Gifts for Photographers Under $1,000 - 2022 Edition
- The printing process was flawless, with no ink smudges or stains.
- The high-quality canvas is tightly wrapped around the frame, with no waves or puckering.
- The frame is well-made with square corners and a center support to ensure it stays square.
- The canvas is attached to the frame with plenty of staples to further ensure the canvas remains tight.
- A honey finish oak block
- A medium cutting board
- A turning fork
- A spatula spreader
- A slicer
- A petite carver
- A trimmer
- A 7 5/8-inch chef knife
- A 2 3/4-inch paring knife
- Your choice of classic, pearl, or red handles
- 26.2-megapixel full frame CMOS sensor
- DIGIC 8 image processor
- Dual Pixel CMOS autofocus
- Built-in EVF with 2.36 million dots of resolution and touch capabilities
- PureShot HDR for wider dynamic range
- FlowState Stabilization for beautifully smooth images and videos
- 360 Horizon lock to ensure images and videos are level
Photo by Eugene_EM via iStock
Each year, we publish a series of lists of our favorite photography gear for holiday shopping. This go-round is our list of gear under $1,000.
While a lot of photography gear is far more expensive than a $1,000 budget allows, there's plenty of other gift ideas that are less than a grand, and in many cases, a lot less.
Our 2022 list has some great options for your holiday shopping, so scroll down to get started!
Gifts for Photographers Under $1,000: CanvasPrints.com Canvas Print
I don’t know about you, but I find that there are two common problems when searching for gifts for my loved ones. First, I have a lot of people in my life that are difficult to shop for. And second, it can be difficult to find gifts that have long-term utility.
I think I’ve found a solution for both problems, though…
This year, I’m giving canvas prints to many of the people on my holiday shopping list. Why? Well, it’s easy! Even the most difficult of people to shop for enjoy a good photo. What’s more, the chances are high that they have wall space to put a printed photo.
On top of that, a canvas print is something that can be enjoyed for years - decades, really - to come. It isn’t a one-and-done gift that offers flash-in-the-pan excitement during the holidays, then finds its way into a closet somewhere.
Instead, by giving someone a gorgeous photo that’s been hand-crafted just for them, you can give them the gift of time - time to enjoy the print each and every day.
So, the question is, where do you get a good canvas print?
Earlier this year, I ordered a canvas print from CanvasPrints.com. It was my first such order, so I wasn’t completely sure what to expect.
Well, what I got in the mail was a superb canvas print!
As I shared in this post, the canvas I got from CanvasPrints.com ticks all the boxes in terms of quality:
Additionally, I like that CanvasPrints.com uses a wire hanger on the back rather than the more typical sawtooth hanger. I find that sawtooth hangers are often not attached to the frame in the center (and often aren’t level, either), which obviously complicates hanging the print level. With a wire hanger, there’s no concern there!
In other words, my first experience with CanvasPrints.com could not have gone better. As a result of that, they’ve earned my business for additional prints for myself and for my loved ones this holiday season. You should entrust them to create a beautiful print of your images as well!
I should note that the materials used to create these prints are American-made and of the utmost quality to ensure the print that arrives at your door looks incredible. If something goes awry, no worries - CanvasPrints.com offers a 100-percent money-back guarantee with your print.
So, what are you waiting for? Get your holiday shopping done, get a fantastic gift that keeps on giving, and give the gift of a special moment in time with a CanvasPrints.com print!
Learn more about CanvasPrints.com
Gifts for Photographers Under $1,000: f-stop Shinn Adventure and Cine Backpack
f-stop makes some really fine bags - there's no doubt about that. And while a camera backpack that's $700 might seem like a crazy price, this is one of those situations in which you really do get what you pay for.
Besides, if you're carrying thousands and thousands of dollars of photography gear, you want it inside a rock-solid protective bag. That's exactly what the f-stop Shinn is!
At 80 liters, this is an absolutely enormous bag. As such, it accommodates a lot of gear.
With that much space, you can carry a large camera setup or cine rig. Alternatively, you could carry multiple DSLR or mirrorless systems at the same time.
The exterior of the bag is made from f-stop's proprietary DuraDiamond material, which is incredibly strong, super lightweight, and weather resistant.
Carrying so much weight means you'll want a solid system for managing all that weight on your body, and the Shinn does that with BLOOM foam shoulder straps and hip belt. My f-stop Tilopa has this kind of shoulder straps and hip belt, and it's one of the most comfortable setups I've ever experienced.
In addition to the BLOOM foam straps and belt, the Shinn also has an aluminum frame that helps shift the weight of the bag to your hips, which is exactly where you want it. A combination of plastic and T6 aluminum hardware helps strengthen the critical components of the suspension system as well.
Inside, the bag has loads of organization and storage features to keep small items like cords, memory cards, and batteries neatly tucked away.
To organize your camera gear, you can use a Cine Master Camera Bag Insert or a Pro XL camera insert. These inserts are crucial because they keep your gear neatly tucked away, safely ensconced in a soft cubby to prevent damage. And if you're taking a trip without your camera gear, just remove the inserts and you have a cavernous bag to fit all the adventure gear you need!
I've had many f-stop bags over the years, with each one seemingly better than the last. These guys know how to put a bag together, from using weather-resistant zippers to providing multiple access points to developing the best carrying system on the market.
If you really want to wow the photographer in your life, the f-stop Shinn is just the gift to do it!
Learn more about the f-stop Shinn Adventure and Cine Backpack
Gifts for Photographers Under $1,000: iMovR Jaxson Standing Desk
Sitting at a desk editing photos all day isn't just uncomfortable. It's also unhealthy. As photographers, we need to get up, move around, and change positions as we work over the course of the day. The iMovR Jaxson Standing Desk can help in that endeavor.
As you'd expect from iMovR, this is a beautifully designed and built desk. It features brushless motor lifting columns for smooth adjustments and advanced 3D-laminated desktops that are both beautiful and durable.
The desk's contoured edges, array of desktop finishes, and warm base colors make this an attractive addition to a home office as well.
Perhaps the best feature of the Jaxson Standing Desk is the technology it incorporates.
Not only does it have NFC and Bluetooth, but it also has infrared presence sensing so it knows if you're at the desk or not. Likewise, there's a collision detection system to ensure that the desk won't impact other objects as it raises or lowers.
The health coach smartphone app is another top feature that extends the capabilities of this desk and helps you maintain healthy movement throughout the day.
Add in a 15-year warranty and a 100-day satisfaction guarantee to the mix!
These desks are proudly made in the USA and make a superb holiday gift idea for yourself or the photographer on your shopping list.
With a wide range of finish options and tons of technology to help you have a more comfortable workday, there's no reason not to invest in a Jaxson Standing Desk!
Learn more about the iMovR Jaxson Standing Desk
Gifts for Photographers Under $1,000: Peak Design Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod
If you’re shopping for a photographer that typically travels a lot, I’ve got a great gift idea for you.
The Peak Design Travel Tripod is an incredible bit of design. It’s a full-fledged tripod that’s ultra sturdy and durable, yet when collapsed is about the diameter of a water bottle for super easy packing.
This particular tripod is made of carbon fiber to keep the weight down and has aluminum leg locking cams that allow you to simultaneously release the leg’s 5 sections. This makes setting up the tripod a quick job.
The tripod extends up to 60 inches with the center column deployed and can get down to just 5.5 inches above the ground for low-angle shots.
You also get a ball head that was completely redesigned and includes no knobs or levers that stick out - which is part of what makes this tripod so packable and easy to travel with.
Add in a quick-release system that fits Peak Design plates and most Arca-type plates, a 20-pound load capacity, and non-slip shock-absorbing feet (among many other features), and you have the makings of a gift that your favorite photographer will be over the moon for!
Learn more about the Peak Design Travel Tripod
Gifts for Photographers Under $1,000: Pre-Owned Sony Alpha a6300
A great holiday gift idea for the photographer on your list is a Sony camera.
By opting for a pre-owned camera, you can save a ton of money while still giving an awesome gift this holiday season.
The Sony a6300 offers lots of features, including a 24.2-megapixel Exmor CMOS sensor, a BIONZ X image processor, 4K video at 30p, HD video at 1080p/120, and continuous shooting at 11fps.
Add to that a spectacular 425-point autofocus system with tracking AF, excellent image quality, and a small, lightweight body, and the a6300 is a perfect gift for a photographer that needs a capable yet highly portable camera.
Plus, with the a6300, you give the gift of a small, yet mighty camera with superb photographic and video capabilities, but that can easily slide into a camera bag with loads of room to spare.
There are also many different lenses that work with this camera, so if you wanted to expand the gift-giving, you could potentially find a nice pre-owned E-mount lens to add to the mix.
Whether the photographer on your list photographs people, buildings, landscapes, wildlife, or something in between, this camera will be a welcome addition to their camera bag!
Learn more about the Sony a6300Sony a6300
Gifts for Photographers Under $1,000: Synology 6 bay NAS DiskStation DS1621+
Yet another ideal gift for the photographer on your list this holiday season is a device that enables quick, secure storage of a ton of files. Tons of files is something every photographer has!
The Synology DiskStation DS1621+ is a great solution for backup and storage with six bays in a compact setup that can be put on top of a desk.
This model has faster performance than the previous model with read speeds up to 174 percent faster and 76 percent faster write speeds. It's also scalable, with the ability to have up to 16 drives with two DX517 expansion units.
The DS1621+ is also ready for 10GbE with the ability to increase network bandwidth by adding a 10GbE SFP+ or RJ-45 NIC.
On top of all that, the DS1621+ offers the flexibility to back up data from the cloud, virtual machines, and Windows PCs and servers, along with data on the NAS itself. This can be done with several easy-to-use tools including HyperBackup, Snapshot Replication, and Synology's Active Backup suite.
In other words, Synology makes it as easy as possible to get those all-important files backed up. In a busy day of running a photography business, that's just the kind of peace of mind you need!
Learn more about the Synology 6 Bay NAS DiskStation DS1621+
Gifts for Photographers Under $1,000: Cutco Galley Set With Block
We've been doing this gift guides for years now, and every year, we get requests to add lifestyle items to the mix - things that might not be related to photography, but that photographers (and anyone!) can enjoy. So, this year, we're doing just that.
A good knife set is like a good camera kit - when you buy top-quality products, your ability to work with them and the results you get will be better. Plus, quality gear lasts forever, so making an investment in something that's well-made and durable will benefit you now and long into the future.
One of the lifestyle gift ideas I immediately thought of for this list is this Galley Set with Block from Cutco.
I have several Cutco products, and I can't rave about them enough. From the quality of the knives to the beauty of the block to the functionality of having a multi-piece set, Cutco gives you everything you need to get cracking in the kitchen.
This particular set includes:
In other words, you get everything you need to get yourself out of your editing studio and into the kitchen for a relaxing session of cooking. What could be better than cooking with this gorgeous set from Cutco?!
Learn more about the Cutco Galley Set With Block
Gifts for Photographers Under $1,000: Holdfast Roamographer
With a $1,000 holiday budget, you can give the photographer on your list a gift that is impeccably designed, highly functional, and way under budget, too.
The Holdfast Roamographer bag is one of the finest leather camera bags on the market. It offers gorgeous aesthetics with an American Bison leather exterior that’s beautiful and rugged at the same time.
Not only will this leather stand up to the elements and age with grace, but it’s also weather resistant so you can be sure the contents of the bag remain safe and dry.
It’s a big bag and can carry lots of gear, but carrying it is a breeze with an adjustable shoulder strap with a shearling-lined shoulder pad for comfort.
Or, if you prefer, you can carry the Roamographer using the Holdfast MoneyMaker for even more functionality and comfort, as seen above.
The inside of the bag must be mentioned as well.
The removable camera insert means that no matter how much or how little gear your favorite photographer needs to carry, the Roamographer will help them keep it organized.
The padded insert has cubbies specifically for cameras, lenses, flashes, and other accessories, while there’s interior and exterior pockets for other goodies like a phone, car keys, and a tablet.
The insert is removable, too, so on weekends when they’re not on the job, the photographer on your list can use this as a weekend bag, too.
That makes the Holdfast Roamographer a beautiful, functional, and multi-purpose bag!
Learn more about the Holdfast Roamographer
Gifts for Photographers Under $1,000: Pre-Owned Canon EOS RP
Full frame cameras don't have to be big. They don't have to be expensive, either!
The Canon EOS RP is a perfect gift idea for the holiday season because it offers excellent performance in a small package. Plus, if you buy a pre-owned camera, you can save money to buy additional gifts for the photographer on your list.
The EOS RP is an entry-level full frame camera, but that doesn't mean it lacks features. Instead, this camera is ready to go with:
Since this is a full frame camera, it offers excellent low-light shooting capabilities. And since it's one of the smallest and lightest full frame mirrorless cameras on the market, it doesn't take up a ton of space in your bag, nor is it difficult to carry.
As I mentioned a moment ago, buying a pre-owned Canon EOS RP gives you flexibility with your budget to get additional items. And while buying used can be a little nerve-wracking, if you shop at MPB, you can rest assured that you're getting a quality used camera.
MPB thoroughly inspects and grades each camera in their inventory and clearly lists the item's condition on the listing page. This enables you to know precisely what to expect when the camera arrives at your door. If, for some reason, you decide you don't want the camera, simply return it during the seven-day return window.
MPB has your back for the long haul, too. Most of their cameras come with a six-month warranty for peace of mind.
Learn more about the Canon EOS RP
Gifts for Photographers Under $1,000: Insta360 ONE RS 1-Inch 360 Edition
Add a little fun to your favorite photographer's photoshoots with the Insta360 ONE RS!
This little camera offers gorgeous 6K 360-degree video capabilities as well as 21-megapixel 360-degree photos. The camera seamlessly stitches the 360 stills together for a breathtaking view of the subject that's impossible to get with a traditional camera.
These 360-degree images and videos are possible due to the dual one-inch sensors. Both sensors provide unparalleled dynamic range and excellent low-light performance, too.
Other features include:
The camera comes with a mounting bracket, a vertical battery case, a lens cap, and more!
Learn more about the Insta360 ONE RS
