It’s that wonderful time of year again, and B&H has plenty of great gifts for the bird and wildlife photographers in your life—or a little something for yourself! Below are twenty-five gift ideas to get the photographers on your list excited to go outside and make pictures.
1. Giottos Rocket Blaster Dust-Removal Tool
Spending time photographing the outdoors can be rough on your gear. Giottos Rocket Blaster can safely remove dust, sand, and debris from cameras, lenses, or other sensitive surfaces for best performance.
2. Portable Battery Bank
Nothing is worse than when you’re in the field and your phone, speaker, action cam, or tablet runs out of juice. A portable battery bank can give you a quick boost when needed. There are a variety of sizes and options to choose from, depending on your needs.
3. BlackRapid Sport Breathe Camera Strap
BlackRapid has long been the king of dependable and comfortable camera straps. Upgrade your old strap to one from the Breathe series. The new design helps keep you cool and comfy in the field with nylon mono mesh, curved TPE foam, and polyester air mesh.
4. JBL Clip 3 Portable Bluetooth Speaker
The JBL Clip 3 Portable Bluetooth Speaker is waterproof to 3.3', produces great sound, and has a long battery life. What else could one want in a wireless speaker? The clip feature is handy and sturdy. When you’re done with it in the field, listen at home for excellent quality and clarity of sound.
5. Memory Cards
Photographers can never have enough memory cards. Wildlife photographers should gravitate toward cards with fast writing speeds (minimum of 120MB/s for high frame rate cameras) for maximum performance. Anyone working in rough terrain should also consider waterproof and dustproof models.
6. Gepe Card Safe Extreme Watertight Case
Out of wrapping paper? Gift your memory cards in a more rugged housing with the Gepe Card Safe Extreme. The Card Safe Extreme protects against dust, humidity, and even electrostatic charge! It also floats and is watertight for up to 30 minutes at a depth of 5 feet. The case holds a variety of formats, including CF and SD cards.
7. Lexar Multi-Card 25-in-1 Reader
Need a quick and safe way to transfer your photos to your computer? The Lexar Multi-Card 25-1 USB 3.0 Memory Card Reader is a versatile tool for exactly this purpose. It can provide transfer speeds of up to 500MB/s and is compatible with 25 memory card formats so you can use it across multiple platforms.
8. Remote Shutter Release
Wildlife photographers inevitably use their cameras to capture other things. Macro, long exposure, star trails, and moving water are among the many subjects where a remote shutter release can come in handy. A wireless remote gives extra flexibility for setting up your shot and working from a distance.
9. Think Tank Photo Cable Management 10 v2.0
Camera cables, laptop cords, batteries, flash drives—I could go on. Photographers have a lot of stuff, especially smaller-sized accessories that are easily lost in large bags. The Think Tank Photo Cable Management 10 v2.0 is a great solution to your organization problems! It features plenty of room, clear panels to see what’s inside, and even a slot for business cards!
10. Visual Echoes Better Beamer Flash Extender
Extending the reach of your flash in the outdoors can be a huge advantage. Bird photographers often deal with harsh shadows or low-light conditions. The Visual Echoes Better Beamer Flash Extender can help by increasing your flash’s output by 2-3 stops, cutting back on battery drain. Be sure to match compatibility with your flash.
11. Lowepro ProTactic BP 450 AW II Camera and Laptop Backpack
If you’ve been extra good this year, give a gift to yourself and your gear. The Lowepro ProTactic BP 450 AW II Camera and Laptop Backpack combines a weatherproof and rugged exterior with a roomy and customizable interior. It is the perfect way to protect your camera and lenses from the elements while traveling. It also has a dedicated CradleFit laptop pocket, as well as external tripod attachment points. Finally, easy access points on the top and side make is simple to get your gear in and out quickly.
12. HamiltonBuhl HygenX Fog Eliminator
The HamiltonBuhl HygenX Fog Eliminator is the perfect stocking stuffer for any outdoor photographer. Nothing is more disappointing than getting ready to take your first shot and realizing your lens is fogged. Fog Eliminator stops fog from accumulating during long exposures. It contains no harsh chemicals, making it is safe to use on all lenses.
13. Really Right Stuff MTX Multi-Tool
A must-have for any camera bag, the Really Right Stuff MTX Multi-Tool has everything you might need while out in the field. No more worrying about loose baseplates or wobbly tripod heads. Specially designed with camera equipment in mind, it comes with 13 of the most commonly used hex bits, plus an additional 9 bits with a magnetic driver.
14. Domke Wrap
Keeping gear protected is of top priority for every photographer, especially when out in rough terrain. Add extra protection with easy-to-use and scratch-free Domke wraps. Touch fasteners allow them to be wrapped in any shape.
15. Travel Adapter
Be prepared anywhere you go with a travel adapter. There are numerous country-specific or global options, depending on your itinerary. The QVS Premium World Power Travel Adapter Kit is a great all-around choice because it supports US, UK, and EU plugs, offers surge protection, and has two USB ports for device charging. It works in more than 180 countries/territories so you will stay charged no matter where you roam.
16. External Hard Drive
Help the photographer in your life back up their precious images with an external hard drive. A personal favorite is the WD Elements External Hard Drive which comes in 1, 2, 3, and 4TB sizes, is backed by a 2-year worldwide warranty, and offers free software for automatic data backups. It has a quick 480 Mb/s write speed and is compatible with Windows and Mac systems.
17. OP/TECH USA 25" Mega Rain Sleeve
Protect your long lens from the elements with this handy 2-pack of OP/TECH USA Mega Rain Sleeves for telephotos up to 25" in length and 8" in diameter. They can be used on a tripod or handheld and come with a drawstring and a unique eyepiece opening that adapts to most viewfinders, allowing you to look directly through the lens rather than through plastic.
18. Kenko Auto Extension Tube Set
One of the best things about being in nature is there is always something to photograph. But sometimes those big telephoto lenses make it hard to shoot a butterfly or flower that you stumble upon from up close. Be prepared with Kenko’s Auto Extension Tube Set when you need a closer minimum focus distance. This set of 3 offers 12mm, 20mm, and 36mm tubes and is available for Canon EF, Nikon F, Sony A and E, and Micro Four Thirds mounts.
19. Gitzo GT2542 Mountaineer Series 2 Carbon Fiber Tripod
Gitzo tripods have long maintained a reputation for dependability. The GT2542 Mountaineer Series 2 Carbon Fiber Tripod can handle weight up to 39.7 lb. It uses High Modulus carbon fiber in the lower leg sections, making it more rigid and stronger than past models. Weighing only 3.7 lb and folding down to 22" makes it an ideal travel tripod. G-lock ultra-twist leg locks stay secure and the special o-rings prevent dirt and particles from entering the leg system.
20. Nikon D850 DSLR Camera
If Nikon is your brand of choice, you can’t go wrong with the D850. Its 45.7MP BSI CMOS sensor and EXPEED 5 image processor can shoot up to 7 fps continuously for 51 shots. Nikon’s Multi-CAM 20K AF system and 153 phase-detection points ensure fast and accurate focus for quick-moving targets. The D850 can also record 4K video, 120p slow-motion (full HD 1080p), and 8K Time-Lapses.
21. Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR Lens
Pair your D850 with Nikon’s AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR Lens—a fast, sharp, lightweight, super telephoto prime perfect for wildlife. Features include an incredibly quick, accurate, and quiet Silent Wave AF with Vibration Reduction. Its unique One Phase Fresnel and three extra-low dispersion elements combine for sharp images, reduced distortion, and impressive color fidelity.
22. Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital Camera
Start off the new year with the latest addition to Sony’s full-frame mirrorless family: the Alpha a9 II. Its 24.2MP Exmor RS BSI Stacked CMOS Sensor and BIONZ X Image Processor combine for extremely fast shooting up to 20 fps with an electronic shutter, or 10 fps manually, and provide great low-light performance with an ISO range of up to 204800. It has a lightweight, weather-sealed body and updated connectivity compared to its predecessor, for professional applications.
23. Canon EOS 5D Mark IV DSLR Camera
Looking for a strong low-light performer? Or a camera that offers impressive post-processing cropping abilities? You can have both with Canon’s EOS 5D Mark IV DSLR. Its 30.4MP full-frame CMOS sensor offers a low noise ISO range of 100-32000, which is expandable to 102400. The AF system offers 61 phase-detect points which are sensitive to f/8 along with 41 cross-type points and the center point is extremely sensitive in low light. Tracking fast-moving objects has never been easier.
24. Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Lens
Canon’s EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Lens is one of the best zoom lenses for bird and wildlife photography. It offers excellent sharpness, clarity, and color throughout its entire zoom range. The ring-type USM gives fast, precise, and quiet AF performance and its weather-resistant build and and fluorine coatings protect against fingerprints and smudging. Mounted on a APS-C camera, it offers the equivalent of 640mm of reach and also pairs nicely with teleconverters.
25. Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM Lens
Have you been really good this year? I consider the Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM Lens to be the most versatile lens for bird and wildlife photography. It is super bright and sharp and features fast, quiet autofocusing and advanced image stabilization. It’s light enough to handhold for short periods of time and is compatible with Canon’s Extender EF 1.4X III and Extender EF 2X III, giving extra reach up to a focal length of up to 1000mm.
What gifts are you considering for your favorite bird and wildlife photographer? Let us know in the Comments section, below!
