Gifts for Photographers Under $2,500 - 2021 Edition
- 1000-watt Tungsten equivalent
- Integrated power and control box
- CRI & TLCI 97+
- Dimmable from 100 percent to just 1 percent
- Built-in lighting effects, including fireworks, fire, lightning, paparazzi, and TV flicker
- 18 dB quiet fan
- DMX Capability
- Wireless remote (328-foot range)
photo by Pekic via iStock
We're getting down to the wire with the holiday shopping season...
If you're in a rush to find the perfect gift for the photographer on your list, don't fret - we've got some great ideas!
With a budget of $2,500, you can find all sorts of epic gifts for photographers including cameras, lighting, office equipment, and much more.
Let's get to the list!
Gifts for Photographers Under $2,500: iMovR Lander Standing Desk
One of the great things about the holiday season is that you have an opportunity to really change a loved one’s life for the better.
And this isn’t hyperbole - with a gift like the iMovR Lander Standing Desk, you can help your favorite photographer be more comfortable, healthier, and more productive.
Think about it…
Sitting at a desk editing photos all day isn’t good for your neck, shoulders, or back. You need to move your positioning as you work, varying from sitting to standing, to ward off the negative effects of sitting for hours and hours on end. The iMovR Lander desk lets you do that with ease. So, how is this accomplished?
The Lander desk has electric motors that can lift up to 365 pounds and do so with whisper-quiet operation. The motors are engaged in one of two ways: the height-control paddle on the underside of the desktop or the companion smartphone app. With a simple double-tap of the paddle or a tap of your finger on your smartphone screen, you can move the desk up and down as you please.
And unlike many desks, the iMovR Lander doesn’t require a ton of time or tools to assemble.
In fact, this desk arrives 98-percent assembled, so you’re not only giving an incredible gift, but one that comes without a huge investment of time required to put it together. In about three minutes the legs can be attached to the desk (with no tools!) and the photographer on your list can go about setting up their workspace.
iMovR gives you peace of mind with the desk, too. There’s a five-year warranty on the desktop and a 10-year warranty on the base components. On top of that, the desk is beautifully engineered and constructed, so you can give the gift of something that will be durable and functional for the long term.
The desktop is made of 3D laminate material that is highly durable. There are also hundreds of color and size combinations to choose from, so you can truly design the perfect desk for your loved one (or yourself!).
Best of all, this desk starts at just over $1,000, so with a $2,500 budget, you’ll have a lot of money left over. Perhaps you can buy two desks!
Learn more about the iMovR Lander Standing Desk
Gifts for Photographers Under $2,500: Ikan Professional 15-Inch High Bright Beam Splitter Teleprompter With Travel Kit
If you're shopping for a photographer that wants to start a YouTube channel or is otherwise interested in producing video content, a professional teleprompter is certainly a gift that they will get a lot of use out of.
This 15-inch beam splitter teleprompter from Ikan is what I personally use in my home studio, and I couldn't be happier with it.
One of the best features of this teleprompter is its bright 1000 nit monitor. No matter if I have the studio lights on full blast with the window shades open or if I'm shooting at night with low light, I can clearly see the monitor and see the text I need to read.
Another nice feature you get with this teleprompter is its compatibility with different camera mount options. Whether you're using a small mirrorless camera or a dedicated video camera or something in between, this teleprompter can accommodate most rigs.
Setup is easy, too, with simple balancing and a quick-adjust base. The lightweight and compact design are also nice for small studios like I have, as well as for traveling. Speaking of which, this teleprompter comes with a handy travel case for easy transport.
Add in high-quality American-made 70/30 beam splitter glass, the ability to flip the image on the monitor, and the ability to read the monitor from up to 17 feet away, and you have the makings of a fantastic addition to your favorite photographer's or videographer's home studio!
Learn more about the Ikan Professional 15-Inch Bright Beam Splitter Teleprompter With Travel Kit
Gifts for Photographers Under $2,500: Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM Lens
Ask any photographer what the most versatile focal length is, and many will likely say it's 50mm
You can use a 50mm lens for all sorts of pursuits - portraiture, landscape photography, street photography, and videography, just to name a few.
Heck, you can even reverse-mount a 50mm and use it for macro photography!
In this case, the Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM goes above and beyond what a normal 50mm f/1.8 offers and gives photographers a bigger maximum aperture for light-collecting capabilities and improved bokeh.
And since this is a L-series lens, you get the advantage of improved optics for superb image quality.
That image quality is thanks in large part to the three aspherical and one UD element inside the lens. These elements help generate high image quality from center to corner with reduced aberrations and distortion.
This lens is also vibration-resistant, weather-sealed, and has fluorine coatings on the front and rear elements that help repel water and dust.
In other words, this lens was built to last to provide photographers with reliable service for years and years to come.
Learn more about the Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM Lens
Gifts for Photographers Under $2,500: Aputure Light Storm LC 120d II
Photography (and videography, for that matter), are all about good lighting. And when it's good lighting you're after, it's tough to beat the Aputure 120d II.
I have these lights in my home studio, and as I explain in my review of this light, I couldn't be happier with their features, performance, and ease of use.
One look at the spec sheet and you can see why I've been so impressed with the Aputure 120d II:
With this light, you get clean, beautiful lighting, the option to dim or brighten it from 1 to 100 percent, and you can select from a range of special effects, all in a light that offers quiet operation. Nice!
If you're shopping for a photographer or videographer that needs to upgrade their lighting setup, this is the one that should be at the top of your shopping list!
Learn more about the Aputure Light Storm LC 120d II
Gifts for Photographers Under $2,500: Pre-Owned Nikon Z6
The Nikon Z6 is a fantastic mirrorless camera, and since it's been a couple of years since its release, its price has dropped - especially for pre-owned models.
Whether you're shopping for a Nikon shooter who could use an upgrade to a "new" camera or you're shopping for a photographer that wants to get into the Nikon Z ecosystem, this is a great choice.
The Z6 has a 24.5-megapixel full frame back-illuminated sensor that offers top-notch image quality with excellent detail, clarity, and sharpness.
The 12fps burst shooting speed is ideal for action photography while the 273-point autofocus system helps you keep track of moving targets.
On the back is a large 3.2-inch variable-angle touchscreen LCD with 2.1 million dots of resolution, so you can easily see the camera's menu system and take a peek at images you've shot.
The Z6 has Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, shoots 4K video, and has a battery life of 310 shots.
This camera is an excellent option for photographers that want a solid rig that can tackle still photos and videos all in one package!
Gifts for Photographers Under $2,500: CanvasHQ Print
One of my favorite gifts to give (and to get, while we're at it) is a big, beautiful print.
Personally, I like canvas because of the texture the canvas gives to the print. Besides, a canvas print is something that will continue to give joy to the person that receives it for years and years to come!
Now, I know what you're thinking...canvas is so old-school.
But if you order your canvases from the right printers, you can get something that is beautiful, well-made and looks modern, even if the substrate is perhaps a bit old-school.
I have tons of canvases in my home, the vast majority of which are from CanvasHQ.
These are some of the best canvas prints I've ever purchased. The sharpness of detail, the color accuracy, and the overall build quality of these prints is next-level good.
Part of the reason for this is the materials CanvasHQ uses. We’re talking archival-grade canvas, commercial-grade inks that are water and UV resistant, and kiln-dried pine frames to keep everything straight and true.
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.
In the video above, you can see how one of my CanvasHQ prints stacks up against similar prints from other printing companies. I think you'll see why I'm so loyal to CanvasHQ!
Start shopping for your favorite photographer today on CanvasHQ.
Gifts for Photographers Under $2,500: Holdfast Roamographer Duffle Bag, Camera Bag, and MoneyMaker
This might just be the ultimate photography setup...
If you want to impress a photographer, go ahead and give them a bundle of products from Holdfast.
Holdfast's venerable Roamographer bags not only look incredible, but they're also incredibly functional, too.
Give them the Roamographer Duffle Bag for those long weekends out taking photos.
The duffle is handcrafted out of American Bison hide and has a shearling-lined shoulder strap for easy carrying. It's the perfect bag for a quick trip, and with a metal frame that keeps the bag open during packing and unpacking, two boot bags to keep your shoes away from your clothes, and tons of pockets for small items, it'll become their favorite getaway bag.
To carry their gear, you can include a Holdfast Roamographer Camera Bag as well.
Like the duffle, the camera bag has a vintage aesthetic but with modern features.
The camera insert cradles each camera item, ensuring their safety during transit.
The carrier straps accommodate a tripod for easy carrying, and the shearling-lined shoulder strap makes it easy on your favorite photographer's shoulder to carry the bag, too.
While you're at it, you can throw in a Holdfast MoneyMaker dual camera system.
The dual straps mean that a photographer can carry up to three cameras in ultimate comfort, and with their gear right at their fingertips for safe carrying.
What's more, for quick shots, their cameras are easy to reach, making the MoneyMaker just about the most functional gear you could give a photographer this holiday season.
And, like all other Holdfast products, the MoneyMaker looks like a million bucks.
You can pick up all three of these products and still have money to spare with a $2,500 budget!
Learn more about Holdfast products
Gifts for Photographers Under $2,500: Pre-Owned Canon EOS R
Back when the EOS R came out, it was groundbreaking for Canon since it was their first mirrorless camera.
It was the first Canon camera I owned, and it served me well - it will do the same for the photographer on your list!
The EOS R offers loads of features that include an ultra-resolute 30.3-megapixel full frame CMOS sensor.
Paired with a DIGIC 8 image processor, this camera is capable of shooting at 8fps and up to a native ISO range of 40000.
What's more, Canon gave the EOS R excellent video capabilities with UHD 4K video recording at 30fps.
One of this camera's best features, though, is the Dual Pixel CMOS autofocus system.
All told, it has 5,655 selectable autofocus points that allow photographers to quickly and accurately select where the focus of the image will be.
With a small, lightweight body, excellent build quality, great handling, and an increasingly large selection of lenses, the EOS R is definitely a fantastic gift idea this Christmas!
Learn more about the Canon EOS R
Gifts for Photographers Under $2,500: ProMediaGear Pro-Stix TR424L Carbon Fiber Tripod
ProMediaGear tripods are among the best on the market. And that’s not just lip-service, either.
I’ve used ProMediaGear tripods, including the TR424L, for quite some time, and I can assure you that they are well-made, durable, and extremely functional.
These are professional-grade tripods, without a doubt. It can hold up to 125 pounds of gear thanks to its 42mm-thick carbon tripod legs.
Even when I’m out shooting video and I have a ton of accessories, it still doesn’t come close to that 125-pound mark!
From a functionality standpoint, the legs have three-position angle locks so you can adjust the tripod to be perfectly level, no matter how uneven the terrain. The built-in bubble level helps in that regard as well.
Deploying the legs is simple, too - just a quarter-turn locks them in place.
This tripod also has huge rubber feet, which as a landscape photographer is a favorite feature. The tripod doesn’t sink into soft soil and it doesn’t slip when things are wet or frozen. The metal spikes in the bottoms of each leg offer even more stability for truly rough shooting conditions.
You get all this in a tripod that folds down to just 26.3-inches tall, which can easily fit into a camera bag.
This isn’t a lightweight tripod by any means, but if the photographer on your list needs a go-anywhere, do-anything tripod, this is definitely it!
Learn more about the ProMediaGear TR424L Carbon Fiber Tripod
Gifts for Photographers Under $2,500: Amazon Gift Card
Totally stumped regarding gift ideas for photographers on your list?
Why not go the easy route and get them an Amazon gift card?
Though a gift card isn't exactly the sexiest gift, when the photographer in your family sees that you have given them carte blanche to get what they want, they'll be stoked!
With an Amazon gift card, they can put the card amount towards whatever they want - a new lens, a second camera body, lighting gear, a laptop - you name it!
As far as flexibility goes, there's nothing better to give a photographer than a gift card.
Learn more about Amazon gift cards
