It’s almost that time of the year again! If you’re like me, figuring out what to buy for the people in your life isn’t easy and it’s even harder when they’re photographers! People that love photography are notoriously difficult to find gifts for. It’s especially difficult if you’re not familiar with cameras yourself so this guide is for everyone that needs a gift for their favorite camera geek…or perhaps the photog that wants to buy themselves something nice for the holidays!
Here’s the first part of our Holiday Gift Guide, designed to help you find a great present for a new photographer you know!
The Entry Level DSLR: Canon Rebel T5i and Nikon D3300
Everyone starts somewhere and an entry level DSLR is everything you need to begin your photo journey. Both cameras come with a compact, lightweight kit lens with a versatile 18-55mm range and image stabilization for keeping shots steady. For the photographer looking to take that next step from their point-and-shoot camera or smartphone, an entry level DSLR has it covered.
…and the mirrorless alternative: Sony A5100 and Fuji X-A2
Most people that aren’t familiar with cameras would probably assume the bigger the camera, the better the image quality. A couple of years ago, they wouldn’t be wrong but 2015 has seen mirrorless cameras really come into their own to the point where it’s no longer a question of image quality but of size, weight and handling.
The obvious advantage mirrorless cameras have is that they’re smaller and lighter than their DSLR counterparts. However, they lack some features such as an optical or electronic viewfinder. If you have larger hands, holding one is not going to be as comfortable as a larger SLR body. It’s really a matter of personal preference.
The First Extra Lens: 50mm (or 50mm equivalent)
Whenever anyone asks what lens they should buy after they’ve exhausted all the kit lens has to offer, the answer is usually a 50mm F1.8 prime. It’s an incredibly useful focal length that can be used for nearly everything from landscapes to portraits while the large F1.8 aperture is great for learning about depth of field.
Best of all? The 50mm F1.8 is not only usually one of the most affordable lenses in a manufacturer’s lineup, it’s also one of the sharpest!
The following lenses will give you a 50mm field of view:
Nikon: AF-S 35mm F1.8G DX Nikkor
Fuji: XF 35mm F2 R WR
Sony: SEL 35mm F1.8 OSS
Panasonic: LUMIX G 25mm F1.7
Olympus: M.Zuiko 25mm F1.8
Pentax: SMC P-DA 35mm F2.4 AL
Unfortunately Canon doesn’t make an EF-S 35mm but they do have the ubiquitous “Nifty Fifty” EF 50mm F1.8 STM, which gives a roughly 80mm field-of-view with a T5i. It is, however, also the only full-frame lens on this list so it will work with higher-end Canon DSLRs if you decide to upgrade down the road.
The original Nifty Fifty Canon lenses are cult classics, favored by many Canon shooters for their wallet friendliness as well as image quality. The new STM model just improves on an already great lens.
The Bag: Lowepro Fastpack BP 150 AW II, Think Tank SubUrban Disguise 20
The best way to get better at taking photos is simply to take a ton of them and you can’t practice your skills if you don’t have your camera with you. For most photographers, a camera bag is one of the more personal matters of taste when it comes to gear. Sure, there are lots of cameras on the market but once you choose a brand and a system, choices get limited quick.
Bags, on the other hand, are nearly limitless in style and size. Just about every photographer I know has more than one for the different situations we find ourselves in on jobs but everyone has to start from somewhere.
The Think Tank Sub Urban Disguise 20 is a compact shoulder bag that has enough space to accommodate a DSLR and extra lens or two or a modest mirrorless setup along with a couple personal items. It’s also quite durable and is reasonably weather-resistant with high-density nylon and a water-repelling coatings.
If you prefer backpacks, the Lowepro Fastpack BP 150 AW II is a great, lightweight daypack with space for a camera, a couple lenses and other gear with enough room left over for a jacket and lunch. The AW is for “all weather” as the bag includes an all-weather cover in case the outer nylon shell isn’t enough.
Wearing a backpack is much more comfortable than a shoulder bag on hikes or any more physical than a walk through the city but your gear is more immediately accessible in a shoulder bag. Picking the right one depends on the sort of photographer that’s wearing it.
The Tripod: Manfrotto Compact Advanced Tripod with Head Kit, Joby GorillaPod SLR-Zoom
One of the biggest mistakes beginners make is purchasing a cheap tripod. I went through this myself when I was starting out. They’re just fancy sticks, aren’t they? Shouldn’t everything be about the same? That’s what everyone thinks before their expensive camera comes crashing to the ground because they put it on a flimsy tripod.
But picking a good tripod doesn’t mean you need to break the bank. Our pick, Manfrotto’s Compact Advance Tripod with Head Kit is budget friendly and solid enough for most entry level DSLRs with a maximum load weight of 6.6lbs (a Canon T5i with kit lens weighs just under 2 pounds).
For a more compact option, Joby’s ubiquitous GorillaPod is a good choice for an ultra-lightweight kit. You won’t get it to eye-level with it’s only about a foot tall but the flexible legs make it easy to mount your camera almost anywhere. The smaller GorillaPods are great for compact cameras or smartphones but for a DSLR or mirrorless setup, we recommend the SLR-Zoom model, which can carry up to 6 pounds.