Gifts for Photographers Under $100 - 2021 Edition
photo by Tom Merton via iStock
I know what you’re thinking…you can’t get a truly awesome gift for a photographer with just $100.
But you’re wrong!
Not only are there plenty of gifts for photographers with a price less than $100, but there are also lots of amazing gifts for that price.
While a lot of photography gear is admittedly expensive, these gift ideas will keep you on budget - and impress the photographer on your list, too.
Gifts for Photographers Under $100: Artbeat Studios HD Metal Print
If you ask me, one of the best gifts for photographers is a print of one of their favorite photos. It's a great way to honor their craft while also giving them a gift that truly keeps on giving!
And I know what you're thinking...metal prints for under $100 must be pretty low quality. Happily, though, that's just not the case!
Artbeat Studios is known as an industry leader for high-quality metal prints. One of the reasons for this is because Artbeat Studios’ HD metal prints have the image heat infused directly into the metal. The result is unsurpassed resolution and color vibrancy.
Metal is a gorgeous substrate for all manner and type of photos, too. The crisp, clean detail and modern look is just what the doctor ordered for highlighting a beautiful image.
What’s more, Artbeat Studios uses Chromaluxe® brand aluminum sheets. This brand of aluminum has a 3x better permanence than Kodak Silver Halide Prints and resists fading for more than 65 years. So not only is an HD metal print a great gift for this holiday season, but it’s a gift that will keep on giving for decades!
You can also customize the look of the print by choosing different finishes, surfaces, and mounts. One of the newest additions to the options list is the textured matte surface for a true fine art look.
Whatever options you choose, the result is a breathtaking and custom print that your favorite photographer is sure to love that won't bust your budget! And since Artbeat Studios won our 2020 Metal Print Shootout, you know you’re getting a high-quality product!
Learn more about Artbeat Studios’ HD Metal Prints
Gifts for Photographers Under $100: An SD Card (or Several!)
Photo by nicolas_ via iStock
Is the photographer on your holiday shopping list difficult to shop for? Then a great gift idea is something that offers utility now and in the future, like an SD card.
All photographers need memory cards, so giving the gift of a memory card or two will be much appreciated.
Memory cards can be expensive, though, so you’ll want to maximize your budget by finding the best deals on top brands.
I use SD Card Express to find great deals on memory cards, and I think you’ll find that their selection is just right for finding the photographer on your list the cards they need.
From microSD cards to Class 10 cards, TF Cards to U3 cards, SD Card Express has you covered.
There’s a huge selection of different brands, too, so if the photographer you’re shopping for likes Lexar, SanDisk, Western Digital, or something in between, you should be able to find what you need.
For example, you can get a SanDisk Ultra 512GB MicroSD Memory Card for $86.64. As another example, you can get a Lexar Professional 633x 256GB SD Memory Card for $48.13. You can mix and match types and brands to give your favorite photographer a nice collection of cards while staying under your $100 budget.
Learn more about SD Card Express
Gifts for Photographers Under $100: CanvasHQ Print
It's tough to beat a large-format canvas print as a holiday gift...
Canvas prints offer a classic look with an interesting texture that helps bring the image to life.
What's more, when it's a well-made canvas, like those from CanvasHQ, the print can become a family heirloom - something that you cherish for decades to come. What a powerful gift!
I have tons of canvases in my home, the vast majority of which are from CanvasHQ.
What appeals to me about these prints is the impeccable quality. There is a great level of detail and sharpness, beautiful color accuracy, and the frames on which the print is stretched are handmade with kiln-dried wood to ensure the frame stays square and true for years to come.
Additionally, these guys use archival-grade canvas and commercial-grade inks to ensure long-lasting durability.
They also have a new product - a variety of floating frames - that add a touch of elegance and depth to canvas prints.
The floating frames extend along the sides of the print and don't obscure the front of the print, that way you can see 100 percent of the image. It's a clean, dynamic finish that looks great!
But CanvasHQ isn't just tops in the quality department...
They have excellent customer service that makes you feel heard and as though you're the only customer they have to worry about at that moment.
These guys are committed to getting it right, so if something doesn’t go as planned, you won’t be hung out to dry.
If you have questions, they’ll answer them. If you have a problem, they’ll fix it. If you need assistance with uploading your photo or even picking the best finishes for your canvas, they’ve got your back! That’s just a few reasons why CanvasHQ was a repeat winner of our 2019 and 2020 Canvas Print Shootouts!
Learn more about CanvasHQ Prints
Gifts for Photographers Under $100: RODE VideoMicro
This tiny shotgun microphone is perfect for a GoPro (or DSLRs or mirrorless cameras, for that matter).
It's compact and lightweight, but audio quality isn't sacrificed. In fact, it has a high-quality cardioid condenser mic capsule so you can get clear, crisp audio.
And since it's a directional mic, it minimizes sounds from the periphery so your video has focused audio from the subject. That’s just the kind of audio performance you want to match the high-quality video footage that you can capture with modern cameras.
Add to that a thermoplastic suspension structure for minimizing vibrations as you adventure around with your GoPro, and you have the ideal audio companion for the best adventura camera on the market!
If the photographer on your list is an adventurer and utilizes a GoPro, this is the perfect gift idea!
Learn more about the RODE VideoMicro
Gifts for Photographers Under $100: Holdfast Mini EDC Fieldbook
If you’re shopping for a photographer that was alive in the 1990s or earlier, they probably have a habit of carrying a notebook with them to write down camera settings, site information, and other details about the shots they take. I know I do that…
And while some folks have transitioned to taking notes on their phones or other devices, there’s something about having handwritten notes about your photos that is so satisfying.
With the Mini EDC Fieldbook from Holdfast, your favorite photographer can take all the notes they want and protect them in style.
This leather journal cover is beautifully made of leather and is sized perfectly to fit the Rite in the Rain spiral-top 3x5 notebook.
This gorgeous fieldbook also has room to fit pens or pencils, your ID, business cards, and other small items that photographers might need on a photo shoot. In fact, there are six pockets and two hand slots for carrying the essentials.
Not only is this fieldbook supremely useful, it’s also impeccably made right here in the U.S. Talk about a wonderful gift idea!
Learn more about the Holdfast Mini EDC Fieldbook
Gifts for Photographers Under $100 - Ikan ILED 120 Daylight Flood LED Light
As modern cameras become more and more about photography and videography, and as more and more photographers add videography to their list of services, it makes sense to get the photographer on your list a quality light for video work.
The Ikan ILED 120 Daylight Flood LED light is a perfect option, given its performance and its price tag.
At just 3¾” x 3⅓”, this tiny light won’t burden photographers with extra size and weight. But don’t think that it doesn’t pack a punch despite its small size…
There’s a 60-degree beam pattern and 5300K-5900K LEDs that put out clean, beautiful light. And since it’s an Ikan product, you can trust that this light is solidly built, packed with features, and field tested to ensure long-term reliability.
This light comes with an on-board rechargeable lithium battery, a battery charger, a camera bracket, a shoe mount, and a diffuser, so it’ll be ready to go right out of the box!
Learn more about the Ikan ILED 120 Daylight Flood LED Light
Gifts for Photographers Under $100: PhotoRepairPro
I've said it before, and I'll say it again...
The best gifts are the ones that offer long-lasting joy and utility. For the photographer on your list, a way to provide that is by restoring one of their favorite photos.
We all have printed photos that have seen better days, but fortunately there is a way to bring those photos back to life - PhotoRepairPro.
For $34.99 - which is obviously way under the $100 limit - you can give your favorite photographer a repaired photo.
Not only that, but PhotoRepairPro also throws in an online proof, a JPEG download, and two 5x7 prints of the image. It's five gifts in one!
And don't worry if the source image has water damage or is faded, or if it has cracks or creases. PhotoRepairPro can bring it back to its original beauty.
You can get the process started now online. In a few days' time, you'll have the perfect gift for your favorite photographer!
Learn more about PhotoRepairPro
Gifts for Photographers Under $100:Hex Ranger DSLR Sling Bag
One of the best gifts you can give the photographer on your list is a new camera bag.
But not all camera bags are made alike...
Honestly, I’m a bit of a camera bag snob, so I look for things that others might skim over.
For instance, I check the stitching inside and out to see how well put together it is, and with this bag, it’s very well put together.
It’s part of the thoughtful construction and design processes that also make this bag an excellent choice for a gift for the photographer on your holiday shopping list.
One of the things I like most about the bag is the collapsible interior dividers - including the bottom divider. This gives you a bag that can not only be customized to your gear for each photoshoot, but you can also fold up or remove the dividers to allow the bag to be packed totally flat for travel inside another bag.
Speaking of customizations, this bag has side adjustable load straps and adjustable bottom carry straps so you can carry even more gear when needed.
This bag is also packed full of pockets to help you keep track of your stuff. There’s a front access organizer for small items, a faux fur lined pocket on the front for your phone or a pair of shades, a faux fur lined pocket for your table, and multiple hidden velcro stash pockets. And the bag sits very well when worn. It’s comfortable and easy to access your gear and really hugs your body.
With genuine Cordura material and YKK zippers with metal pulls, this bag will stand up to use and abuse, too. And since it’s so compact (just 1.3 pounds and 14.5"L x 7.25"W x 4.75"H), you can rock it in the urban jungle without worrying that it’ll be knocking into people as you move from shot to shot.
Something that really stood out to me was that, although the bag is listed at 8 liters, there is no wasted or negative space. In fact, I easily transferred all the gear I would normally carry in my Peak Design 10L Sling into the HEX Ranger Sling. I have to say that I am a big fan of the efficient use of space in this bag and the collapsible potential of the HEX bag certainly gives it a leg up.
With eight liters of storage space, a streamlined design, and looks that don’t quit, this is definitely a gift for photographers that will put a smile on their face!
And there’s also an updated Version 2 of this bag that offers tons of upgrades, like like a hideaway rain fly, upgraded padding, and a double buckle strap for additional sizing options. It’s under $100 too!
Learn more about the Hex Ranger DSLR Sling Bag
Gifts for Photographers Under $100: Camera Canopy
I don’t know about you, but I’m all about giving gifts that are functional, and functional is a perfect word to describe Camera Canopy.
If the photographer on your list spends any time outdoors, they need something to help protect their camera gear. As a photographer that falls into that category, I understand that when it rains, my day of shooting could be over if I don’t have the protection I need. That’s because even weather-sealed gear isn’t completely water-tight.
There are all kinds of rain guards for cameras, but most of them are plastic bags that make using your camera a huge pain. It’s hard to adjust your lens. It’s hard to see the rear LCD. It’s hard to use the viewfinder too! That’s why Camera Canopy is a much better alternative.
Camera canopy attaches to a camera via its hot-shoe mount. Once attached - which takes just seconds to do - it shields the camera and lens from rain. It even protects the glass on the end of the lens so there’s no worry that good shots will be ruined by water droplets on the glass.
Better still, it’s adjustable for lenses up to 500mm in length, and there’s even a smaller version for mirrorless setups (shown above). Add in a 30-day money-back guarantee, and you’ve got the perfect gift for this holiday season!
Learn more about Camera Canopy and Mini Camera Canopy
Gifts for Photographers Under $100: Pre-Owned Canon EF 50mm f/1.8
Photographers can never have too many lenses, right?
Okay, so maybe there’s a limit, but one of the best lenses a photographer can have in their camera bag is a good Nifty Fifty.
What makes Nifty Fifties so great is that they’re versatile - they can be used for portraits, landscapes, and video work.
Plus, Nifty Fifties like the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 have a nice, big aperture for getting beautiful background blur and for shooting in low-light conditions.
And since you can get a pre-owned 50mm lens for under $100, they’re also an economical gift idea!
Don’t be scared off by the word “pre-owned,” either…
You can buy with confidence from MPB because each item in their inventory is thoroughly reviewed and tested before it’s put up for sale.
That means that if you find a 50mm lens listed in good condition, that lens will be in good condition! There are no surprises, no scams...just a quality used product that comes with a six-month warranty.
So, this holiday season, help your favorite photographer fill out their kit with a new-to-them lens!
Learn more about the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8
