5 Accessories under £50.00 I wish I’d Bought Sooner!
We’ve all been here I think. You buy an accessory and you think “I cant believe I haven’t been using this from the beginning” or “Why Didn’t I get this sooner!?” Its quite often little un-assuming accessories that make the biggest or long lasting impressions.
Number 1: Tilta Quick Adjust Rosette Adaptor set. (£45.00)
This has honestly been a Game Changer. having these has made changing the angle of my shoulder rig handles EFFORTLESS! its quick and easy to adjust and it can be done one handed by the operator so a great tool for solo camera operators. I have also used them to attached monitor extension arms and monitors to my cameras. Meaning that instead of spending 2 minutes unscrewing the monitor, adjusting the tilt and then tightening it again, with one hand, I can adjust the angle or position of the monitor in about 2 seconds. Perfect for on the go adjustments such as with documentary filming.
Quick and efficient is the name of the game. I will also be attaching another set to where my shoulder rig extension arms attach to the shoulder rig to make adjusting them seamless and effortless.
Number 1: The Windbag Air Wedge. (£15.00)
This gem was recommended to me by a fellow filmmaker and ever since I got one im glad I did. The air wedge is incredible useful to level or adjust the height of the camera when its in possition you wouldnt typically mount it and especially when its on on a tripod or camera mount. Where wedges and blocks allow you to adjust the height by certain fixed increments, the air wedge allows to fine tune your adjustments, depending on the amount of air you pump into the wedge.
Its now been used on multiple Shoots and been incredibly usefull. I will defiantly be looking into getting a second one for future shoots :)
Number 3: The fluid Head Side-Handle (£10.00)
Okay, Now this little thing Changed the way I Operate forever! On the face of it its just a handle with a 1/4-20 screw on it, But…. It lets me do so much! I have one attached to each of my fluid heads on my tripods, Hi-Hat and Breeza Rail-Dolly.
Not only does it provide a second point of contact on the camera, it also allows me to focus my left hand on controlling the pan(left/right) movements while my right hand can focus on controlling the Tilt (up/Down) movements. On the dolly it also allows me to move the dolly whilst simultaneously pulling off complicated shots such as a diagonal tilt and pan.
Number 4: The Lazy Susan. (Yes really) (£10.00)
Okay, I know what your thinking But yes, the Lazy Susan is one of our go to pieces of Grip gear when we need to get super low, or when we need the camera to pan but don’t have space for a tripod. They Say Invention is Born from Necessity, and this is what happened for the lazy Susan. we needed a shot where the camera was basically on the ground, and we needed it to pan following an actors movements. putting it on a high hat made it too high, even a fluid head screwed to a board was too high, SOOO…. Lazy Susan. it worked a treat.
Number 5: Quick Release Clips (£8.00)
Now these have been a game changer, allowing me to effortlessly drop in an actors mark in seconds, saving me the hassl of undoing a strp or tape or chords and then doing it back up again. none of that rubbish now. Just clip it off drop it down and when we are done pick it up and clip it back on the belt. A GAME CHANGER!
