Christmas Gift Guide for Photographers: Jump Menu
In the event you’ve been tasked with buying a Christmas gift for a photographer and do not know what to get them, you have come to the best place. Chances are high the person you are buying for either seems to have every little thing already, or you do not know a single thing about photography and do not know what to purchase for them — this will likely be how each photographer finally ends up receiving the dreaded lens coffee mug in some unspecified time in the future of their life.
On this guide, we have rounded up a few of the most effective equipment and accessories to purchase a photographer, and we have split it up into sections for what to purchase a beginner, intermediate and advanced user, then provided three different price tiers for every section.
You will find a reasonable sub-$20 option, which is great should you’re on the lookout for an inexpensive stocking filler otherwise you’re buying a Secret Santa gift and do not have much knowledge about cameras and photography. Then there is a sub-$100 price tier for nice quality gifts that do not break the bank, and eventually, a $100+ category for should you really need to splurge.
These gift ideas are primarily geared toward astrophotographers specifically, but a lot of them can even suit other kinds of photography as well.
Beginner
Beginner gift advice
It may be really fun and exciting being a beginner photographer discovering all the various kinds of photography with a world of camera and lens options (not to say all of the accessories) at your feet, but it will possibly even be a really expensive time because you’ll want to spend money on, well, every little thing — especially if you should get into astrophotography specifically.
Beginner photographers often only have one (typically more cost-effective) camera with one or perhaps two accompanying lenses and never much else, so there’s an entire host of helpful extras and accessories you possibly can gift them to assist them together with their photography journey. Or perhaps they have been using their smartphone and have the desire to make the jump to a correct camera but don’t need to spend an excessive amount of — top-of-the-line budget cameras or best beginner cameras can be an important place to begin.
Understandably, you might not wish to spend so much on a present for a beginner if they are not sure whether photography will likely be a long-term hobby, so we have given various price options below to provide you some decisions depending in your budget. From memory cards, spare batteries, lens warmers, star filters and astronomy software to bags, tripods and astro-specific lenses, you are sure to seek out the proper gift for any beginner astrophotographer.
If you should spend a bit more, or should you’re buying a present for yourself (no judgment here!), this may very well be an important time to take a position in top-of-the-line lenses for astrophotography. The kit lenses that include starter cameras are wonderful but often do not have the big aperture or wide focal length required for dedicated astrophotography.
There are two routes you may take here: Prime lenses (fixed focal length) or Zoom lenses (variable focal length). Prime lenses are generally favored for astrophotography as they’ll let in so much more light than a zoom lens can, but they’re less versatile and will be dearer than zoom lenses. A zoom lens can still produce great astro results though, and you should utilize it for other kinds of photography as well.
In the event you’re buying a lens as a present, make sure that it’ll fit the recipient’s camera, and search for a hard and fast or minimum focal length of 20mm or lower (14mm or 16mm are great), and an aperture of not more than f/2.8 — f/1.8 and f/1.4 are perfect for astro, but f/2.8 will still give great results.
Intermediate
Intermediate users could be a bit more tricky to purchase for (unless they’ve outright told you what bits they wish to upgrade!), as they have already got a bunch of substances and know tips on how to use it to an inexpensive degree, but buying the most effective of the most effective could well be overkill (and expensive). There is a wonderful line to balance, and we have provided some options below that may actually work for anyone who desires to level up and take astrophotography more seriously, plus some ideas they might not have considered in the event that they’re only just branching out into astrophotography.
Let’s assume they’ve already got a camera, a lens or two and a tripod — what’s next? It’s likely they’ll have made their way through all of the entry-level gear and are actually looking to take a position in additional specialized gear or higher quality upgrades of what they have already got. That is where a few of the most effective accessories can come into their very own, as they’ve already bought all the fundamentals and may now start collecting extras to assist advance their chosen photographic style.
If you should spend a bit more or are buying a present for yourself (again, no judgment!), perhaps it is time to level up by investing in top-of-the-line cameras for astrophotography — we named the powerhouse Nikon Z8 as the most effective mirrorless camera overall for astrophotography.
While the main target for astrophotography will likely be more on what the lens can do, it’s still essential to have a camera that may handle low light effectively. In the event you’re buying a camera as a present, you should take the camera’s ISO range under consideration, in addition to the autofocus detection range and variety of megapixels. Some cameras even have dedicated night modes, try our greatest cameras for low light photography guide for some ideas.
Advanced
Advanced gift advice
Advanced users often have already got all of the gear they need after which some, so it will possibly be a nightmare buying a present for a complicated photographer — what do you purchase someone who has every little thing? Not to say, the form of gear advanced and skilled users are investing in will likely be on the dearer end of the spectrum, which not everyone can afford to purchase as a present. Advanced users usually tend to be using a few of the most effective cameras for astrophotography alongside the most effective star trackers and best lenses for astrophotography.
You could think you’ll want to know so much about cameras and photography when buying a present for a user at this level, but this is not at all times the case. We have listed some options below which are suitable for any and each sort of advanced photographer, plus a ‘better of the most effective’ option to actually knock their socks off.
If you should spend a bit more otherwise you’re buying a present for yourself (still no judgment!), why not consider attaching your camera to top-of-the-line telescopes to level up your astrophotography?
We named the Sky-Watcher Skymax 150 PRO as the most effective telescope for astrophotography because it covers a large choice of celestial objects from planets to nebulas, has excellent optics and a high-quality construct. It’s lightweight enough to take with you to dark sky sites, and it’s user-friendly and simple to decorate. We predict you may’t go mistaken with this telescope for astrophotography.
Christmas Gift Guide FAQ
What should I get a photographer for Christmas?
The perfect gifts for photographers are, depending in your budget: Cameras, lenses, tripods, camera backpacks, star trackers, power banks and headlamps.
But here’s a fast rundown of some ideas for an important Christmas gift for a photographer:
– Camera: Photographers often have already got a camera, unless they’re complete beginners and have told you specifically which one they’d like, so more often than not you are off the hook here. Buying a camera is a really personal decision, so make sure that exactly what they’re on the lookout for should you’re trying to gift them one. Take a look at our greatest cameras for astrophotography guide to provide you some ideas. Or should you’re buying a ‘first camera’ for somebody, you are sure to seek out something in our greatest beginner cameras guide.
– Lens: A lens is an important gift should you know what camera they’ve and whether there’s a particular focal length they’re missing of their lens lineup (or one they wish to upgrade). In the event you’re buying for somebody who desires to take up astrophotography, the most effective lenses for astrophotography are prime lenses with a focal length of 20mm or lower, and an aperture of f/1.8 or f/1.4.
– Tripod: A tripod is a superb gift for an aspiring astrophotographer, and there are tons available that every one do various things at different price levels. The perfect tripods are reliable, sturdy and light-weight to hold.
– Camera bag: Top-of-the-line camera backpacks could make an important gift if the person you are buying for is growing their kit list and never only needs somewhere secure to store their gear at home but something comfortable that may accommodate all their equipment once they’re out in the sphere.
– Star tracker: Star trackers are primarily utilized by more serious astrophotographers, so it’s an important gift idea should you know they concentrate on shooting the night sky. The perfect star trackers move your camera in step with the Earth’s rotation to avoid capturing star trails, so it really opens you as much as shooting those super long exposures to capture stunningly detailed shots.
– Storage: Photographers at all times appreciate storage! It isn’t the sexiest gift on the planet, nevertheless it is incredibly useful. This will be in the shape of memory cards and card holders, and even an external harddisk to back their images up on.
– Filters: Filters are an important gift for any photographer, but all of them do various things. Astrophotographers will love a light-weight pollution filter (especially in the event that they live in urban areas), or you possibly can also go for some ND (Neutral Density) filters, a polarizer or some UV filters for more general photography.
You’ll have to know the dimensions of the filter thread of the lens they’ll be using it on, so make an observation of the lens they use so you may look on the manufacturer’s website to seek out out the dimensions of the filter thread (or look on the front of the lens, it’ll have this symbol Ø with a number (eg Ø67) — meaning the filter size is 67mm).
– Power bank: One other practical gift for a photographer, the most effective power banks can hold a number of charge to assist astrophotographers on an extended night of shooting. Be sure you get one which has a big capability, suitable ports and is not too big and ponderous to hold around.
– Headlamp: One other helpful inexpensive gift is top-of-the-line headlamps. Astrophotographers have to give you the chance to see what they’re doing when out on a shoot, so having a hands-free headlamp is super useful. Be sure you get one which has a great battery life and has a red light to preserve night vision.
– Lens warmer: One accessory that is often missed is a lens warmer — particularly in case your area gets very cold at night. A lens warmer will be plugged right into a USB device (often an influence bank) and has a number of different heat settings to maintain your lens (drinks, hands etc) toasty warm, and it will help prevent everlasting damage to the lens attributable to condensation.
– Camera strap: Most cameras include straps, but you may buy some stylish and incredibly comfortable camera straps individually — it is a particularly good gift in the event that they have a heavy setup and want a large strap to forestall neckache.
– Spare batteries: A useful gift, sure, but not probably the most exciting one. This could definitely work as a stocking filler, just make sure that you purchase the best ones depending on their camera.
How does astrophotography gear differ from regular photography gear?
Photography is all about capturing light, and dedicated astrophotography equipment is designed specifically to let as much light in because it possibly can. The cameras have to have good noise handling, the lenses have to have a large focal length and massive aperture, and you might even want to take a position in a star tracker to assist counteract the movement of the Earth in long-exposure astrophotography. While you may get away with basic astrophotography with most photography gear, dedicated astrophotographers will want to take a position in gear that can produce the most effective results.
Do I want to spend loads on a christmas gift for a photographer?
Not necessarily. Photography will be an expensive hobby and profession, but there are actually more cost-effective bits of kit on the market that you simply don’t must be spending an enormous amount on. While a photographer will definitely want to take a position of their camera and lenses, you may still find reasonably priced tripods, bags, power banks and other accessories that will not break the bank.
What if I do not know what camera setup they’ve?
This may not matter an excessive amount of unless you are planning on buying them a camera, lens, spare batteries, lens filter or possibly a memory card. There are still loads of options, reminiscent of a bag, tripod, strap, flashlight or harddisk that you could buy for them without knowing what camera they’ve. If unsure, you may at all times attempt to bring it up in conversation and ask them what they’ve without gifting away that it’s for a present.