Favourite and most useful piece of equipment.

[Seajay]

Hey up everyone, I was thinking - a useful discussion on your favourite and most useful piece of photographic equipment might prove interesting and informative. Mine is without doubt my portable hide. It's comfortable, light, easy to put up, warm and dry and most importantly allows me to get close to birds (and possibly other wildlife as I haven't tried that yet) without frightening them unduly. At least when they get used to it. I don't need such long lenses (generally) and I can spend hours in there just watching birds and taking photographs when I wish. It's most interesting how much creatures of habit they are and how they feed differently. Tits for example - Blue Tits grab a seed, nip to a nearby perch, hold the seed in their claws, eat it and back they go to repeat the cycle till they are full. Great Tits are straight to the feeder, grab a seed, head for cover, consume it and repeat the cycle whilst Coal Tits are straight to the feeder, grab a seed and are gone ( though one at the moment has begun to stay a while like the Blue Tits.) Fascinating! I'm thinking of building two permanent hides in the garden - trouble is I can't be in them all at once but different species seem to go to different areas. What's your most favourite and useful piece of equipment?

[colincurry]

I am not sure if she would appreciate the drscription, but my wife fits the bill. She wears glasses for reading, but otherwise she has eyes like a hawk. She seems to spot anything from an insect to a hidden bird.

She doesn't always come out with me as she has her own interests. Also, we all know how slow wild life photographers are to cover the ground, and it is not very interesting if you yourself are not a photographer. We do reach a compromise; probably not the best of both worlds.

Colin

[wildlifesnapper]

Hi

3 items spring to mind.

1st my tripods to keep everything steady, a gitzo for long lenses and a benbo trekker 1 for fungi flowers insects etc.

2nd is a right angle finder for ground level shots etc.Makes life easyer on the back!

3rd is a small reflector made from a 8x5 inch piece of cardboard covered with baking-foil.Great for bouncing light up to brighten fungi gills etc.

neil

[jerryh]

Well, wildlifesnapper has nicked a couple of mine - Benbo tripod and anglefinder. The Benbo gets the camera to pretty much any place at any angle, and the 'finder means you can still see into the viewfinder whatever angle the camera is on the Benbo.

I'd definitely add a remote release.

Another useful item when photographing wildlife is a pair of binoculars to help in spotting subjects when Colin's wife is not around!

Oh - and any lens with IS written on it
Jerry

[Gill Catton]

Mine would have to be well just my new shiny camera best photography style thing to happen to me ever I reckon

[Boddie]

At the moment for me is the FZ30 which never leaves my side, and lives well secure, and secreted in my car. A lovely piece of kit and something that should give me versatility to get moments when my DSLR's are not at hand

[Ollie]

Well mine has to be my trusty old binoculars, Like me they have seen better days being over twenty years old, but they are still in perfect working order. A bit battered on the outside but mechanically perfect.
Roger

[davewalker]

My favorite, and most often used, items of gear are two, large, ziplock freezer bags which keep all my expensive gear dry!!! Simple, but very effective at the moment.
2nd comes some kneepads to help the old joints when taking macro shots, which is much of the time.

davew

[buzfuz8149]

mine has got to be my camera (compact), I have always carried a small camera - I still do even if I am only going to the shop. I live in hope that the once in a lifetime photo may be on one of my trips, having said that I have been waiting over 40 years.

Carol.

[goosey]

Mine also has to be my compact camera, I've only had it less than a year but with it I've been encouraged out and about to use it and extend my love of nature. It's also enabled me to capture my developing little garden and make it possible to share with others by way of my website - my camera a true gem!
My other favourite has to be my walking boots - my comfy friends who keep me on the go thanks boots

[Alan]

Always take a flash card with you. They're most useful..!

Alan