Is your father a passionate photographer, someone who lives and breathes pixels, is always shopping for the newest gear, and is also flaunting their existing prized collection of cameras, lenses, and other photo odds and ends? If so, you already know how hard it can be to shop for the photographer father who has it all, but you also know that getting them anything not photography related would just be out of touch. For those tricky-to-shop-for dads, here are some gear ideas to please even the most avid photographers.
There’s a pretty good chance your father shot some film in his time—and also a pretty good chance that there’s an abundance of film lying around somewhere waiting to see the light of day once again. As an alternative to a cumbersome scanner, the Nikon ES-2 Film Digitizing Adapter Set is a handy tool for re-photographing film. This sleek adapter simply fits on the front of a macro lens (optimally, a Nikon 60mm macro lens) and allows you to photograph frames of 35mm film quickly so you can share your film photos online, view them on a computer, or print them digitally.
In a similar techie vein, an X-Rite ColorChecker Passport Photo 2 is the perfect gift for photographers. Why? Well, it’s one of those items many people overlook or push down their wish list over time, since it can feel a bit extravagant. But, when given as a gift, it’s one of those things that can stir excitement despite it just being a pocket-sized chart of color swatches used to achieve perfect color. It’s an incredibly useful tool that’s the perfect thing to splurge on a bit; in other words, the perfect gift.
If your dad is someone who appreciates useful, pragmatic gifts, and maybe is someone who in the past has enjoyed getting magazine subscriptions for presents, then surprise him with a one-year subscription to the Adobe Creative Cloud Photography Plan. There’s a fair chance he’s already a subscriber, and even if he isn’t, having a year’s worth of use of the most robust photo editing application around is a pretty sweet gift.
Instant film photography has been quite the trend over the past few years, mainly due to immense attention and popularity among a younger crowd of photo enthusiasts. That doesn’t mean dad doesn’t have his fair share of nostalgia for instant film, though. Split the difference between digital and film with the FUJIFILM INSTAX Mini LiPlay—a hybrid camera that records digitally but can make instant film prints for sharing. It will appeal to both the tech and nostalgia sides of dad’s brain and is one of those cameras that’s on the cusp of being too cute but, really, is just a fun camera to bring along on fishing trips, road trips, and other getaways.
For the gearhead who takes himself a little too seriously, try the LensCoat LensSack and see him smile. Yes, it’s pretty much just a very nice beanbag... an extremely nice, durable, and well-designed beanbag. But it’s also an ingenious means for stabilizing your camera and something that’s so simple you’ll be amazed you never thought of it before. Versus a tripod or monopod, the LensSack can be propped onto pretty much any surface, from a car hood to a fence to a table, and then can cradle your camera or long lens to make it much easier to reel off a series of sharp shots whenever a support system is needed.
It’s a fact that all dads love tools, and one of the most practical tools he can have as a photographer is a sleek multi-tool to stow in his camera bag, such as the Leatherman Sidekick. Even if your father already has a pocket knife or a multi-tool, chances are he could use another. They’re like the neckties of the gear world—you can never have too many. The Sidekick is a perfect option for the photographer, too, because it’s a more compact tool that won’t take up much space or weight in a loaded camera bag, making it perfect for all-day outings.
Just in case your dad does have too many multi-tools (hard to believe), another item that’s hard not to be thrilled by is a pocket flashlight, like the Nitecore P12. Its small design also makes it the perfect option to keep in a camera bag, especially if your father likes to dabble with a little night photography or light painting. Even if he doesn’t, flashlights are a great tool to keep around “just in case.”
Even though I already called the multitool the necktie of the gear world, maybe a camera strap would be a better analogy since it actually does go around the neck. Your photographer father almost certainly already has a camera strap, but treat him to a stylish and luxurious upgrade like the Artisan & Artist Silk Cord Strap. It’s a trendy look, sure, but it’s also a smart and practical look that is a bit more comfortable and personal than your regular camera-brand-adorned strap.
If you want to really wow dad, surprise him with a drone and make him feel like a little kid all over again. Drones are some of the hottest tech items available and are really changing the way we look at landscape and cityscape photos and videos, among other outdoor genres. The DJI Mavic Mini is the perfect gateway to the world of drones: It’s compact, has no usage restrictions, and offers up to 30-minute flight times to help him hone his new craft. It’s an especially great gift for the veteran landscape photographer because it can (quite literally) open up a much wider range of photographic possibilities.
Not as thrilling as a drone, but equally practical, giving your dad a memory card is like getting him the thing he can always use more of. It’s like gifting socks—maybe not the most exciting thing in the world, but something you’re always appreciative to receive.
If none of this is hitting the spot, or maybe you just don’t know what the perfect gift is, don’t worry—get him a B&H baseball cap, so he can look like a real photographer, and also get him a B&H gift card, so he can pick out whatever it is he really wants.
Do you have any suggestions for gifts for the father who is a photographer? If you’re a photographer and a dad, what kinds of gifts would you hope to receive? Let us know in the Comments section, below.