6 gift ideas for outdoor photographers under $100 in 2024
Normally a hobby makes shopping for the holidays or birthdays pretty easy… unless that hobby is landscape or wildlife photography. Lenses, camera bodies, and accessories often climb into the hundreds of dollars pretty quickly. So here’s some gift ideas for landscape and wildlife photographers all UNDER $100.
I’m not sponsored by anyone. So everything here is just stuff that I have or wish I had. In fact, I’d encourage you to search around to see if your local camera store has anything on this list (support local!!!) or if you can find a better price online based on where you live.
(Prices included here are correct at the time of publishing… but ya know, keep an eye out for sales!)
LensPen to remove the smudges on the lens from their grubby little fingers
This little thing was recommended to me from a friend who spent years as a safari guide in South Africa. He called it the most helpful thing he’d seen because “it doesn’t matter how careful you are, you’ll always wind up getting your grubby fingers all over your lens and ruin the shot”. I took mine to Namibia and Mongolia and I have to agree.
This small little thing gives you two sides to clean your lens from finger prints. Sure, it’s not sexy. But dang it, it is helpful.
You can get it a bunch of places, but check these out:
- A single a LensPen from Amazon here – only $17.99 CAD right now
- Henry’s Camera has a 3 pack for only $39.99 – find it here
- Of course B&H has ’em which is probably the best spot if you’re based in the US
Bonus suggestion: K&F also sells a full lens cleaning kit with a few extras if you know they don’t have a full cleaning solution for their gear yet. Only $33.99 right now
Pssst. I bring my LensPen pretty much everywhere now. Check out everything I packed in my camera bag for the trip to Namibia for a few more ideas.
No finger smudges here – this was the first time I brought my LensPen out (and also my first time birding in Toronto).
A camera weather cover so weather doesn’t rain on their parade
If you’re an outdoors photographer, rain can be the bane of your existence. Check out these rain covers (also helpful to keep the sand out!). It can mean the difference between staying out and heading home.
You might need to know what kind of lens your loved one uses so you can get the right size, but there’s some flex.
There’s many options online, but to get you started take a look at these options
- This option from Amazon is clear plastic which can be reused (although won’t last for a lifetime). It’s currently under $15 CAD
- This one from ThinkTank is essentially a raincoat for your camera. A little heavier duty than the one above
- Peak Design offers this option starting at $59. Peak Design has a pretty rad warranty, I’ve got a few of their products and love them all. This one is a little thicker than the other two options but the small definitely won’t fit a long lens so make sure you check sizes.
Photography gloves so they’re ready to click
Save the fingers! Depending on where you are (or where you’re planning to go) these gloves keep hands toasty without making using your camera a living nightmare.
There’s a bunch of options – and make sure you get the right size! But gloves like these can keep a photo session going. And look good enough they can wear them without the camera too.
Check out these options:
- PGYTECH have a few options but these ones are nice and simple are are under $50
- These gloves from Vallerret are a little more expensive, but Vallerret has a ton of options at a bunch of different price points
BONUS GIFT: if your loved one has frozen fingers while they’re out taking pictures (me. I am perpetually cold) these rechargeable heaters can help keep ‘em toasty.
Drone filters to ✨ elevate✨ their drone photography
For this one they obviously need a drone… which are generally significantly over $100 lol. But if they do have a drone you should also check which kind of drone (brand and type of drone) since they’re not interchangeable between them (like my DJI mini 3 drone filters won’t work on a DJI Mavic).
These filters can help elevate their drone photo and video. I have a polarising filter that I loved using in Mongolia, but the ND filters can be equally as helpful.
A few different brands offer kits and price will depend on which kind of drone they actually have so here’s a few to get you started
- K&F has a bunch of options they make for a variety of drone brands
- B&H offers a variety of filters for many drone brands starting as low as $4.99 USD
Taken in southern Mongolia near the Gobi Desert
A dew heater to fight lens condensation
Colder weather can cause condensation on a lens and absolutely kill a shoot – especially if it’s early in the morning or late at night (looking at you wildlife photographers, landscape photographers, and astrophotographers).
There’s plenty of options on the market, but take a look at these:
- This one from Amazon – nice and inexpensive with tons of positive reviews
- Neewer offers a few options, they’re a reliable third party kind of brand. I have a few neewer pieces and they’ve always been good for their price
- Move Shoot Move makes stuff specially for astrophotography, this one is under $20 USD
A camera bag to carry the load
A camera bag can be a long and stressful search (don’t ask me how I know. Just kidding I will absolutely be writing about how I know and all the dumb things I do to find my Holy Grail)
The other thing is these bags can get expensive very fast. But if your photographer loved one is looking for something simple, straightforward, and easy to love for early in their hobby then one of these might be helpful*
*Unless they’re a wildlife photographer who carries an enormous bazooka of a lens because those require some special bags that will fit
There’s a ton of solid options under $100, but here’s a few to get you started
- LowePro Trekker Lite HP 100 0 under $100 and helpful for a smaller kit
- Moment’s 4L sling is great for an everyday carry (again, unless they have an enormous wildlife lens to lug around on the daily
- Okay this one is a little over $100 but Manfrotto is an awesome brand
So, what’re you getting your photographer?
Or, what’s on your list if you’re like me and like to scroll these kinds of lists for suggestions on what to buy yourself? Lemme know in the comments!
