12 Christmas Gifts for your relative's camera bag.

Christmas can be a difficult time for lots of reasons, some serious and some pretty much a question of not knowing what present to buy someone. Well, if they are at all interested in photography, why not look at one of these gifts? They are only possible purchases and they cover a broad range of prices so there should be something there for everyone. You are not obliged to buy any of these of course but if you do, or if during the same browser session you purchase something from the Amazon store you will be helping me out in a small way, without any cost to yourself.

Here are my suggestions. Just click on any of the images below or use the search box to find exactly what you are looking for.

• Batteries - cameras eat battery power for breakfast. You never have enough, so either get Lithium-ion rechargeable ones or check if their camera takes standard AA ones.
• Memory- these days with digital you need something storage and as file sizes increase so the need for more storage. Check if they use SD or CF cards and whilst you are at it, ask them if they use their camera for video. If they do they might need cards that cope with the bit rate. if unsure go for at least a Class 10 card.
• Cleaning kit - a lens cloth, a little blower to remove dust from the sensor and some cleaning fluid especially for camera lenses.This would make an affordable but useful gift.
• Camera bag - maybe theirs is getting a bit old and tired looking, or they have more kit and need a bigger one. If they are particularly active and go out in all weathers make sure you choose one that can cope. It will say in the product info (waterproof or comes with a rain cover) or you can check on the manufacturer's web site if it doesn't say on Amazon.
• Gorilla tripod - these are great for fixing your camera in place when in awkward situations. They are flexible and come in various sizes.
• Book - sometimes we photographers just like to relax with a good book, either one that is practical (e.g. 'How to shoot portraits' or one full of inspirational images by one of the greats (Ansel Adams for instance if they are into landscape).
• Extension tubes - you amy wonder what these are but they go between lens and camera body and are used for macro photography. make sure you buy ones that are compatible with their camera gear. If they have a camera that has a fixed lens you can instead by close-up adapters that go on the front of the lens like filters do but give greater magnification. not quite as good as a macro lens or extension tubes but easy to use and reasonably priced.
• That brings us to filters. Maybe they scratched their UV filter and need a new one. Maybe they didn't buy one when they got the camera. Find out what size they need - you can do this when they are not looking by checking the front of their lens - it should say what size filter thread it is in mm.
• If you are feeling generous you may go to the expense of an extra lens. Check before buying that it's for the same brand and model of camera that they own. Also, you will want to get something that either covers a focal length they are lacking in their kit or is a much better quality than their kit lens that came with the camera. So, if they just have a standard kit lens of say 55-200mm that goes from F2.8 to F4.5 and they are interested in landscape, a wide angle lens with a focal length of say, 28mm would be ideal. Alternatively, they may have got interested in wildlife photography so a lens that covers from 200-400mm or a 300mm prime lens would be an  ideal gift.
• Studio lighting - if they have acquired an interest in portrait photography then a pair of studio lights with stands, umbrellas, cables, honeycomb, snoot, flash meter etc would get them started. Kits range from basic to professional level. Pricewise you are looking at £250 upwards (Pro systems cost thousands!).
• Courses - if they are wanting to learn how to become proficient at certain types of photography this could be right up their street. There are literally hundreds of courses, online and in person. You can learn wedding photography, macro photography, portraiture, wildlife photography, even street photography. Just search Google and make sure you use the filters to just search UK ones (or US/Canada etc). You could even search in Google with a search term like "photography courses London" and it will come up with a map and likely candidates. Or, alternatively buy them a photography magazine (it will have courses advertised) and then surprise them with the course!
• A new camera! - maybe they haven't yet dipped their toes into photography but have expressed an interest. A camera kit (body, lens, batteries and charger etc) would make a great gift.

So, those are the kinds of gift you can look at purchasing for your loved one. If nothing suitable shows up in the widget below just use the search box at the top of the widget. If you do this you will be helping me out in a small way, for which I am very grateful.