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Gift for brother who's a hobbiest photographer?

F

fs5

Lifer
He has some sort of Canon DSLR, a decent flash, and one decent lens. I don't know what kind of flash or lense he has.

Any suggestions for a present for a hobbist photographer? ~$200 range.
 
Are you sure you want to give him a photo related gift? It's hard to give a gift to a photographer without knowing what kind of equipment he has and what he needs/his goals are.
 
Nothing to do with photography. He already knows what he likes, what he wants, & where to get it better then anyone else. Get home something totally different.
 
There're a lot of things. What kinds of photos does he take? Landscape, macro, telephoto, etc. Does he go for long periods out into the field (where he may need more memory)? Does he already have a good tripod and ballhead? For $200 I wouldn't get him a lens, since a good lens costs more than this.

EDIT: I would tend to agree with the above. Maybe just give him a check for $200?
 
Originally posted by: fuzzybabybunny
There're a lot of things. What kinds of photos does he take? Landscape, macro, telephoto, etc. Does he go for long periods out into the field (where he may need more memory)? Does he already have a good tripod and ballhead? For $200 I wouldn't get him a lens, since a good lens costs more than this.

EDIT: I would tend to agree with the above. Maybe just give him a check for $200?
Click to expand...

so complicated! 🙂 I was just hoping there would be one item that all photographers want but not necessary. Like some filters? Are those universal? A decent macro lense is more than $200?
 
Originally posted by: fs5
Originally posted by: fuzzybabybunny
There're a lot of things. What kinds of photos does he take? Landscape, macro, telephoto, etc. Does he go for long periods out into the field (where he may need more memory)? Does he already have a good tripod and ballhead? For $200 I wouldn't get him a lens, since a good lens costs more than this.

EDIT: I would tend to agree with the above. Maybe just give him a check for $200?
Click to expand...

so complicated! 🙂 I was just hoping there would be one item that all photographers want but not necessary. Like some filters? Are those universal? A decent macro lense is more than $200?
Click to expand...

Yup yup yup.

Filters: What thread size? 48mm, 52mm, 56mm, 62mm, etc, What brand? What coating?
Macro Lens: what working distance does he need? Does he even want macro? It he eyeing ANOTHER macro lens? No macros under $200.

Basically, there are so many models and sizes and brands and specs of gear that it's almost impossible for an outsider to predict what a hobbyist photographer would want.

Sorry 😛
 
You could get him a Canon 50mm f/1.8 lens for under $100. It's a nice lens that anyone would like and I doubt it's the only one that he has now.

At Amazon.com

Edit: Then you could also get him a nice LowePro camera bag for under $100. I like the shoulder bag style, but he might a backpack.

LowePro
 
Vertical Grip would be nice.
(only if there's one for his camera)

Thus, you need to know what kind of Canon Dslr he has.
 
BTW, post any pictures he's taken, so that we can look at the EXIF information to see what kind of DSLR/lens he has.
 
uhh, and maybe a reverse ring for the canon 50mm f1.8 so he can mount the lense backwards on top of his other lense, that way he gets macro

Or maybe the canon 50mm and a tube set, a different way of getting macro. You can by a set of three tubes from other makers than canon for less than $100.
 
Originally posted by: fs5
He has some sort of Canon DSLR, a decent flash, and one decent lens. I don't know what kind of flash or lense he has.

Any suggestions for a present for a hobbist photographer? ~$200 range.
Click to expand...

If he doesn't have one, I like the tripod idea. IIRC you can get a "good enough" tripod and case for under $75. I believe I have a Slik U9000 which I have had for years and it looks like those are only $50.

No, it is not the "ultimate" accessory but it does come in handy and I don't think you need to spend a fortune on it. An added bonus would be to pick up a nice lightweight monopod for him as well - those are more useful for sports/action/nature photography and easy to carry around.
 
If he has a laptop as well, get him a Lowepro Computrekker AW. It holds an SLR, flash, several lenses and a laptop.
I just ordered mine to replace my Classic Trekker.
If he doesn't have a decent tripod, get him a nice ballhead. And leave the tripod up to him, since there is a million different ones.

Does he like portraits? Maybe a one light AlienBee studio strobe package. (AB300, lightstand, umbrella)
 
If he's only a hobbist with one lense and flash he may appreciate the aforementioned memory card. You can also consider photo software and a decent Canon photo printer, inks and paper.
 
Originally posted by: foghorn67
If he has a laptop as well, get him a Lowepro Computrekker AW. It holds an SLR, flash, several lenses and a laptop.
I just ordered mine to replace my Classic Trekker.
If he doesn't have a decent tripod, get him a nice ballhead. And leave the tripod up to him, since there is a million different ones.

Does he like portraits? Maybe a one light AlienBee studio strobe package. (AB300, lightstand, umbrella)
Click to expand...

Photographers can get very picky about bags. I swear I ovaries or something - I have a Lowepro backpack, a Crumpler backpack, a couple Domke shoulder bags, and I'm still not happy. The thought is nice but let him pick out the bag he wants.

As far as the strobe, the AB400 package runs a little more than $200. But there are cheaper alternatives (good read).
 
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