If you’re on a tight budget or just looking for affordable suggestions, here are some great gifts under $100. It’s never too soon to start your holiday shopping.
SanDisk Extreme Pro 128GB SDXC UHS-I U3 Class 10 V30 Card
A memory card might not seem like the most imaginative gift idea, but if there’s someone on your list who takes loads of photos or lots of video, one or more of these would make a welcome stocking stuffer. You could even tuck one into a Christmas card. They’re not only affordable but also tough as nails – protected against inhospitable temperatures as well as water, shocks and X-rays – and blazing fast. The read and write speeds are sufficient for capturing uninterrupted sequential burst-mode shots and flawless 4K UHD video. If you want to spend a bit less, they also come in 32 and 64GB capacities. (If money is no object and you can spend some more, they also go all the way up to 1TB.)
Pelican 0965 Micro Memory Card Case
Now, how about something to store all that storage? The Pelican 0965 memory card case is the perfect solution. It holds up to six CFexpress and/or XQD cards securely with a water-resistant seal to protect them from potential water and moisture damage. It also features a rugged polycarbonate exterior and a shock-absorbing insert liner to keep the cards well protected against the outdoor elements a roving photographer is bound to encounter. Pelican has a sterling reputation for the quality of its products and, as an added bonus, this one is guaranteed for life.
Lowepro GearUp Wrap
Here’s another affordable storage solution but with a more extensive and varied purpose. Larger than a wallet but smaller than a purse, it unfolds to reveal clear interior pockets that make it easy to find contents at a glance. The anodized aluminum clasp keeps it securely closed when carried or not in use. The GearUp Wrap serves as a convenient organizer, designed for small accessories including everything from memory cards and USB chargers to batteries, cords and cables. Another selling point for those who care: it’s made of 68% recycled fabrics, including the webbings, bindings and meshes, as part of the company’s farsighted efforts to reduce negative environmental impact.
Wacom Intuos S Black
If you’re unfamiliar with the Wacom brand, the Intuos S is a great entry point into their lineup of graphic tablets for creatives. You connect it to your computer – it’s both Mac and PC compatible – via the included USB cable and use the battery-free pen (also included) to draw, sketch and edit your compositions edge to edge across the tablet’s active drawing area. The pen uses electromagnetic resonance technology to provide more than 4,000 levels of pressure sensitivity and deliver what feels like a totally natural drawing experience (it’s also right- and left-hand compatible). This compact entry-level model is as slim as a smartphone, easy to store and highly portable. Once you’ve seen what you can do with this, you’ll probably want to keep it for yourself.
Rode VideoMicro Compact On-Camera Microphone w/ Red Lyre
For such a small and lightweight directional mic – it’s just 80mm in length and weighs only 42g – the Rode VideoMicro has a lot going for it. Focusing the audio in front of a camera while reducing distracting ambient sounds, it’s perfect for vlogging, as well as run-and-gun and other mobile applications. The included furry windshield further helps reduce unwanted outdoor noise. Secured snugly via the hot shoe, it runs on plug-in power supplied by the camera itself and requires no batteries to operate. Also included is a detachable suspension-style shockmount to minimize vibrations coming from the camera. It might not be small enough to fit into a stocking, but the ulatr-compact VideoMicro is still a great gift for anyone to find beneath the Christmas tree this holiday season.
