Kikkerland Camera Multi-tool

£5/$5 https://kikkerland.com

Over the years we’ve accumulated all manner of gimmicks and gadgets that sit unused and unloved in drawers, but this one is genuinely useful: the Kikkerland Camera Multi-tool. The size of a credit card, this gadget boasts 13 tools – which may well save your bacon when you’re on location shooting outdoors, or even when working in the studio. Obviously tools like wrenches and screwdrivers can be invaluable when you need to make adjustments to tripods and the like, and having a bottle opener at the ready is always going to come in handy (photography is thirsty work…) We also could have done with a saw blade on more than one occasion when we’ve had duct tape on a shoot, but had nothing to actually cut it with when we needed to tape something down. The most useful thing is the handy reference graphic illustrating the Sunny 16 rule. In short, on a clear sunny day you can set your aperture at f/16 and your shutter speed will be a reciprocal of your ISO (so if you’re shooting at ISO100, your shutter will need to be 1/100 sec). The graphic helps you make calculations for other weather conditions and apertures as well.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

This fun, inexpensive, practical and versatile little gadget will be a welcome addition to any photographer’s kit bag.