Because I always have some type of crazy idea up my sleeve, I'm drafting some designs for a mobile spotting kit; I'd like input from as many of you as possible in brainstorming some blueprints. To do so, I have a couple questions to help with this process.
1. List items you consider essential to a good spotting trip (what do you usually take with you)?
2. List items you can't/don't take with you that you would like to. Why don't you take these with you?
3. An average spotting trip to your local airport lasts how long?
Please feel free to take into consideration anything and everything (even the beer!), regardless of how unconventional it may be. I can't wait to hear some of the crazy ideas folks come up with! Thanks everybody!
Binoculars and camera. Maybe a scanner, which I don't have right now, so it doesn't seem like a loss to me.
Depending on the season, a chair, cooler full of drinks, food, portable shade, and maybe a cigar or two.
A computer would be nice, but isn't that necessary. Now we are starting to get into excess weight and bulk
Doug
Out of the sandbox, finally!
I have learned to take everything. In my rolling bag (Custom carry-on airline approved-wife modified and padded for equipment):
Two Camera bodies
Two scanners
Tons of batteries for all
Tons of memory cards
Cable release manual
Cable release auto
Camera cleaning kit
Canon 100-400 L lens
Canon 70-200 L lens
Canon 18-55 lens (hoping to upgrade this soon)
1.4x teleconverter
3.0x teleconverter (just got this)
Medicine (asprin, benadryl, etc) little compact emergency box
Panasonic Lumix 12 mega-pixels point and shoot for those panoramic shots if needed.
IPhone for flight aware usage and OPShots checkin.
Always have a cooler with drinks and snacks and always have a fold up chair in back of truck. Usually two of them.
The only thing I leave behind is the battery chargers. But if I go away from home those easily fit in my mobile bag. I know this seems excessive however I have learned to bring it all since if you dont you will wish you had.
Depending on if i am spotting and watching or taking photos,
Camera Body,
100-400L Lens
Scanner
cable to connect scanner to car stereo
Smartphone for flightaware
ipod touch for airliner identifier app (fun little add-on)
comfy chair
hat (for sunny days)
plenty of water, maybe a snack
OPShots ID
cheerful attitude towards possibly cranky authorities
These are all great ideas! A lot of things I didn't think of that I can totally see would be very useful and handy to have along! I'm working on two projects with this (primarily #2):
1. a suitcase of sorts with custom padded slots for everything (probably a lot like what Mark mentioned) for use when traveling.
2. a mobile "command center" for the back of an SUV
I don't want this thing to look like I took a pre-fab computer desk and threw it in the back of my SUV; I'm having custom blueprints drawn up and the materials for the modifications will be the same as the interior materials and colors. It's going to look like it belongs there. It's going to serve multiple purposes, one of which will be to aid in spotting. I'm an avid road-tripper and as such, I have lots of equipment, spare parts, etc. that I have found I often need--this is going to help that be more orderly as well. This project is the culmination of a couple years of brainstorming that I'm finally going to do and I'm quite excited about. The blueprints are currently being drawn up and I've made arrangements for the modifications to be built, so plan on a debut (with pictures!) in the next month or two! Obviously, it will be a work-in-progress and I don't want to rush it too much because I want to make sure it's exactly what I want and exactly what will work for me.
My only concern is what may happen when the occasional law enforcement officer stops by to inquire what I'm doing and sees this whole set-up in my car! That's sure to be a bit more difficult to convince him or her that it's nothing more than a harmless photo-shoot!
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