Tether Tools Wallee Case If an iPad is important to you (or that special photographer in your life), then you're going to love the Tether Tools Wallee case. If you plan to shoot to your iPad, this case that can mount on any number of places will treat you a lot better than holding it in your hand. And it's affordable! If you grab one of these, you might want to also consider the Connect Lite. [B&H| Amazon ]
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Tether tools Connect Lite The Tether Tools Wallee Connect Lite is a bracket designed to be used with the Tether Tools Studio Proper Wallee modular system. It connects to a Wallee case, allowing you to mount your iPad 1st, 2nd or 3rd Gen or Galaxy Tab 10.1 to a stand, table, cart, or whatever! Super useful for those who shoot to their tablets. [B&H ]
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Chroma High Power LED You might look at one of these and wonder what you would do with one. Well, mounting it directly to your camera for video is one thing (even if the light can look flat form that angle), but it is also excellent for table top photography, on the go videography and even can work as a flashlight at night. Our suggestion? Grab two and rim light with these on location. You might be surprised what you can accomplish. [Amazon]
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Photek SoftLighter Yeah, they're a little retro, but in Patrick's words "some of the best photographers still use these." I think he's referring to himself. Whatever the case may be, they do a really great job keeping the light where you want it, minimizing light spill. Quick, easy, and they give you great results. Any photographer would happily accept one of these as a gift. [B&H Video]
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PocketWizard AC3 Zone Controller Many photographers will already have a PocketWizard, but if they don't have a Zone Controller, this is a great gift for them. When you add the Pocket Wizard AC3 ZoneController to your on-camera MiniTT1 Transmitter or FlexTT5 Transceiver, you instantly have three zones of flash control. Whether in E-TTL II or Manual mode, you have control over all your flashes from your camera position. Put your flashes wherever you want, without worrying about having to access them during a shoot. [Amazon | B&H]
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Sennheiser Ear Buds A good pair of ear buds will be loved for a long time, and there are a great many photographers who swear by the Sennheiser CX-300-II in-ear stereo speakers. Booming bass, snug fit, and a low price. Can't ask for much more than that. [B&H]
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Klipsch Ear Buds Much like the Sennheisers above, the Klipsch are well-loved by many, including Blair Bunting and Jaron Schneider. The bass and depth of sound that these produce is pretty extraordinary, but they will set you back a bit more than the Sennheiser and also feature a different, curved design. These come highly recommended. [B&H]
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Fenix Flashlight PD32-G2 LED Yes, you read that right: we're recommending a flashlight. It may not be flashy (no pun intended), but it's very practical. The next time you (or the photographer lucky enough to get this stocking stuffer) finds themselves out in the dark after a shoot, they'll thank you. Seriously, these come in incredibly handy. [B&H | Amazon]
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Wacom Intuos Tablet Great for a first-time tablet user or as the to-go travel tablet, the Wacom Intuos small Creative Touch Tablet will help any photographer with their retouching game. Top names in their field, retoucher Pratik Naik and architectural photographer Mike Kelley both swear by Wacom tablets, and any photographer would love to have one. [B&H | Amazon]
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Lowepro Transit AW When Lowepro made the Transit AW, they made a nearly perfect bag. This is the backpack that restored Jaron's faith in Lowepro's pedigree, and one that comes highly recommended not only from him but a host of other Fstoppers readers. It's a pro bag at an amateur price, and not a soul should disagree with that. [B&H]
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Think Tank Turnstyle Have a small on-the-go camera setup? Then you'll want to consider the Think Tank Turnstyle. It's small, but packs large with three considerable interior compartments and numerous zippered pockets. It's the travel bag that was made for the new age of smaller cameras. [B&H]
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Lexar Workflow Solution This is the time saver every wedding, music or event photographer has been waiting for. It gets all cards onto a computer at once, rather than having to load them one by one. It's a great investment for those looking to help someone save time and make their day-to-day just that little bit easier. It's a gift that will keep on giving. [B&H]
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GorillaPod Tripods are a must, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Finding a portable, lightweight and affordable tripod that is also reliable can be tough, but the GorillaPod stands out in a market saturated by mediocrity. I've been pretty impressed with how sturdy these little guys are, and they do what no regular tripod can: they wrap and morph into whatever situation is at hand. Really useful if your favorite photog likes to travel. [B&H | Amazon]
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SanDisk EXTREME Memory Cards Everyone needs a memory card these days, and for most of us out there that means a good CF card. Though many strict photographers won't want a card that carries more than 8 gigs because they are afraid of putting all their info in one basket (loss, stolen, etc), videographers NEED at least 16 gigs when shooting video. [B&H Video | Amazon]
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Lens Mugs Ok, yes they are a little silly. But I'll be damned if I don't get a laugh out of mine every time I take it outside. They're funny, they work, and they fit our industry. Just don't leave it in your car, I actually know someone who got broken into because they thought it was a real lens sitting there. Not cool. [Amazon]
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Paper Towel Film Canisters If your photog friend has been looking for a stylish way to store his paper towels, now you have the solution. Ok, so they're cheesy, but cheesy in a good way. I guarantee you'll get a laugh out of everyone, especially whomever you gift this to. It's hilarious! [Gadget.Brando.Com]
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Black Rapid SnapR-20 Not everyone shoots with DSLRs, and with the onset of new compact mirrorless cameras all over the market, this little strap and bag will work great for you. The strap slings your small camera easily into the small pouch and out again. Keep the camera safe while still having it ready at a moment's notice.[B&H Video | Amazon]
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Eye-Fi 8 GB SDHC Memory Card So if your friend's camera takes an SD rather than a CF card, they have the option to go with the wildly popular Eye-Fi card. If you know us, you know that with one of these you can shoot photos directly to your iPad or Nexus 7. Awesome. [B&H Video |Amazon ]