Shopping for someone Whose love of taking photos conflicts with the creative limitations imposed by their iPhone camera? There’s a whole world of photography gifts and gear out there, but you don’t need to look for an expensive new camera body to get a worthwhile gift. If you want to stay healthy, well below the $1,000 threshold you’d spend on a new mirrorless digital camera, these fun options prioritize play and can expand anyone’s photography horizons.
As far as hobbies are concerned, photography is very personal – everyone has their own style, preferences and equipment settings. Personally, I started shooting about two decades ago with an old 35mm camera I inherited from my grandfather (an old Canon AE-1 now – it was everywhere!) and I still prefer relatively simple rural equipment.
As an amateur who mostly takes adventure and nighttime photos (outside of work-related photojournalism) and occasionally sells my prints, I’ve tested all types of camera gear, including DSLRs, mirrorless cameras, action cameras, and many, many lenses. These days, I mostly shoot digitally, but film and physical prints are making a comeback, a trend our gift guide clearly indicates.
For anyone experimenting with photography and looking to get out of the smartphone photography mindset, film and instant photography provide an exciting and tangible starting point.
Price: $79 on Amazon
In recent years, the prevailing aesthetic in social media has shifted from idealized and polished to something more casual reminiscent of Polaroid’s heyday. After its sudden death, Polaroid is back, thankfully, but Fujifilm seems to be having the most fun with instant photography at the moment.
the Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 He is the perfect embodiment of that. The camera isn’t expensive and doesn’t take itself too seriously, with a game-like design that would be at home in the back of Twitch’s pastel dreamscape. The format is a little smaller than classic Polaroid, but the film is readily available and still captures the fun and serendipity of printing photos quickly.
Price: $33 on Amazon
If you have an aspiring content creator on your gift list—or someone who just wants better vacation shots—the Joby set of tripods will instantly up their game. This is Gorilla BudDesigned for smartphones, it allows you to securely mount your phone almost anywhere so you can take advantage of the high-resolution front camera. Flexibility can come in handy at home too, for example for filming content for the Close Up Magic YouTube channel or funky crochet crafts on TikTok.
Price: $295 on Amazon
GoPro is synonymous with photography for a reason. These cameras are powerful, compact, and designed from the ground up for extreme environments and fast-paced adventures. If you want to record a surfing session or snowboarding streak, GoPro is the industry standard for a reason. They take great still photos and video considering the conditions, and the small, boxy cameras can be purchased with a plethora of accessories that make them even more indispensable, from stands and handles to flotation devices. If you want to save some money on a GoPro, look at a model that was produced a year or two ago (GoPro Hero 12 Black is the current model) – The best performances in photography are often on cameras produced a few years ago that manufacturers keep in stock. This same logic applies to almost all cameras and bodies, so keep that in mind if you’re looking to get a good deal.
Price: $219
Price: $90
Photography gear is a personal matter, and so are bags (as TechCrunch’s Bag of the Week makes abundantly clear). Everyone has different preferences for what they want from their backpack, messenger bag, or sling. On the other hand, no one ever feels angry about having too many bags to strategically transport different sets of things to different far away places. Peak Design is known in the photography community for its carefully designed camera bags and accessories, but you can also check out Wandrd for what we think are great-looking packs with plenty of nooks and crannies for the gear. Both brands have a range of options across price points, from small hip belt packs for one extra lens to backpacks that fit a full range of gear on the go.
Price: $234 on Amazon
Well, we have already talked about another Fujifilm instant camera but this one belongs in a class of its own. the Instax Mini Evo It takes a different approach to instant photography, adding a large number of relatively sophisticated filters and options without undermining the point and ease of clicking that make instant photos so fun. The Instax Mini Evo functions as a traditional instant camera like its siblings, but offers one big twist. Instead of shooting and printing on the spot, you can shoot and then select the photo you want to print — a huge boon considering how many poorly framed instant photos we’ve printed while trying to get the shot right. You can also use the Mini Evo as a standalone instant photo printer, sending smartphone photos to the device wirelessly to print your best shots. Sure, it’s cheating, but it’s also really flexible and fun – and that’s what photography is all about.
Old camera (variable)
If you take this dreamy, grainy photography trend to its logical conclusion, why not go back to film? As with instant photos, film photography is making a comeback, and for good reason. Shooting with film isn’t like taking a million shots with your iPhone. This process slows you down, forces you to be intentional, and the shots end up feeling more personal. For a truly special camera gift for fans of the vintage aesthetic, head to your local vintage camera store and pick up a 35mm camera and some good film. You You can shop online, but browsing in person if you have a vintage store nearby parallels the tangible magic of film photography. Either way, you’ll help keep film photography shops in business, and you’ll end up with a thoughtful and unique gift.
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