Getting a head start on your holiday shopping is helpful, especially if the photographer on your list is hard to shop for. With a little more time (and lists like this) to find a great gift, you can give them something awesome, fun, useful, or all of the above!
We’ve curated this list in large part by including products we’ve tested ourselves. With this real-world experience, we can speak to the quality of these items and their usability for photographers of all stripes.
So, without further ado, let’s get to the list of the best gifts for photographers under $1,000 for 2023!
Table of Contents
- Cheetah Super Boom
- Shiny Prints Metal Print
- Goal Zero Yeti 500X & Solar Panel
- RØDECaster Pro II
- Pre-Owned Canon EOS RP
- f-stop Shinn Adventure and Cine Backpack
- Vanguard Alta Fly 58T Backpack & Alta Pro 2+ 263AB 100 Tripod
- Pre-Owned Sony Alpha a6300
Gifts for Photographers Under $1,000: Cheetah Super Boom
Give the perfect holiday gift to the photographer in your life with the Cheetah Stand Heavy Duty (HD) Super Boom. This boom is a game-changing addition to any studio or on-location setup. This incredibly versatile and heavy-duty boom stand is designed to handle the most demanding lighting setups, making it a must-have for professionals who require stability, reach, and ease of use.
One of the standout features of the Cheetah Super Boom is its ability to function both as a traditional light stand and as a boom arm. With an impressive maximum height of 18 feet, this stand allows photographers to position their lights exactly where they need them—whether for dramatic overhead shots or high-angle lighting setups. Unlike conventional C-stands, which require a separate boom arm attachment, the Super Boom integrates the boom mechanism into the stand itself, eliminating the hassle of carrying extra equipment.
When used as a boom arm, the built-in pivot mechanism on the third riser allows the boom to hold up to 22 pounds, making it perfect for heavy softboxes, large strobes, oversized reflectors, scrims, or even flags for controlling light spill. Whether shooting a high-end fashion campaign, commercial product photography, or cinematic portraits, the Super Boom provides unparalleled flexibility in lighting design.
Stability is a critical factor in choosing a light stand, and the Cheetah Super Boom excels in this area. Equipped with lockable wheels, it allows photographers to effortlessly reposition their lighting setup in a studio without having to disassemble or carry the stand. For those working in challenging environments, the adjustable leveling third leg makes it easy to set up on uneven terrain, whether shooting in a rugged outdoor location or on an inclined studio floor.
For added security, every bolt is secured with nylon-threaded nuts, preventing them from loosening over time—especially crucial during extended shoots or frequent transport. Additionally, the removable wheels offer photographers the option of a more stable, low-profile setup when mobility isn’t required.
For professionals looking to upgrade their gear, the Cheetah Super Boom is one of the best investments they can make. Its ability to handle heavy-duty lighting equipment while remaining easy to maneuver makes it an invaluable tool in any photographer’s arsenal.
Looking for something smaller? The Cheetah Rolling Boom or C-Boom are excellent options for those who need a more compact, travel-friendly solution. But for the photographer who demands the strongest, most versatile boom stand on the market, the Cheetah Super Boom is the ultimate holiday gift.
Learn more about the Cheetah Super Boom
Gifts for Photographers Under $1,000: Shiny Prints Metal Print
While some gifts for photographers focus on enabling better results with a camera, others allow you to enjoy your favorite images over and over again. Of course, being the holiday season, you can also give the gift of a large-format print to someone on your shopping list.
I’m a big fan of metal prints – I love how modern and sleek they look. And when you get a metal print from a high-quality printer like Shiny Prints, the images you have printed stand out even more. But why?
Well, it’s simple – Shiny Prints specializes in metal prints, so they know precisely what they’re doing! Evidence of this fact is presented in my review video below:
Not only does Shiny Prints specialize in using metal, but they also use the finest products to ensure the metal print you order is of second-to-none quality.
This quality also stems from the company’s extensive experience with photo printing and working with metal. Beyond that, the Shiny Prints commitment to quality over quantity further ensures that the print you get in the mail knocks your socks off.
Additionally, Shiny Prints gives you all sorts of customization options….
For example, you can choose from dozens of sizes ranging from 8×10 to 48×96, or you can order a custom-sized print (or custom shape!) if you really want to impress your loved one this holiday season. Likewise, you can choose from various mounting styles, from a simple box mount to a luxurious tuxedo mount and other options in between. What’s more, there are multiple surface options, including matte and gloss in either white or silver.
Heck, there’s even a white gloss EXT option specifically formulated for outdoor use.
So, whether you need a big print or a small one or a print for indoors or out, Shiny Prints has exactly what you need.
As I noted earlier, I’ve been blown away by the quality of the Shiny Prints metal prints I’ve gotten this far. With this kind of quality and customer service, you are in for a gift-giving treat this holiday season!
Gifts for Photographers Under $1,000: Goal Zero Yeti 500X
When you or your loved one is on location for a photo shoot and need power to charge camera batteries, your phone, and other devices, lugging around a huge generator just isn’t the solution.
Instead, something like the Goal Zero Yeti 500X power station is ideal!
Lightweight and compact, this power station comes with multiple ports to charge various devices: AC, 12V, and 60W USB-C among them.
Better still, the Yeti 500X offers high-speed delivery of power so you can juice up your devices without waiting all day. Just charge it from home before you head out or in the car using a 12V outlet, or add an optional solar panel to charge the unit while you’re at a photo shoot.
And at 12.4 pounds, the 500X won’t break your back, either – just what you want when you’re heading out with a ton of photography gear to begin with!
Of course, this unit is compatible with plenty of other Goal Zero products, so you can develop an entire ecosystem of power collection and distribution for yourself or your favorite photographer this holiday season!
Learn more about the Goal Zero Yeti 500X Portable Power Station
Gifts for Photographers Under $1,000: RØDECaster Pro II
If you’re shopping for a videography enthusiast this holiday season, giving them high-quality audio production capabilities will be a welcome gift. The RØDECaster Pro II is what I use in my studio for audio production, and I couldn’t be happier with its ease of use, features, and functionality.
This bad boy is a versatile and powerful audio production console. It emerges as an exceptional gift option for those looking to elevate their audio quality, simplify their workflow, and unlock creative possibilities within a reasonable budget – just as it’s done for me! Whether you’re shopping for a photographer who occasionally dabbles in video or a seasoned videographer, this compact powerhouse can drastically improve their production quality.
The RØDECaster Pro II has been meticulously designed to cater to the diverse needs of content creators, streamers, podcasters, musicians, and more. It combines a host of revolutionary features with superior sound quality, intuitive usability, and endless customization options, making it a one-stop solution for anyone looking to record exceptional audio content effortlessly.
One of the standout features of the RØDECaster Pro II is its ability to consolidate all the essential elements of a professional audio setup into a single, user-friendly console. This means that photographers and videographers can set up and record high-quality audio content within seconds. The 5.5-inch high-definition touchscreen, complete with haptic feedback, tactile rotary encoder, and bright RGB color-coding, simplifies the navigation process, ensuring that even newcomers to audio production can get started quickly.
The RØDECaster Pro II also comes pre-loaded with useful presets and an intuitive VoxLab processing editor, making it effortless to capture professional-grade audio. From configuring microphone channels to programming SMART pads, every feature is designed to enhance creativity. This ease of use ensures that you can focus on your content, not the technicalities.
With four studio-grade Neutrik combo inputs and ultra-low-noise, high-gain Revolution Preamps, the RØDECaster Pro II delivers unparalleled clarity and transparency, regardless of the microphone or instrument you’re using. These preamps eliminate the need for external boosters or processors, even for demanding dynamic microphones. The RØDECaster Pro II certainly provides a clean and transparent audio canvas that allows you to shape and enhance your sound with onboard processing and effects.
To further enhance audio quality, the RØDECaster Pro II features studio-quality signal processing powered by APHEX, a respected name in pro audio. The onboard suite includes emulations of classic hardware units, such as the Aural Exciter for adding brilliance, Big Bottom for depth, and the legendary Compellor master compressor/leveler for that final touch. Additional features like a de-esser, noise gate, high-pass filter, and equalizer offer comprehensive sound-shaping tools to refine your recordings.
The RØDECaster Pro II offers extensive connectivity options, too, expanding creative horizons and streamlining the workflow for your loved one. Four Neutrik combo inputs can accommodate microphones, line-level sources, and instruments, allowing you to record anything from a single microphone to complex multitracked audio. Advanced Bluetooth capabilities enable high-quality phone call integration, audio streaming, and wireless monitoring.
Moreover, dual USB-C interfaces support two simultaneous computer or mobile device connections, perfect for remote podcasting or intricate streaming setups. You can record in stereo or multitrack to various storage options, including microSD cards, USB devices, or directly to a computer. Additionally, Wi-Fi and Ethernet connections facilitate firmware updates, software integrations, and hardware connectivity.
Whether your loved one is recording interviews, podcasts, or video content, the RØDECaster Pro II will undoubtedly take their production quality to the next level, making it a gift that keeps on giving!
Learn more about the RØDECaster Pro II
Gifts for Photographers Under $1,000: Pre-Owned Canon EOS RP
Full frame cameras need not be bulky, and they need not break the bank either! The Canon EOS RP emerges as an ideal holiday season gift choice due to its remarkable performance packed into a compact form. Furthermore, opting for a pre-owned camera opens up budgetary flexibility, allowing you to allocate additional gifts for the photographer on your list.
The EOS RP may be an entry-level full frame camera, but it certainly doesn’t skimp on features. It comes equipped with:
- A 26.2-megapixel full frame CMOS sensor
- A DIGIC 8 image processor
- Dual Pixel CMOS autofocus
- A built-in EVF boasting 2.36 million dots of resolution and touch capabilities
Being a full frame camera, it excels in low-light shooting scenarios. What sets it apart is its status as one of the most compact and lightweight full frame mirrorless cameras available, occupying minimal space in your bag and ensuring effortless portability.
As mentioned earlier, choosing a pre-owned Canon EOS RP grants you financial flexibility for purchasing supplementary items. When shopping at MPB, you can rest easy knowing that you’re acquiring a quality used camera, too.
MPB conducts thorough inspections and assigns grades to each camera in their inventory, providing transparent information about the item’s condition on the listing page. This ensures you know exactly what to anticipate when the camera arrives at your doorstep. In the rare event that you change your mind about the camera, you can easily return it within the seven-day return window.
Moreover, MPB offers long-term support, with most of their cameras backed by a six-month warranty, offering peace of mind for your investment. Not bad, right?!
Learn more about the Canon EOS RP
Gifts for Photographers Under $1,000: f-stop Shinn Adventure and Cine Backpack
F-stop certainly excels in crafting exceptional bags – that’s undeniable. While a camera backpack priced at $700 may initially strike you as exorbitant, this is one of those situations where your investment truly matches the quality you receive.
Furthermore, when you’re entrusted with safeguarding thousands of dollars worth of photography equipment, a robust and protective bag becomes a necessity. The f-stop Shinn unquestionably fulfills this requirement!
At an enormous 80 liters, this bag offers an abundance of space, allowing you to accommodate an extensive camera setup or a cine rig. Alternatively, it offers the flexibility to carry multiple DSLR or mirrorless systems simultaneously.
The bag’s exterior is constructed from f-stop’s own DuraDiamond material, renowned for its remarkable strength, featherlight weight, and resistance to adverse weather conditions.
Given the substantial weight you may be carrying, it’s imperative to have a dependable weight distribution system, and the Shinn delivers on this front with its BLOOM foam shoulder straps and hip belt. Personally, I can attest to the exceptional comfort provided by these shoulder straps and hip belts as my f-stop Tilopa employs a similar setup, making it one of the most comfortable configurations I’ve ever encountered.
In addition to the BLOOM foam straps and belt, the Shinn incorporates an aluminum frame that effectively transfers the bag’s weight to your hips – precisely where you want it. A combination of plastic and T6 aluminum hardware further reinforces critical components of the suspension system.
Inside, the bag is generously equipped with organizational and storage features, ensuring that small items such as cords, memory cards, and batteries remain neatly organized and secure.
To keep your camera gear in order, you can opt for a Cine Master Camera Bag Insert or a Pro XL camera insert. These inserts play a pivotal role in safeguarding your equipment, keeping it snugly nestled in a cushioned compartment to prevent any potential damage. Should you venture on a trip sans your camera gear, simply remove the inserts, and you’ll have a spacious bag ready to accommodate all your adventure essentials.
Over the years, I’ve had the pleasure of using several f-stop bags, each one seemingly surpassing the previous in quality and functionality. These experts truly understand the art of crafting a bag, from utilizing weather-resistant zippers to offering multiple access points and developing the finest carrying system available.
If you’re eager to impress the photographer in your life, the f-stop Shinn unquestionably stands out as the perfect gift choice!
Learn more about the f-stop Shinn Adventure and Cine Backpack
Gifts for Photographers Under $1,000: Vanguard Alta Fly 58T Backpack & Alta Pro 2+ 263AB 100 Tripod
Every photographer has to hit the road now and again, so a high-quality backpack and a capable tripod are two things that are likely on your loved one’s holiday wish list.
I’ve used Vanguard products for years, and appreciate their build quality, durability, and innovation. The low price point of Vanguard gear is a nice touch, too. That’s why you can give TWO gifts for the price of one!
First up is the Alta Fly 58T bag…
With an overall size of 13.6″ x 11″ x 23.25″, the Alta Fly 58T is just the right size to use as a carry-on bag. And at 10.5 pounds (with 27 liters of space that can fit 33 pounds of gear), you can still carry all the necessities and do so in a compact bag.
The bag has a four-wheel trolley system for making your trips from one concourse to the next a breeze. Of course, there are tuck-away backpack straps as well, so you can carry it as a backpack, if desired.
Vanguard has incorporated plenty of protection for your gear, too – double security buckles, a three-point security system, loads of padding, and a total rain coverage cover as well.
Add in numerous pockets, connectors, and organizers, and you have the makings of a bag that will get your gear from Point A to Point B safely!
The other component of this holiday gift idea is the Vanguard Alta Pro 2+ 263AB 100 Tripod…
This particular version is aluminum and comes with the Vanguard BH-100 ball head. The ball head offers ergonomic friction control, a quick-release arca-type system, and dual bubble levels. It also offers fluid 360-degree panning for those occasions when you want to photograph moving subjects.
The tripod is further equipped with a canopy suspension loop, which allows you to add a counterbalance weight for improved stability, and Alta Link, a 3/8 thread connection that accommodates accessories like arms and reflectors.
One of the best features of this tripod, though, is the multi-angle center column or MACC. The MACC allows you to frame up shots quickly and easily, from low-angle to high-angle and points in between.
When folded down, the tripod is about 29 inches long, but it extends to more than 68 inches for snapping photos of all kinds. The tripod weighs about five pounds but accommodates more than 15 pounds of gear. It’s an ideal companion for the photographer on your holiday shopping list!
Learn more about the Vanguard Alta Fly 58T Backpack & Alta Pro 2+ 263AB 100 Tripod
Gifts for Photographers Under $1,000: Pre-Owned Sony Alpha a6300
An excellent holiday gift suggestion for the photographer you have in mind is a Sony camera. Opting for a previously owned camera allows you to enjoy significant cost savings while still presenting an impressive gift this festive season.
The Sony a6300 boasts a plethora of features, such as a 24.2-megapixel Exmor CMOS sensor, a BIONZ X image processor, 4K video recording at 30p, HD video at 1080p/120, and a rapid continuous shooting capability at 11fps.
To enhance its allure, the a6300 boasts a remarkable 425-point autofocus system with tracking AF, delivering exceptional image quality. All of this is packaged in a compact, lightweight body, making it an ideal gift for photographers seeking a capable yet highly portable camera.
Moreover, with the a6300, you’re bestowing a gift that combines a small yet powerful camera with outstanding photographic and video capabilities, effortlessly fitting into a camera bag with plenty of space to spare.
It’s worth noting that this camera is compatible with a wide range of lenses, providing an opportunity to expand your gift-giving. You could potentially discover a high-quality pre-owned E-mount lens to complement the package.
Whether the photographer on your list specializes in capturing people, architecture, landscapes, wildlife, or anything in between, this camera is sure to be a valued addition to their camera gear collection!
Learn more about the Sony a6300
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Hero photo by Bogdan Sonjachnyj via Shutterstock
