I need Christmas gift ideas...

keith204 · Dec 8, 2007

What are some 25-50 dollar gadgets you have that you find useful in photography?

My family (gma, mom, dad, brother, in-laws, etc) are all asking what I want for Christmas... Do you have any ideas on inexpensive handy gadgets?

Alpha · Dec 8, 2007

Those special underwear that Mormons wear...for when I shoot nudes.

chrisk121 · Dec 8, 2007

Hmm.... Filters?

Sideburns · Dec 8, 2007

MaxBloom said:
Those special underwear that Mormons wear...for when I shoot nudes.

LMFAO!
If that's what I think it is...then you are my hero in this thread.

Also, as for photo accessories...
What about gift certificates to your printer?
Or...a photographer always needs more blank DVDs...
Perhaps more flash memory?
Mattes?
Frames?
Lightsphere?
Whaletail?
Triggers?

I dono...that's all I can think of.

OH. What about books? there's lots of good photography books I'm sure you haven't read yet.

JerryPH · Dec 8, 2007

- softbox
- rechargeable batteries
- books
- second/spare camera battery
- a camera case
- filters
- second recharger
- monopod
- extra memory card
- gift certificate
- a single strobe or flash stand, possibly even 2?
- an umbrella or 2?

If I took more time I am sure I could come up with at least 10 more... but its late and I am off to bed.

Mike_E · Dec 8, 2007

How about a Hong Kong wireless flash set up from e-bay.

Iron Flatline · Dec 9, 2007

Get Photobooks - not How-Tos but real books with interesting images in them. If you don't have any gadgets in mind then you don't really need them, and hardware at that level is not going to make you a better photographer.

There's a LOT of photographers that feel the photobook is the best possible medium for showing a series of work - not all photography needs to be printed Gursky / Burtynski large...

My in-laws have standing orders to give me photo books for all occasions. They come in virtually every price class. I have hundreds of photo and art books, and am on my way to building a nice collection.

First stop:

The Photo Book: A History, Vol. 1

The Photo Book: A History, Vol. 2

JIP · Dec 9, 2007

What do you have??? what do you need???? what do you shoot???. This is too difficult to figure out for someone else.

tuckerx · Dec 9, 2007

Voucher for camera shops so then you can get what you want?

keith204 · Dec 9, 2007

What I have:

40D
Sigma 70-200 f/2.8
Canon 17-85 IS
Sigma 24mm f/1.8
Canon 50mm f/1.8
Canon 430EX
Sunpak 383

UV filters for all lenses
77mm and 62mm Circular Polarizer for 70-200, 24mm, and 17-85
Hoods for all lenses except 50mm 1.8 (dont need a hood for that)

Hong Kong wireless flash triggers and Optical flash triggers
slingshot 300AW
Battery grip and enough camera batteries
Bogen/Manfrotto clamps and adapters
Light stand
A couple cheapo tripods and a cheapo monopod
Too many CF cards (2gb + 2gb + 4gb + 4gb + 4gb + 8gb) bought them on sale cheap, and pass them out when I have people shooting for me
2 umbrellas

----

what do I shoot?

races, races, races... soon basketball basketball basketball.

Other than that, I am learning portrait photography. family portraits, bro/sis portraits, etc. I have a booking this week for a group of skaters wanting some in-action shots. I also have a few people interested in aerial photography of their newly built house, dirtbike arena, etc

----

Here's what's sounded real good so far...

Softbox
Photobooks
Lightsphere
Nice(r) monopod
Rechargeable AA batteries
A second flash/strobe stand

--------
hey everyone thanks for the good advice! If we think of too many more things, I'll need to get more family!

JIP · Dec 9, 2007

You always need more memory.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/485774-REG/Lexar_CF2GB300380_2GB_UDMA_300x_CF.html

bellavita64 · Dec 9, 2007

If you plan on doing any outdoor portraits, reflectors are very handy. They are also fairly inexpensive. You can get a 5-in-1 reflector set for less than $50.