Upmarket Gifts That Photographers Really Want to Receive

Upmarket Gifts That Photographers Really Want to Receive

Every winter, plenty of articles appear suggesting cheap gifts for photographers. However, the best presents are those where the giver has carefully considered the wants or needs of the recipient. Furthermore, let’s be honest, they are also where the giver has spent a bit more money.

Those articles inevitably suggest Rocket Blowers and lens cleaning kits. Useful, though they are not that imaginative. However, I always say the best presents do come in small packages. So, whether it’s the upcoming holidays, a birthday, or any other cause for celebration, there are gifts that most of us photographers would like to receive instead of a lens cloth.

There is a problem, though. Good photography gear is something that most of our closest relatives, not being photographers themselves, wouldn’t have a clue about. Consequently, we would need to tell them directly, which spoils the surprise for us.

So, here’s a chance to give a subtle hint. Leave this webpage open on the item you would most like to receive. If it’s not listed, say what you would like in the comments and leave that visible for your loved ones to notice.

Here are a few small but not cheap things that I think many photographers would love.

1. Datacolor Spyder Screen Calibration Tool

The Datacolor Spyder X2 Ultra is a super tool that allows you to ensure accurate reproduction of your images. This, or one of the other models in the range, would be a perfect gift for photographers who want accuracy of colors and tones. If you are unsure which model would be best, then my recent article covers which would suit your needs the best.

2. Small Interchangeable Lens Camera

I always thought that it was a slightly ridiculous trend that many professional DSLRs became bigger and heavier when technology was shrinking. With that bulk came less versatility. With the improvements to sensor technology and the switch to mirrorless systems, full-frame camera bodies have shrunk but, thanks to the laws of physics, their lenses are still cumbersome.

The increasing age profile of the population has led to evermore photographers wanting to switch to something smaller and lighter, but still with great image quality and versatility. This has partially been the reason for the boom in sales of OM System cameras.  However, it's not just the older generation that are seeking more compact system cameras. Younger photographers don't want to be burdened with bulky gear, but something that they can slip into their pocket or purse. But they still have a viewfinder, advanced camera features, and the opportunity to change lenses.

The smallest and lightest contemporary body and lens system on the market that fits this description is the OM System OM-5. Couple it with its small and excellent range of professional f/4 lenses and it’s a great camera that can pull its weight. If I were buying a new camera for someone who wanted to get into photography, then this would be a superb option because of its ability to be used as a point-and-shoot through to an advanced interchangeable lens camera. Micro Four Thirds has a wealth of compatible lenses, and there are many features unique to the OM System range. Therefore, it’s a fabulous alternative to carry around instead of that cumbersome DSLR.

Although the OM-5 would be my choice, there are alternatives from other manufacturers. If you can find them, there were two cameras worth a look, although they have both been discontinued. First was Fujifilm’s excellent X-E4 rangefinder style of camera, as well as the  Panasonic Lumix DC-GX9.

3. A Lens for All Seasons

Does there ever come a point when you stop needing more lenses? I have every focal length, from 7mm upwards to 500mm (1,000mm equivalent on a full frame 35mm sensor camera) covered at least once.

There’s more to lenses than focal lengths, though. The system I use has a range of f/1.2 prime lenses that I don’t own yet, and I am certainly tempted by the M.Zuiko 45mm F1.2 PRO.

There are lenses that most photographers would want to add to their arsenal. If there’s one you are hankering after, tell me in the comments, scroll down, and leave that comment on your screen for your partner to see! You can make it even easier for them by adding a link to buying it on the B&H website.

If you have not used a professional-grade lens before, then that’s something worth getting. They make an enormous difference to the sharpness and clarity of your images.

There’s more to lenses than speed and sharpness, and I like to play with fast vintage lenses. Although softer than their modern equivalents, they give amazing results. If you enjoy the creative side of photography, then that is something worth hinting at. Many can be picked up for a song, although some rarities are sought after and attract a higher price. If you have an old film SLR hiding in the back of a cupboard, then there are plenty of lens adaptors on the market that will adapt them to most cameras.

Shot with a vintage Olympus 50mm f/1.4 film lens mounted on my OM-1

There are other curiosities on the market. Lensbaby special effects lenses were all the rage 10 or more years ago, but I don’t hear so much about them as I once did. However, these fun, affordable special effects lenses and accessories can still produce uniquely interesting results.

4. The Difficulty With Giving Software

Software used to come on CDs, and those were great, physical things to wrap up as a small gift. Now, most rely on registration through a website, which means registering the recipient's email address, which spoils the surprise. However, you can usually register to a different email address and change it later.

If you do this then standalone programs without a subscription are the best option, otherwise, you need to register and pay on the day of the gift. Great subscription-free options include ON1 Photo RAW 2024, ACDSee Photo Studio Ultimate, and DxO Photolab 7.

DxO Photolab 7

5. A Photography Course to Boost Your Skills

At this time of year, I am inundated with people buying gift vouchers for my training courses. Many professional photographers deliver these either in person or online.

Spending time with a professional on a photoshoot workshop or over Zoom can make a big difference. Check the location of the professional. Most of my clients come to me from a 100-mile radius of where I am based. However, online they come from anywhere in the world, although mostly from Europe because of the time zones being close.

 Many such courses are general and suitable for all photographers. But, as things become more specialized, searching for a photographer who shoots a similar genre or uses the same equipment as you may be advantageous.

6. A Film Camera Is Not Just for the Twentieth Century

Film photography is becoming ever more popular and people are buying film cameras once again. Secondhand and charity shops, flea markets, and online auctions are all places where you can find vintage cameras. If you are lucky, they will come with a superb lens too.

7. A Peak Design Strap Makes All the Difference

Let’s face it, the strap that comes with your camera isn’t the best, especially if you are carrying a big lens or you want to use a tripod on a windy day. Peak Design came up with a fabulous system of using quick-release anchor links that enable you to attach and remove their straps in seconds. 

Apart from their innovative design that others are trying to copy, they are a genuinely environmentally conscious company and not just greenwashing like so many other companies in the photographic industry.

I reviewed the straps recently, and you can read those by clicking here. They are versatile, enabling you to either hand the camera around your neck, across your body, or over your shoulder.

Peak Design doesn’t just manufacture straps but high-quality tripods and backpacks too

8. An Urth Filter for the Earth

I’ve used a lot of filters in my time, but it is Urth that impresses me most. This is not only because they plant trees in rainforests with every purchase, but when I fit their UV filters to protect my lenses, you cannot notice that they are there.

The Plus+ range of filters are their best quality models and are outstanding quality.

9. A Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod

There's an adage that says that a tripod has three factors and you should choose which two are important to you: stability, weight, and price. There are lots of good quality tripods out there that meet different needs of different types of photography. Because I am using mine to shoot seascapes and landscapes, and I have the camera at a low level.

I use a Benro Tortoise columnless tripod with the GX35 ball head. That allows you to level the camera, then there is an additional panning plate above the ball mount, so I can rotate the camera and the horizon remains level.

There are, of course, plenty of good quality tripods out there, including those from Peak Design.

10. Tell The Readers What You Would Like

All those things above are gear I own or have used and would happily recommend.

I do appreciate there is a cost of living crisis and the things here will be out of the financial reach of many of us; there are certainly things there that I wouldn't ask my lovely wife to buy me right now. However, it is okay to dream and, at this time of year, make a wish.

You will have different things that you have bought or been given that you thought of as the perfect gift. So, are there small but not so cheap things that you found were good and would recommend to our readers? Are there any small gifts that you would like your loved ones to buy for you? Or something you would buy for yourself? Let’s hear about them in the comments. Remember to leave that comment visible on the screen as a hint to others.

Ivor Rackham's picture

A professional photographer, website developer, and writer, Ivor lives in the North East of England. His main work is training others in photography. He has a special interest in supporting people with their mental well-being. In 2023 he accepted becoming a brand ambassador for the OM System.

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13 Comments

None of the above, but an all expenses paid African Photo Safari would make me grin! :-)

That would be nice. I guess the plane tickets and Safari lodge booking fit the bill of being small but expensive.

I tend to think that hardware choices are quite a bad idea - equipment is very personal to photographers, we choose gear for very specific reasons. If I got hardware then I think I would disappoint my excited gift-giver: I'd try to be nice but really I'd be unhappy.

If I really wanted to give a hardware gift I'd work really hard to give them something they would not buy themselves. I'd think about small LED lights and sets, like "RGBWW LED" lights from Rotolight or Vibesto Peragos.

I also might think about a strange and cheap leans that the photographer could just play with. A VERY wide lens by a Chinese manufacturer (Laowa, TTArtisans, 7Artisans) would be fun, like the 7 Artisans 12mm F2.8 Mark Ⅱ Ultra Wide Angle APS-C Lens at $149 USD.

I'd also like to know whether or not the author receives any commission on these recomendations, which should have been explicit in the article. In addition, there are several prominent recommendations for costly OM cameras and lenses, and it's not clearly mentioned in the article that the author is a new "brand ambassador" for OM.

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Hi Happy, Thanks for the question. It's a good one and something I used to wonder about before I became a writer here. No, I am not on a commission.

I just get paid for writing the article and that's dependent upon the number of readers. Sometimes, I write specialist articles that interest me and only have very few readers so I might not get paid at all for it. At other times I write fun articles like this that have a broader appeal and get read by thousands.

The affiliate links to B&H on all articles here pay a very small commission to Fstoppers if someone buys something. That's true of virtually every review site on the internet.

However, they don't pay me for the links, which is why I didn't mention it.

I understand the income paid to Fstoppers for the affiliate links is very small. I include those links because it helps Fstoppers to provide its service to you for free. Note the affiliate links are not product-specific. It makes no difference what product is shown in the article.

The things I've written about here are mostly things I already own and have reviewed in the past. Some are things I have used, like the small cameras I mentioned. I suggest them here solely because they are things I know that work well. I could have suggested, say, a Black Rapid strap, but I haven't used one, so haven't included it because I don't know how good it is. Similarly, there are some things I have tried and don't rate very highly, so I didn't mention them at all.

I make no secret of my being an OM System ambassador. Contrary to your assertion, it's written clearly in my profile at the bottom of the article - but that is not a paid position. Again, I mention them because it's stuff I know is good. It's no less costly than any other brand and significantly less so than some. Excellent quality isn't usually cheap. I am a brand ambassador for no other reason other than I know the OM System equipment is fabulous. If I were a user of another brand and they approached me, if I were similarly impressed, I would have said yes to them instead.

Sometimes, writers get sent free samples to test and review, and the value is not high enough for the manufacturers to pay for them to be sent back. I'm in the UK and return postage overseas is very expensive. With software, we need to be sent a key code to access it, and clearly, we can't send that back.

I have also been so impressed with the products that I have bought the sample they sent me to test, the Benro Tortoise tripod being an example.

I have seen the same camera reviewed in two magazines, The first one gave it a five-star rating, and the other gave it two. Guess which one the manufacturer advertised in. At Fstoppers, there is just general advertising that appears on the page so reviews are not swayed. I believe this advertising, which the site doesn't have control over as it's outsourced, is what brings in the revenue.

I agree with your thoughts about the Chinese lenses. I have tested a couple in the past and they have been superb.

Yes, I also agree about the problem with gifts, which I mentioned in the article. Leave the webpage open on the lens and hope your family sees it!

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The Astr-Hori 18mm f8 Macro Probe lens would qualify as "small, but not so cheap" ..... and it would be infinitely useful for some of the photography I want to do!

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Yes. I see that there is now a Laowa 0.7x Focal Reducer for Probe Lens so I can get it to work on my OM-1. Thanks for the comment.

I am a simple man. As I still shoot analog, any roll of 35/120 film would make me happy. Almost any :D.

That fits the bill of small but not cheap. Thanks for commenting. (I hope to have my own darkroom set up in a few months.)

I just got a Peak Design Carbon Fiber Tripod. It's amazingly light, weighing in at 3 lbs 5 oz (1.51 kg) including carrying case and shoulder strap. This tripod is great for carrying while walking around town or hiking in the hills. It's very stable, even supporting a 400mm (800mm EFL) lens on a micro 4/3 camera tilted at 45 degrees while photographing the moon.

I highly recommend this tripod if you're looking for a great travel tripod. Makes a great gift!

It looks like a great piece of gear. I'm impressed with the other Peak Design gear, and if I hadn't previously spent a lot on Benro tripods, it's probably what I would go for. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on that.

On the topic of standalone software, you could gift:

Topaz Photo AI - It's awesome when needed.
Starry Landscape Stacker - if they're interested in astrophotography
MotionCam Pro - to step up their smartphone photography quality beyond the processed raw pipeline of their default app
Davinci Resolve Studio - This is a stretch for a regular photographer, but if they ever need to do video work, Resolve is an excellent buy once and enjoy it type of software
PTGui - If they enjoy panoramas but are frustrated by lack of options in Lightroom/PS, PTGui is the best

Can't think of any more! I based most of my workflows off free tools like Blender, Resolve Free, Gyroflow, Sequator, XNView, ExifToolGUI.

All great suggestions.Thanks!