All travel photographers – and other kinds of photographers, to be honest – know that the holiday season comes together with great hope of maybe, perhaps, who knows… getting some new gear from your loved ones. If you have a person like me, a travel photographer, in your life, this post might help you choose the best gifts for photographers on the go. And if you are a travel photographer, save this link and share it with your family and friends. You know, just by accident, without any hidden agenda behind it.
I’ve put together a list of my favorite products, tested and approved only for your amusement and fun on your next trip. This is a list of gifts for photographers focused on travel photographers, amateurs, and pros. But I’m sure any photographer will have a friendly smile on their face if they get something from this list.
Endless power for endless shootings
I don’t need to tell you that one of the essential things for any photographer on the go is power. So why not add this to your list of gifts for photographers in your life? Goal Zero came up with two necessary items if you like to spend hours outside taking photos or shooting videos.
The first one is just like an extra battery, the Venture35, for your phone but with a water-resistant differential. It comes with several USB ports and can charge your phone, camera, and laptop if you need it. I haven’t tested with the laptop because Apple demands an adapter for everything you want to do, and I’m unwilling to give them more money. So I’ve only tested with our Action Cam and both of our iPhones. It worked like a charm.
The second item Goal Zero has is a solar panel that can charge your stuff on the go, the Nomad10. With the size of an iPad, this solar panel can be easily attached to your backpack, bike, or purse and will secure endless charges for your devices and gear as long as you’re in the sun.
The test I’ve made was in the Autumn – that looks more like winter – here in Berlin, and it worked fine. I need to give it a few hours of charge, and then I can plug the iPhone or even the charger I’ve mentioned before. In the Brazilian summer, and since it is super sunny, was way better.
An item you should keep on your list of possible gifts for photographers in your life – all kinds of photographers. If you need to reach me, talk to me on our Discord, and I can give you “live” updates on that. But if something like that can deliver good results in the German Autumn, imagine what this can do with the proper sun?
Be ready for occasional storms.
If you are a professional or amateur photographer – and I’m not just talking to the travel photographers here – you know how frustrating it is to get all ready for that fantastic shoot, and BOOOMMM…the sky falls on your head. The potpourri of emotions is almost unbearable. “Where can I put my camera so it won’t get wet?”, “When will I have time to come back here to reshoot this place?”, “I wish my camera was a bit waterproof… Damn”.
Once water gets in, you can pretty much start to cry. And things get a lot worse if you’re in a unique and hard-to-reach place like the Faroe Islands. I’m using this example because on our 3 or 4 days there; we missed one of the spots I wanted to visit the most because the storm was too strong, and I felt unsafe with my camera.
The cool people from a company called Miggo developed a unique product for days like that. I’ve tried – and loved – the Agua Holster 45.
The Holster is perfect for water situations like rivers, waterfalls, and seas. It is a waterproof safe heaven for your gear while exploring the world.
The most important thing you should know before you start buying gifts for photographers on the go is how useful it is and the size—the smaller and more versatile, the better in most cases.
Time to go analog on this list of gifts for photographers
Recently Lomography – our newest partner – sent us some of their new instant cameras to test it. I have to say that I was impressed with how cool they are. On this list I’m showing you the Polaroid Instant Wide version, but there are others.
I had a Polaroid when I was growing up and I remember that I had the time of my life with it but for a Brazilian, getting the film packs were a bit too expensive. They fixed this problem by partnering with Fuji to use their film packs. You can buy 2 packs of 10 photos each for just a few euros. Just make sure you get the right size for your camera.
I don’t know if the price is lower in the US, but I can imagine they can be, and even though almost 0.50 cents is not super cheap, it is entirely worth it. It is so much fun you can’t even imagine.
The New Polaroid cameras are more convenient than the old Polaroids if we’re talking about the possibilities the camera gives you. Even though I’m a big fan of their vintage items. The films are still being produced and they give you an easier time shooting in different light settings. We have the discontinued Lomo version of the Polaroid and it is incredible! The photos you’ll see here are from our Lomos but unfortunately, they are now available anymore.
If you want to have a different memory from your travels, this can be an excellent addition to your life. I wouldn’t recommend taking these cameras on hiking or bike trips, but if you’re exploring a city alone or with your friends, sometimes a more tangible memory is 1000 times more precious than a digital one.
Canon keeps making it to my list of best gear – this time, Canon has three items on my top list of gifts for photographers.
We’ve talked a lot about our lovely and practical Action Camera before, and how it was our best friend on trips in the past. There’s a new version, and we approved it even though we haven’t reviewed it yet.
Some might argue that the fish-eye looks are tiring, and I won’t disagree with that 100%, but you can quickly fix this problem with a bit of patience on software like LightRoom. And since the camera can film in high resolution, it is ok if you need to crop a video.
I back this camera up for anybody starting with vlogging or wants a camera easier to stabilize with just your hands. since you hold the camera in your hand horizontally, it is easier to reduce any shake on the image.
But if you’re still not convinced and what a camera that can deliver better video quality, the photo is portable as fuck; my other love was the PowerShot G7X.
As you may know, sometimes they are sponsored by Canon, so we are constantly testing new gear. The PowerShot was with me for two months, and I loved it.
It is easy to handle, completely portable, and has an impressive video, photo, and sound quality for a point-and-shoot.
All the videos I did for Slovenia, Vorarlberg, Düsseldorf, and more were made with this lovely camera. Subscribe to our YouTube channel that eventually they will be there – I promise.
The third item from Canon is the lenses I reviewed here, the Canon EF 14/2.8L II USM. I will not repeat myself too much, but I can guarantee you that this lens is one of the best options if you’re looking to expand your collection. Sharp and reliable fixed lenses are always an excellent addition to every camera bag but how versatile this 14mm can be amazed me. I wish I could keep this lens forever.
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