Buying gifts for the lens-lover in your life can be a daunting (and often costly) task, but this is the first one here to guide you through some of the best Christmas gifts for photographers.
With so many options for just about every photographic accessory you can think of on the market, choosing the one best suited to your recipient's needs - and your budget can be a little dicey.
With that in mind, we've done the hard work for you, choosing the best product photos and accessories, with a variety of options to suit just about anyone.
So, whether you're through with a few extra photo-themed Christmas trees or a slightly more expensive sleigh hack for your loved one (or just a little pampering) you should find plenty of inspiration here.
The Billingham Hadley is one great bag that is aimed at those who want to travel light enough - perfect for wondering around town or a short break. The stylish, classic design of the Hadley certainly looks the part and is beautifully crafted from high quality leather. As well as space for a mirrorless camera or DSLR, there's also a separate 13-inch laptop compartment. If you're looking to treat someone to something a little special, Hadley's alone, even adjusted for its price, won't disappoint.
Mini tripods are convenient to take with you anywhere you function, and are perfect for those times when you don't think you'll need a tripod but want to bring one, just in case. Some of them can be quite flimsy, but the Zoo Evo offers decent supportive weight capacity and good flex. It comes with a handy ball head and leg extension - not to increase height, but to use on uneven surfaces. Working in a limited height means you'll have to place it on a wall or table, but take advantage of a slight angle to get some interesting views.
Adobe's latest Creative Photography Cloud plan, which includes Photoshop CC, Lightroom for CC, and Lightroom Classic CC, is ideal for those who want a host of high-end features, but a monthly subscription isn't for everyone. That's where Photoshop Elements 2019 comes in.
Incorporating many advanced features found in the high-end version of the software, including a plethora of raw and transform controls, Elements 2019 is still powerful and perfect for the enthusiast photographer looking for a versatile photo editing program.
The Buffalo Extreme NFC ministation is highly flexible and comes with a rugged carrying case that's dust and moisture resistant, along with a built-in USB 3.0 cable. It's actually our top pick on our list of the best external hard drives.
Not only is your data kept protected from shocks and drops with the rugged shell, but there are also 256-bit AES security features and NFC (Near Field Communication) features as well.
Basically, it allows you to unlock the drive to get to your photos quickly and easily by tapping on the supplied NFC card on the drive's body. Very neat!
The Fujifilm Instax Share SP-3 lets you bring your smartphone images to life. This great little printer allows you to transfer images wirelessly from your phone to your Instax Share SP-3, which will produce a square format instant print (image printed 62 x 62mm, with a total size of 86 x 72mm) for you. There's a handy reprint button, allowing you to share the same print with friends multiple times, while your photos on Facebook and Instagram can also be transferred to the SP-3.
A bare flash can deliver some pretty unsightly light, so this mini-flat pack from Lastolite softbox fits on the flash to soften the light nicely. It's relatively compact size means it's only really suitable for head and shoulder shots (larger versions are available), but it doesn't mean that it easily collapses down to pack into a camera bag without taking up too much space.
If you know someone who gets a new DSLR for Christmas then this is a great addition to the kit. Featuring neutral density graduated neutral density filters, it helps balance exposures in extreme light and also allows you to extend exposure time, great for blurring water, clouds and people. You will need an adapter ring to match the lens you will be using, but this set is a must for the aspiring landscape photographer.
The Epson SureColor SC-P600 printer is a brilliant printer for the enthusiast or professional photographer. It's well made and easy to use, and the quality of the prints it's capable of producing is amazing. Consumables are pricey though (like ink and paper), but if you want to do justice to your photography (or know someone who is guilty of keeping their genius photos in a secluded place on their hard drive) then this is a terrific printer for the price.
If you regularly use Photoshop, make complex selections and changes to part of an image - lightening and darkening for example, or some fine retouching - then a graphics tablet can transform the way you work. While using a mouse or trackpad does not work as a graphics tablet from Wacom, it provides much more precision and control.
As well as being able to use the included stylus to control the cursor, the tablet also supports multi-touch gestures. This allows you to use your Wacom tablet like a smartphone or tablet, with pinch and zoom controls and a few finger gestures.
Download the Motif app from Apple's App Store and you can start making your own photo book, whether as a gift or for yourself. It's pretty easy to use and great for family and holiday shots.
If you're after a more "serious" coffee table book, you'll probably want to look at alternatives, as such, which has more advanced patterns.
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