It's the season of giving – and receiving, if you need an excuse to spoil yourself with a treat! But of course, with photography being such an expensive hobby, it can be challenging to find a worthwhile gift that doesn't break the bank.
Don't worry, though – we've put together a great gift guide to suit a variety of budgets. There's something here for everyone, from bags and software to cameras and lenses.
And to make your budget stretch even further, think about picking up some kit second-hand. Buying used kit from retailers like MPB, the world’s largest resale platform for digital photography and film-making kit, isn't just better for your wallet – it's kinder to the planet as well.
Christmas Gifts: Under £100
Giving a great gift doesn't have to wipe out your Christmas bonus! Check out these smart bargain buys with real photographic flair.
Luminar AI Photo editing software
Powerful yet intuitive, this is a great standalone app and Adobe plug-in.
£59/$79 www.skylum.com
Polaroid Hi-Print 2x3 Pocket Photo Printer
Create ‘real’ photo prints wirelessly, direct from your smartphone.
£79/$84 www.uk.polaroid.com
3 Legged Thing Ellie L-Bracket
A universal L-bracket for easy tripod shooting and adjustments.
£51/$52 www.3leggedthing.com
SRB Photographic Elite Bundle Kit
A superb filter kit with a circular polariser and 10-stop neutral-density.
£80/$111 www.srb-photographic.co.uk
Nikon D3100
A brilliant beginner’s camera, complete with built-in interactive tutorial. (Good condition)
£79/$110 bit.ly/2021mpb100
Christmas Gifts: Under £150
If you've got a little more cash to splash, these quality gifts see style meet substance – but still won't break the bank.
Kenro Karoo Ultimate Travel Tripod
A small-folding yet tall travel tripod, with a pivoting centre column.
£139/$210 www.kenro.co.uk
GVM 800D RGB LED Video Light
A versatile LED panel, with a full colour range and a neat range of special effects.
£120/$99 www.gvmled.com
Benro MSD46C SupaDupa Monopod
A sturdy yet lightweight carbon-fibre monopod that gives solid support.
£130/$160 www.benroeu.com
Lowepro Flipside BP300 AW III Backpack
The latest generation of Lowepro’s legendary Flipside camera backpacks.
£135/$150 www.lowepro.com
Syrp Genie Micro Remote Controller
A clever wireless camera controller that works from a smartphone app.
£139/$159 www.svrp.com
7artisans 7.5mm f/2.8 II Fisheye Lens
A manual diagonal fisheye lens
for various crop-sensor cameras.
£129/$139 www.7artisans.co.uk
Manfrotto XPRO Ball Head, 200PL
Our favourite ball head, with Manfrotto’s smart quick-release plate.
£104/$175 www.manfrotto.com
Canon’s classic full-frame standard prime, also perfect for portraiture on APS-C cameras. (Excellent condition)
£144/$199 bit.ly/2021mpb150
Christmas Gifts: Under £200
If you're looking to spend a little bit more, check out this seriously good gear that’s not just for Christmas.
Billingham Hadley Small camera bag
This smaller version of an iconic camera bag is perfect for mirrorless setups.
£187/$230 www.billingham.co.uk
Godox Ving V860III flashgun
A powerful RF-connected flashgun in a range of dedicated options.
£195/$229 www.godox.com
Lensbaby Spark 2.0 (with Sweet 50 lens)
Get creative by combining a sweet spot of sharpness with smooth blur.
£179/$199 www.lensbaby.com
Canon Pixma TS6350/6320 printer
The perfect choice for printing both documents and high-quality photos.
£155/$130 www.canon.co.uk
Sennheiser MKE 400 Shotgun Microphone
Ensure the audio quality of your videos is up to snuff with this directional mic.
£179/$230 www.en-uk.sennheiser.com
A brilliant new messenger / sling camera bag in a range of exuberant colours.
£179/$199 www.morallytoxic.com
Interfit Badger Beam LED Monolight
This LED monolight is a constant-light alternative to using a flash head.
£199/$219 www.interfitphoto.co.uk
Fujifilm X-T10
A high-performance compact mirrorless body with real retro chic into the bargain. (Good condition)
£199/$275 bit.ly/2021mpb200
Christmas Gifts: Over £200
If your wallet can accommodate it, pick out something special from this list to show how much you care.
An affordable classic now produced for EOS R-series mirrorless cameras.
£219/$200 www.canon.co.uk
Laowa 100mm f/2.8 2:1 Ultra Macro APO
Features a phenomenal 2x macro magnification ratio, and doubles up for perfect portraits.
£469/$499 www.venuslens.net
Hähnel Modus 600RT Mk II WK
A top-end flashgun and RF wireless trigger kit in various options.
£299/$284 www.hahnel.ie
Samyang MF 14mm f/2.4
This ultra-wide-angle prime is brilliant for interiors, landscapes and astro.
£369/$499 www.samyanglens.com
The Hero9 Black is a real action hero. This updated version is tops for 5K 30 video.
£369/$400 www.gopro.com
There’s nothing ‘mini’ about its range, which stretches up to 6.2 miles away and 2.5 miles high.
£419/$449 www.dji.com
Tamron 35mm f/2.8 Di III OSD M 1:2
Fabulous performance in a compact package for Sony E-mount cameras.
£239/$249 www.tamron.eu
Sony Cyber-shot RX100 IV
Powerful and feature-rich, it’s a stellar pocket-sized camera – and a great buy from MPB. (Good condition)
£384/$531 bit.ly/2021mpb200plus
Read more:
Best cameras for photography
Best DSLRs
Best mirrorless cameras
Best camera bags
Best tripods
Best photo editing software
Best portable printers
Best flashguns
