We’re deep into the holiday shopping season and if you are like me, there’s a bunch of neat photography gifts that you’re probably wishing for.

I thought I would put together a short list of some of the things I can recommend to other photographers (either as gifts or for yourself) based on my use as well as a “wish-list” of things I (and just about any photographer) would sure like to receive. I’ve included links to many of the products so if you want to get something for a photographer in your life, or even me you can click on the links.

So, without further ado, here is the first annual “Mark’s Photography Spot Guide To Photography Gifts”:

 Cameras

Canon EOS T3i: This had to be the 1st camera on the list because it’s my camera The T3i was my first digital SLR and I couldn’t be happier with it. I was looking for a camera that could allow me to take good images as well as shoot HD video. I did a lot of research and the camera has received numerous positive reviews. I’ve had the camera for 5 months and have taken about 3,000 images with it. The camera has a lot of features and you will definitely want to purchase an aftermarket guide to help you learn the camera. I’m still learning how to make the most out of the camera but am having a ton of fun in the process.
Canon Rebel XSI: The Rebel XSI is an older model DSLR that was 1st released in 2008. I just purchased one of these for Pam. She has expressed an interest in learning more about photography but isn’t 100% sure she’ll want to be as much of a geek (or is it “geekette”?) about it as me. Based on some research this camera came highly recommended as a great 1st DSLR to purchase used. The XSI has 12.2 megapixels, an advanced autofocus and metering system and all of the features you need for learning how to take good photographs. It doesn’t shoot video but it does have a live view system and a sensor cleaning system. It uses the same cards and lenses as the T3i and the controls are very similar. That should make it easy for me to help Pam learn how to use the camera. We’ll be able to share lenses as well, which should save some money, especially if she enjoys “serious” photography. I found mine on Ebay. Ebay is a great place to purchase used camera equipment. Just be sure to research the product so you don’t overbid and only deal with reputable sellers. Here’s a link to a search for the camera:
Canon PowerShot S95: We purchased this compact point and shoot camera to replace an older model. The S95 has received a lot of praise as a camera that complements a DSLR very well. It fits in your pocket and has a fast f/2.0 lens with 3.8x zoom. It also allows you to shoot in fully automatic or manual mode and takes great high definition movies with stereo sound. The image quality is excellent for such a small camera and you can take full advantage of the RAW file format if you want. Pam used this camera on our recent trip out west and took a lot of great photos with this camera. Bottom line is that the S95 is an excellent camera!

Accessories

Camera Bags: If you have a DSLR, you probably will want something to carry the camera, lenses and accessories in. There are thousands of different camera bags on the market, so think about what you need the bag to do and start your search from there. After doing that research I purchased two camera bags to help tote everything around, the Lowepro Rezo 170 and the Tamrac 5547 Adventure 7 photo backpack. I did a fairly extensive review of both of these here. You can always purchase a brand new bag but finding a good used bag can save a lot of money. Ebay is a great place to find the perfect camera bag. Here is a link to help you find one on Ebay.

Tripods: If you want to get good photographs you will most likely need a tripod. Once again, there are all kinds of tripods on the market to fit just about every need. I was looking for a compact, portable tripod that I could easily carry with me while hiking. I ended up getting the Slik Sprint Pro II tripod. I’ve used it extensively over the last couple of months, mostly while hiking in Death Valley and Zion and it works fine with my relatively lightweight setup. I’ll probably get a heavier/sturdier tripod in the next year but for an inexpensive well-built tripod, the Slik does a great job. If you want to search for your perfect tripod, here’s a link to Tripods on Amazon

The Wishlist

Ok, I’ve given you my suggested camera stuff based on my usage and experiences. Now its time to share what’s on my “wishlist”. I don’t have these items yet, but I’d sure like to, so feel free to purchase any of these for me. I promise I’ll put them to good use

Cameras

If I could afford it, I’d probably buy this camera tomorrow! The Canon EOS 5D Mark II is a full-frame camera that has fantastic image quality. Many top outdoor photographers use this camera because of the awesome image quality and great low-light performance. Sure, I’d have to buy new lenses but it would be worth it. If you’re looking for a fantastic camera, especially for nature photography, this just might be it!

If I didn’t get the 5D Mark II I’d probably get the Canon EOS 7D. It gets fantastic reviews, has a super-fast autofocus system and also does well in low-light situations. My secret hope is that Pam loves the EOS XSI and wants to jump into photography with both feet. That way she could use the T3i and I’d be “forced” to buy this camera!

Lenses

The lenses that came with my T3i, the Canon EF-S 18-55mm ISandCanon EF-S 55-250mm IS f/4.0-5.6 are decent lenses, and a great value, but it would be nice to upgrade the quality some. If I could, I’d probably get the following lenses:

1.  A 10-22mm Wide Angle Lens: I rented a wide angle lens for our trip out West and fell in love with it. There are lenses from Canon, Sigma, Tamron and Tokina that are in that range. A lens like this can really open up lots of creative opportunities in both landscape and other types of photography.
2. The Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS  lens. While the “kit” 18-55mm lens that came with my camera is OK and takes decent images, it’s not the best “walk around” lens. It’s a little short on focal length range. The 15-85mm would fix that and allow me to keep just one lens on the camera for a typical day of around town shooting. In addition, the image quality of the lens is supposed to be fantastic.
3. A 70-200mm Zoom Lens. To complete my lens transformation, I would get a high quality telephoto lens. The 70-200mm range is a common one and offers many great choices. The price range for this lens is anywhere from $700-$3000 depending on which brand and quality level you get.

Filters

Most good photographers will tell you that one of the keys to getting great nature, outdoor and landscape photographs is to use the proper filters. The correct filter can make a good photograph great. There are many different types of filters for all kinds of situations. Some of the best filters seem to be from Singh-Ray . I’ve got my eye on some of their Neutral Density filters but they have all kinds of filters.

Well, that’s pretty much my wishlist. It would be great to get all of this stuff but the reality is that my current setup is perfectly fine, especially given my experience level. I’ve managed to take some great photographs so far and and photos that were less than great are entirely due to photographer error and not the equipment!

I hope this short list of camera equipment has given you some ideas. Please let me know if I left anything out or what you’re hoping Santa brings you this year by leaving a comment.

Happy Shooting!