Gifts for photographers for $ 60 and less
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Artisanal scented candles. At-home spa treatments. Really nice socks. They’re the kinds of things we could buy for ourselves, and they’d probably be really nice to have. But they’re just barely on the wrong side of the practical/frivolous divide, so we keep making do with mediocre socks. This, my friends, is the Gift Zone: items that have practical use, but are luxurious enough that the recipient probably wouldn’t buy them for themselves.
If you’re shopping for a photographer and are looking for something a little special, something in the Gift Zone, you’re in the right place.
Peak Design Cuff
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peakdesign.com | $ 30
Wrist straps are great. Should you dangle a whole DSLR from your wrist? Definitely not. Instead, we like them for those in-between times – when you’re not actively shooting, but want your camera in hand and at the ready. A quality wrist strap provides a little more security and support in those moments.
The Peak Design Cuff does all of these things, and is definitely nicer than the wrist strap that came with the compact camera you bought in 2007. It uses the company’s Anchor Links to attach easily and securely to a camera, and a metal loop can be used to cinch the strap tighter to the wearer’s wrist.
Cecilia memory card wallet
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shopcecilia.com | $ 40
If the Digital Storage Police ever busted DPReview headquarters they’d find plenty of criminal offenses, like loose memory cards tucked into dusty desk drawers and backpack pockets. There’s a better way. An SD card wallet is a small step toward better storage organization, or a nice companion to an already functional digital storage workflow. Plus, it looks fancy. Cecilia is one of our favorite camera strap makers, and its leather SD card wallet looks snazzy in black, brown or charcoal.
Anyway, please don’t call the Digital Storage Police on us. We’re serious.
Topo camera cube
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topodesigns.com | $ 60
A camera cube will turn just about any larger bag into a camera bag, which is handy; sometimes you need your camera but don’t want to carry an actual camera bag. Topo’s camera cube is just right for the job – it’s durable, big enough to hold a full-frame mirrorless camera and lens, and fits like a dream inside a full-size Herschel Little America backpack. It even ships with a shoulder strap if you want to use the cube itself as a bag.
Herschel travel pouches
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herschel.com | $ 25
Photographers are often also travelers, which means there’s a high probability that they stuff a lot of cords and small personal items into Ziplock bags four hours before they fly anywhere. A set of travel pouches won’t make them a more organized person, but it will conceal a mess of chargers and power adapters in an attractively-designed vessel.
Flight 001 5-in-1 Universal Travel Adapter
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flight001.com | $ 35
See previous note about photographers also being travelers. The 5-in-1 adapter stacks into a neat package and includes a color-coded guide indicating which plug is used in which country. Plus, the ‘fifth’ functionality is a couple of handy USB ports, which is useful no matter where you are on the globe.
Enamel camera pin
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etsy.com | $ 10-12
Enamel pins are enjoying a real resurgence in popularity these days. Pretty much any pop culture object or character has been enamel-pin-ized, so it should come as no surprise that you can find a pin that pays homage to your favorite vintage camera or film stock. We knew we could count on you, Etsy.
Photo book
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$ 20-40
Books? Books! Help bolster a New Year’s Resolution to reduce screen time by providing an alternative: a coffee-table-worthy photo book. If you’re unsure of where to start, head for the classics like Walker Evans, Dorothea Lange and Vivian Maier. National Geographic is another safe bet – its curated collections rely on decades of world-class photography.
Filson 1970’s Logger Thermal Socks
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filson.com | $ 32
We weren’t kidding about the really fancy socks. Would any of us spend $ 30 on a single pair of socks? Heck no. That’s why they make an ideal gift. For a photographer, getting the shot can sometimes mean getting yourself into environments that are cold, or wet, or an unpleasant combination of the two. A good wool sock is essential, and Filson’s thermal socks fit the bill.
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)