Holiday Gift Guide: Accessories

For photographers of all skill levels, these affordable extras are perfect gifts that make photography more enjoyable and successful.

Cotton Carrier Binocular & Camera Harness

Give the wildlife photographers on your list a safe and secure way to carry binoculars and a camera in easy reach. The Binocular & Camera Harness from Cotton Carrier has an adjustable harness that holds one camera in a side holster and a binocular bracket that works with most binoculars, holding them horizontally across the front of the harness. Two “Twist & Lock” mounts keep the gear stabilized to limit movement while walking. List price: $189.

Datacolor Spyder5ELITE

For the best print and output quality, monitor calibration is an essential aspect of the image processing workflow. Datacolor’s Spyder5ELITE features improved low luminance accuracy for enhanced shadow details and tonal gradients. The hardware and software package walks you through the calibration process step-by-step, and also provides an “Expert Console” for fine tuning gamma, white point and luminance. The software also provides a before and after display of calibration results using a photo of your choosing to help you evaluate the calibration profile. List price: $369.

Epson Legacy Papers

A line of ultra-premium, professional papers created to produce gallery prints suitable for collecting, Epson’s new Legacy papers are the result of a collaboration with paper makers, art galleries and chemical engineers, achieving an image permanence rating of 200 years for color prints and 400 years for B&W (when used with Epson HD and HDX inks). These acid and lignin free papers will be available in four variants: Baryta, Etching, Fiber and Platine, in cut sheet sizes of 8.5×11-inches, 13×19-inches and 17×22-inches, as well as rolls in widths of 17, 24 and 44 inches. List price: Varies by size and type.

FlatHat Collapsible Drone Pad

Protect your drone (and its camera) from dirt and debris on landing and takeoff with the FlatHat Collapsible Drone Pad. With colorful patterns to provide a high-visibility landing target, they’re lightweight, portable and made of heavy-duty fabric that stretches over a flexible frame. Available in two size the 16-inch pad is great for mini and nano-sized drones, while 32-inch version is ideal for mid-size drones in the size range of the DJI Phantom 3. For drones with “return home” capability, the 32-inch pad can be designated as such. List price: $19 (16-inch); $39 (32-inch).

LEE 15-Stop Super Stopper

Shoot longer exposures midday in the brightest, harshest light with the Lee Filter 15-stop Super Stopper. This glass ND filter reduces the light entering the lens by 15 stops, making effects like blurring the movement of water possible any time of day. Available for the 100mm, SW150 and Sev5n filter ranges. List price: $85 (Sev5n); $150 (100mm); $175 (SW150).

Matador Camera And Lens Base Layer

Convenience and protection from the elements don’t always go hand-in-hand but Matador’s Camera and Lens Base Layer bags combine both attributes. The two quilted bags are lightweight and come with an integrated outer layer that can be rolled up over the bags when you’re fording a river or hiking in the rain (or on the beach) to keep your gear dry and protected. At the same time, the bags are designed for almost immediate access to your camera and lens when unrolled. The Camera Base Layer can hold up to a full-frame, pro DSLR with a medium telephoto lens. Need a longer lens? Pick up the Lens Base Layer, which can accommodate a telephoto lens up to 6 inches in length and a diameter of 3.75-inches. List price: $60 (Camera); $40 (Lens).

Peak Design Shell

A waterproof camera cover is a smart accessory to have on hand year-round, but especially in the wetter, colder months. Peak Design’s Shell Camera Cover defends against water, snow, dust and abrasion with its form-fitting, stretchable design that can be used with your camera handheld, mounted to a tripod or stowed away in a bag. Both ends of the cover have drawstring closures for access to the viewfinder and controls that cinch tightly for storage. Available in three sizes. List price: From $39.

Really Right Stuff iPhone Clamp

With innovations like the new dual camera in iPhone 7 Plus, smartphones becomes a more attractive option for high-quality images. Accessories like the Really Right Stuff Mobile Phone Clamp enhance your ability to get creative. Adjustable to accommodate most phones, its jaws are angled inward with a rubber bumper to protect and grip the device. The hex key used for adjustments stores conveniently in the clamp itself, held in place with two magnets. Once the jaws are sized to fit your phone, simply twist the knob to lock the phone in place. Sockets on the side and back allow for mounting to a tripod. List Price: From $70.

SLIK LITE Tripods

SLIK’s new LITE series tripods cleverly incorporate a removable LED flashlight in the center column, especially convenient for lightpainting and finding your way on early-morning and late-night shoots. Five models are currently available — two carbon fiber and three aluminum — ranging in size from the aluminum AL-420S with a max height of 39.9 inches, to the carbon fiber CF-422 with a max height of 70.1 inches. All models feature a Rapid Flip Mechanism, to invert the legs 180 degrees for more compact storage, and a detachable center column, allowing the tripod to get close to the ground for low-angle photography. List price: $99 to $329.

 Tamrac Anvil 27

With enough room for two DSLR bodies plus multiple lenses and accessories, the light and spacious Tamrac Anvil 27 is customizable with padded dividers and includes a compartment for laptops up to 15 inches. A quick-release strap lets you attach and carry your tripod, and a seam-sealed rain fly helps keeps the pack dry in inclement weather. Additional exterior pockets provide extra storage for smaller accessories like filters and memory cards. List Price: $289.

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