Forums > Off-Topic Discussion > Your favorite gadget?

Photographer

Looknsee Photography

Posts: 26342

Portland, Oregon, US

Let's exclude tablets, smartphones, laptops, and computers.

What is your favorite gadget?  It could be electronic or mechanical.  It could be cheap or expensive.  But it should be something you use regularly.  Go!  (I'll answer myself shortly).

Dec 12 14 11:32 am Link

Photographer

Good Egg Productions

Posts: 16713

Orlando, Florida, US

I'm not sure if it counts, but my AppleTV.  I use it every day, for a wide range of things.  Music player, movie player, Netflix player, phone/ipad/itunes extension.  Slideshow projector.  And other things.

If that doesn't count, since it's married so closely to computers and tablets/phones...

I'd say my Hoodman Loupe.  There's no way I could shoot outside without it.  It's a great way to check focus and exposure with my eye (not a histogram) in the field.  I've even used it for privacy review of images on a plane once.  I've got it attached to a belt attached zip line to make things extra easy because I've found it's more in the way when I hang it around my neck.

Dec 12 14 11:46 am Link

Model

C A I T L Y N S W A Y

Posts: 14

Los Angeles, California, US

Isn't it about time mobile email got an upgrade?? I just wanted to share this app with you guys because it's great for anyone involved in any kind of business. I know as well as anyone how annoying it can be to be going back and forth with a potential photographer! I would imagine it's just as useful for the photographer trying to set things up with a potential new model too. It's designed to work seamlessly with gmail too, so that's an added bonus for me!!

http://bst.is/N9BKW8

Dec 12 14 11:47 am Link

Model

BeatnikDiva

Posts: 14859

Fayetteville, Arkansas, US

My vibrator.

Dec 12 14 11:47 am Link

Model

BeatnikDiva

Posts: 14859

Fayetteville, Arkansas, US

Cait The Chameleon wrote:
Isn't it about time mobile email got an upgrade?? I just wanted to share this app with you guys because it's great for anyone involved in any kind of business. I know as well as anyone how annoying it can be to be going back and forth with a potential photographer! I would imagine it's just as useful for the photographer trying to set things up with a potential new model too. It's designed to work seamlessly with gmail too, so that's an added bonus for me!!

spam

Dec 12 14 11:48 am Link

Photographer

FIFTYONE PHOTOGRAPHY

Posts: 6597

Uniontown, Pennsylvania, US

fond of My JR Waiters Corkscrew, basic and bulletproof.

https://cdn3.volusion.com/tupwt.vxhen/v/vspfiles/photos/JR-7957-2.jpg

Dec 12 14 11:49 am Link

Photographer

martin b

Posts: 2770

Manila, National Capital Region, Philippines

i love this tiny one man crane called a Boom bandit.  you can see videos at booombandit .com.  It basically is a crane I put my panaonic gh4 and pancake lens on and shoot overhead shots at weddings as well as several crane shots during the wedding itself.  It allows me to have a very professional look to my videos.  I even use it for skateboard look and trucking shots.  I love this thing. 

My dream is to have a movi too.  that will be maybe another year of savings.

Dec 12 14 11:57 am Link

Photographer

Schlake

Posts: 2935

Socorro, New Mexico, US

Looknsee Photography wrote:
Let's exclude tablets, smartphones, laptops, and computers.

What is your favorite gadget?  It could be electronic or mechanical.  It could be cheap or expensive.  But it should be something you use regularly.  Go!  (I'll answer myself shortly).

My p-38!  I've had it since woodshop class in High School when the instructor brought in some old C-rations so we could try them out.  I keep it on my key ring and I use it almost every day.

Dec 12 14 12:13 pm Link

Photographer

Schlake

Posts: 2935

Socorro, New Mexico, US

Cait The Chameleon wrote:
Isn't it about time mobile email got an upgrade?? I just wanted to share this app with you guys because it's great for anyone involved in any kind of business. I know as well as anyone how annoying it can be to be going back and forth with a potential photographer! I would imagine it's just as useful for the photographer trying to set things up with a potential new model too. It's designed to work seamlessly with gmail too, so that's an added bonus for me!!

http://bst.is/N9BKW8

Is this SPAM?

Dec 12 14 12:14 pm Link

Photographer

Brian Diaz

Posts: 65617

Danbury, Connecticut, US

Schlake wrote:
My p-38!  I've had it since woodshop class in High School when the instructor brought in some old C-rations so we could try them out.  I keep it on my key ring and I use it almost every day.

A P-38?  That's a hell of a gadget.

https://www.cawreckdivers.org/wrecks/p38-flying.jpg

wink

Dec 12 14 12:17 pm Link

Photographer

Lohkee

Posts: 14028

Maricopa, Arizona, US

Brian Diaz wrote:

A P-38?  That's a hell of a gadget.

https://www.cawreckdivers.org/wrecks/p38-flying.jpg

wink

I dunno. Seems it would be kind of hard to hold the can of whatever you wanted to open close enough to the props without **loosing** your food, hand, and possibly other body parts. tongue

Dec 12 14 12:40 pm Link

Photographer

Lohkee

Posts: 14028

Maricopa, Arizona, US

Schlake wrote:

My p-38!  I've had it since woodshop class in High School when the instructor brought in some old C-rations so we could try them out.  I keep it on my key ring and I use it almost every day.

Great invention. Small. Cheap. Reliable. Simple.

Dec 12 14 12:41 pm Link

Photographer

Schlake

Posts: 2935

Socorro, New Mexico, US

Lohkee wrote:

I dunno. Seems it would be kind of hard to hold the can of whatever you wanted to open close enough to the props without **loosing** your food, hand, and possibly other body parts. tongue

That's why I hold the can in front of the machine gun.  As long as I remember to stand to the side, it works out fine.

Dec 12 14 12:59 pm Link

Photographer

Lohkee

Posts: 14028

Maricopa, Arizona, US

Schlake wrote:

That's why I hold the can in front of the machine gun.  As long as I remember to stand to the side, it works out fine.

Is that much lead in your food healthy?

** wonders if it would qualify as vegan **

Dec 12 14 01:04 pm Link

Photographer

Caradoc

Posts: 19900

Scottsdale, Arizona, US

Brian Diaz wrote:
A P-38?  That's a hell of a gadget.

Sure is. I have one on my keychain, too.

https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41bEhIDQckL._SY355AA355_PIcountsize-10,TopRight,0,0_AA355_SH20_.jpg

Dec 12 14 01:09 pm Link

Photographer

Schlake

Posts: 2935

Socorro, New Mexico, US

Caradoc wrote:

Sure is. I have one on my keychain, too.

https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41bEhIDQckL._SY355AA355_PIcountsize-10,TopRight,0,0_AA355_SH20_.jpg

A p-38 has one ridge down the center.  Two ridges is a p-51.  The p-51 is a deformed inferior product!

Dec 12 14 01:12 pm Link

Model

Model Sarah

Posts: 40987

Columbus, Ohio, US

Wine opener. wink

I like dobi pads a lot. I end up being the one who does the majority of the dishes in our house so I use them a lot. My best friend just bought me a mortar and pestle for my birthday and I've been using that a lot to grind up spices like coriander seed or fennel seed.

Dec 12 14 01:20 pm Link

Photographer

Caradoc

Posts: 19900

Scottsdale, Arizona, US

Schlake wrote:
A p-38 has one ridge down the center.  Two ridges is a p-51.  The p-51 is a deformed inferior product!

You are correct. Wrong image.

https://www.zombiehunters.org/wiki/images/P-38_Can_Opener.jpg

Dec 12 14 01:21 pm Link

Photographer

Lohkee

Posts: 14028

Maricopa, Arizona, US

Schlake wrote:

A p-38 has one ridge down the center.  Two ridges is a p-51.  The p-51 is a deformed inferior product!

Which is why it replaced the p-38 as standard issue. tongue

Dec 12 14 01:24 pm Link

Photographer

Caradoc

Posts: 19900

Scottsdale, Arizona, US

Lohkee wrote:
Which is why it replaced the p-38 as standard issue. tongue

Probably less related to usability than whose nephew got the contract. wink

Dec 12 14 01:31 pm Link

Photographer

Allen Carbon

Posts: 1532

Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand

Looknsee Photography wrote:
What is your favorite gadget?  It could be electronic or mechanical.  It could be cheap or expensive.  But it should be something you use regularly.  Go!  (I'll answer myself shortly).

My Penis

https://butthatsforanotherblog.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/ohnoyoudidnt.gif

Dec 12 14 01:44 pm Link

Photographer

Ralph Easy

Posts: 6426

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

My Dyson

https://www.thegreenhead.com/imgs/dyson-root-6-vacuum-1.jpg

Dyson Handheld

.

Dec 12 14 06:20 pm Link

Photographer

r T p

Posts: 3511

Los Angeles, California, US




https://media.mlive.com/be-your-best/photo/iphones1jpg-c956be0901a79250_large.jpg

Dec 12 14 08:12 pm Link

Photographer

Justin

Posts: 22389

Fort Collins, Colorado, US

Caradoc wrote:
https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41bEhIDQckL._SY355AA355_PIcountsize-10,TopRight,0,0_AA355_SH20_.jpg

Back in the day, we called that a John Wayne. Dunno why.

I like the little rubberized tube that I put garlic cloves in to crunch down on and then remove the skin easily. I mean, you can do the same thing with a can. But I like that little rubberized tube.

Dec 12 14 09:41 pm Link

Photographer

Looknsee Photography

Posts: 26342

Portland, Oregon, US

Some of mine (no particular order):

...  I have a small Swiss Army knife on my keychain -- the toothpick gets the most use.

...  I have little flashlights & magnifying glasses all over the house, within reach of all my favorite places to sit.  There are terrifically bright LED flashlights in all sizes, and I love them.

...  I got a couple of Oregon Scientific indoor/outdoor temperature atomic clocks.  Love 'em.

...  I live in the top 2 floors of duplex; the entrances is downstairs.  I have an intercom which will allow me to unlock the front door.  Saves me a lot of up & down.

...  I got a whole house audio system, controlled by a handy little touch screen remote.

...  I'm giving my property manager a laser measuring tape.

I love gadgets -- I probably have more.

Dec 13 14 09:12 am Link

Photographer

henrybutz New York

Posts: 3923

Ronkonkoma, New York, US

https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51I15xkJghL.jpg

ZipIt Electric Blister Pack & Clam Shell Package Opener

Dec 13 14 09:34 am Link

Photographer

Jim Ball

Posts: 17632

Frontenac, Kansas, US

I bought this odd-looking vice for my workshop last month and absolutely love it!

https://www.stewmac.com/product/images/18137/Guitar_Repair_Vise.jpg

Dec 13 14 10:16 am Link

Photographer

Looknsee Photography

Posts: 26342

Portland, Oregon, US

I've got an exciting day planned, that is if you find laundry exciting.

I suppose that I love my washer, dryer, and dishwasher.  But I have to admit that I probably meant "fun gadgets" when I said "gadgets".

Oh -- I like my little pen-ish sized exacto blade thingy -- I use it to cut open all those packages that are otherwise impossible to open.

Dec 14 14 08:46 am Link

Photographer

Paolo D Photography

Posts: 11502

San Francisco, California, US

My favorite gadgets are tools:

Screwdrivers, Wire Strippers, Wrenches, etc.

Dec 14 14 09:11 am Link

Photographer

PhillipM

Posts: 8049

Nashville, Tennessee, US

I don't think I have one...

Makes me kind of sad...

I got a dog though...

Dec 14 14 09:51 am Link

Photographer

Lovely Day Media

Posts: 5885

Vineland, New Jersey, US

I still enjoy my camera and use it whenever possible and desirable. I have discovered a museum in Philadelphia where they have built a collection of race cars. Every month or so, they have an "event day" where the cars of choice will come out of the museum and get driven around. There are only 2-3 people allowed to drive them (insurance issues) but it's nice to be able to see these things start and run.

They'll tell you a little history of the car, what races it won or placed in, etc etc. Then they leave them out for a while so a person can take pictures if that's what they want to do. At the first event, I shot pictures of a 1957 Ferrari Testarossa and a 1938 Bugatti "Tank". At the last event, it was a Porsche 917 (I don't remember what year) and a 1967 (or so) Ford GT40.

Sometimes the camera gets me into interesting conversations, too.

Dec 15 14 05:37 am Link

Photographer

R80

Posts: 2660

Marceline, Missouri, US

Great to see so many others love their P-38s.  I still have the first one I used on my key chain.  Got it back in 1968.  This can opener shows the military CAN make good use of our money.

Dec 16 14 07:35 pm Link