Gifts for Photographers Under $500 - 2023 Edition
- Stepless dimming from 1-100 percent with an accuracy of 1 percent for ultra-smooth dimming and greater color accuracy.
- CCT mode, which allows for the adjustment of the light’s intensity and color temperature from 2700-10000K.
- HSI color mode, which enables fine-tuning of vibrancy and light intensity that results in 36 million adjustable colors.
- Multiple scene lighting effects for use with many types of photo and video shoots, including disco, party, police car, and more.
- 6 pixel lighting effects off even further creative lighting opportunities that make images more vibrant and colorful.
- 22 Gatekeeper attachment points (up from 10 on the previous version)
- 4 detachable, quick-release, lockable Gatekeeper straps
- Hypalon ski strap loops
- Ice axe loops
- Bungee loops (that can be released with a single hand)
- Angled MOLLE webbing on the hip belt
- ISO range: 100-25,600 (expandable to 51,200)
- 11 fps burst shooting
- 179 phase-detection autofocus points and 25 contrast-detection autofocus points
- 1080 video at up to 60p
- Sony E PZ 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS
- Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary - Sony E Fit
- Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS
- Sigma 35 mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary - Sony E Fit
- Sony E 10-18mm f/4 OSS
- Metal prints
- Wood prints
- Paper prints
- Puzzles
- Calendars
Photo by ASIFE via iStock
The holidays might still be a few months away, but time is of the essence to get a killer gift for the photographer on your shopping list.
As in years past, we've scoured the internet to find the best gifts for photographers, this time under $500. Many of these products are items we've tested, so we can offer our enthusiastic approval of them as ideal holiday gifts.
The hardest part will be deciding which of these gifts you get for the photographer or videographer in your life!
Without further ado, let's get to the list!
Gifts for Photographers Under $500: Shiny Prints Metal Print
While some gifts for photographers focus on enabling better results with a camera, others allow you to enjoy your favorite images over and over again. Of course, being the holiday season, you can also give the gift of a large-format print to someone on your shopping list.
I'm a big fan of metal prints - I love how modern and sleek they look. And when you get a metal print from a high-quality printer like Shiny Prints, the images you have printed stand out even more. But why?
Well, it's simple - Shiny Prints specializes in metal prints, so they know precisely what they're doing! Evidence of this fact is presented in my review video below:
Not only does Shiny Prints specialize in using metal, but they also use the finest products to ensure the metal print you order is of second-to-none quality.
This quality also stems from the company's extensive experience with photo printing and working with metal. Beyond that, the Shiny Prints commitment to quality over quantity further ensures that the print you get in the mail knocks your socks off.
Additionally, Shiny Prints gives you all sorts of customization options....
For example, you can choose from dozens of sizes ranging from 8x10 to 48x96, or you can order a custom-sized print (or custom shape!) if you really want to impress your loved one this holiday season. Likewise, you can choose from various mounting styles, from a simple box mount to a luxurious tuxedo mount and other options in between. What's more, there are multiple surface options, including matte and gloss in either white or silver.
Heck, there's even a white gloss EXT option specifically formulated for outdoor use.
So, whether you need a big print or a small one or a print for indoors or out, Shiny Prints has exactly what you need.
As I noted earlier, I've been blown away by the quality of the Shiny Prints metal prints I've gotten this far. With this kind of quality and customer service, you are in for a gift-giving treat this holiday season!
Gifts for Photographers Under $500: Hobolite Mini
Hobolite bills the Mini as being “miniature size, maximum performance.” Well, they aren’t kidding because the Mini is the perfect blend of compactness, portability, high-quality lighting, and ease of use. And the best part? It fits in the palm of your hand!
At just 2.56 x 3.25 x 4.1 inches in size and weighing just under one pound, the Mini is the perfect size for the photographer or videographer on your holiday shopping list who needs high-quality light without taking up tons of space. And boy, does the Mini deliver!
With bi-color output from 2700-6500K and a CRTI and TLCI of 96+, the Hobolite Mini provides the clean, accurate lighting that professionals demand. And with an adjustable lens from 15-45 degrees, the Mini brings versatility to the table, too - you can use it as a spot or a flood, depending on the needs of the specific shoot.
And unlike some lighting options, the Mini doesn’t require a gigantic battery pack. In fact, the integrated 3000mAh 7.4V, 22.2Wh lithium-ion rechargeable battery offers up to 50 minutes of runtime at full power. If you need more power, add the Hobolite 95kWh external V-mount battery for up to six hours of beautiful light. Nice!
The Hobolite Mini isn’t just impressive because of its size, quality of light, and onboard power options. Instead, the Mini impresses with an ease of use that will make your loved one jump for joy…
The Mini has onboard controls, including large knobs and a big, bright LCD screen that allows them to dial in the perfect lighting for the shot, like adjusting the light’s brightness from 0-100 percent. But, with the companion smartphone app, they can add custom lighting setups, control individual lights, group scenes and effects, and more - all with a few taps on their phone screen.
It’s worth diving into how the Hobolite Mini looks, too…
Now, I know that how your gear looks really has nothing to do with how it performs, but it doesn’t hurt that the Mini is so eye-catching. The vintage vibes and impeccable design can spark creativity in a way that a traditional lighting system can’t. When the Mini is sitting on your desk, it’s hard not to be inspired and want to grab your gear to go take photos. That’s a good thing!
Hobolite offers two versions of the Mini - the Standard Kit and the Creator Kit. The former includes a set of barn doors with colored filters, a USB-C charging cable, a power adapter, and a storage bag. The latter includes all these items, plus a desktop tripod, a V-mount ball head adapter, and a V-mount cold shoe adapter.
Of course, you can add many other accessories to either kit to expand the functionality of the Hobolite Mini even further. Accessories like a softbox, an additional battery, and a light stand (shown above) can be valuable additions.
At the end of the day, lighting accessories need to be reliable, produce beautiful light, and be easy to use. The Hobolite Mini ticks all those boxes (and many more), which is why it’s such a great holiday gift idea!
Learn more about the Hobolite Mini
Gifts for Photographers Under $500: Skylum Luminar Neo Lifetime Subscription
Skylum has been at the forefront of the development and innovation of photography editing for years and years. It’s no surprise, then, that its Luminar Neo editor is such a popular choice for so many photographers - amateurs and professionals alike.
The value of a high-quality editor like Luminar Neo cannot be understated. Its intuitive design and forward-thinking tools make editing photos easier than before, which means giving Luminar Neo as a holiday gift isn’t just a functional undertaking but one that allows you also to give the gift of time back to your loved one!
When I say that Luminar Neo is the complete package, I mean it. On the one hand, there are essential editing tools you’d expect in any photo editor - layers, local adjustments, masking, cropping, and so forth.
Image by YuliyaKirayonak
On the other hand, Luminar Neo also comes with a suite of AI-powered tools that streamline the editing process and make once-laborious tasks as simple as pressing a button or adjusting a slider.
For example, if your loved one primarily shoots landscapes, they can use Luminar Neo to quickly expand the scene using SceneExpand (shown above) to create an eye-catching shot or use water enhancer (shown below) to make water scenes really pop. If they love to create portraits, Luminar Neo has advanced AI tools to retouch eyes, skin, and lips, to name a few. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg!
Image by Dmitry Molchanov
Luminar Neo offers plenty of other features that enable users to generate professional results with a flexible workflow. Your loved one can use built-in presets to quickly edit images and achieve a consistent look across their catalog of images. They can also use AI-powered masks to mask nine types of objects automatically.
If they have an image that could use a boost in contrast, Luminar Neo’s SuperContrast tool will help them achieve perfect contrast quickly and easily while maintaining separate control over shadows, midtones, and highlights.
As another example, Luminar Neo’s new GenErase tool (shown below) enables users to quickly and seamlessly erase unwanted elements from an image while filling it with elements from the image to fill in the gaps. Like I said earlier, Luminar Neo makes photo editing easier than ever before!
Image by Srafa Prada
Of course, it isn’t just the fancy tools of Luminar Neo that make it such a fantastic holiday gift…
Luminar Neo ups the ante in terms of usability because it can be used as a standalone program or as a plugin. So, if your loved one is invested in using Photoshop, Lightroom, or Apple Photos, Luminar Neo can be added for a seamless workflow. Nice! It’s also available for Windows or Mac, so you don’t have to worry about compatibility issues with your loved one’s computing system.
I could go on and on about Luminar Neo and its features and functionalities, but we’d be here a very long time. Instead, I’d encourage you to check it out in more detail so you can get a fuller sense of what this unique and innovative photo editor has to offer your loved one. The video above from Skylum is also a good resource for exploring what you can do with Luminar Neo to create epic long exposures.
For now, I’ll say this - for $299, you can give the gift of a lifetime subscription to Luminar Neo. This is a significant savings for you (it’s normally $599) and is obviously a money-saver for your loved one as they’ll never have to pay for a Luminar Neo license. Talk about an awesome gift!
Gifts for Photographers Under $500: Aluminyze Metal Print
One of my personal favorite mediums for displaying my photos is metal. I love the sleek, modern look that it gives my images. And I'm not alone! Metal prints are extremely popular, making this a fantastic holiday gift idea for the photographer on your list.
These ready-to-hang professional prints are made in the USA by highly trained artisans. Aluminyze uses only high-quality materials to create their prints, and does so in an environmentally-conscious way. The result of all that is a metal print that is highly impressive when it's unwrapped!
As you can see in my video review above, Aluminyze prints knocked my socks off...
The print offered excellent sharpness, virtually no noise, and absolutely beautiful colors. And as is the case with metal, it's anti-corrosive, stands up to the elements, is rust-resistant, lightweight, and durable.
In other words, a metal print from Aluminyze is a gift that will keep on giving!
But why is an Aluminyze metal print so good?
On the one hand, the Aluminyze team has been at it for more than 20 years, perfecting the printing process along the way. The company has state-of-the-art labs and highly skilled artisans who create these prints - prints that are professional-level in every sense of the word.
And if that's not enough, these prints are backed by a 14-day guarantee. So, not only can you give a great gift, but you can do so with the peace of mind that the print will arrive in perfect condition or Aluminyze will make it right!
Learn more about Aluminyze metal prints
Gifts for Photographers Under $500: Vanguard VEO 3+ 303CBS
Every photographer needs a good, solid tripod, and the Vanguard VEO 3+ 303CBS is a high-quality candidate...
First and foremost, this tripod boasts a robust carbon fiber construction that seamlessly marries strength with featherweight characteristics. Gone are the days of lugging around a bulky, heavy tripod; the VEO 3+ 303CBS ensures your loved one can effortlessly carry it to their desired shooting location.
Featuring three-section legs equipped with user-friendly twist-lock mechanisms, setting up this tripod is a breeze, too. Say goodbye to the frustration of fumbling with complicated adjustments – Vanguard designed this tripod for quick and hassle-free assembly.
From a compact 8.5 inches, it extends up to a towering 70 inches, giving you unparalleled versatility for all your photography needs. Whether you're capturing macro shots, striking portraits, or breathtaking landscapes, the VEO 3+ 303CBS has you covered.
With its Multi-Angle Center Column offering nearly 360-degree movement and three leg angles to choose from, you can also unleash your creativity and set up shots from every angle imaginable. The possibilities are limitless, allowing you to experiment and achieve truly unique perspectives.
Worry not about accommodating a lot of gear, as this tripod can support up to 55 pounds! It's versatile enough to handle various camera and lens combinations, along with accessories such as lights, microphones, and more.
Included with the tripod is an Arca-compatible dual-axis ball head that provides you with precise control for locking in the perfect shot. Achieving the ideal angle and composition is a breeze, ensuring your photos and videos are on point.
Of course, when folded down, the Vanguard VEO 3+ 303CBS measures a mere 31 inches and weighs less than 6 pounds, making it incredibly portable. You can take it with you on your holiday adventures without adding unnecessary bulk to your gear.
Moreover, the included dual-axis VEO BH-250S ball head empowers you with precise control over framing, regardless of your subject. Vanguard goes the extra mile by providing the VEO+ MA1 Adaptor, allowing you to attach additional accessories like lights, microphones, or displays, enhancing your workflow.
In a world filled with gear, having equipment that can adapt to various situations is invaluable, and the VEO 3+ 303CBS excels in this regard. It offers unparalleled versatility, ease of use, and precise control, ensuring that you capture every special moment flawlessly. Don't miss out on the opportunity to make this tripod your loved one's trusted companion for all their photography and videography adventures this holiday season!
Learn more about the Vanguard VEO 3+ 303CBS
Gifts for Photographers Under $500: Goal Zero Skylight
One of the best things you can give the photographer on your holiday shopping list this season is the gift of light...
Sometimes, setting up or taking down photography gear happens after the sun has set (or risen!). There's nothing worse than fumbling around in the dark with expensive camera gear, trying to get everything packed up and secure to head home.
But with the Goal Zero Skylight, you can give the gift of plentiful site lighting, so packing up in the dark is a thing of the past...
For starters, the Goal Zero Skylight is less than 18 pounds (including the carrying case), so it's highly portable - something photographers demand of their gear. Yet, this little guy extends from four feet to 12 feet high, allowing your favorite photographer to cast light on the immediate area (or further afield, if needed).
With a maximum output of 6,000 lumens, the Skylight can produce a lot of light. With an adjustable brightness, though, your favorite photographer can tailor the light output to their specific needs.
The Skylight features six light petals, each of which moves 180 degrees to allow for adjusting the light direction as needed. The 3250K color temperature is a nice touch, too. In fact, your loved one can use this light as a task light for their work or even as a continuous light source for their photography. Nice!
The Goal Zero Skylight is easy to set up, too. Just remove it from its carrying case, adjust the light petals as needed, get the tripod setup, and raise the light to its desired height. There's not much more involved than that!
With an onboard rechargeable battery that can deliver up to eight hours of continuous lighting on its lowest setting, the Skylight is the perfect companion for photo shoots. Add a Goal Zero power station to the mix, and you can get hundreds of hours of runtime!
Learn more about the Goal Zero Skylight
Gifts for Photographers Under $500: GVM BD45R RGB & Bi-Color Colorful Tube Light
Creativity is the name of the game in photography. And while much of an image’s creative impact comes from the skill and talent of the photographer, it certainly doesn’t hurt to have tools that allow for even greater levels of creativity when crafting an image.
That’s where the GVM BD45R RGB & Bi-color Colorful Tube Light comes in…
Not only is this a handheld stick light that’s supremely easy to use, but it’s also full-color and offers film and television-grade performance. That’s not bad for a light that weighs just 3 pounds, 8 ounces and is about 47 inches long.
This tube light uses 660 LED beads that produce up to 2180 lux at 0.5m and up to 750 lux at 1m. In other words, it offers beautifully rich and accurate colors that make photos and videos all the more vivid and natural-looking.
These lights are optimal for a variety of shooting situations, too. Use them in the studio for portrait photography, in the field for a video production, for a live broadcast…you name it!
The photographer on your list will also appreciate that these lights can be used in any number of ways. Use one lamp in the hand, splice multiple lamps together, or attach the lamp to a light stand, as just three examples.
Using the GVM BD45R is a breeze as well…
Use the integrated OLED display to turn the lamp on, adjust the mode, and make changes to settings like light intensity. You can also use a smartphone to control the lights remotely. And, as with many GVM products, this light supports Bluetooth 5.0, so you can use it as part of a mesh network system to control multiple GVM devices from the app.
As impressive as all that is, what will really make your loved one’s jaw drop is the wide range of features this light provides, including:
In addition to all that, the GVM BD45R offers DMX control, rugged construction, and can be used via DC power or battery power.
If you want to give a gift that’s not only incredibly versatile but has a significant WOW factor, the GVM BD45R is it. It’s a true do-it-all lighting package for your favorite photographer!
Learn more about the GVM BD45R RGB & Bi-color Colorful Tube Light
Gifts for Photographers Under $500: RØDE Wireless Pro
If you or a loved one enjoys making videos, you know that it's not enough to have beautiful video footage - you need to match that high-quality footage with impeccable audio. You can do just that with the RØDE Wireless Pro.
The RØDE Wireless Pro is a dual-channel microphone that boasts an ultra-compact design. When you wear it, all eyes are on you, not a bulky microphone. This discreet form factor ensures that you can move freely and confidently during your recording sessions without any distractions.
One of the standout features of the Wireless Pro is its universal compatibility. Whether you're using a Macbook Pro, a smartphone, or a camera, this microphone seamlessly integrates with your devices. Say goodbye to compatibility issues and hello to hassle-free recording! And with 32GB of internal memory per transmitter, you'll have more than 40 hours of onboard record time at your disposal. No need to worry about running out of storage space during long shoots.
RØDE has thoughtfully incorporated timecode capabilities into the Wireless Pro, too. This feature is a lifesaver for content creators who often spend precious time synchronizing audio and video in post-production. With the Wireless Pro, this process becomes quick and painless, eliminating the need for an external timecode system.
As I mentioned earlier, audio quality is paramount, and the Wireless Pro delivers with its Intelligent GainAssist technology. This feature ensures that your audio is crisp and clear, even in challenging recording environments. You have flexible output gain control and a safety channel, providing peace of mind that you'll capture the best audio possible when recording to your camera.
The Wireless Pro relies on RØDE's Series IV 2.4 GHz digital transmission with 128-bit encryption. This results in highly stable audio with a remarkable range of up to about 850 feet. Say goodbye to signal dropouts and hello to reliable audio transmission.
Moreover, several standout features make the Wireless Pro a must-have. The 32-bit float onboard recording ensures you never have to worry about clipped audio, allowing for audio recovery in post-production. The timecode feature streamlines the syncing process, saving you valuable time. Plus, the microphone's audio quality is outstanding, thanks to GainAssist technology.
The Wireless Pro is also incredibly user-friendly, featuring a built-in LCD display that allows you to customize settings on the fly to suit your specific needs. Integration with multiple devices, from cameras to phones to computers, is seamless, and you can fine-tune the system using the RØDE Central app.
The Wireless Pro comes with an accessory kit that includes two Lavalier II microphones, MagClip GO mounting clips, various cables, and an accessory case. To top it all off, the included smart charging case not only charges the Wireless Pro quickly but also facilitates lightning-fast data transfer. It also offers robust protection for your microphone, ensuring it remains in perfect condition.
In other words, you have everything you need to start recording right away, no need to purchase additional accessories separately!
Learn more about the RØDE Wireless Pro
Gifts for Photographers Under $500: GoPro Hero 12
Of all the cameras I have, my GoPros get the most use. They are incredibly versatile, easy to use, and durable. The new HERO 12 continues that tradition!
The Hero 12 sets the bar high with its exceptional 5.3K and 4K HDR video capabilities. Say goodbye to compromise – capture every detail and color in stunning clarity. Whether you're shooting action-packed scenes or breathtaking landscapes, the Hero 12 delivers outstanding video quality.
Navigating your Hero 12 has never been easier, either, thanks to the all-new user interface with simplified controls. With an intuitive design, you can focus on your creativity without getting lost in complex settings.
Prepare to be amazed by the Hero 12's battery life. It's not just a small improvement; it's a game-changer. With superior power management, the Hero 12 offers a remarkable 100% increase in battery life. Record up to 70 minutes of continuous video at 5.3K/60p or over 95 minutes at 5.3K/30p. And if you opt for 1080/30p resolution, enjoy more than 155 minutes of runtime. Keep the action rolling without constantly worrying about recharging.
The Hero 12 also boasts a Type 1/1.9 sensor, maintaining the high-quality imaging capabilities of its predecessor, the Hero 11. But that's not all – it adds exciting features to the mix. Shoot vertical video effortlessly, perfect for mobile viewing, and sync wirelessly with multiple cameras, simplifying your video editing process in multi-camera scenarios.
Tailor your content to your vision with the Hero 12's flexible aspect ratios. Choose from 16:9 widescreen video, traditional 4:3 video, or embrace the cinematic full-frame 8:7 aspect ratio. Each of these options can be utilized for various shooting modes, including Time Lapse, TimeWarp, Night Effect, and Night Lapse. Plus, explore the Hero 12's long exposure capabilities for capturing stunning star trails, mesmerizing light painting, and captivating vehicle lights.
You can also expand your horizons with the GoPro Hero 12's compatibility with the Max Lens Mod 2.0. This remarkable accessory provides an ultra-wide 177-degree field of view, elevating your perspective by 36% wider and 48% taller. Craft unique shots and explore new angles, all while knowing your lens is protected by scratch-resistant glass with a hydrophobic coating.
In other words, the GoPro Hero 12 Black is more than just an action camera; it's a powerful tool for capturing your world in exceptional detail and style. Help your loved one elevate their content, seize the moment, and make their adventures legendary with the Hero 12 this holiday season!
Learn more about the GoPro Hero 12
Gifts for Photographers Under $500: GVM PRO-SD300B 300W Bi-Color Monolight
The great thing about the GVM PRO-SD300B is that you get professional-grade lighting without the professional-grade budget!
With a robust 300 watts of power, this bi-color spotlight will be the perfect addition to your loved one’s photography or videography kit. Not only does this light offer plenty of power, but it also offers beautifully clean light with a CRI and TLCI of 97+.
On top of that, this light is lightweight (less than five pounds), highly portable (thanks to a built-in handle), and it’s built with aviation-grade aluminum, which helps keep weight down without sacrificing ruggedness.
GVM has also incorporated a cooling system to keep this studio light from overheating and extend its lifespan. With an active cooling system that features built-in fans, your loved one can use this light for long periods of time without worrying about diminished performance.
In that same vein, this light can be used with DC power or battery power, allowing your loved one to tailor how they use the light to their specific needs. They can use the batteries (like an external supply box and a V-port battery) for fieldwork, DC power for studio work, and do so knowing that they get long-lasting performance.
This light offers enhanced features that make it a top performer as well. For example, it offers 12 different lighting effects ranging from fireworks to lightning to flames. It also comes with a dozen source-matching modes that diminish adjustment time when a specific light source is needed. Add in a standard DMX interface with 8-bit and 16-bit control for good measure!
Another notable feature is the fine dimming accuracy of this light. It offers CCT adjustment accuracy from 100 to 50 for ultra-fine control over color temperature adjustments. Moreover, this light utilizes GVM’s new algorithm that allows for instant light intensity adjustments, rapid large-step adjustments, and smooth transitions during the dimming process.
As noted earlier, this 300-watt light offers tremendous power for photography and videography applications. But what sets this light apart from many others is the way it maintains consistent brightness across color temperatures.
In some spotlights, power variations can occur that result in inconsistent brightness as color temperatures vary. But GVM’s algorithm gets around this issue, providing the user with consistent brightness no matter what color temperature is dialed in.
One of the best features, though, is that this studio light is compatible with smartphone control. Whether your loved one has an Android or iOS device, they can easily turn the light on and off, make color or brightness adjustments, and even control multiple lights in a Bluetooth mesh network. Nice!
At the end of the day, photography and videography are expensive hobbies and professions. But by giving the gift of high-quality lighting from GVM, you not only help defray costs for your loved one, but you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg, either!
Learn more about the GVM PRO-SD300B 300W Bi-Color Monolight
Gifts for Photographers Under $500: f-stop Tilopa 50L DuraDiamond Travel and Adventure Camera Backpack
I'll tell you right now that this bag isn't just one of my favorite items on this list. It's one of my favorite pieces of photography gear of all time. I mean, it's on my 2021 list of the best camera bags for a reason and took the top spot on my 2022 list of the best camera bags as well.
Let's start on the outside of the bag...
The exterior is constructed of DuraDiamond 315D HT nylon ripstop (an f-stop proprietary product) to give it supreme durability. Add in C0 DWR coating and a TPU layer that gives the fabric excellent waterproofing and added strength as well.
There's heavy-duty stitching with industrial-bonded thread, a 500mm Polyurethane coating, and heavy-gauge weatherproof zippers. The 20-year warranty speaks to the durability and impeccable construction of the bag.
You can access the bag from every side, making quick work of grabbing your camera for a shot. There's also external side pockets for keeping small items. All told, this bag offers 50 liters of storage space, so, really, you can take just about all the photography gear you have if need be! You can carry stuff on the outside of the bag, too, thanks to a variety of mounting options:
Even if the pack is fully loaded, the carrying experience is so comfortable. The internal metal frame helps stabilize the load and shift the weight of the bag to your hips. Of course, the BLOOM EVA padded hip belt (which is contoured for comfort) helps to further ease the pressure of carrying a heavy load.
The shoulder straps are also made of contoured BLOOM EVA, and are hands-down the most comfortable shoulder straps I've ever used.
Inside, the bag is lined with 700 Nylon Ripstop fabric. The main compartment holds 39 liters of gear while the various smaller pockets on the top, bottom, and sides round out the remaining 11 liters of storage space. Get a complete tour of this bag in the video below:
Of course, the star of the interior of this bag is the excellent line of ICUs from f-stop. The Tilopa accommodates small, medium, and large ICUs to give you a complete interior organization system for your gear. You can even mix and match smaller ICUs to create a truly bespoke storage space.
And since the ICUs are removable, you can adjust how you use them from one trip to the next. Honestly, this bag would be worth the price of admission even if it wasn't compatible with ICUs. Their availability is simply icing on the cake!
I've had several Tilopa bags over the years, and each time I didn't think f-stop could improve it. Yet, each time, f-stop proves me wrong!
Everything about this bag is done so, so well, from the construction to the materials to the way it fits your body. I absolutely love this bag, and the photographer on your holiday shopping list is sure to love it as well.
Learn more about the f-stop Tilopa 50L DuraDiamond Travel and Adventure Backpack
Gifts for Photographers Under $500: Pre-Owned Sony a6000
The Sony a6000 is an oldie, but it's definitely a goodie.
Released in 2014, the a6000 quickly became one of the most popular mirrorless cameras ever made. In fact, you can still buy a brand-new a6000 - they're still that popular!
But with a budget of $500, a new a6000 is out of reach. But a quality pre-owned a6000 is well within your budget if you shop at MPB.
The a6000 has a 24.3-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor that's paired with a BIONZ X image processor. This combination results in a superb stills and video camera for beginner and enthusiast photographers and videographers.
Though the camera lacks modern amenities like a touchscreen LCD, in-body image stabilization, and 4K video, it has a host of other features that make it a very useful camera, even so long after its release. For example, the a6000 comes with:
All of this is wrapped in a tiny body that weighs just 12 ounces without a lens or battery.
The a6000 uses Sony E-mount lenses, so there is a wealth of native Sony glass available as well as a host of third-party E-mount lenses:
With such a wide selection of glass, this camera can be used for all sorts of pursuits, from portraiture to sports photography to landscapes. With a battery life of 360 shots, you can shoot for a good, long while, too!
If you want to give someone a highly capable, yet inexpensive camera, this is it! Buy with confidence at MPB, which offers a six-month warranty and a seven-day return window. Each a6000 has been thoroughly graded, so you know exactly what to expect when the camera arrives at your door.
Learn more about the Sony a6000
Gifts for Photographers Under $500: DemerBox DB2
I know a portable sound system isn't technically photography gear, but I know plenty of photographers that like to have tunes while they're working in the field. The DemerBox DB2 is the ideal solution for such applications!
What is the DemerBox DB2, you ask?
Well, it’s pretty simple… The DB2 is a professional-grade speaker housed in a USA-made military-spec Pelican 1300 case. For the uninitiated, Pelican cases are known for their indestructibility, so it’s the ideal vessel to house a speaker for photography outings of all sorts. It’s waterproof, too!
Pop open the case, and you’ll find a dual-speaker setup that produces clean treble and punchy bass for getting the party started at the photoshoot location. Both speakers are three-inch, 8-ohm aluminum cones with rubber surround drivers that put out 94db at one foot and 11w per channel RMS.
In addition to the speakers, there is dry internal storage for small items like snacks, an internal USB charger for your phone, and a 3.5mm audio jack, so the DB2 doesn’t just give you great sound but it also pulls double-duty with handy storage. Additionally, the DB2 offers a Bluetooth range of up to 100 feet, so you aren’t tethered to the speaker to blast your favorite tunes.
Better still, you can connect multiple DB2 speakers via Bluetooth to amp up the music and give photography subjects something to sing and dance to. With a 2600mAh lithium-ion battery with up to 40 hours of battery life, the DB2 allows you to liven up multiple photoshoots without recharging it. All this comes in a highly portable lightweight package that’s just 10.62” x 9.68” x 6.87” and less than 5.5 pounds, so you have access to great-sounding music without the hassle of a big, bulky speaker to lug around.
On top of all that, the DB2 is made in the USA and comes with a 60-day satisfaction guarantee. And with tons of colors to choose from, the ability to build your own unit, and loads of speaker accessories, DemerBox gives you the ultimate holiday shopping power to create the perfect gift for yourself or someone you love!
Learn more about the DemerBox DB2
Gifts for Photographers Under $500: Printique
Shopping for a photographer can be tough sledding because most of us have most of the gear we want or need. And if we don't, we're very particular about what gear we want to buy.
That being the case, sometimes the best way to shop for a photographer is to give them the gift of photography!
Printique offers a wide range of products and services that enable you or your loved one to showcase favorite images. On the one hand, you could put together a collection of your favorite images to give in a photo book or album. On the other hand, you can go with a large-format acrylic or canvas print. There are, of course, many other options in between, like:
You get the point...
Of course, since Printique offers excellent pricing on their products and services, you can give the gift of a lot of photos for the holiday season. Mix and match among the products listed above or explore Printique's website for other items you or your loved one might enjoy most.
Whatever you decide to order, you'll be impressed with the quality. I've ordered a variety of products from Printique over the years and have been impressed through and through with the quality of the prints, the craftsmanship, and attention to detail. Heck, even the packaging Printique uses to send you your orders is impressive!
Printique has cut its teeth in this industry for a long time, and as an Adorama company, it holds itself to the highest standards of quality and customer service.
Whether you're shopping for yourself or a loved one that's a beginner, enthusiast, or professional photographer, Printique has something - a lot of things - that make ideal holiday gifts. And like I said, with a budget of $500, you can do a lot of shopping!
