Feeling generous? Have a special friend or relative who you want to splurge on? Here are ten photographer-friendly gifts in the $250-500 range chosen because they will help expand his or her photographic vision or make their picture-taking lives easier. Prices and availability are accurate as of Oct. 7, 2015.
Lensbaby Velvet
Adorama Price: $499.95
A soft-focus lens designed for creative 1:2 near-macro and portrait photography, the Lensbaby Velvet 56 is a 56mm f/1.6 lens for DSLRs and MILCs. Image quality is soft and ethereal at larger apertures, and sharper at smaller ones. Designed to be used with both APS and full-frame sensor cameras, it provides impressionistic results that hearken to classic portrait lenses of the mid-20th century.
The Lensbaby Velvet is available in Canon, Nikon, Pentax and Sony Alpha DSLR mounts, as well as for Micro Four Thirds, Fujifilm X, Samsung NX, and Sony E mirrorless camera mounts.
Interfit Photographic INT453 Stellar XD Twin Softbox Kit
Adorama Price: $489
Looking for a way to get into serious studio photography? The Interfit Stellar 150 Watt XD twin Softbox kit uses two studio monolights with modeling lights and built-in slave cells; you plug one into your camera’s X-sync outlet (or use a wireless trigger) and the other will automatically flash as well. Modeling lamp and flash intensity can be adjusted, and cooling fans prevent overheating. Included softboxes are great for portrait and product photography. It’s a great way to build a photo studio.
Phottix Odin Wireless TTL Trigger Set with Two Receivers
Adorama Price: $399.99 (Canon or Nikon)
To jump on the Strobist revolution, you need wireless flash control, and the Phottix TTL radio trigger may be jus tthe thing. With versions compatible with Canon https://www.adorama.com/ph89062.html and Nikon https://www.adorama.com/ph89057.html TTL flash systems, the Phottix set includes a transmitter and two receivers that operate on 4 channels and offer up to three groups for ratios and manual settings. They allow fast flash sync up to 1/8000 sec, and include a USB port for firmware updates. You do have a flash https://www.adorama.com/l/Lighting-and-Studio/Flashes-and-Slaves/On-Camera-Flashes, don’t you?
Nikon Coolpix P530 Digital Camera
Adorama Price: $296.95
Perhaps the subject of your gift-giving generosity takes most of his or her photos with a smart phone or pocket digital camera. You can expand their horizons with the Nikon P530, which has a 42x zoom lens built in that gives you, effectively, a 24-1000mm focal range. It has a 16MP sensor and delivers outstanding image quality for both stills and full 1080p HD video. Strong vibration reduction—which is important when shooting at longer focal lengths or in low light—is available, and there’s both a 3-inch LCD monitor and an eye-level EVF for composition and easy image previews.
Pentax K-50 Digial SLR Camera with DA L 18-55mm WR Lens
Adorama Price: $378
If you’re looking to get a loved one started with serious photography, one of the best low-end bang-for-your-buck deals is the Pentax K-50. Packaged with a mid-range 18-55mm zoom lens, the K-50 is weatherproof (as is the lens) so you can shoot in rain and snow. It offers high-resolution 16MP stills and full 1080p video capture, has in-camera built-in shake reduction, and is compatible with every K-mount lens ever made (and there are literally millions of them). With a full range of manual to all-auto exposure and focus controls, the K-50 is a camera an aspiring photographer can grow with.
Olympus Pen E-PL6with 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 II R Lens
Adorama Price: $299
Perhaps your aspiring photographer prefers a smaller camera—and you’d prefer a smaller budget. No problem: The Olympus Pen E-PL6 is a mirrorless compact digital camera with a 14-42mm (equivalent to a 28-84mm on a 35mm sensor camera) zoom lens, a 16MP sensor, and 1080p video capture. It has a touchscreen to control focus, exposure and shutter release, and focuses incredibly fast. 12 art filters—each with variations—lets you uncork your creative potential. If you prefer eye-level shooting, there’s an optional EVF available, but it almost doubles the price.
Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
Adorama Price: $349
One of the finest prime lenses available can be had well within the $250-500 budget. The Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 is a fast “normal” lens, great for landscapes, street photography, environmental portraits and general all-around shooting. Learning to work within the confines of a single focal length can help an aspiring photographer become better at composing photos in camera. This is an especially good choice for students who are learning the ropes.
Olympus M. Zuiko Digital 17mm f/2.8 Lens
Adorama Price: $299
The Olympus 17mm f/2.8 pancake lens is less than an inch thick, but provides a near-normal 46mm equivalent field of view. It’s a great choice for unobtrusive photography and if you pair it with a small camera such as the E-PL6 (see above) you can walk around with the camera/lens combo in your pocket until the moment you need it.
Sony 35mm F/1.8 OSS E-mount NEX Camera Lens
Adorama Price: $448
Here’s another way to give the gift of a normal prime lens. The Sony 35mm f/1.8 is designed for APS-sensor cameras, so it is effectively a “normal” focal length lens. It is a large-aperture lens that is ideal for low-light, no-flash photography, and its circular blades produce selective-focus images with very pleasing Bokeh.
Lowepro Pro Roller x100 AW Rolling Bag
Adorama Price: $262.20
For the photographer who has everything…except something to carry it in…the Lowepro Pro Roller X100 holds one to two DSLRs, up to 6 lenses and/or flash, a 15-inch laptop, and a bevvy of accessories, all protected by a hardshell case. It has wheels and a telescoping handle, and is TSA-approved with locking zippers. Organizers and pockets can be customized to fit your needs. Great for frequent travelers.
