25 Top Holiday Gifts Less Than $100 for Any Photographer
1. The Canon PowerShot A800 may be a bargain-priced compact camera ($79–$89), but it delivers quite good photos with its 10-megapixel sensor, 3.3x 6.6–21.6 mm f/3.0-5.8 optical zoom lens and built-in flash.
2. The Nikon Coolpix L24 fits easily in your palm and records sharp still and video images with its 14-megapixel sensor, 3.6x optical zoom lens (37–134 mm) and built-in flash. This quality package is only $99.
3. The Fujifilm Finepix AV200 sports a 14-megapixel sensor, 3x optical zoom lens, ISO sensitivity to 3,200, digital image stabilization and HDTV-compatible photos and video…and all for as low as $52.
4. Vortex Media’s Storm Jacket Camera Covers are some of the better choices to protect your valuable camera, so you can shoot in any weather. They’re available in five sizes, four colors and a standard and professional model. Prices range from $36 to $59, based on the model of your camera.
5. The DIY Photography Ring Flash is extremely lightweight at just a few grams. It delivers amazing results for the amateur or the serious photographer, and costs only $24.95.
6. The ExpoDisc Professional Digital White Balance Filter from ExpoImaging helps any photographer accurately set white balance on any DSLR and digital video camera with a white balance function…and costs just $99.95.
7. Clik Elite’s Traveler Shoulder Bag is much roomier than its compact size would suggest. Pack a compact camera or PDA in the zippered media pocket or a standard DSLR, an extra lens or flash and any other accessories or supplies you’ll need in the padded camera section. There is even space under the flap for an iPad or tablet. The Traveler Shoulder Bag is also very secure, as the outer flap is tightly sealed with its magnetic closures. The Traveler Shoulder Bag is available in black, blue sapphire, grey and trillium and retails for $80.00.
8. The otherworldly-looking Joby Gorillapod comes in four flexible-leg tripod products. Each leg is designed and built as a linked chain of nine ball-and-socket joints. This allows each leg to bend, curl and grip many objects and surfaces with great flexibility. The four Gorillapod models range in price from $24 to $64.
9. The Spyder 3 Express from Datacolor is a dependable and accurate computer monitor color-calibration solution. It significantly improves on the previous version, in terms of both speed and accuracy, and costs approximately $70, depending on the source.
10. The LumoPro LP605 Reflex Light Stand is built with solid aluminum legs that can be spread across the ground to make it even more stable, or placed at an extreme angle for the highest position. For approximately $39.00, the LumoPro LP605 Reflex Light Stand is definitely an excellent choice for first-time buyers of light stands.
11. The LumoPro LP621 Miniature Boom Arm is a nifty accessory that connects to a light stand to provide a photographer more versatility when using a reflector. The arm consists of three sections, two movable spring clamps, spigots on both ends and an optional carabiner to hang counterweights. It’s priced at approximately $45.
12. Use the Digital Concepts Ps-101 Portable Lighting Studio to photograph jewelry or other small products or objects. The kit includes two 20-watt lamps and light and dark backgrounds for improved color contrasts. All the parts fold into a small portable package that weighs only 6.5 pounds, and costs approximately $60.
13. A ShutterBuddy is a small umbrella with an inside surface in a black-and-white checkerboard pattern. It has been scientifically designed to attract the attention of infants and small children, so you photograph them easily. The ShutterBuddy retails for $12.95.
14. Lens Pets are colorful, loveable animals that slip around most lenses to help you hold your little tyke’s attention. The standard Lens Pet is only $3.00.
15. The Cloak Bag is a small, shoot-through camera bag that allows you to capture any images without being noticed, as you also protect your camera. It’s a stylish accessory that doesn’t look like a camera bag and retails for just $49.
16. Lensbaby Lenses are a line of creative SLR lenses with a flexible barrel or a ball-and-socket configuration. Lensbaby lenses are compatible with Canon, Nikon, Sony, Pentax and 4/3s-mount SLR cameras. The Lensbaby Muse is just $100.
17. The Beamer is an iPhone case with a built-in LED flash for models earlier than the 4. The Beamer can be used to illuminate your photos or as a handy pocket flashlight. The Beamer retails for $38.
18. PhotoSync is an iPad app that allows you to transfer your photos and videos to and from your computer, other devices, Dropbox and Flickr wirelessly. It’s only $1.99.
19. Professional photographers will love the iPad app, Easy Release. It provides model release and property release forms in a digital format, which can then be emailed to the model, property owner or the photographer. Easy Release is just $9.99.
20. When you’re ready for the creative challenge of High Dynamic Range photography, you want to rely on HDR Efex Pro from Nik Software. The company went to the photographers to learn what to incorporate into the latest version of this powerful software. This resulted in developing four proprietary tone-mapping algorithms in contrast to the competition’s single algorithm. The goal was to give photographers unlimited opportunities to create the HDR images that match their style and vision. For a limited time, you’ll save $60 off HDR Efex Pro’s regular price of $159.95, making it a very affordable and welcomed gift for just $99.95.
21. Rogue Flashbenders are a series of two reflectors (large positional and small positional) and one bounce card/flag. Each of them attaches to external flash units and can be bent to help you control light better. The large reflector is $30, the small $25 and the bounce card $35.
22. Adobe Photoshop Elements 10 is the newest version of the favorite photo editing software for amateur photographers. The new Guided Edits feature helps users create incredible images. Plus, this version has an option to upload videos directly to Facebook, YouTube, etc. Adobe Photoshop Elements 10 costs approximately $80.
23. Jack Dykinga is recognized as one of the finest landscape photographers in the world. He won a Pulitzer Prize early in his career for hard-hitting photojournalism, and is a favorite at PhotographyTalk.com. His book, Large Format Nature Photography, is now available in paperback at $29.95.
24. Visit PhotographyTalk.com to give your favorite photographer a membership to Zenfolio, one of the largest Web site developers for photographers. Zenfolio will help him or her grow their photography business. Memberships start as low as $25 annually, and $100 for yearly professional plans.
25. Visit PhotographyTalk.com to order a special holiday gift for any photographer, Christopher Grey’s Vintage Lighting Book. This handbook details every step of creating images that evoke the iconic looks of years past, such as classic Hollywood lighting, pinups and the action portrait of the 1950s. It’s priced at just $21.76.