Xmas gift ideas for photographers

Xmas--time to give the photographer in your life something special

A while back Randy Habicht, one of my students, asked me to compile a wish list for him.

It wasn’t that long ago, I was in those shoes–a newbie.

I had more money than smarts when it came to gear.

Though still cameras have undergone so much transformation, so much is still the same.

The allure of seductive ads touting better, more responsive, higher megapixel, lower noise and all the other superlatives are still there.

And yes they are still as mouth-watering and tempting as the first time I laid eyes on that glossy ad for that Canon F-1 with motorized 6-frames-a-second body, powered by Hi power Nicad battery etc.

Back then, I had no life and I also didn’t have a girlfriend. 😉

Today, some 30 years since I bought my 1st camera, a Minolta XG1, the sales spiel is more confounding and laced with lots more techno-babble.

The accompanying buzz around something “new” or the latest piece of hardware is now noticeably much shorter.

The word “discontinued”  isn’t even used anymore.

If a customer asks for something “older,” the sales people push the new kid on the block.

They will say “ We have something better, the  Canon  “insert your lucky number here” D or Nikon D “insert your lucky number here” ?”

Are we to believe that advancements are being made at such an alarming rate? On average a new model is released 6 to 8 months.

It’s time to put the brakes on this kind of thinking.

You only have 2 hands and can really operate one camera-at-a-time. (I know, I know you can use remotes, but you know what I mean.)

Realistically since there is no such thing as too much gear for a photographer, a wish list is a good idea since it allows you to prioritize and buy gear as you need it, not when you want it.

That wish list will depend on:

  • the sort of person you are.  Practical versus impulsive
  • your bank account
  • the kind of subjects you’re interested in photographing
  • how serious you are
  • whether your spouse, significant other is there when UPS or Fedex delivers
  • how adapt you are at hiding that new purchase in the closet and casually introducing it without missing a beat

If you have a photographer in your life and you want to make their Christmas, make life easy on yourself.

Tell them to go to Amazon’s wish list
or BHPhoto and create a wish list.

Photo equipment can be very specialized and buying the wrong one can make returning and exchanging a hassle.

Except for someone like me, who’s bought tons of junk over the years, who knows better than the person you’re buying for?

Now that I mentioned that, if any of you reading this suddenly won the Lotto or got an inheritance and have donated to all the various charitable organizations you can think of, visit  my Amazon wish list and see if you can make my Christmas.

Excuse me now while I head to Amazon to add to my wish list.

What can I say? I’m an optimist. Even some AA batteries are better than nothing.


2 thoughts on “Xmas gift ideas for photographers”

  1. Hi Jim,
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