Pixiq

If there is one thing photographers like almost as much as buying a new camera, it’s buying lots of little toys to go with it. Unfortunately, a lot of the more important accessories—flash units, filters, tripods—can be quite expensive. But there are lots of really inexpensive and useful accessories that can save the day in a pinch. Best of all, you can sneak them past your better half without having to confess they’re going to live in your camera bag.

Top 10 Favorite Inexpensive Accessories

1. Plastic zipper bags: I use these bags for everything from an impromptu rain cover for the camera to keeping lenses and other expensive gear clean and dry inside my bag or vest. Airline security can easily see what’s in them, too. Buy several sizes from one quart to three gallon; they have a million uses. Cost: about $3-5.
2. Heavy-duty garbage bags: I keep several garbage bags in my shooting vest and in my shoulder bag and if I get caught in a downpour, all the gear gets stashed immediately. Cost: about $7 for a box of 32.
3. Small flashlight: Finding and reading all of those tiny dials and switches on your camera is tough once the sun sets (or if you’re in a dark room). They’re also great for reading maps in a dark car (dome lights are worthless) and just might save your life if you get lost in the wilderness. Buy and carry a few. Cost: under $5.
4. Disposable lighter: I wouldn’t go into the wilderness—even a local state park—without a lighter. You can use them to light an emergency fire, or even to signal for help. Cost: under $2.
5. Laminated maps: Most grocery stores and gas stations have a pretty good selection of local and regional maps. Laminated maps last for years (I have a Manhattan map I’ve had for 10 years), they fold very flat, and you can mark them up with China markers and then wipe them clean. Cost: about $8 (overpriced but worthwhile).
6. Trail mix: If you fly a lot, you know how hard it is to catch a snack between flights or when waiting for one. Also, whether you’re hiking in the city or woods, a bag of trail mix can save your sanity and your mood. Cost: under $5 (much cheaper at home than in the airport).
7. Rain pocho: I recently got caught in a horrific downpour while photographing the Statue of Liberty and a poncho kept me and my gear totally dry. Cost: under $8, and worth every cent. Buy better quality if you have a choice.
8. Duct tape: A small roll of duct tape or electrical tape has a million uses, from patching tears in a camera bag to repairing a blown-out flip-flop. It’s also good for quick-fixing a broken battery compartment door. Buy the bright neon colors; they’re easier to find in your gear and you can use it to mark trails if you start to get disoriented in the woods. Cost: under $5.
9. Travel soap dish: The unbreakable plastic variety are great for keeping small accessories like memory cards and batteries from floating around in your bag, or for stashing some extra cash. Cost: under $2.
10. Small bungee cords: Absolutely indispensable for keeping tripod legs together or backing up your shoulder bag’s zipper lid during the airport shuffle. Great for securing a water bottle to your tripod leg, too. A million uses. Cost: Under $5 for a pack of five.

Next time you’re trying to think of a unique gift for the photographer in your life (or for yourself), think about making a survival kit with items from the list above—you can probably do it for under $50. You can carry these essentials with you in a large camera bag, backpack, or buy yourself a nice tote bag, like the one seen here from the Center for Creative Photography in Tucson, Arizona.