Now that we’re firmly into October, it’s time to start thinking about holiday gift-giving for 2024. The question is, what are the best gifts for photographers under $150?
Well, I’ve compiled what I think is a pretty darn good list. While photography gear and accessories can be pretty expensive, there are still plenty of options that fit within a $150 budget.
So, with that, let’s have a look at some of the top gift ideas to consider for the photographer in your life!
Table of Contents
- ArtisanHD Metal Print
- Vanguard VEO Select49 Camera Backpack
- Used Canon EF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 II USM from MPB
- NEEWER 72 mm Magnetic ND Filter Set
- Vanguard VEO3 GO 204CB Tripod
- RODE VideoMic
- Used Nikon Nikkor Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR from MPB
- NEEWER 700W Equivalent Softbox Lighting Kit
Best Gifts for Photographers Under $150: ArtisanHD Metal Print
About four months ago, I reviewed a metal print from ArtisanHD. It was my first experience having an up-close look at a metal print from this company, even though it has 25 years of experience in this industry under its belt. And, boy, does that experience show!
As I explain in the video below, this print was a home run. From the packaging to the color to the presentation, this print is one of the best I’ve seen this year. And, given that level of quality, it stands to reason that I’d include it on my list of the best holiday gifts under $150!
An ArtisanHD metal print is a fantastic holiday gift idea for anyone who appreciates high-quality, custom artwork. Whether it’s for a loved one, a friend, or even a colleague, these prints offer a unique combination of vibrant colors, sharp details, and incredible durability, making them a memorable and lasting gift.
One of the standout features of ArtisanHD is its commitment to exact custom print sizes. Unlike traditional printing services that limit you to standard sizes, ArtisanHD lets you fully customize the length and width of your print, allowing for a perfect fit for any space. This flexibility makes it an ideal gift for folks with unique tastes or specific design needs. The easy-to-use online configurator ensures you can see exactly how the print will look before ordering, too. Whether you’re printing a family photo, a landscape, or fine art, ArtisanHD allows for complete creative control. Nice!
But the custom sizing and easy ordering process are just two parts of a much larger whole…
ArtisanHD’s metal prints are made using dye sublimation, a process that infuses dyes directly into ChromaLuxe metal panels. This technique results in incredibly vibrant, high-definition images that maintain their brilliance for years. Colors are more vivid, and the sharpness is outstanding, making the artwork truly pop–just as I explained in my video review earlier!
This method also offers superior durability, as the print becomes scratch, fade, water, and fire-resistant. Plus, the non-porous nature of the metal makes it easy to clean, making it the perfect choice for high-traffic areas like kitchens, living rooms, or even healthcare facilities. In other words, giving the gift of an ArtisanHD metal print is giving a gift that lasts for generations.
ArtisanHD ensures that their prints arrive ready to hang, too. With a variety of hanging options available during the configuration process, and the proper installation hardware included, there’s no hassle in displaying your artwork. And once hung, maintenance is minimal. The easy-to-clean surface of the metal print can be wiped down with a simple cloth and all-purpose cleaner, allowing it to retain its shine and visual appeal without any extra effort.
In addition to high-quality prints, ArtisanHD provides top-tier service. Each print is crafted with care, going through an extensive quality assurance process before shipping (which is another reason why my ArtisanHD print scored so highly in my review). The prints are securely packaged to ensure they arrive in perfect condition. Plus, if you’re in a hurry, ArtisanHD offers expedited shipping, with most orders shipping within 10 business days.
An ArtisanHD metal print combines creativity, customization, and craftsmanship, making it an unforgettable holiday gift. Its vivid colors, lasting durability, and exceptional quality ensure that whomever you give it to will enjoy this thoughtful gift for years to come.
Learn more about Artisan HD Metal Prints
Best Gifts for Photographers Under $150: Vanguard VEO Select49 Camera Backpack
This holiday season, if you’re searching for a perfect gift for the photographer or traveler in your life, the Vanguard VEO Select 49 camera backpack stands out as an exceptional choice—all for under $150. This versatile and thoughtfully designed bag is ideal for anyone who values both functionality and style.
One of the key features that make the VEO Select 49 a great gift is its adaptability. It can be used as both a backpack and a shoulder bag, allowing you to switch between carrying styles with ease. Whether on a quick day trip or a longer adventure, this flexibility ensures comfort in various situations. Its multi-access design also sets it apart—offering full rear opening, side access, and top access for quick and easy gear retrieval, even while on the move.
The comfort factor of this bag cannot be overlooked. Its ergonomic harness can be stowed away when not in use, allowing the padded shoulder strap to take over, ensuring a comfortable carry for long periods. The added convenience of attaching the bag to rolling luggage means it’s perfect for travel, making long airport walks much easier.
Photographers who like to stay organized will appreciate the bright-colored interior of the VEO Select 49, which makes it easy to spot gear and personal items. With dedicated pockets for essentials and compartments for cameras, lenses, and more, everything remains neatly in place.
Security is another feature that shines. The bag includes a concealed back pocket for valuable items like travel documents or a wallet. For those who need to bring work on the road, it even accommodates up to a 15″ laptop, making it useful for both photographers and remote workers. A tripod-carrying system ensures that photography gear can be transported without hassle.
Finally, the bag is built for protection. Crafted from water and scratch-resistant materials, particularly on the bottom, and equipped with a total-coverage rain cover, it keeps gear dry and safe even in bad weather.
In other words, the Vanguard VEO Select 49 is a practical, stylish, and versatile gift, offering flexibility, comfort, and peace of mind to the traveler or photographer in your life. With its thoughtful design and attention to detail, it’s an excellent gift idea under $150 this holiday season.
Learn more about the Vanguard VEO Select49 camera backpack
Best Gifts for Photographers Under $150: Used Canon EF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 II USM from MPB
If you’re looking for a thoughtful holiday gift for the photographer in your life, the Canon EF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 II USM lens is a fantastic option. This versatile lens offers a great combination of quality, range, and affordability for Canon DSLR shooters, making it ideal for both beginners and improving photographers.
One of the standout features of this lens is its varied focal length, which spans from 28mm to 105mm. This range allows you to capture everything from wide-angle landscapes to portrait shots, all without needing to switch lenses. Whether your loved one is photographing scenic vistas or zooming in for close-up details, this lens can handle it, making it a perfect all-around option for those looking to expand their skills.
The compact and lightweight design is another benefit. Weighing only 13.2 ounces, it’s easy to carry on long outings or travels without adding much bulk to a camera bag. The lens also features a minimum focusing distance of 1.6 feet, making it possible to get relatively close to subjects while maintaining sharp focus.
In terms of performance, the lens has a maximum aperture of f/3.5 at wide and f/4.5 at telephoto, which provides good low-light capability for its price point. The 7-blade aperture design helps create smooth, attractive background blur, enhancing portrait shots and isolating subjects beautifully from their surroundings.
While it doesn’t have image stabilization, the lens compensates with fast and accurate autofocus, thanks to Canon’s USM (Ultrasonic Motor) technology. This makes it a reliable tool for capturing sharp, crisp images even in fast-paced shooting environments.
Finally, this lens is compatible with any Canon EF mount camera, which includes both full-frame and crop-sensor DSLRs. It’s equipped with a 58mm filter thread, so you can easily add filters to enhance your shots.
Overall, the Canon EF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 II USM lens offers excellent versatility, portability, and quality at an affordable price point, making it a thoughtful and practical holiday gift for photographers looking to level up their skills.
Learn more about the used Canon EF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 II USM from MPB
Best Gifts for Photographers Under $150: NEEWER 72 mm Magnetic ND Filter Set
The NEEWER 72 mm Magnetic ND Filter Set is a perfect holiday gift for photographers who want to take their outdoor and landscape photography to the next level. This versatile set is compatible with a wide range of lenses from popular brands like Sony, Canon, Nikon, and Sigma, offering incredible flexibility and ease of use for those who shoot in varying lighting conditions.
This set includes four fixed neutral density (ND) filters: ND4, ND8, ND64, and ND1000, allowing photographers to reduce lens exposure by 2, 3, 6, or 10 stops. Whether your loved one is balancing exposure, controlling aperture and shutter speed, or capturing long exposure shots, this filter set has them covered. These filters are essential for creating stunning landscape photos, achieving smooth water effects, or enhancing motion blur in bright conditions.
One of the standout features of the NEEWER set is its magnetic attachment system, which allows for quick filter changes in just one second. The magnetic adapter ring screws into the lens, and the filters securely attach magnetically, staying firmly in place thanks to improved magnetic force. This makes swapping filters a breeze, especially during fast-paced shoots, ensuring your loved one can keep shooting without fumbling with traditional screw-on filters.
Built for durability, each filter in the set is coated with 30 layers of multi-resistant nano coatings on both sides of the HD optical glass. These coatings make the filters water, dust, and scratch-resistant, ensuring they can withstand tough outdoor conditions. Additionally, the multi-layer technology minimizes reflections and glare, allowing photographers to capture clear, sharp images without unwanted distractions.
The filters are crafted with an ultra-flat aluminum alloy frame to prevent dark corners in photos, a common issue when using filters. The non-slip trapezoidal pattern on the frame ensures a secure grip, making it easy to attach and remove filters without any hassle.
This set includes everything needed for effortless filter management: ND4, ND8, ND64, and ND1000 filters, a magnetic adapter ring, and a filter bag for safe and organized storage. Designed for lenses with a 72 mm filter thread, it’s important to confirm the camera lens size by checking for the symbol “F” on the lens barrel.
In other words, the NEEWER 72 mm Magnetic ND Filter Set is a thoughtful gift for photographers who are serious about mastering their craft. With quick magnetic filter changes, durable construction, and excellent versatility, this set will help your loved one capture stunning, well-balanced photos in any lighting situation.
Learn more about the NEEWER 72 mm Magnetic ND Filter Set
Best Gifts for Photographers Under $150: Vanguard VEO3 GO 204CB Tripod
Another perfect holiday gift option for the photographer in your life is the Vanguard VEO 3 204 CB tripod. Designed with portability, versatility, and stability in mind, this tripod is a great tool for photographers on the go.
One of the key selling points of the VEO 3 204 CB is its maximum portability. It folds down to just 13.6 inches and weighs a mere 1.8 pounds, making it easy to carry on hikes, trips, or long photo outings. Despite its compact size, it extends to 51.6 inches, providing plenty of height for most shooting needs. With a load capacity of up to 6.6 pounds, it can easily support most cameras and lenses, making it a reliable tool for both beginners and experienced photographers.
A standout feature of this tripod is its monopod leg, which extends to 52.8 inches and is quick to set up, offering even more shooting flexibility. Whether your loved one needs a quick monopod for action shots or stable support for landscapes, this tripod delivers.
The Arca Swiss compatible T-45 Ball Head with an ergonomic locking knob adds precision and ease of use, while the reversible center column and Low Angle Adapter allow for low-angle and macro photography. These features make it perfect for photographers who want to explore creative angles and close-up shots. For added flexibility, the tripod offers three leg angles (21°, 50°, and 80°), ensuring stability on uneven terrain.
The VEO 3 204 CB is built for durability and ease of use. The rapid-set twist locks are not only fast but also easy to clean, ensuring long-lasting performance. The tripod comes with both rubber and spiked feet, making it adaptable to a variety of terrain, from indoor shoots to rugged outdoor adventures. For added stability in windy conditions, the retractable hook lets photographers attach weight to the tripod for extra support.
Additional features include a smartphone connector, accommodating phones up to 3.4 inches wide, and a Bluetooth remote shutter trigger, which allows the monopod leg to be used as a selfie stick—perfect for content creators or those who enjoy mobile photography.
So, the Vanguard VEO 3 204 CB tripod offers a blend of portability, versatility, and stability, making it a thoughtful and practical holiday gift for photographers of all skill levels. Whether capturing landscapes, macro shots, or self-portraits, this tripod has the tools needed to elevate anyone’s photography game.
Learn more about the Vanguard VEO 3 204 CB tripod
Best Gifts for Photographers Under $150: RODE VideoMic
The RODE VideoMic is an exceptional gift for any aspiring filmmaker or content creator looking to elevate the audio quality of their projects. Built upon the legacy of the original ground-breaking VideoMic from 2004, this microphone is designed to deliver broadcast-grade audio straight to a DSLR or mirrorless camera, making it a game-changer for anyone wanting to up their filmmaking game.
At its core, the VideoMic features a studio-grade condenser capsule and a highly directional supercardioid polar pattern, ensuring focused audio capture by isolating the subject’s sound and reducing background noise. This precision makes it ideal for a wide range of filmmaking scenarios, from interviews to vlogs, and even outdoor shoots. The selectable high-pass filter and two-stage level control offer further versatility, allowing filmmakers to easily adapt to loud environments and capture clear, undistorted sound, even in challenging situations.
One standout feature of the RODE VideoMic is its integrated Rycote Lyre shock mounting system, which provides superior isolation from external vibrations. Whether it’s movements during handheld shooting or environmental factors like wind, the shock mount helps to minimize unwanted noise. Additionally, the included high-density windshield makes recording in windy environments much easier, ensuring the audio remains clean and clear, no matter the conditions.
To top it all off, the RODE VideoMic comes with an exceptional 10-year warranty, backed by an international service and support network. This gives users complete peace of mind, knowing their equipment is protected and supported by one of the most trusted names in audio production.
Learn more about the RODE VideoMic
Best Gifts for Photographers Under $150: Nikon Nikkor Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR from MPB
For the Nikon photographer on your list, the Nikon Nikkor Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR lens is an excellent holiday gift choice. This compact, versatile zoom lens is for Nikon’s Z mount mirrorless cameras with APS-C sensors, offering a perfect blend of performance and portability for a wide range of photography styles.
The 16-50mm focal length provides a flexible range, from wide-angle shots for landscapes and street photography to more intimate portraits. This versatility makes it an ideal all-purpose lens that your loved one can rely on for various shooting situations, whether they’re capturing a scenic vista or snapping candid moments in everyday life.
Weighing just 4.8 ounces, this lens is incredibly lightweight and portable, making it perfect for photographers who are always on the move. Its compact size also ensures that it doesn’t add bulk to the camera setup, which is great for travel or extended shooting sessions. Despite its small size, the lens features a 7-blade aperture design, providing smooth background blur for beautiful, professional-looking portrait shots.
With a minimum focus distance of just 7.9 inches, photographers can get impressively close to their subjects, perfect for detail shots or creative close-ups. The filter thread size of 46mm also allows for easy attachment of filters, such as polarizers or ND filters, to enhance photos under different lighting conditions.
The lens has Vibration Reduction (VR), which helps counteract camera shake, allowing for sharper images, even in low-light conditions or when shooting handheld. The lens’ autofocus system is fast and accurate, ensuring quick focus adjustments without missing the moment.
Whether your photographer friend is just starting out or already an experienced Nikon shooter, the Nikon Nikkor Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR is a practical, high-quality lens that delivers excellent results across multiple photography genres. Compact, lightweight, and versatile, this lens is a thoughtful holiday gift that will see plenty of use, helping your loved one capture stunning images with ease.
Learn more about the used Nikon Nikkor Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR from MPB
Best Gifts for Photographers Under $150: NEEWER 700W Equivalent Softbox Lighting Kit
The NEEWER 700W Equivalent Softbox Lighting Kit is an outstanding holiday gift idea for photographers and videographers looking to elevate their studio setup. This professional-grade kit provides everything needed for high-quality lighting in a variety of shooting environments, making it perfect for product photography, photo art, technical photography, and even video production.
The kit includes two 24″ x 24″ (60x60cm) softboxes designed to diffuse light evenly, creating soft, balanced illumination for capturing perfect shots. Whether your loved one is photographing products, portraits, or detailed work, the softboxes ensure there are no harsh shadows, providing professional-level lighting. Each softbox features an E26 socket, allowing photographers to easily attach light bulbs, fluorescent lamps, or even slave flash units for customized lighting setups.
This kit comes with two 35W LED light bulbs, which are UL certified and deliver bright, consistent light at 5700K—a daylight-balanced temperature perfect for studio photography and video shoots. Despite their low power consumption, each bulb outputs the equivalent of a 350W incandescent light, providing an impressive 3150 lumens without the flicker typically associated with lower-quality lighting.
The two 83″ (210cm) aluminum alloy light stands offer exceptional durability and strength, making them reliable for heavy-duty work. The stands feature quick single-action locks, enabling precise and fast height adjustments, which is especially useful when switching between different lighting angles during a shoot.
For added convenience, the entire kit comes with a carrying bag, allowing easy transportation and protection of the equipment. Whether your loved one is setting up a home studio or working on location, the carrying bag ensures their gear stays safe and organized.
Overall, the NEEWER 700W Equivalent Softbox Lighting Kit is an excellent gift for any photographer or videographer wanting to take their craft to the next level. With its durable construction, high-quality lighting, and easy portability, this kit provides the tools they need to create stunning, well-lit images and videos, making it a thoughtful and practical holiday gift.
Learn more about the NEEWER 700W Equivalent Softbox Lighting Kit
Just so you know, some of the cool stuff we mention comes with affiliate links, meaning we earn a commission if you buy (no extra charge to you!). Plus, we occasionally feature sponsored content, but rest assured, we only shout out products we genuinely stand behind.
Hero photo by Bogdan Sonjachnyj via Shutterstock
