Gifts for Photographers Under $100 - 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.
Photo by franckreporter via iStock
We've got about five weeks until Christmas as I'm writing this. That means holiday shopping is about to begin in earnest!
It also means that you might need ideas to zero in on some excellent gives for the photographers on your list...
With a budget of $100, you can get your loved one some truly incredible photography gifts. The question is, which of our favorite gifts for photographers will be the gift you give this year?
Let's find out!
Gifts for Photographers Under $100: 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 $100: Vanguard VEO SPH Smartphone Holder
Since so many photographers use their mobile phones for photo and video work, it makes sense to put a multi-purpose smartphone holder on our list of the top gifts for photographers under $100.
The VEO SPH Smartphone Holder by Vanguard is a great option for mounting a phone in either vertical or horizontal format. And since it works with an Arca-compatible head, this holder can be used in conjunction with a tripod, monopod, support arm, and other mounting devices. The ¼-inch and ⅜-inch threads make doing so quite easy.
The holder comes equipped with a cold shoe for adding an external light, microphone, or another accessory to expand the capability of the phone for photo and video projects.
With rubber padding inside the clamps, you can rest assured that the holder won’t damage the phone. And with an easy-turn knob, the holder is a breeze to adjust for phones of varying sizes from 2.4 inches to 3.5 inches wide. On top of all that, the ball on this holder has a +/- 40-degree tilt and 360-degree rotation for easy adjustments.
With a price that’s well under $100, the VEO SPH is an ideal gift for your loved ones this holiday season - and one that won’t break the bank, either! It’s a perfect price point for the photographer on your list, and with the high-quality construction and impeccable design from Vanguard, it’s a gift that provides years of reliable service. What’s not to like about that?!
Learn more about the Vanguard VEO SPH Smartphone Holder
Gifts for Photographers Under $100: Saal Digital Photography Gifts
One thing that makes shopping for your loved ones much easier is having variety in terms of what you can get them. Saal Digital offers precisely that!
With a budget of $100, you can give a host of gifts that your loved one is sure to love. For example, Saal Digital’s beautiful photo books are an ideal way to display cherished photos. These books have high-end features like premium covers, a range of photo papers from which to choose, and a layflat binding that makes viewing the gorgeous photos inside much easier.
Another option to consider is turning a favorite photo into breathtaking wall decor. Saal Digital again provides many different products that help highlight the beauty of the image. You can choose from canvas, acrylic (shown in the video above), or metal prints. Likewise, there are options for PVC foam board, multi-part displays, and even photos in changeable frames.
With this many options, the most difficult part of shopping for your loved one will be choosing which type of wall decor you want the most!
I’m a big fan of gifts that offer functionality and utility, and if you’re shopping for someone that appreciates those features, a photo calendar is a wonderful choice. Saal Digital offers three different calendar types: wall calendars, desk calendars, and family calendars (shown above).
Regardless of the type of calendar you choose to give this holiday season, it’s printed using the finest inks and durable materials for long-lasting beauty. It’s a gift that will be appreciated each time your loved one looks at it or uses it!
Best of all, these photo gifts represent just a small sampling of the gift ideas offered by Saal Digital. Visit their website to learn more about these and other excellent holiday gift ideas!
Gifts for Photographers Under $100: Pre-Owned Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Lens
If the photographer on your holiday shopping list shoots with a Canon DSLR, a zoom lens with long reach is the perfect holiday gift idea for less than $100.
The Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS USM lens has an equivalent focal range of 88-400mm. This makes it an ideal addition to a kit for everything from portraiture to sports and wildlife photography.
The ultrasonic motor allows the lens to quietly zoom in and out so as not to disturb the subject being photographed. Likewise, the image stabilization technology gives photographers more leeway when shooting handheld.
Even though this lens has a wide focal range, it's a compact and lightweight lens. It's easy to carry without being overly heavy, and makes a good companion for a DSLR for all-day shooting.
And with the equivalent 88-400mm focal range, it's a nice complement to the 18-55mm (28.8-88mm equivalent) kit lens that often comes with Canon DSLRs. With solid imaging quality and reliable performance, this lens provides a lot of bang for the buck! And if you shop at MPB, you can choose from a range of graded lenses, each of which has been thoroughly inspected. Plus, you get a seven-day return window and a six-month warranty.
What's not to like about that?!
Learn more about the Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS USM lens
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: 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 adventure 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: Small f-stop Drone Case
If the photographer on your list has a drone, why not get them a drone case to keep it safe?
This small case from f-stop is compatible with various foldable-wing drones, and protects them with a padded interior. The case has adjustable dividers to help keep gear organized and protect individual items from banging against one another while in transport. The dividers give you the ability to customize the interior space to the specific needs of the drone setup.
The case is more than a holder for a drone, though...
There's four pockets to organize cables, batteries, memory cards, and other items. These pockets have magnetic closures for easy opening and closing, too. There's also a padded soft storage compartment for bringing along a tablet or an additional screen.
The carry handle makes it easy to carry this case by itself, or you can attach it to a backpack or even a belt. In other words, f-stop has thought of everything to make this a highly functional case for small drones. And if your loved one has a larger drone, f-stop has them covered with their Large Drone Case (which is also under $100!).
Learn more about the f-stop Small Drone Case
Gifts for Photographers Under $100: Photomatix Pro 6
Whether the photographer on your shopping list is a newbie or a pro, they will probably tell you that one of the hardest parts of photography is getting the exposure right.
What makes it so complicated to perfect is that there are so many variables involved, one of which is dynamic range.
When dynamic range, or the values of light tones in the shot, is too much, the camera can’t accommodate it. That means that highlights might be blown out or shadows might be too dark.
But by bracketing exposures, merging them together, and using HDR software, photographers can overcome this difficulty.
For less than $100, you can give the gift of gorgeous exposures by putting Photomatix Pro 6 in your loved one’s stocking.
Since 2003, Photomatix has enabled photographers to easily create HDR images.
Over the years, the software has changed and added tons of new features, including built-in presets, dozens of HDR settings, tools like selective ghost removal, and batch processing in Photomatix Pro 6. And that’s just the start!
There’s also multiple HDR styles so no matter if the photos are landscapes, portraits, real estate, or something in between, you can customize how they look with Photomatix.
That’s why HDR software like Photomatix Pro 6 is such a valuable tool for photographers!
Learn more about Photomatix Pro 6
Gifts for Photographers Under $100: Vanguard VEO 2 204AB
This aluminum tripod from Vanguard offers an incredible list of specs and features for the price point.
For example, the leg tubes are designed in a way that enables smooth and precise leg extension. There's also three built-in leg angles that offer versatility for adapting to uneven terrain.
Furthermore, this tripod comes with a ball head that offers up to 8.8 pounds of load capacity. There's even an Arca-compatible QS-60S quick-release plate, so your loved one has everything they need to begin using the tripod right out of the box.
One of the best features is the central column system that allows you to set up the tripod in about 15 seconds. Often, getting the shot and not getting the shot is a matter of a second or two, so having a quick-set tripod is a huge bonus!
To provide added stability, the tripod has a suspension loop so you can add a backpack or some other type of counterbalance if the wind picks up. And for those days when your loved one is out in the snow or rain, the integrated all-weather TPU grips give them a spot to get a good handle on the tripod.
A tripod is one of the most important photography accessories, and with a price under $100, this tripod is a great option!
Learn more about the Vanguard VEO 2 204AB
Gifts for Photographers Under $100: Pre-Owned Sigma 19mm f/2.8 DN ART (Sony E-Mount)
Sony E-mount cameras are among the most popular in the world. Pair that with a lens from Sigma - which is known for high-quality optics - and you have a recipe for a great camera setup!
If your loved one has a Sony E-mount camera, the 19mm f/2.8 DN ART lens from Sony is a nice addition to their kit. The wide-angle format (35mm equivalent) is ideal for landscape photography and other types of images in which a wide field of view is necessary.
On top of that, this lens offers a wide f/2.8 aperture that allows for shallow depth of field images and taking photos in low-light situations.
This Sigma lens has an inner focusing system that maintains the overall size of the lens when zoomed in, rather than extending the barrel of the lens as many zooms do. This maintains its compact form factor without sacrificing image quality.
Another feature that's worth noting is Sigma's Super Multi-Layer Coating. This proprietary coating helps reduce ghosting and flare while improving the sharpness and contrast in images. Aberrations are also limited by three glass-molded aspherical elements.
All that is available for less than $100!
Learn more about the Sigma 19mm f/2.8 DN ART for Sony E-Mount Cameras
