Accessories
From Fieldworkguide
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[edit] Accessories
[edit] Power Adapters
If you are traveling outside of the USA chances are you will require a power adapter. It is important to note that there are two things that you must be aware when using electronic appliances outside the USA, the physical shape of the plug and the voltage. A quick internet search can tell you what to expect. Adapters that simply allow you to plug American appliances into the sockets in foreign countries are quite cheap and readily available (any Target or Wall-Mart for instance). For some appliances this is all you need as they are capable of automatically converting the voltage. Most laptops, as well as most appliances that have a separate black box between the unit and the plug, can do this. However, make sure you check first (they will usually say “Input:110-240V~” somewhere on them), because serious damage can happen to your appliances if they cannot handle the increased voltage that many other countries have.
If you do need to convert the voltage this is done with a voltage adapter/transformer. There are two main varieties, one for blow-dryers and fans and other mechanical devices and the other (usually rated at 50watts) for electronic devices (digital cameras and anything with a rechargeable battery). There are some great travel adapters on the market. I found a great unit that can convert just about any plug type and voltage for US electronics, here. However these travel units are not capable of continuous usage and are only suitable for recharging a battery for a few hours at a time. If you have continuous voltage adapting needs you will need to buy a larger transformer unit (usually available in country).
[edit] Flight Cases
Trust me, buying quality flight cases for all your equipment is more than worth it. These are usually available at your local high end camera store. Make sure the case has a high impact plastic shell and high density foam on the inside (which can be cut to fit the exact shape/size of your equipment). For examples look, here.
[edit] Data Storage
If you are using digital cameras and audio recording, you may find that data storage space may very quickly become a problem. Fortunately there are a great number of portable hard drives on the market now. Currently you can easily get 250GB for about $150 and I expect the prices to fall. These devices are also great because you can essentially back up all of your field recordings on a 2nd drive for a relatively low price. The one option you may want to consider is that some of the more expensive models (usually labeled “laptop” hard drives) do not need an additional power supply and are powered from the USB port on your computer. Most digital camcorders come with software so you can connect your camera to the computer and copy your video to the hard drive as well, which is of course a great way to make a backup of your tapes.
[edit] Batteries
Get more batteries than you ever think you will need. This is especially true for the digital video camera and the hard disc recorder. For proprietary batteries (mostly for the camcorder), check out third party companies like Battery Heads. I bought two additional batteries for my camcorder from them for less than the price of one brand name. For standard batteries (e.g. AA, C) rechargeables have come a long way in recent years and if you purchase an audio recorder like the Marantz you will need to get at least 2 sets of 4 AA’s. You will probably want to use NiMH batteries, check out Thomas Distributing for a good selection of chargers and battery options.
[edit] Tripods
Get a good tripod. I recommend one full size and one collapsible or min tripod. If you get the right attachment either can double as a microphone stand. For microphones I recommend getting a “goose neck” type flexible attachment. In many situations a camera tripod is not practical, or you do not want to be nailed down to a single position. A good compromise is a steady bracket. It will make your shots a lot smoother and keep your arms from tiring as quickly.
[edit] Lights
Lighting is routinely the single thing that differentiates a poor video from a good one. In many situations it is simply not feasible to control the lighting conditions and lights tend to be big, bulky and fragile. You can usually improvise something in the field, but keep it in mind.
