Why do I have so many accessories in my bag? Is not a camera and a lens enough to take good pictures?
One of the main pillars in our thinking is to make things right the first time, so we don’t need to redo or “fix it in post”.
To get a better technical quality from the start and save time on set, we have to:
Improve framing and focus
Have additional lightning
Assure correct exposure
Be able to shoot long days
Maintain equipment on set
Another lesson I’ve learned is that if you pack your bag each time, you either forget equipment or add to much stuff just in case. This is why the bag contains everything that is needed for a full day of shooting at different locations. When we need more equipment, we add one or more bags instead of repack this one.
Framing and focus
Sony FS5 II with ATOMOS Shinobi SDI monitor
The Sony 3.5” display is in my opinion not good enough to set focus manually or to view framing of the shot. This is why I have an Atomos Shinobi SDI with a coiled cable mounted on a Magic arm to a Small Rig top plate.
I got the SDI version of the monitor as it’s a more reliable connection than HDMI. If needed, I have an extra HDMI cable in the bag and a long SDI cable to connect the monitor away from the camera.
The monitor is bright so I can use it in most conditions, but there is a original shade in the bag for really sunny days.
Additional lightning
Amaran AL-F7 and Lastolite 50 cm reflector
I have several lightning kits, (including heavy C-stands), but they are in separate bags.
In the main camera bag used for everyday work, I only have a small Aputure Amaran AL-F7 LED light with a small Manfrotto ball head & Nano clamp and compact Lastolite 50 cm reflector.
It is not enough light to fill up a scene, but I’m able to get that extra sparkle in the eyes of the subject.
The FS5 and FS7 II do have a internal ND-filter, but when I rent a Sony FS7 mark I, I need a variable ND filter for both 49 mm and 55 mm as those are the basic diameters for my Sony Zeiss lenses. The same is true for the Sony A6300 I use as a B camera.
Correct exposure
If you started your photographic career with slide film and manual cameras, you know the importance of correct exposure and why you need a separate light meter.
X-Rite Color Checker Video and Seconic Flashmate L 308S
For everybody else, the built-in histogram in a video camera is not good enough to nail the exposure. The waveform monitor in the Shinobi is better, but for narratives and other staged sets do I preference to use a separate light meter.
Unless you film in black and white, you need to mange color temperature in your shots. My current workflow is to set white balance manually for each set location and the film a short sequence with the X-Rite Color Checker Video to have as a reference later on.
Long days
So far, the longest day on set for me have been 16 hours.
Lexar 64 GB memory cards and Sony & Atomos batteries in different sizes
First of all you have to plan breaks and assure that you have plenty of food to eat and drink.
Second, you need lots of batteries for both camera and monitor, as well as chargers on set to recharge the empty ones.
Third, you need many extra memory cards so you can shoot a full day without reuse a card during the day.
I have from bad to worst experiences of cheap no-name batteries made in China and this is the reason why I always have reliable brands and suppliers for batteries and media.
Maintain equipment
Zeiss lens cleaning set and different tools to fix thing if they break down or malfunction.
This is where we have a lens cleaning kit and a small set of tools to fix if anything breaks. There is also a roll of electrical tape and a bunch of cable ties. The gaffer tape resides in the lightning bags so it’s not forgotten
Other things in the bag
Notebook, different pens and a bunch of business cards are finally the last of the small accessories on the bag.
The video camera, rig, lenses and equipment for sound recording is not included in this list as I don’t threat them as accessories.