This post is a first of its kind for us. But we know that many of you out there are shutter-bugs yourselves, or perhaps there’s one close to you. Or maybe you’re just really generous and want to get your family photographer something special for Christmas. Whatever the case, here are five reasonably priced ideas for the photography enthusiast in your life.

Opteka Excursion Series C700 Camera Bag – $45

This bag is rugged, durable canvas, with pockets everywhere. The hardware is extremely high quality, made of brass. The zippers are also heavy duty. The bag comes with a weatherproof cover, and extremely well padded shoulder attachment.

The bag comfortably holds an SLR camera body, 2 or 3 additional lenses, a flash unit and lots of miscellaneous goodies. At $45 this bag performs just as well as much more expensive options and the classic look isn’t hurting anything either.

Canon or Nikon 50mm f/1.8 Prime Lens - $106 and $124 (respectively)

That last little number you see at the end of a lens’ name (in this case, 50mm f/1.8) is the Aperture of the lens. It is in part responsible for allowing light into the camera. The smaller that number, the more light it will let in. Practically speaking, a lens such as this one allows a photographer to shoot in lower light conditions, without needing to use a flash. With this lens, shooting around a dinner table, in a dim restaurant, the children’s bedroom or at the tail end of dusk, is within reach.

These lenses are highly rated for their price and quality. These aren’t the nicest lenses you can buy. In fact, they’re quite cheap. But the image quality is excellent and that’s what counts.

These are prime lenses, which means they do not zoom.

Lenspen – $10

The Lenspen is a lens cleaning tool. It’s compact, quick and works in the studio and in the field. The results are top notch.

One end of the pen is a retractable brush for removing debris like dust, while the other end is the carbon pen which is used to quickly polish off smudges on the glass. The carbon on the tip is quickly replenished inside the cap.

This is a tool that every photographer should have in his or her bag.

Coco Ring Flash Adapter – $50

This one is a little quirky. They will need to already own a good flash unit from Canon or Nikon.

This adapter fits over the end of the flash unit and extends the light down around the lens, creating a high end fashion photography look to the light. This is a cheap knock off of a much more expensive unit. But, at a quarter the price, it performs nearly identically to the official product.

This might be the perfect gift for the budding fashion photographer.

Think Tank Memory Card Wallet – $19

Photographers are always juggling memory cards. Professionals often have dozens, if not hundreds of them. Keeping track of them can be challenging and finding a memory card holder that keeps lots of cards in one place, while still being compact enough to throw in the camera bag, can be challenging.

Think Tank’s offering is durable, but lightweight, and comfortably holds 10 Compact Flash Cards—or probably a lot more SDHC cards.

iTunes Gift Cards – $15, $25, $50, $100

The iPod Touch, the iPhone and the iPad have proven themselves to be indispensible tools for photographers. Apps for photographers are overflowing from the Apple App Store. You can find apps for calculating the suns position, calculating exposure settings, learning new photography styles, even learn and design studio lighting set ups on the fly.

If the photographer in your life is an Apple user, the iTunes gift card might be the most versatile gift you could give them (without just cheating and giving them cash).

Be Sociable, Share!

•