By Jon Canfield
Are you looking for gift ideas for the digital photographer on your list? Perhaps you're looking for ideas for yourself. Whether you're a dedicated pro, or take casual snapshots, there are plenty of options to choose from. I've rounded up a list of items I've either found useful, or have drooled over for myself. One word of advice though, if you're the drooling type, wear a bib!
Low cost options
Not everything digital is expensive, and not everything needed by a digital photographer has to be digital itself. In fact, some of the most useful items are sure to fit any budget. All the items listed in this category are $10 or less.
LensPen -- about $10
With a soft brush at one end and a cleaning pad at the other, the LensPen, shown in Figure A, will make quick work of dust and smudges on your lens without worrying about scratches.
FIGURE A
The LenPen is a lens brush and cleaning pad all in one. (click for larger image)
Konica Minolta inkjet papers -- about $7
In Figure B, the new line of papers from Konica Minolta work equally well on dye or pigment ink jets, and come in satin or glossy finishes.
FIGURE B
Konica Minolta's new line of papers work on many printers and come in a range of finishes. (click for larger image)
Tiffen UV filters -- starting around $10
Which would you rather replace a $10 filter or a $200 lens? The Tiffen UV filters shown in Figure C are cheap insurance for expensive lenses, and they help cut down on UV light.
FIGURE C
A UV filter is much cheaper to replace than your expensive lens. (click for larger image)
Energizer Lithium batteries -- around $9
To paraphrase someone, you can never be too thin, too rich, or have enough batteries. If your digital uses replaceable batteries, the Energizer Lithium brand you see in Figure D will keep it going, and going, and going.
FIGURE D
The Energizer Lithium series is designed to provide the high energy and long-lasting power cameras need. (click for larger image)
Moving on up.
If your budget has a little more room, say up to $100, these gift ideas will go over well.
Memory cards -- around $100
A year ago, I would have been recommending 128 MB or maybe 256 MB memory cards in this category. Thanks to prices that are sinking faster than the Titanic, that same $100 will buy you as much as 1 GB of Compact Flash or SD memory from SanDisk and Lexar, like in Figure E.
FIGURE E
Last year's $100 will now buy this year's high capacity memory cards. (click for larger image)
ColorPlus -- $99
If you haven't calibrated your monitor yet, you aren't getting the consistent results you need. What are you waiting for? The ColorPlus system in Figure F has made the whole monitor calibration process easy and affordable.
FIGURE F
A correctly calibrated monitor ensures better image results. (click for larger image)
nik Color Efex Pro -- $99 for standard edtition
This set of filters for Photoshop and Photoshop Elements makes it easy to enhance and color correct your images. The standard kit, in Figure G, includes 19 useful filters for digital photographers.
FIGURE G
The filters in Color Efex Pro will help you color correct your images. (click for larger image)
Photoshop Elements 3.0 -- $99
The new version of Photoshop Elements will keep all but the diehard pro photographer happy as a clam. Elements, shown in Figure H, now includes RAW file conversion and a revamped file browser.
FIGURE H
Photoshop Elements is an economical trade-off for the full version of Photoshop. (click for larger image)
ProShow Gold -- $69
If you want to show off those photos but Granny doesn't have a computer, there's a solution. In Figure I is ProShow Gold, which will let you build a slideshow Ken Burns would be proud of, then burn it to a DVD, complete with menus, for display on computers or TVs.
FIGURE I
ProShow Gold will let you share your photos with others as DVD slideshows. (click for larger image)
The sky's the limit
If money is no object, then you're sure to make a hit with one of these goodies. And, if money is no object, would you be interested in adopting me?
Wacom Intuos3 Tablet -- $329
Using a mouse for image editing is like painting the Mona Lisa with a crayon. Sure, you can do it, but it's not the best tool for the job. The Wacom tablet in Figure J has been the choice of pros for years, and the new Intuos3 tablet adds programmable keys and a better pen.
FIGURE J
Graphics tablets, like this Wacom, give you much better control than a mouse. (click for larger image)
If $329 is too cheap, get the bigger size for $499, or really splurge and go with the Cintiq, with its own LCD to draw on, for $1900.
Epson 4000 -- $1800
Think bigger is better? You'll love the Epson 4000 printer. The Epson 4000, shown in Figure K, prints up to 17" x 22", has eight large ink tanks, and its beautiful output will take care of almost anyone's printing needs (and cover a fair amount of your desktop at the same time).
FIGURE K
The desktop real estate the Epson 4000 takes up is more than made up for by its 17" x 22" prints. (click for larger image)
HP DesignJet 130 -- $1295
You want even bigger? Seen in Figure L is the HP DesignJet 130, which prints up to 24" wide and uses HP's new 6-color ink system for vibrant colors.
FIGURE L
The HP DesignJet 130 gives vibrant 24" wide prints. (click for larger image)
Canon Pixma iP8500 -- $399
If your printing needs are more realistic, the new Canon Pixma iP8500 should fit the bill. Using the same 8-color ink set as the highly regarded i9900, the Pixma, in Figure M, throws in dual paper paths and double-sided printing in a smaller package.
FIGURE M
With an 8-color ink set, the Pixma offer double-sided printing. (click for larger image)
Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II -- $7999
At $7999, the EOS 1Ds Mark II in Figure N, Canon's latest full-frame digital SLR, boasts a 16.7 MP resolution, four frames per second shutter speed, and a build quality that will handle just about anything.
FIGURE N
Not for the faint of heart, this $8000 digital SLR from Canon boasts 16.7 megapixels. (click for larger image)
This is the ultimate for Canon users (and would make a wonderful "welcome to the family" gift if you did adopt me).
Nikon D2x -- about $5000
Nikon shooters will love the new D2x for about $5000. Shown in Figure O, the D2x comes with a 12.4 MP resolution, new and improved auto focus system, a unique high-speed mode, and looks to be an excellent upgrade for Nikon.
FIGURE O
At 12.4 megapixels, the D2x from Nikon offers many features new to Nikon's digital line. (click for larger image)
Finally, how about some reading material for those long winter nights? Available for under $20 from Amazon, and in most bookstores, I shamelessly recommend my own book, Photo Finish: The Digital Photographer's Guide to Printing, Showing, and Selling Images seen in Figure P, to help you get the most from the digital photos you take.
FIGURE P
Fulfilling the requisite self promotion, my book can help the burgeoning digital photographer get the most from their work. (click for larger image)
Conclusion
There's always that one person on your list that's impossible to buy for because they already have everything, or you just plain don't know what to get them. If that person on your list is a digital photographer, this handy gift guide should head you down the right road, and just might make you the shining star of their holiday season.