Looking at what to get the photographer in your life for Christmas? Here are some ideas that are sure to make every photographers Christmas season.
I know it’s a lot of money but no photographer I know would not love to have their camera upgraded. Check out Canon’s 70D, the winner of quite a few camera of year awards or the Nikon D7100.
Here is the highlights of Canon 70D
20.2 Megapixel CMOS (APS-C) sensor, 14-bit A/D conversion, ISO 100-12800 (expandable to H: 25600) for shooting from bright to dim light and high performance DIGIC 5+ Image Processor for exceptional image quality and processing speed.
EOS Full HD Movie mode with Movie Servo AF for improved continuous focus tracking of moving subjects, manual exposure control and multiple frame rates (1080: 30p (29.97) / 24p (23.976) / 25p, 720: 60p (59.94) / 50p, 480: 30p (29.97) / 25p), built-in stereo microphone, manual audio level adjustment with attenuator function to reduce audio clipping, and Video Snapshot with editing for expanded movie shooting options.
Canon’s innovative Dual Pixel CMOS AF enables you to shoot video like a camcorder with smooth, fast, and accurate autofocus; lets you enjoy instant and precise autofocus even when shooting stills from a variety of angles with the freedom provided by the Vari-angle LCD. 19-point all cross-type AF system (including a high-precision f/2.8 dual cross-type AF center point) with a wide area array for exceptional autofocus performance and greater compositional freedom when shooting with the viewfinder. Intelligent Viewfinder with superimposed LCD display provides approximately 98% field of view, and Multi-Aspect ratio in Live View broadens your choices in composition.
Vari-angle Touch Screen 3.0-inch Clear View LCD monitor II (approximately 1,040,000 dots) with smudge-resistant coating features multi-touch operation and Touch AF for an easy and intuitive experience, flexible positioning, and clear viewing even when outdoors in sunlight.
Built-in wireless technology allows you to wirelessly transfer your images to social networking sites through CANON iMAGE GATEWAY, share your images with wireless-enabled Canon cameras, or upload virtually anywhere on your iOS® or Android(TM) smartphone* with the free download of the EOS Remote app.
Highlights of the Nikon D7100
The Nikon D7100 Digital SLR Camera features a specially designed 24.1-megapixel DX-format image sensor, superior low-light performance, ultra-precise autofocus and metering, advanced video recording features, built-in HDR, mobile connectivity and much, much more. Enjoy speed, precision and convenience at every step, from shooting up to 6 fps to instantly sharing your shots with the optional WU-1a Wireless Mobile Adapter. Create dazzling Full HD 1080p videos and ultra-smooth slow-motion or time-lapse sequences.
Purchase Nikon D7100 at Amazon | $1,396
Purchase Canon EOS 70D at Amazon | $1,499
Personalized leather camera strap
Nothing says, “I’ve put more than the usual amount of consideration into your present” than having something personalized, and Ukraine-based Etsy seller Viveo has the perfect item for camera enthusiasts: a fetching hand-cut leather camera strap that can be personalized with up to five letters.
Purchase from Etsy | $48 CDN
Manfrotto 190CX Pro Carbon Fiber Tripod
The Rolls-Royce of tripods, especially for anyone with an aversion to lugging around heavy gear, the 190Cx is constructed of carbon fibre – a super-strong but lightweight material best known for its use in Formula 1 cars. That means that despite being able to hold up to 5kg of camera, lens and flash, it weighs a mere 1.3kg.
Purchase from Amazon | $259
AmazonBasics 62-Inch Aluminum Ball Head Tripod
AmazonBasics has been quietly creating a name for itself as affordable and high quality photography gear. It’s heavier than the Manfrotto tripod but is still an affordable and sturdy ball head tripod at a fraction of the price.
Purchase from Amazon | $40
Gerber Steady Tool
Military and outdoor specialist Gerber shows some love to shutterbugs with the Steady Tool, a multi-tool that features a tripod alongside the usual selection of stainless steel blades, screwdrivers, pliers and a bottle opener. The tripod works with compact digital cameras (up to 340g) and smartphones (up to 170g).
Purchase from Amazon | $35
Canon Camera Lens Coffee Mug
It’s not a zoom lens (although they make a great Christmas gift too) but it’s a coffee mug based on Canon’s near-ubiquitous 28-135mm lens. The stainless steel lining helps keep 12 oz. of your favorite beverage at temperature longer, and once you’re ready to break it open, you can remove the lid to use it as a small plate. Basically, it’s a good thing made even better.
Purchase at Think Geek | $25
Purchase a Nikon 24-70 zoom lens mug from Amazon | $15
A 50mm Lens
While most cameras kit lens covers the 50mm range, none of them compare to the 50mm in terms of sharpness, bokeh, and versatility. It isn’t a reach to say that the one lens every DSLR should have is a 50mm.
Purchase a Canon 50mm at Amazon | $110
Purchase a Nikon 50mm at Amazon | $93
Purchase a Pentax 50mm at Amazon | $181
Purchase a Sony Alpha 50mm at Amazon | $160
Sony DSC-QX100 Smartphone Attachable Lens-style Camera
One of the more interesting products of 2013 is the Sony DSC-QX100 Smartphone Attachable Lens. The world’s first pro-grade lens and sensor combo that clips to your smartphone. Now you can shoot breathtaking, DSLR-quality pics and instantly share them online for more “likes” than ever. Sporting a 1” sensor and a Carl Zeiss f/1.8 lens, this innovative camera captures beautifully defocused backgrounds for that professional look you crave. It’s a dream come true for lovers of photography—and convenience
Simply attach the compact and lightweight
QX100 to turn your Smartphone into a professional grade camera to capture beautiful DSLR-like 20MP still photos.
Purchase at Amazon | $500
Memory Card Carrying Case
You can never have enough memory cards but keeping track of them can be a pain. That is why a memory card carrying case is such a great stocking stuffer.
Purchase at Amazon | $6
Photographer’s Wristband Set
Get the gift that says, “I have this lens and I’m using this wristband too."
Purchase at Amazon | $11
Leica DLUX 6 10-megapixel Digital Camera
Leica is such an iconic brand that most photographers take notice of everything that they do. Why not give the gift of a Leica Compact Camera this season?
The Leica D-LUX 6 perfectly represent pre-eminent Leica quality in a compact camera format. Its outstanding lens and the versatile capabilities for creative photography make it the perfect camera for capturing inspiring moments- in the typically brilliant image quality you expect from Leica. This new extremely fast lens makes it particularly suitable for available-light photography and creative experimentation with planes of focus and depth of field. Its full-HD video recording capability and numerous manual setting options can also offer even more creative freedom.
Purchase at Amazon | $759
Sony RX-100 II
I have been a fan of the Sony RX-100 since it was released and the Sony RX-100 II is even more exciting. When beautiful scenery inspires the artist within, capture every exquisite detail with the compact Cyber-shot RX100 II. You’ll enjoy extraordinary light sensitivity, breathtaking image quality and beautiful background defocusing thanks to a newly developed 1.0-inch back-illuminated CMOS sensor and F1.8 lens.
CTV Reporter Tom Podolec has been getting amazing images around Toronto’s Lester B Pearson Airport with the camera. Check out this shot of a Jet Airways Boeing 737-800 in low light or this photo of a Cathay Pacific Boeing 737-300. Fantastic and sharp images in low light that all of us would love to capture.
Purchase at Amazon | $748
Veho VCC-100-XL MUVI X-Lapse 360-Degree Photography and Timelapse Accessory
The MUVI X-Lapse is the must have accessory for every film maker who wants to add something different to their movie edits. The MUVI X-Lapse enables a film maker to take up to 360° degree sweeping time-lapse images that when edited together create an amazing movie effect.It has both male and female standard 1/4 -20 UNC tripod screw threads for both mounting cameras on and also for mounting the MUVI X-Lapse onto a tripod, perfect for lightweight action cameras with a continuous photo mode such as the MUVI HD or GoPro or standard cameras with a time-lapse feature up to a weight of 750 grams. For cameras that are slightly top heavy the MUVI X-Lapse has integral fold out feet to support and distribute the weight. As well as using with camcorders/cameras the MUVI X-Lapse ships with a holder for iPhone/Smartphone and in conjunction with a multitude of smartphone apps enables even the most inexperienced user to make super cool sweeping time-lapse movies. Another option for the most creative of photographers is creating panoramic super wide angle photos by using the MUVI X-Lapse to slowly sweep a panoramic view while the camera or smartphone takes intermittent shots. NB -The MUVI X-Lapse does not come with an app or software but these are readily available on app stores and the internet.
Create 90° degree (15 minutes), 180° degree (30 minutes), 270° degree (45 minutes), 360° degree (60 minutes) sweeping time-lapse films.
Purchase at Amazon | $20
If you are shopping for someone who isn’t a photographer or are still looking for other ideas, check out all of the Christmas Gift Guides that are on the site. You never know where you will find inspiration.