The holidays are coming and the Christmas rush is almost, if not already, upon us. Have you been doing your shopping or have you at least prepared your gift list? If not, below are a few suggestions on what to give your photographer friends that will make them as happy as a kid on Christmas morning.

Holiday gift-giving has always been underestimated as something that can be done in a few minutes, and we all know this is far from the truth. The list below aims to lift the weight of picking the ideal gift for your photographer friends, whether pro or hobbyist, off your shoulders by offering a few suggestions. 

Nikon D750 DSLR Body (Around P89,000)

For those who want to hold on to DSLRs just a little bit longer, the Nikon D750 is a powerful full-frame snapper with built-in WiFi. Although released in 2014, this DSLR is still a capable workhorse even by today’s standards. Known for it’s impressive low-light capabilities and effective autofocus, the D750 will be your shooting partner from the golden hour up until the wee hours of the morning.

Its tilting LCD screen allows you to shoot from any angle and its video capabilities allow you to unleash the movie director in you in 1080p full HD. Never miss the action with 6.5 FPS continuous shooting, powerful ISO that’s expandable to 51,200, and hi-res 24.3-megapixel images.

Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens (Around P51,000)

The Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM is the first addition to the Art category in Sigma’s Global vision. As such, it comes with features that are based around a unique lens concept. A staple focal length, 35mm is ideal for those who feel constrained with a 50mm prime lens because the wider focal length opens up  a slew of possibilities.

Its Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM) ensures quiet operation while providing accurate autofocus, and a floating internal focusing system allows for superior optical performance even when subjects are closer to the lens. A large 1.4 aperture provides excellent low-light performance and bokeh for those indoor portraits and impromptu party photos. Combining FLD and SLD glass elements, this prime lens provides a wide view with minimum distortion and extreme sharpness.

Fujifilm X-T10 Mirrorless Digital Camera with 16-50mm Lens (Around P45,000)

They say the best camera is the one you bring with you every day, and this beauty is something photography lovers will find hard to leave at home. Combining classic styling and modern technology, the Fujifilm X-T10 mirrorless digital camera exudes a premium feel while offering full control of aperture, shutter speed, and other shooting functions.

Get that old-school feeling with a real-time viewfinder that boasts a display lag time of just 0.005sec and 0.62x magnification. Combine that with Fujifilm’s film simulation settings that give photos a classic feel  and a cutting-edge autofocus system that allows for better action shots and you have a flexible, lightweight heavyweight of a shooter. A newer X-T20 is available with a few improvements but is also priced higher. For many, the cheaper X-T10’s feature set still satisfies many photographers’ needs. 

Olympus Tough TG-5 Waterproof Digital Camera (Around P30,500)

For the active photographer, a heavy DSLR may not always be ideal. The Olympus Tough TG-5 is a digital camera you can take to the extreme; whether you’re trekking the mountains or simply taking a leisurely dip in the pool, you can record those moments with this “tough” waterproof snapper. It even comes with dual-pane protective glass so you won’t have to worry about fogging up the glass when the temperatures change drastically.

If you’re looking for something more dynamic, it can record the action in glorious 4K resolution and create 120fps slow-motion movies in full HD. It’s definitely made for the great outdoors, with built-in WiFi and the ability to export field sensor data like compass, manometer, temperature, and images taken on the camera to a smartphone. Capture images in RAW format with the TG-5 so you can post-process and present the in all their glory.

NETGEAR ReadyNAS 214 4-Bay Network Attached Storage (Around P28,000)

After taking all those photos, a photographer will need some place to store them. NETGEAR offers a wireless storage solution via the ReadyNAS 214. It comes with 4 bays for up to 40TB of storage and blinding download speeds of up to 200MBps. No more messy data cables and lost memory cards; with this network-attached storage solution, backing up your photos and other data can be done automatically with little to no intervention.

Pelican 1600 Case with Foam (Around P18,000)

 

If you really need to lug around your DSLR while traveling, you need the ultimate protection for it because you never know what can happen during your trip. The watertight, crushproof, and dustproof Pelican 1600 Case with Foam is up to the task and proves it by offering a lifetime guarantee of excellence.

More than waterproof, the Pelican 1600 features an automatic pressure equalization valve that balances interior pressure and helps keep water out. An open cell core makes it lightweight but strong, and stainless steel hardware and padlock protectors give it the necessary protection. To make it the perfect holiday gift, personalize it with a custom nameplate via Pelican’s personalized nameplate service.

Godox TT685F 2.4G 1/8000s TTL HSS Flash Speedlite For Fujifilm Camera (Around P17,800)

Speedlites are not only for the DSLR big boys, and this one designed specifically for Fujifilm cameras is proof. Featuring a guide number (GN) of 60 and automatic and manual zoom modes, it comes with a flash duration that ranges from 1/300 to  1/20000. It even has an autofocus assist beam for lowlight situations. The package also includes a mini stand, a soft box, and a color filter kit to help you take your portraits to the next level.

Manfrotto Befree Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod w/ Ball Head (Around P15,000)

Sometimes you need to keep your hands still to take the perfect shot, and sometimes that can be very hard to do, especially if you’re holding a bulky DSLR with a long lens. Thankfully, Manfrotto has thought about these scenarios and created tripods to help you take sharp landscapes and group portraits.

The lightweight Befree Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod features a unique folding mechanism that fits its legs perfectly with the tripod head so it’s easy to carry anywhere using the included padded shoulder bag. Carbon fiber makes it strong and a delight to the eye with its Italian design. It’s also Manfrotto’s first ever tripod to include graphics on its first section.

Fujifilm Instax Mini 90 NEO CLASSIC (Around P9,000)

Nothing beats the feel of a printed photograph, but there’s also something to be said about instant gratification. Put the two together and you have a winning combination in the form of the Instax Mini 90. The NEO CLASSIC moniker is the instant camera’s design inspiration, with its classic design and advanced features. Featuring highlight features of traditional analog cameras like bulb and double exposures, macro mode, and a high-performane flash, its the instant camera for every photographer, regardless of skill level.

YONGNUO YN300 Air LED Camera Video Light (Around P2,000)

With its soft light and wide illuminating angle, the YONGNUO YN300 video light is excellent hen you need fill light that’s close to your subject. The best thing about it is the ability to adjust the color temperature from 3200K to 5500K so you always get your colors right.

You also control light intensity via two modes – a coarse tuning mode and a fine tuning mode – ensuring that your light setup is always accurate. A digital LED grid display at the back makes adjustments more intuitive, making light meters unnecessary.

Toshiba 64GB Ultra High Speed (UHS) SDXC Card (Around P1,050)

More storage space is always a good thing, and when it comes to hi-res photographs, read speeds also matter. The Toshiba 64GB Ultra High Speed (UHS) SDXC Card features both a high capacity and speeds of up to 40MB/s. It’s fully compliant with the latest SD Association specification and comes with a write-protect feature so you can secure your photos and other files from accidental overwrites. For peace of mind, it’s also backed by Toshiba’s  five-year limited standard warranty. – Rappler.com

Alexis has been a professional writer and editor since 2007 and has worked with website developers, online retailers, and medical and healthcare professionals. On the side, he dabbles in photography. His photography has been published on his Facebook page and on his blogs. You have to start somewhere, right?