Don’t Get Screwed: Camera Equipment Emergency Kit Quick Tip

Don’t get screwed! Today on The Slanted Lens we’ve got a quick tip on a camera emergency kit you can keep with you at all times.

I always carry two plastic cases on my equipment truck. These cases are filled with every conceivable size of 1/4″-20 screws. It’s what your tripod mount is on the bottom of your camera. Camera equipment usually comes with a 1/4″-20 thread. So this case is meant to have every possible 1/4″-20 size of screw that I need in case I have an emergency. Everything from short to long to super short, just 1/4″-20 threaded screws. That way, if I need to replace a part, if I need to add something to a rig, I’ve got a whole selection.

So, a good example. Ken shows up with his camera, and there’s no bolts for his handle to put his handle on a C300. Well, we’ve got bolts right here. We simply thread this through, tie it on, and we’re ready to go.

I just had a problem on my Sony a7R II. I threaded it really stupid and wrong trying to get it on the rig, and I messed all the threads up on the bottom of it. So I took this out, and I re-threaded the 1/4″-20 on the bottom of the a7RII. And it’s better. It’s not perfect. But I can get it on the rig, and I can get through the shoot. This is stuff so you don’t get stuck without being able to resolve a problem and to get on with your shoot. Drill bits, interior threads, and exterior threads.

These cases have saved me a million times. So go out there, get a little plastic box, put together your own little kit, so you’re always covered around sets.

So keep those cameras rolling. Keep on clicking.

-Jay P. Morgan