It’s that gifting time of year again, so here’s a list of suggestions for that photographer near and dear to you. Some will make them better photographers, expand what they can do, keep them comfortable or just be fun. Some are expensive, some aren’t. And don’t feel bad if you decide to get something for yourself – you deserve it!
Extension Tubes – These are handy, inexpensive, lightweight accessories that can make any lens (on an interchangeable lens camera) a close-up lens. By “extending” the distance from the lens to the camera, you make the focus range of the lens much closer. However, with the extension tube attached, the lens can now focus only in a limited closer area, no longer out to infinity. If you want that ability, then you need a regular close-up (macro/micro) lens, which is much more expensive. That’s why I call this “the poor man’s close-up lens.” I like the three-piece set by Kenko, because it maintains communication with the camera (metering and autofocus, for example). Make sure you order a set for the camera it will be used on (the link here is for Nikon). About $125.
Neutral Density Filters – If you want to do REALLY long exposures, to create blur (making water look like cotton, for instance), then you’re going to need a neutral density filter. I prefer a really dark one, to reduce as much light as possible, so I have a 10-stop. In ND terminology, that means “3.0.” I’ve got a B+W one, 77mm, and it only costs about $75. Make sure and buy the right filter size for the lens they use most.
Nikon Speedlight SB-500 – For the Nikon shooter without an accessory flash, it’s hard to beat this compact little strobe. In addition to using as a direct flash or bounce flash, it can also be a Remote or Commander using Nikon’s “Creative Lighting System,” and has a nifty little LED light built in. That’s primarily for shooting video, but can be used for still photos too, and makes a handy flashlight! Heck, I’d get one even if I had another flash. Costs about $250.
Fluid Head monopod – With more people shooting video, a great accessory for the budding filmmaker is a fluid-head monopod. Shaky video is bad video, so people who care about quality use a tripod or monopod. Tripods can be a hassle to use, and regular monopods don’t allow smooth camera movements. Which is where fluid head monopods come in. Probably the best video accessory I’ve ever bought.
Blower bulb – One of the regular quality defects in digital images are spots caused by dust on the sensor. This is only an issue with cameras where you can change lenses (not point-and-shoots). The best way to minimize this is a healthy dose of prevention, which means blowing off the sensor with air on a regular basis. Here’s my favorite blower bulb, the Giottos Rocket Air Blaster, and it only costs about $10.
Camera bags – I don’t know a single photographer who thinks they’ve bought their last camera bag. There are always new designs coming out with nifty new features. And there’s always the hope that a new bag might be more comfortable. As someone who’s developed neck problems from decades of lugging heavy bags, I’m always looking for the best way to get that weight off my neck and shoulders. For me, that means some sort of waistbelt. And my favorite, bar none, is the Speed Demon by Thinktank photo. Fanny packs aren’t for everyone, but if they work for you, this is the best one out there.
Cross-chest camera strap – In the same vein, the right camera strap can make a big difference too. I’ve always liked the ones that have neoprene padding and stretch, as they lessen the impact of camera bounce. But another nice improvement has been the creation of cross-chest straps. It’s both a more secure, and often more comfortable, way to carry a camera.
Photographer T-Shirts and Hoodies – Another of those “not useful but fun” items, the “I shoot people, and sometimes cut off their heads” is my favorite.
Cards – I don’t know any photographer who says they have more cards than they know what to do with. Just make sure you get the right form factor for the camera they’ve got. That usually means SD (more common today) or CF. And get high-capacity ones. No smaller than 32GB, I prefer using 64GB cards because it means I rarely run out of space. And I only buy ones made by the best manufacturers, like SanDisk.
USB 3 reader – I’m always amazed to see people still using slow card readers. Most computers have USB 3.0 ports, which means very, very fast transfer speeds when downloading cards (among other things). So a USB 3.0 card reader is an essential tool for anyone who values their time. Here’s my favorite, a two-slot (SD and CF) reader made by Lexar, that I’ve had great luck with.
Lens Coffee mugs – These have been around for a while now, but are still a fun, and inexpensive gift for the photo fan. You can get them in Nikon and Canon styles, as well as generic.
Hard Disk drives – Here’s another item no photographer can have too many of – hard drives for storing photos. I’m simply blown away by how inexpensive they’ve gotten over the last few years. You can now buy at 2TB (TB!!!) drive for under $100. These days I only buy 3TB and larger, and just ordered a few new ones. And, if you really want to do your photographer a favir, and are willing to spend more money, get them a RAID array (“mirrored”), which means their photos will be written to two drives simultaneously, so they have immediate backup. If they like to travel with their camera (and laptop), then a small, portable USB 3.0 drive, 1 or 2TB capacity, will be a welcome gift.
Software – I’ve been teaching classes on this new photo software for the past year, and firmly believe most people would benefit by using it. An all-in-one product, it handles download, organizing, editing, sharing and backup in a pretty simple way. Now I’m able to easily have any of my photos with me anytime, on my phone, tablet or computer. A subscription service, there are three levels, and I usually recommend the $100 (annual) level for most photographers or photo enthusiasts.
Reflector– If your photographer likes shooting portraits, then their kit should include a reflector. They’re lightweight, portable, easy-to-use, and cheap! If I could only have one, it would be 30 or 32-inch, and what’s called “5-in-1,” meaning five different surfaces that can be used. Should cost under $50.
Gloves – Winter’s a great time to get outside and shoot pictures, but there’s that little problem of staying warm. And for a photographer, fingers are kind of important! Here’s a sampling of gloves designed to let you use your fingers.
Popular Photography magazine – Yes, I know it’s old school, but this is one of the better “how-to” photography resources out there, and doesn’t require batteries! For a little more than $1/month, you get ideas, inspiration, not to mention finding more stuff to buy 🙂
Nikon School – Finally, I’d be remiss not to mention what a great gift a photography class would be! One of the great things about photography is that there are always new things to learn, new directions to take. And a class, led by a live instructor, is a great way to do that. Me and my team of four instructors will be leading Nikon School classes all over the country from January through June, and we now have 8 classes to choose from, ranging in length from three-hours to two-days.
Here’s hoping you have a wonderful holiday season, get some nice new toys, and have a great new year of shooting!