Gifts for photographers

Find out what they shoot

Photographers split into a few groups, and the right gift depends on which one you are buying for. Film shooters burn through rolls and appreciate stock. Digital shooters with mirrorless cameras want better carry gear. Phone photographers and casual snappers like instant prints. Gift choices that work for one group are often useless to another.

Look at the camera they carry most. A small point-and-shoot film camera points to rolls of Kodak Gold, Flic Aurora or Ilford HP5. A mirrorless body points to the Peak Design Leash, the Capture clip or a leather strap. A phone and no camera points to the Instax Mini Link 3 printer or the MOFT stand.

Do not buy lenses, memory cards or camera bodies unless they have named the exact model. Mounts, card formats and preferences vary, and a wrong guess is hard to return.

Film gifts: rolls, cameras and the hidden cost

Film is the easiest gift for a film shooter because it gets used up. A three-pack of Kodak Gold or Ilford HP5 sits comfortably under $60. A single roll of Portra 400 is a treat they may not buy themselves. Harman Phoenix suits someone who likes an odd color look.

For someone new to film, a simple camera beats a vintage SLR. The RETO Pano, Lomography ActionSampler, Vecco build-it-yourself kit and the AgfaPhoto bundle all need no settings. Pick the Vecco for a builder, the ActionSampler for someone who likes playful results and the AgfaPhoto bundle if you want everything in one box.

Remember that developing and scanning cost extra every roll. A note with a local lab voucher or cash for developing makes a film gift complete. Black and white film needs a lab that processes it, so check before buying HP5 for someone in a small town.

Straps and bags: fit matters

A strap is a gift most photographers will use daily. The Peak Design Leash adjusts and unclips, which suits people who switch between neck and sling carry. The ONA Sevilla is fixed length and made for lighter bodies. The Lucky Straps leather strap is wide and built for heavier mirrorless cameras.

Bags need size checks. The ONA Lisbon and WANDRD Rogue 3L only fit compact cameras or small lens setups. If they carry a camera with a zoom lens, neither will work. For hikers, the Peak Design Capture clip keeps a camera on the backpack strap, but heavy lenses pull on it.

Budget guide: under $30 covers film, the DubbleStrap or a Polaroid pack. $30 to $80 covers most film cameras, the Leash, the Sevilla and the Rogue sling. Above $100 is the Capture clip, the ONA Lisbon, the Paper Shoot and the Lucky leather strap.

Instant cameras, travel and timing

Instant cameras suit people who want prints more than files: teens, students and anyone who fills a fridge door. The Instax Mini 41 and the Mini Link 3 printer both use Instax Mini film at roughly a dollar a print, so add a film pack or two. Polaroid 600 film only fits Polaroid 600 cameras.

For travellers who fly with film, the RETO X-Protec bag guards against carry-on X-ray scanners but not CT scanners, so they should still ask for a hand check where possible.

Film and small straps are light and ship easily, so they are good late buys. Leather goods and cameras can sell out in some colors before the holidays, so order those first and check stock on the shop page.

One more idea for any photographer: offer to pay for printing. Most people have hundreds of good photos that never leave their phone or hard drive. A film roll, a strap or an instant camera is a nice object, but the gift they will remember is a print of their own best shot, framed and on a wall.

If you are unsure between two picks, choose the one that removes friction. A strap that adjusts in one second or a clip that keeps the camera on the shoulder strap gets the camera out more often, and more photos taken is the point of every gift here.

Questions people ask

What do you buy a photographer who has everything?

Buy something that gets used up or worn out. A few rolls of a film they have not tried, such as Harman Phoenix or Portra 400, or a better strap to replace the one from the box, both get used. A film X-ray bag suits someone who travels with film. Avoid lenses and bodies, which are personal and expensive to get wrong.

What is a good gift for someone getting into film photography?

A simple point-and-shoot film camera with a few rolls of film. Cameras like the RETO Pano or the AgfaPhoto bundle need no settings, and a beginner can shoot a roll in a weekend. Add a note covering developing and scanning, since that costs extra every roll and is the part beginners forget to budget for.

Are instant cameras good gifts?

Yes, for someone who likes physical prints from parties and trips. Instax Mini cameras set exposure automatically, so there is little to learn. The catch is film: each print costs about a dollar, and film is sold separately. Always include at least one pack of film so they can start shooting the day they open it.

What camera strap should I buy as a gift?

Match the strap to the camera weight. A slim adjustable strap such as the Peak Design Leash works for most mirrorless cameras. A fixed-length leather strap suits light film and mirrorless bodies. A wide leather strap is better for heavier cameras carried all day. For small compact film cameras, a thin handmade strap is enough.