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My 9th Annual Gonzo Holiday Gear Guide

Welcome to my "9th Annual Gonzo Holiday Gear Guide" (yes, last year I brought the "Gonzo" back after a brief break because just calling it a "Holiday Gear Guide" lacked that certain, I dunno, "gonzoness.") So, I now bring you the blog-version of my "Gonzo Holiday Gear Guide" (which appears in the current issue of Photoshop User magazine, seen above) whose light burns brighter than a thousand suns (insert dramatic pause here), featuring an unbridled collection of 100% absolutely necessary gear that there's no way we can see clear to live another minute of our hopeless, desperate lives without. (I gotta tell ya, you have to search far and wide to find any holiday gear guide that uses the terms "hopeless" and "desperate" in the opening paragraph, which is more irrefutable proof that this guide truly stands alone.)

Before we get to the list, remember that the holidays aren't about which gifts you get. They're about how many gifts you get, and the person who dies with the most gifts wins. (By the way, you can now add "dies" to "hopeless" and "desperate," making this the most riveting of all gear guides ever!) Okay, folks, watch your Geschwindigkeitsbegrenzung, because here we go!

THE RULES:

These are my self-imposed guidelines for which products make it into the guide. It's just two rules actually. First, to be listed here they have to be products that I use myself, and that I absolutely love, and now can't live without (well, I could live without them, but I wouldn't want to). Second, if a product makes the guide, it has to be one I would recommend to a close friend without hesitation, especially if my friend is a personal injury attorney (kidding).

Gear Guide Categories:

In sacred Gonzo tradition, I'm breaking things into three distinct categories:

1: Stocking Stuffers (You can also use these as actual holiday gifts if you're not that crazy about the person.)
2: Great Value Gear (Stuff that's a really good deal for not a lot of money, but he or she will totally dig it.)
3: Cha-ching! (Stuff you buy for the doctor/lawyer/rap mogul on your holiday gift list. This is the stuff that makes them burst into spontaneous tears of joy. Well, at least I would.)

STOCKING STUFFERS

Really Nice Photo Paper

If the photographer on your holiday list has a printer, this is a gift she will truly love because you can never have enough paper (or ink for that matter). Recently, I saw some absolutely beautiful papers from Freestyle Photographic Supplies when I was at Photoshop World in Vegas. You can get an Epson Premium Photo Paper Glossy for $11.99. Sweet!

PRICE
Starting at around $11.99

Remote Shutter Release (Wireless or Wired)

This is one of those gifts that every photographer at one time or another will need, but it's one of the last things we think to buy, which is what makes it such a great gift. You'll need to know the make and model of his camera so you get the right type of connector. Prices start at around $18 for a Nikon or Canon wireless release. Sadly, the better DSLR he has, the more the cable release that works for that camera costs, so just hope he has a lower-end model.

PRICE
Starting at around $18

Spare Battery

I love this stocking stuffer because even if he has a spare battery, he would still love another one. It's one of those can't-go-wrong stocking stuffers. They're usually fairly inexpensive (from around $40-60), unless of course, he has a high-end camera like a Canon EOS-1Dx ($165) or a Nikon D4s ($149), in which case this gift may test the limits of your friendship. Just sayin'.

PRICE
Starting at around $40

Collapsible Rubber Lens Hood

This is a really great stocking stuffer because your photographer will love it. They're awesome because they save space while protecting her lens from damage and lens flare, and it looks like it costs a lot more than it did. They start at $4.95. Of course, the price depends on the size of her lens measured in millimeters. For example, a typical 70-200mm lens uses a 77mm size lens hood, which is still only $19.95 at B&H Photo if you buy the B+W brand, and less than half that if you buy the General Brand lens hood.

PRICE
Starting at $4.95

Some Cool Books

He will love Night Photography: From Snapshots to Great Shots by Gabriel Biderman and Tim Cooper (around $16 on Amazon), or how about Matt Kloskowski's awesome eBook Landscape Photography Workflow Using Lightroom and Photoshop for $9.99 on Amazon. (It's an eBook for Kindle or the Kindle app on your tablet or smartphone.) Hey, he might like my new book, part 5 of my The Digital Photography Book series (just $15.80 on Amazon in print or $9.99 for the eBook version), or if you want to splurge a little (and he shoots portraits), get him Picture Perfect Posing by Roberto Valenzuela (around $30 at Amazon).

PRICE
Starting at $9.99

GREAT VALUE GEAR

Macphun Tonality Pro

The king of black-and-white conversion plug-ins had always been Nik Software's Silver Efex Pro (now part of the Nik Collection by Google), and it's still a great plug-in, but there may be a new king in town. Macphun has created a killer black-and-white conversion tool at less than half of the price of buying the Nik Collection. The Pro version is $69.99 and it totally kicks butt! If your photographer is into black and white, this will become her new tool of choice. (The only caveat is that it's Mac only, so make sure she uses a Mac first.)

PRICE
S69.99

Think Tank Photo Airport Roller Derby

It's a four dual-wheel roller camera bag that she will absolutely go bonkers over! It holds a ton of gear, and it glides through the airport like it's on rails. Lots of room for lots of gear, and a very well-thought-out bag all the way around (plus, it fits in the overhead bin with no problem). However, fabulous eight-wheeled bags don't come cheap: it's around $390. Give it to someone you love, or someone you want to love you who doesn't yet, but will after you give her this.

PRICE
$389.75

MagMod Modular Flash Modifiers

There are a lot of great flash modifiers out there, and MagMod is a new player in this market, but I gotta tell ya, their magnetic system of flash modifiers is so incredibly easy to use that you'll be a hero when the photographer on your list uses this system for the first time. The MagMod Basic Kit is $89, which comes with the MagGrip, MagGrid, and MagGel (magneticâ”it just pops on and off) but then you (or he) can buy accessories fairly inexpensively like $19 for the Creative Gel Set or $25 for the MagGel 2 Slot Kit. Cool stuff!

PRICE
Starting at $89

BlackRapid CURVE (RS-7) Strap

I learned about this strap about four years ago on one of my photo walks and I've been using one ever since. The strap wraps across the body (great for safety since a thief can't just grab it off your shoulder and take off), and the camera hangs upside-down at the side ready to slide up the strap and shoot at anytime. Really can't say enough about 'em. Around $62 at B&H. Totally worth it.

PRICE
$61.95

Cactus Wireless Flash Transceiver V5

These are so inexpensive it probably should have been listed under stocking stuffers, but don't let the low price fool youâ”these puppies work amazingly well. They're used for firing your flash or strobes wirelessly and they do a great job of it, even if they're not the prettiest wireless units out there. A set of two is around $75 (and yes, he'll need twoâ”one goes on top of his camera in the hot-shoe mount, the other attaches to the flash itself).

PRICE
$74.95 for two

SmugMug Portfolio

It's never been more important to have an online portfolio, and SmugMug's gorgeous, newly designed templates have taken the world by storm. If the photographer on your holiday list doesn't have an online portfolio yet (or if she does and she has dreamed of selling her work online), this is the ticket. Their Basic plan is just $40 for a yearâ”so get her a year plan. She'll love you for it!

PRICE
Starting at $40/year

3 Legged Thing Punks - VYV Magnesium Alloy Tripod & Airhed

I started using one of these British tripods this year and I really love it, and the photographer on your gift list would totally love one, too! It makes an awesome travel tripod and it comes with a ballhead. It has reversible legs so it folds up really small, and it's super lightweight, but amazingly sturdy. B&H carries it for $199. You'll get lots of love in return.

PRICE
$199

Battery Grip

This is one of those gifts that he will love you for forever because it's so handy, and it will make his camera look and feel more like a high-end pro camera. It also gives him a second battery holder and a shutter button for when he's shooting vertical. They start at around $50 for a third-party grip, but if you buy a Nikon or Canon brand, expect to pay at least two to three times as much, so give the Vello brand at B&H a serious look. You'll be a holiday hero for this one!

PRICE
Starting at $49.95

MPIX Modern Metal Print

Want to really make a photographer lose her mind? Gift her one of her own images printed on metalâ”it's like seeing her image in HD for the first time. Just remarkable! (By the way, this isn't metallic paper; this is printing on actual metal.) MPIX rocks at these metal prints and you will rock for giving them. They start at $33.99 for an 8×10 (the 12×18 is a good deal at $59.99).

PRICE
Starting at $33.99

B&H Gift Card

Not sure exactly what to get him? Yes you do. Get him a B&H Gift Card. I don't know anyone who doesn't want something from the greatest photo store on earth, plus this way he can get whatever he wants (within the limit of how much you put on the card, of course). You can order them directly from the B&H site. They send a card and a catalog so it looks pretty substantial.

PRICE
Starting at $20

Westcott Zeppelin

While this isn't nearly the most expensive gift in this gear guide, it's the biggest, so it may have the most physical impact. It's quite properly named because this mammoth softbox will give you maximum impact as it slowly casts a shadow over the studio space. Okay, I may be overdramatizing the size, but not the impact. Through a clever design, this new softbox allows you to focus and shape the beautiful light by sliding the actual strobe inside the softbox. She will love you for it. Westcott Zeppelin lights cost $399.90 for the 35″ model; $499.90 for the 47″ model; and $699.90 for the 59″ model, which looks like it's the actual size of the Goodyear Blimp when you see it live.

PRICE
Starting at $399.90

Lightroom + Photoshop CC Photography Bundle

For around $120, you can get her a one-year subscription to Adobe's Creative Cloud Photography Bundle where she'll get the latest versions of both Photoshop and Lightroom, plus Lightroom mobile (for iOS), as well as some other goodies. Love will rain down upon you for this gift!

PRICE
$119.88

CHA-CHING!

Profoto B1 500 AirTTL

Every photographer who shoots studio strobes on location dreams of two things: working on location without hauling around a battery pack, and shooting Profoto gear. The new Profoto B1 500 AirTTL fills both dreams at once because the battery is built into the sleek body (so no hauling a separate battery pack around). Profoto is the cream of the crop for performance, and they're gear is built like a tank (which is why most rental houses offer Profoto as their main line). But the price of the B1 500 AirTTL isn't for just anyone at $1,995â”definitely for pros or for the Wall Street insider on your holiday gift list.

PRICE
$1,995

Synology NAS (Network Attached Storage) Backup

This is a very important and powerful gift because this will house your holiday photographer's entire photo collection in a safe, rock-solid storage system (the same one I use myself), plus it will give her access to her images no matter where she is (via the Web). I've been looking for a kick-butt backup and archive system for years, and this is the one! A totally mind-blowing gift. Use their NAS Selector to find out which one is right for the photographer on your list. This may be one gift where you tell them up front, "I'm getting you a Synology NAS," so you get the right one for her needs (and the outpouring of unconditional love may start before the actual holiday does).

PRICE
Starting at around $380

Canon EOS 7D Mark II

I know I've been something of a cheerleader for this camera since Canon announced it in late September, but it's because I think Canon did something really special with this camera aimed at sports and wildlife shooters. They put pro specs into an affordable camera body, so you no longer need to have NFL-sideline-quality gear just to get great photos of your kids' high school sporting events. With 10 frames per second, a 20.2-megapixel sensor, and much improved high-ISO noise performance over the older 7D that it replaces, I think it's an amazing camera at a brilliant price. He will follow you around like a puppy for the rest of his life if you buy him this.

PRICE
$1,799

Tamron 28-300mm f/3.5-f/6.3 Di VC PZD (for Full-Frame DSLRs)

This is the lens I use as my all-around travel photography lens. It's lightweight, compact in size, and you can't beat the price as far as value goes. Will it be the sharpest lens in his bag? Nope. Will it be the lens he turns to again and again because it covers everything from wide-angle to super-telephoto? Yes it will. Will you be showered with affection for giving a lens as a gift? Yes you will.

PRICE
$849

DJI Phantom 2 Vision+ Copter

The popularity of these DJI copters is exploding because, quite simply, they let your camera fly in the air for stills or video, and photographers have absolutely flocked to them in the past year. This isn't just photography, this is fun! It's $1,229 with a spare battery, and it's worth every single penny. This may be the coolest gift ever.

PRICE
$1,229

STUFF FROM US

A One-Year KelbyOne Membership

Wanna give him a gift that he'll remember all year long? How about world-class online training on everything from Photoshop to Lightroom to photography? It's $249 for an entire year (with 24/7 access to literally thousands of lessons), or just $25 a month. Not only will he love you for it, so will I.

PRICE
$249/year; $25/month

Corey Barker's Photoshop Down & Dirty Tricks for Designers, Volume II

The name says "for designers," but since just about every project in the entire book starts with a photo, it's really a special effects book for designers, photographers, or anybody who wants to learn how to create amazing effects in Photoshop.

PRICE
$33.99

Treat Them to a Live Seminar

Buying someone a ticket to one of these full-day seminars would make an awesome gift. My "Shoot Like a Pro" tour, Matt Kloskowski's tour for learning Lightroom, or Joe McNally's "The Power of One Flash" tour are among the choices.
PRICE
Starting at $89; $79 per person for groups of five or more

Treat Them to Photoshop World Vegas

Give him a full conference pass to the Photoshop World Conference & Expo. It's a three-day Photoshop, Lightroom, and photography love-fest. If you buy it for him now, you can get $100 off with the Early Bird discount. If you want to get a one-day pass instead, it's just $249.
PRICE
Starting at $599
__________________________________
Well, there ya have it — hope you find it helpful for your Holiday Gear Gift Shopping! :)

Best,

-Scott

 

 

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Scott Kelby Author
Scott is a Photographer, bestselling Author, Host of "The Grid" weekly photography show; Editor of Photoshop User magazine; Lightroom Guy; KelbyOne.com CEO; struggling guitarist. Loves Classic Rock and his arch-enemy is Cilantro. Devoted husband, dad to two super awesome kids, and pro-level babysitter to two crazy doggos.
25 comments

      1. Don’t confuse popularity with superiority. There’s a lot of great cameras out there (the Nikon D750 is Popular Photography’s Camera of the Year). What matters is the 12 inches behind the camera! And I think Ken was just having some fun with Scott! :-)

      6. Canon make photocopiers, printers, fax machines, scanners. And they put photographers as 4th on the list of importance…

      9. Canon is better in every way. Just take a look at what the pros and biggest in the world are using in every genre. I rest my case.

      1. I’m thinking about getting the Canon 70-200 F2.8 IS II and am very excited (it’s been on my list for over 2-3 years!) I see you using that lens a lot in your new book
        etc. Can you give some detailed feedback?

  5. Scott, I watched your review of the 7d2 and was wondering about a couple of issues. Jared Polin reviewed the camera and appears to have a problem with either front or back focus. Tony Northrup reviewed the camera and says that there is only about 2/3 f-stop improvement in ISO sensitivity over the 7d (which I own and love). A number of other sites have done reviews and remarked on the focus issue, but like the camera because of the new focusing system. (confusing isn’t it?). I have even read reports that compare the 7d2 to 5d3 and it is better in some aspects of image quality and is very close in other areas. I am not a pixel peeper and am more concerned with print quality. I can make sharp 20×30 prints with my 7d at ISO 100 but they fall apart at 640 and up. I am an amateur and shoot anything that happens to wander in front of my lens. (17-55 ef-s, 70-200 is2.8, 100 macro, nifty fifty ** all canon). Every site says this is a major upgrade but the focus issue, the dxo numbers, the ISO range and the lack of overall sharpness that some sites report lead me to wonder. Have you done prints with the 7d and 7d2 for comparison? Understanding that a great photo can be made with an iPhone, that the equipment is secondary, great equipment makes the process easier and would aid in making a great photo even better.
    I have not had a chance to shoot with one yet (and won’t until/if i purchase one) so I rely on the opinion of those people I respect to point me in the right direction. But, right now they are all pointing this way and that, no real consensus. Everybody likes the handling but some are questioning the image quality. What are your thoughts? Thanks

  6. I would suggest swapping out the Cactus V5’s for the V6’s. You can control the flash’s output, right from the hot shoe. No more running back and forth to dial it up or down 2/3rds of a stop.

  7. I really want to get the Synology NAS Backup system but I’m nervous about not knowing how to set it all up and I keep reading stuff online that says if you don’t know about NAS systems, then don’t get one. I’ve recently gotten an iMac and need a backup solution for my photos. On my old Windows computer I was using a Drobo unit and I can still use it now to access my photos from the iMac, but not save any new ones to it. So I’m thinking of switching to a new backup solution (based on your previous problems with Drobos). Is this something I can do without having my own R.C. Concepcion on hand? ;-)

  8. Scott, I’m thinking about getting the Canon 70-200 F2.8L IS II and am very excited (it’s been on my list for around 2-3 years!) I see you using this lens a lot in your new book
    etc. Can you give please give me feedback?

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