Ten Gift Ideas for the Shutterbug

Shopping for a shutterbug can be a challenge when you know don’t know as much about photography as the person you are buying for. Here are ten ideas that you should be able to find at your neighborhood camera store or online and still have it ready to go under the tree in time.

1 – Eye-Fi Pro Wireless Camera Card

The Eye-Fi Pro 4 GB Wi-Fi SDHC looks just like a regular SD camera card but under the normal looking exterior is a WiFi that will allow a photographer to upload their photographs to their computer and even online services like Facebook, Flickr, Walmart, AdoramaPix and many more. The “Pro” model also Geo tags every photo so there will be no forgetting where the photograph was taken.

2 – Memory card

Film has all but disappeared and images are now being written to memory cards. One thing a photographer can not have too many of is memory cards. Class 6 memory cards are a good choice with megapixel counts raising producing larger files. To much time is lost waiting for the camera to write to the card or the computer reading from the card. The Class 6 cards will speed up the photographer’s work flow and have them back out snapping more photographs in no time.

3 – Gorillapod

Every photographer needs a good tripod and the best one is one that is easy to carry and set-up. The Joby GP3 Gorillapod SLR-Zoom Flexible Tripod for Digital SLR Cameras is the perfect marriage of stability and portability.

4 – Electronic Flash

Vivitar 383 flash is packs the same power as the electronic strobes camera maker sell, but is priced at several hundred dollars less than those strobes.

5 Macro Lens

A new lens is like a fresh set of eyes. One lens photographers say they want but never get around to purchasing is a Macro lens. A Macro allows the photographer get close-up life-size images without clumsy bellows or extension tubes. For the Nikon and Canon user the Nikon 85mm f/3.5G AF-S DX ED VR Micro Nikkor and Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro are super choices for the respective cameras.

6 Studio Quality Photo Printer

No one wants to leave their masterpieces sitting on memory cards to be printed a year later. The Epson R1900 Large Format Photo Printer produces crisp vibrant photos in less than three minutes. The R1900 can create prints up 13 inches by 43 inches. The inks for the Epson R1900 are archival quality keep make prints that will last decades without fading.

7 – Entry Level DSLR

Maybe you are shopping for someone who hasn’t yet stepped up to a digital single lens reflex (DSLR). The two big brands are Canon and Nikon, the Olympus, Pentax and Sony.  The top two bestselling DSLRs are the Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens (Black) and Nikon D3000 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens. Which one is best? That is tough to call. I’m a Nikon fan would probably recommend Nikon products the rest of my lift, but I know some die-hard Canon people and they will say Canon. Either camera will be an excellent choice for a beginner and both have plenty expansion room.

7 – Light Modifiers

If the photographer on your Christmas list takes a lot of photographs with the electronic flash then a light modification system might be the perfect gift for them. One of my favorite modifying systems is the
Honl Photo Speed Bundle. The Honl has attachments for any situation and can be attached and removed fast .

8 – Wireless digital photo frame

The photograph are digital so why not give a digital picture frame to display the photographs on. The Kodak EasyShare W820 8-Inch Wireless Digital Frame is an Internet aware device that update the photographs it displays from SD cards, a WiFi connected computer or even from online galleries. The resolution and contrast on the Easy are perfect to show off their shots.

9 – Camera Bag

After a photographer has got a camera, a couple lenses, a flash, a few filters and memory cards they are going to wanting a good camera that is as comfortable and protective. The Domke F-2 (Original Bag) is the bag for the job. I’ve got my first Domke about 28 years ago and it still in use. The canvas the Domke is constructed from is durable and water-repellent.

10 – Studio Lighting Starter Kit

It could be the photographer you are shopping for is considering going pro or just setting up a small studio in the basement for family portraits. A set of studio strobes like the Westcott Strobelite Two Monolight Kit can be just what they are wanting. Besides just having the strobes, stands and umbrella the kit includes an instructional DVD and a floor mat with diagrams of various lighting set-ups so they can be producing pro level results in no time.