Holiday Gift Guide: Suggestions from Jim Richardson, Lindsay Adler, and Others
Are you on a hunt to find the ideal holiday gift for the photographer in your life? With so much photography gear and accessories out there, finding that ideal present can be challenging – why not ask experts?
Professional photographers understand gear more intimately than anyone, and we contacted several to see which pieces they couldn’t live without.
Take a look at their must-have gear under $500 and $100; these budget-conscious shoppers are sure to find something perfect here!
Favorite Gear Under $100
My go-to fun gear under $100 is my iPhone running Hipstamatic app with as many HipstaPaks of lenses and films that I can find for $100 (I own quite a few with quirky names, including Uchitel 20 and Robusta films and Ray Mark II and Florence lenses.) Though some might consider this “retro,” other National Geographic photographers have used Hipstamatic on assignments for the magazine; I know its appeal is strong for many National Geographic photographers too; with their frequent offerings of film/lens packs costing less than $3 they provide an inexpensive fix!
If you want something serious: My Rode VideoMic Me-L ($79.00). This iPhone microphone plugs directly into the Lighting connector, making it the easiest and quickest way I’ve found to improve audio on Instagram story posts without cables, batteries or settings – small enough for pocket use during daily recording of Scotland Fix of the Day videos.
Favorite Gear under $500 My Billingham camera bag ($125 and up). Every photographer should own at least one Billingham (I own several!) as part of their gear for when The Times of London sends them out to photograph Queen Elizabeth II, or when a weatherfront brings rain into Scotland for filming of The Crown episodes. Not only are these beauties beautiful to look at – with proper British leather trim and brass fittings – they are also practical: withstanding actual rain that falls while filming an episode or filming another episode for The Crown; these heritage quality camera bags will last long after lesser bags have given up the fight. Plus they go well with Barbour coats too.)