1 Like**

I have a small notebook, and pen for notes when shooting with manual lenses.

A Ziploc bag for my spare battery, and a plastic shopping bag for a quick "raincoat" for the bag.

**From1980** · 08-12-2019, 11:27 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Riggomatic

I have a small notebook, and pen for notes when shooting with manual lenses.

A Ziploc bag for my spare battery, and a plastic shopping bag for a quick "raincoat" for the bag.

This is a great list
One item not mentioned yet is an old fashioned manual cable release which I find indispensable. When I was young I would convince myself tripods were too cumbersome to carry so I often missed many opportunities. I changed my mind on that a long time ago and very often shoot slow speeds and higher magnification. The simple cable release never fails.

08-12-2019, 03:06 PM - 1 Like	#1
lesmore49 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Western Canada Posts: 12,344	What is absolutely, positively necessary to carry in your camera bag ? I'm not talking about cameras and lenses...I'm talking about ancillary equipment, supplies, etc. Things like extra flash batteries (AA in my case), lens cleaning supplies...air brush blowers, lens cleaner fluid and cleaning sheets, multi tool (avoid carrying across borders nowadays), portable, small flash reflectors, filters, etc. One thing I carry is a card issued by Canadian Customs that lists my camera equipment descriptions /serial #s that I have bought in my home country as proof that I'm not trying to 'slide' equipment bought in other countries...when I cross borders. It's free, and signed/stamped by Canadian Customs officials. Handy to have on occasion. What do you consider absolutely, positively necessary to carry in your camera bag...aside from camera/lenses/flashes...in your bag ?

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Do you carry a multi tool in your camera bag ?	lesmore49	Pentax Camera and Field Accessories	43	08-12-2019 03:12 PM
How do you carry your lens in a camera bag ?	lesmore49	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	19	03-03-2018 06:33 PM
What's Your Favorite Camera Bag That Looks Nothing Like a Camera Bag?	reivax	Pentax Camera and Field Accessories	19	10-19-2017 07:09 PM
Is a Pentax branded macro reversal ring absolutely necessary to maintain quality?	Vicioustuna2012	Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras	29	01-25-2017 03:37 PM
DxoMark positively reviews 35mm f2.4 AL	rawr	Pentax News and Rumors	17	06-02-2011 04:46 AM

08-12-2019, 03:09 PM	#2
victormeldrew Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: South West UK Photos: Albums Posts: 1,493	A spare battery.

08-12-2019, 03:20 PM - 2 Likes	#3
noahwc New Member Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: BC Posts: 11	An empty SD card always stays in my bag for when I inevitably forget to put one in my camera before leaving home.

08-12-2019, 03:22 PM	#4
hcc Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Brisbane, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,002	Fully-charged spare + fibreless cloth to clean your lens + USB cable to download your photo (+ spare SD card if your have only one card slot). My take for a small absolute minimum!

08-12-2019, 03:36 PM	#5
tokyoscape Inactive Account Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Tokyo Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,256	it is a L-blacket and a wireless remote control for me. I can forget any accessory at home but if I forget one of the two, I will be very frustrated with myself.

08-12-2019, 03:45 PM	#6
c.a.m Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Ottawa, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,189	Spare battery, spare SD card, CPL filter, small cleaning kit, and a small flip notebook and pencil. - Craig

08-12-2019, 03:48 PM	#7
disconnekt Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: SoCal/I.E. Photos: Albums Posts: 1,699	For me its pretty much just spare batteries, a lens cloth, a lens hood & polarizer.

08-12-2019, 03:54 PM - 1 Like	#8
Dan Rentea Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Bucharest Posts: 1,716	Analgesic pills and Band-Aid. I always have those hidden in my backpack.

08-12-2019, 04:08 PM	#9
photoptimist Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2016 Photos: Albums Posts: 5,126	Good lists so far. I also add: •A card with my contact information on it so of the bag is lost there's a non-zero chance of return. •Some cash (usually $20) •*my wits -- gotta store them someplace and they are easy to misplace!

08-12-2019, 05:20 PM	#10
dave2k Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Michigan Photos: Gallery Posts: 419	Spare battery Lens brush Filter wrench, either one or two depending on which filters I have Identification card in the bag

08-12-2019, 05:30 PM	#11
BWG Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Monterey County, California Posts: 165	A lens pen like these. Lenspen Pro Pack with DSLR Lens, MicroPRO & FilterKlear Cleaning Pens with Cloth Pouch https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01E7EV210/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_ysGuDbCQKNJC7?tag=pentaxforums-20&

08-12-2019, 05:33 PM	#12
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,888	Spare batteries, memory cards, and depending on location, a pocket knife with corkscrew, and first aid kit, with bandaids one tensor bandage, benedryl for allergic reactions, and some form of topical bug bite medicine.

08-12-2019, 05:46 PM	#13
selfnoise Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Westbrook, ME, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 288	Don't forget that tripod plate! Personally I always have a tick removing tool for those close encounters.

08-12-2019, 05:53 PM - 1 Like	#14
Riggomatic Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Auburn, Indiana Photos: Albums Posts: 3,886	I have a small notebook, and pen for notes when shooting with manual lenses. A Ziploc bag for my spare battery, and a plastic shopping bag for a quick "raincoat" for the bag.

08-12-2019, 11:27 PM - 1 Like	#15
From1980 Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Essex, Ontario Posts: 682	Originally posted by Riggomatic I have a small notebook, and pen for notes when shooting with manual lenses. A Ziploc bag for my spare battery, and a plastic shopping bag for a quick "raincoat" for the bag. This is a great list One item not mentioned yet is an old fashioned manual cable release which I find indispensable. When I was young I would convince myself tripods were too cumbersome to carry so I often missed many opportunities. I changed my mind on that a long time ago and very often shoot slow speeds and higher magnification. The simple cable release never fails.