Gifts for Photographers Under $5,000 - 2020 Edition
- Windows 10 Pro
- 8-core 10th Generation Intel Core i7 processor with up to 5.1GHz max boost
- NVIDIA Quadro RTX 5000 GPU
- 15.6” OLED touchscreen with Corning Gorilla Glass
- Up to 4TB of SSD storage
- Up to 64GB of dual-channel DDR4 memory
- Upgraded backlit keyboard
- a 5.76-million-dot electronic viewfinder
- 5-axis image stabilization
- 10fps burst shooting
- 15 stops of dynamic range
- A 567-point phase-detect autofocus system
- Wireless tethering
- Enhanced dust and moisture resistance.
A $5,000 budget can get you a lot of camera swag for the photographer on your list.
We're talking incredible cameras and lenses, amazing photography trips, and a whole lot of beautiful prints or gifts from Amazon.
We've considered lots of different types of gifts for this list of the best gifts for photographers under $5,000. See what your budget can get you in 2020!
Gifts for Photographers Under $5,000: 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 $5,000: Canon EOS R5 and RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM Lens
The Canon EOS R5 is one of the best cameras on the market, and the RF lineup of lenses is absolutely stellar.
That being the case, the combination of this camera and lens is a perfect gift idea for the photographer on your list.
This 45-megapixel camera is no joke - that's why I went out and got one at the first opportunity.
The new imaging sensor produces clean, sharp results with beautiful color rendition.
The Dual Pixel autofocus system is both fast and accurate, for still images and shooting video.
Speaking of video, the 8K/30p internal recording in 4:2:2 10-bit C-Log and HDR PQ is an astonishing spec. Those specs are also available in 4K/120p, in case you were wondering!
This rig has in-body image stabilization that gives you up to five stops of stabilization. When paired with a stabilized RF lens, you can get up to eight stops. If the photographer you're shopping for has stabilized EF lenses, those will work too (with an EF-RF adapter, of course).
This camera is not for the faint of heart or budget. But for a professional photographer that demands the best, I think it's one of the top options available today.
Adding a versatile and sharp 24-105mm f/4L lens to the mix is just the icing on the cake! This lens is a fantastic zoom option that can accommodate all kinds of tasks, from landscapes to portraits, wildlife to automobile photography, and many other pursuits.
If you really want to impress your favorite photographer this holiday season, this gift will do it!
Learn more about the Canon EOS R5 and RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM
Gifts for Photographers Under $5,000:Razer Blade Studio 15
The 2020 Razer Blade 15 Studio is impressive, to say the least...
It's retained many of the best features of the 2019 version and juiced up many others.
Get a load of these specs:
Of course, the 2020 version kept the best thing about the 2019 version - the NVIDIA Quadro RTX 5000 GPU.
I've had a lot of laptops and desktops over the years that had a "high-end" graphics card, and I can tell you that none come close to what this Quadro GPU can do. Honestly, it's like something you'd find in a Hollywood studio! No matter if you're doing intensive photo editing or video work, this GPU will be able to handle it.
Another exciting feature about the 2020 Razer Blade 15 Studio is that it's now available with 8-core processors. Having that extra power is certainly a bonus!
The larger 15.6-inch OLED touchscreen color-calibrated display is another amenity to note. Not only is it bigger than its predecessor, but it also now has a Gorilla glass panel for added durability. Add in a UHS-III sd card reader, ports galore, and an anodized aluminum body finished in mercury white, and you have the makings of the hottest laptop of the year for photographers and videographers!
Learn more about the Razer Blade Studio 15.
Gifts for Photographers Under $5,000: Pre-Owned Canon EOS R, Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM, and Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 IS STM Macro
If the photographer on your list needs an upgrade in the camera department, you might consider giving the gift of a Canon EOS R this year.
The EOS R was released in October of 2018, so there's been time for prices to fall and for a good selection of used cameras to develop.
With a like-new-condition EOS R, you can save yourself quite a bit of money while still giving your loved one a capable, reliable, and virtually new camera!
The EOS R features a 30.3-megapixel full frame CMOS sensor paired with a DIGIC 8 image processor.
The result of this is superb performance, excellent image quality, and a bevy of secondary features that make it a fantastic camera for just about any photographer.
With a native ISO range up to 40,000, this camera is a good low-light performer, and with 8 fps continuous shooting, it can tackle subjects like wildlife and sports photography in which rapid movement needs to be captured.
Additionally, the EOS R has a top-of-the-line autofocus system called Dual Pixel AF, which allows users to select from 5,655 AF points to quickly and accurately acquire focus.
Add to that 4K UHD video recording at 30p, and you have the makings of a fantastic holiday gift!
The Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 L USM is a great choice for an all-around lens that accommodates wide-angle, standard, and telephoto shooting. And since pre-owned versions in like-new are under $950, you're well under the $5,000 budget threshold! That means you can add a second lens like the Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 IS STM Macro to the gift bundle!
Though the 35mm f/1.8 isn't an L-series lens, it has excellent optics, a large maximum aperture, and image stabilization. Plus, the 35mm focal length is hugely versatile, so the photographer on your list could use it for everything from architectural photography to portraits.
With this bundle, you can equip your favorite photographer quite nicely, and for well under budget.
Learn more about the Canon EOS R, the Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM, and the Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 IS STM Macro
Gifts for Photographers Under $5,000: Colors of Costa Rica Photo Tour With ColorTexturePhotoTours
From spectacular sunsets on the coast to breathtaking waterfalls, incredible diversity of wildlife (including dozens of species of frogs) to stunning flowers, Costa Rica has no shortage of subject matter for a photographer.
And as part of ColorTexturePhotoTour's Colors of Costa Rica photo tour, the photographer on your list can explore all that and much more as part of a luxurious, all-inclusive trip!
This trip is the ideal length - six days and five nights - so it's easier to get away from work and other responsibilities to spend a relaxing time in one of the most beautiful locations on earth.
Over the course of the trip, the photographer on your list will join no more than three other participants to tour the landscapes of Costa Rica with workshop leader Scott Setterberg.
Those landscapes, which includes four national parks, will be fodder for some spectacular photography opportunities, as well as plenty of one-on-one instruction time with Scott.
In this regard, this trip isn't just about seeing gorgeous places, but it's also about developing and improving photography skills.
With stops in Tenorio Volcano National Park, La Paz Waterfall Gardens, Catarata La Fortuna, Lake Arenal, and Juan Castro Blanco National Park, the tour takes participants to varied locations, each of which offers unique beauty and challenges photographers to apply their skills to get the best shots.
Along the way, a licensed, English-speaking nature guide will offer insights into the biodiversity of Costa Rica, so tour-goers learn more about the beauty they see and photograph.
Each evening, the tour winds down and participants stay in luxurious, award-winning accommodations.
The photographer on your list can enjoy authentic Costa Rican cuisine, spa services, massages, and more.
What better way to celebrate the holidays than by giving your loved one the photography trip of a lifetime?!
Learn more about the Colors of Costa Rica Photography Tour by ColorTexturePhotoTours
Gifts for Photographers Under $5,000: Nikon Z7 with Nikon Nikkor 24-70mm f/4 S Lens
When I had a Nikon Z7, I used this very lens as well. It's an ideal combination for everyday photo-taking.
What impressed me the most about this camera is its sensor - a 45.7-megapixel full frame behemoth that offers superb image quality.
The sensor is paired with a fast and accurate 493-point autofocus system that offers 90 percent coverage. Whether the photographer on your list photographs people, places, or things, this camera will be a great companion!
Other features of note include 9 fps shooting, 4K video up to 30p (up to 120 fps in HD), an ISO range of 63-25600, and built-in image stabilization.
Additionally, Nikon gave the Z7 a beautifully resolute 3.69-million-dot electronic OLED viewfinder as well as a 3.2-inch LCD touchscreen display.
I really appreciated the design of the camera as well - it feels like a Nikon with a deep grip and a familiar button layout.
On top of all that, the Z7 is fully weather sealed - I tested it out in Norway and can attest to its ability to stand up to really, really cold temperatures.
You get Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB battery charging, and Nikon's SnapBridge functionality as well.
And in this case, the Z7 comes with a killer lens, the Nikon Nikkor 24-70mm f/4 S.
This lens is the ideal walk-around lens, with wide-angle to short telephoto capabilities that allows photographers to capture all kinds of subject matter without the need for lens changes.
What's more, this S-series lens is small and lightweight, making it an ideal alternative to bigger, heavier f/2.8 models.
It has an aspherical extra-low dispersion element, three aspherical elements, and Nano Crystal and Super Integrated Coatings, all of which combine to reduce chromatic aberrations, distortions, ghosting, and flare.
The result is beautiful color rendering and improved contrast. In other words, it's a great camera-lens combination!
Learn more about the Nikon Z7 With Nikon Nikkor 24-70mm f/4 S Lens
Gifts for Photographers Under $5,000: eMotimo spectrum ST4 Run & Gun Bundle
For the photographer on your list that's itching to add videography to their repertoire, the eMotimo spectrum ST4 Run & Gun Bundlespectrum ST4 Run & Gun Bundle is a perfect gift with a $5,000 budget.
Included in this bundle are a spectrum ST4 4-axis motion control unit, a eMotimo heavy duty L-bracket for mounting a camera, an eMotimo Fz focus motor, and iFootage Shark Slider with both two-foot and four-foot lengths.
Also included is an iFootage integration kit with the motor of your choice, a uSD card with instructions, an Arca compatible quick release clamp for tilt, and an Arca compatible plate for pan axis.
In other words, this bundle is loaded for bear with all the fixings a photographer needs to create breathtaking cinematic films and time-lapse videos!
Learn more about the eMotimo spectrum ST4 Run & Gun Bundle
Gifts for Photographers Under $5,000: Sony a7R IV
The Sony a7R IV will be hot off the assembly line well in time for the holiday season, and it's a fantastic gift idea for the photographer in your life.
This camera is packed to the gills with modern features that will make any photographer smile from ear to ear.
The a7R IV has a 61-megapixel sensor that's unrivaled on the market at this point.
Along with that crazy sensor is a laundry list of jaw-dropping specs:
That's not even to mention Sony's impeccable Eye AF system which tracks human and animal eyes with extreme precision.
There's also Real-Time AF for video recording, 26-megapixel resolution in APS-C crop mode, and sensor-shift multi-shot mode that creates image files that are a whopping 240-megapixels in size.
And at less than $3,500, you can give the gift of the Sony a7R IV without breaking your budget!
Learn more about the Sony a7R IV
Gifts for Photographers Under $5,000: Arca-Swiss F-Classic 4x5 View Camera
For discerning photographers that enjoy working in medium format, it’s tough to beat the Arca-Swiss 4x5.
This is a professional-grade tool that is both easily transported and produces high-quality images.
It’s made specifically for 4x5 medium format film and digital backs made to fit medium format digital camera systems.
It’s a fully modular system, too, with a wide array of accessories for everything from viewing to conversion.
Whether it’s used for film or digital prints, this camera will bring a smile to any photographer’s face!
Best of all, it's well below the $5,000 budget mark, so you can give an awesome gift and save a ton of money, too!
Learn more about the Arca-Swiss F-Classic 4x5 View Camera
Gifts for Photographers Under $5,000: 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 dropped $5,000 into a few gift cards (there's a $2,000 limit per card), they'll love it just the same.
With an Amazon gift card, they can buy 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 with some serious money loaded onto it!
Learn more about Amazon gift cards