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Buying gifts for the lens-lover in your life can be a daunting (and often expensive) task, but TechRadar is here to guide you through some of the best Christmas gifts for photographers.
With so many variants of just about every photographic accessory you can think of on the market, choosing the best one to suit the recipientâs needs - and your budget - can be a bit of a minefield.
With this in mind, weâve done the hard work for you, cherry-picking a selection of the best photographic products and accessories around, with a range of options to suit just about anyone.
So, whether youâre after a few extra photo-themed stocking fillers or a slightly pricier sleigh-stuffer for your loved one (or just a little treat for yourself) you should find plenty of inspiration here.
[IMG alt="PBerJWpnrUiwN6SFoH64YX" width="690px" height="387px"]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PBerJWpnrUiwN6SFoH64YX.jpg[/IMG]
Billinghamâs Hadley One is a gorgeous messenger bag thatâs aimed at those who want to travel reasonably light â perfect for wondering round the city or a short break. The stylish, classic design of the Hadley One certainly looks the part and is beautifully crafted from a premium leather. As well as space for a mirrorless camera or DSLR, thereâs also a separate 13-inch laptop compartment. If you want to treat someone to something a little bit special then the Hadley One, even allowing for its premium price, wonât disappoint.
[IMG alt="dzqnrt9iWYXzps7UVwemx" width="690px" height="388px"]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dzqnrt9iWYXzps7UVwemx.jpg[/IMG]
Mini tripods are great take-anywhere options, and perfect for those times when you donât think youâll need a tripod, but want to bring one just in case. Some can be pretty flimsy though, but the Pixi Evo offers a decent payload support and good flexibility. It comes with a handy ball head and extending legs - not really to extend the height, but to use on uneven surfaces. The limited working height does mean youâll have to position it on a wall or table, but take advantage of the low angle to get some interesting viewpoints.
[IMG alt="vQ7p4gaMFRhiqEH2sqwThH" width="690px" height="388px"]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vQ7p4gaMFRhiqEH2sqwThH.jpg[/IMG]
Adobeâs latest Creative Cloud Photography plan which includes Photoshop CC, Lightroom CC and Lightroom Classic CC is perfect for those wanting a host of high-end features, but the monthly subscription payment model isnât for everyone. Thatâs where Photoshop Elements 2019 comes in.
Incorporating many of the advanced features found in the high-end version of the software, including a host of raw conversion controls, Elements 2019 still packs a punch and is perfect for the enthusiast photographer looking for a versatile photo editing program.
[IMG alt=âBuffalo MiniStation Extreme NFC 2TBâ]http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/js7...zKWwcGumjV.jpg
The Buffalo MiniStation Extreme NFC is very flexible, and comes with a rugged case thatâs dust and water resistant, along with a built-in USB 3.0 cable. Itâs actually our top choice in our best external hard drive list as well.
Not only is your data kept protected from knocks and drops with the rugged shell, but itâs also got 256-bit AES security features and NFC (Near Field Communication) features as well.
Essentially it allows you to unlock the drive to get to your photos quickly and easily by tapping the supplied NFC card onto the driveâs body. Pretty neat!
[IMG alt="5z3Dz5oN7tSd7umkUQy3UF" width="690px" height="388px"]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5z3Dz5oN7tSd7umkUQy3UF.jpg[/IMG]
The Fujifilm Instax Share SP-3 lets you bring your smartphone images to life. This great little printer lets you transfer images wirelessly from your phone to the Instax Share SP-3, which will produce square format instant prints (the image is printed 62 x 62mm, with a total size of 86 x 72mm) for you. Thereâs a handy reprint button, allowing you to share the same print with friends multiple times, while your pics on Facebook and Instagram can also be transferred to the SP-3.
A naked flashgun can deliver some pretty unflattering light, so this mini flat-pack softbox from Lastolite fits neatly on the front of your flashgun to soften the light nicely. Itâs relatively compact size means itâs only really suitable for head and shoulder shots (larger versions are available), but it does mean it easily collapses down to pack away into your camera bag without taking up too much space.
[IMG alt="QrHsGtjMzeQ9VaBMdmDygC" width="690px" height="388px"]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QrHsGtjMzeQ9VaBMdmDygC.png[/IMG]
If you know someone whoâs getting a new DSLR for Christmas, then this is a great addition to their kit. Featuring a Neutral Density and Graduated Neutral Density filters, it helps balance exposures in extreme light as well as allowing you to extend exposures as well, great for blurring water, clouds and people. Youâll need an adapter ring to match the lens youâre going to use it on, but this kit is a must for the budding landscape photographer.
[IMG alt="nX6cPTN6yCVUGTqkFkotBR" width="690px" height="388px"]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nX6cPTN6yCVUGTqkFkotBR.jpg[/IMG]
The Epson SureColor SC-P600 is a brilliant printer for the enthusiast or professional photographer. Itâs well made and easy to use, and the quality of the prints itâs capable of producing is stunning. Consumables are pricey though (both inks and paper), but if you want do justice to your photography (or know someone whoâs guilty of keeping their brilliant photos tucked away on a hard drive), then this is a stunning printer for the price.
[IMG alt="8TneQhmtBEUv65bTCEWB6P" width="690px" height="388px"]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8TneQhmtBEUv65bTCEWB6P.jpg[/IMG]
If youâre going to be using Photoshop regularly, making tricky selections and modifying parts of your images - dodging and burning for instance, or some precise retouching, then a graphics tablet can transform the way you work. While using a mouse or a trackpad does the job, a graphics tablet like this one from Wacom delivers much more precision and control.
As well as being able to use the supplied pen to make control the cursor, the tablet also supports multi-touch gestures. This allows you to use the Wacom like a smartphone or tablet, with pinch and zoom control and multi finger gestures.
[IMG alt="wWC2tC8E3Jro5u6pTfRF2a" width="690px" height="388px"]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wWC2tC8E3Jro5u6pTfRF2a.jpg[/IMG]
Download the Motif app from Appleâs App Store and you can started making your own photo book - whether as a gift or for yourself. Itâs pretty easy to use and is great for family and holiday snaps.
If youâre after making a more âseriousâ coffee table book, youâll probably want to look at alternatives like Blurb, which has more advanced templates.
[ul]
[li]Best camera[/li][li]Best entry-level DSLR[/li][li]Best DSLR[/li][li]Best mirrorless camera[/li][li]Best 4K camera[/li][li]Best full-frame camera[/li][li]Best compact camera[/li][li]Best camera accessories[/li][/ul]
Continue readingâŚ
With so many variants of just about every photographic accessory you can think of on the market, choosing the best one to suit the recipientâs needs - and your budget - can be a bit of a minefield.
With this in mind, weâve done the hard work for you, cherry-picking a selection of the best photographic products and accessories around, with a range of options to suit just about anyone.
So, whether youâre after a few extra photo-themed stocking fillers or a slightly pricier sleigh-stuffer for your loved one (or just a little treat for yourself) you should find plenty of inspiration here.
[IMG alt="PBerJWpnrUiwN6SFoH64YX" width="690px" height="387px"]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PBerJWpnrUiwN6SFoH64YX.jpg[/IMG]
Billinghamâs Hadley One is a gorgeous messenger bag thatâs aimed at those who want to travel reasonably light â perfect for wondering round the city or a short break. The stylish, classic design of the Hadley One certainly looks the part and is beautifully crafted from a premium leather. As well as space for a mirrorless camera or DSLR, thereâs also a separate 13-inch laptop compartment. If you want to treat someone to something a little bit special then the Hadley One, even allowing for its premium price, wonât disappoint.
[IMG alt="dzqnrt9iWYXzps7UVwemx" width="690px" height="388px"]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dzqnrt9iWYXzps7UVwemx.jpg[/IMG]
Mini tripods are great take-anywhere options, and perfect for those times when you donât think youâll need a tripod, but want to bring one just in case. Some can be pretty flimsy though, but the Pixi Evo offers a decent payload support and good flexibility. It comes with a handy ball head and extending legs - not really to extend the height, but to use on uneven surfaces. The limited working height does mean youâll have to position it on a wall or table, but take advantage of the low angle to get some interesting viewpoints.
[IMG alt="vQ7p4gaMFRhiqEH2sqwThH" width="690px" height="388px"]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vQ7p4gaMFRhiqEH2sqwThH.jpg[/IMG]
Adobeâs latest Creative Cloud Photography plan which includes Photoshop CC, Lightroom CC and Lightroom Classic CC is perfect for those wanting a host of high-end features, but the monthly subscription payment model isnât for everyone. Thatâs where Photoshop Elements 2019 comes in.
Incorporating many of the advanced features found in the high-end version of the software, including a host of raw conversion controls, Elements 2019 still packs a punch and is perfect for the enthusiast photographer looking for a versatile photo editing program.
[IMG alt=âBuffalo MiniStation Extreme NFC 2TBâ]http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/js7...zKWwcGumjV.jpg
The Buffalo MiniStation Extreme NFC is very flexible, and comes with a rugged case thatâs dust and water resistant, along with a built-in USB 3.0 cable. Itâs actually our top choice in our best external hard drive list as well.
Not only is your data kept protected from knocks and drops with the rugged shell, but itâs also got 256-bit AES security features and NFC (Near Field Communication) features as well.
Essentially it allows you to unlock the drive to get to your photos quickly and easily by tapping the supplied NFC card onto the driveâs body. Pretty neat!
[IMG alt="5z3Dz5oN7tSd7umkUQy3UF" width="690px" height="388px"]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5z3Dz5oN7tSd7umkUQy3UF.jpg[/IMG]
The Fujifilm Instax Share SP-3 lets you bring your smartphone images to life. This great little printer lets you transfer images wirelessly from your phone to the Instax Share SP-3, which will produce square format instant prints (the image is printed 62 x 62mm, with a total size of 86 x 72mm) for you. Thereâs a handy reprint button, allowing you to share the same print with friends multiple times, while your pics on Facebook and Instagram can also be transferred to the SP-3.
A naked flashgun can deliver some pretty unflattering light, so this mini flat-pack softbox from Lastolite fits neatly on the front of your flashgun to soften the light nicely. Itâs relatively compact size means itâs only really suitable for head and shoulder shots (larger versions are available), but it does mean it easily collapses down to pack away into your camera bag without taking up too much space.
[IMG alt="QrHsGtjMzeQ9VaBMdmDygC" width="690px" height="388px"]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QrHsGtjMzeQ9VaBMdmDygC.png[/IMG]
If you know someone whoâs getting a new DSLR for Christmas, then this is a great addition to their kit. Featuring a Neutral Density and Graduated Neutral Density filters, it helps balance exposures in extreme light as well as allowing you to extend exposures as well, great for blurring water, clouds and people. Youâll need an adapter ring to match the lens youâre going to use it on, but this kit is a must for the budding landscape photographer.
[IMG alt="nX6cPTN6yCVUGTqkFkotBR" width="690px" height="388px"]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nX6cPTN6yCVUGTqkFkotBR.jpg[/IMG]
The Epson SureColor SC-P600 is a brilliant printer for the enthusiast or professional photographer. Itâs well made and easy to use, and the quality of the prints itâs capable of producing is stunning. Consumables are pricey though (both inks and paper), but if you want do justice to your photography (or know someone whoâs guilty of keeping their brilliant photos tucked away on a hard drive), then this is a stunning printer for the price.
[IMG alt="8TneQhmtBEUv65bTCEWB6P" width="690px" height="388px"]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8TneQhmtBEUv65bTCEWB6P.jpg[/IMG]
If youâre going to be using Photoshop regularly, making tricky selections and modifying parts of your images - dodging and burning for instance, or some precise retouching, then a graphics tablet can transform the way you work. While using a mouse or a trackpad does the job, a graphics tablet like this one from Wacom delivers much more precision and control.
As well as being able to use the supplied pen to make control the cursor, the tablet also supports multi-touch gestures. This allows you to use the Wacom like a smartphone or tablet, with pinch and zoom control and multi finger gestures.
[IMG alt="wWC2tC8E3Jro5u6pTfRF2a" width="690px" height="388px"]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wWC2tC8E3Jro5u6pTfRF2a.jpg[/IMG]
Download the Motif app from Appleâs App Store and you can started making your own photo book - whether as a gift or for yourself. Itâs pretty easy to use and is great for family and holiday snaps.
If youâre after making a more âseriousâ coffee table book, youâll probably want to look at alternatives like Blurb, which has more advanced templates.
[ul]
[li]Best camera[/li][li]Best entry-level DSLR[/li][li]Best DSLR[/li][li]Best mirrorless camera[/li][li]Best 4K camera[/li][li]Best full-frame camera[/li][li]Best compact camera[/li][li]Best camera accessories[/li][/ul]
Continue readingâŚ