Mindshift Gear, an offshoot of ThinkTank Photo, is now offering the Contact Sheet. This multi-purpose photography accessory is specifically for photographers working in wet or dirty settings. In seconds the sheet extends to 3.5′ by 5′, and it provides a neat and clean surface for photographer’s gear or themselves. Just $39.99 you can find it here.
The Contact Sheet is a great example of “the right tool for the right job”. This isn’t a “can’t live without” product, but it has already come in handy for me — and I’m not even a professional photographer, and I don’t work in wet or dirty environments. The Contact Sheet weighs just 5 ounces, and it “lives” in its own included stuff sack. The stuff sack is 7″ by 4.5″ by 2″, which means it is small and light enough to throw in your pack and forget — until you suddenly discover you need it.
When you do need a clean surface to lay out your gear — or simply to sit for a few minutes — you just pull the Contact Sheet out. It is made from ultralight waterproof 30D RIPSTOP PU and Nylon mesh, and it extends to become a 5′ by 3.5′ tarp.
At each corner of the Contact Sheet there is a loop that can be used to secure the Contact Sheet to the ground or, if you need a backdrop, you can hang it up vertically.
Is the contact Sheet something every photographer must have? I don’t think so. But I’ve been carrying it with me for the past two weeks, and I have had two occasions when it came in rather handy. That tells me this $39.99 accessory is worth considering. Check it out, here.
MSRP: $39.99
What I Like: Light; Comes in its own Stuff Sack; Easy to pull out and set up; Corner cords for hanging and securing
What Needs Improvement: Stuff Sack not connected to Contact Sheet so can be lost
Source: Manufacturer supplied review sample