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Photographers Gift Guide 2011

toby — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 17:10:33 +0000

My Annual Gift Guide First and foremost I would be happy to chat with you about gift ideas – Lenses, Bags and Even cameras are a possibility if I know a little more about you or who you are buying from so use Chat or leave me a message on facebook or G+ and I will be happy to provide some guidance.


		Studiohut Hot Shoe Three Axis Double Bubble Level You can always fix your Horizon in post but it is certainly nice to get it right straight out of camera and if taking a series for panoramas its critical to keep your horizon straight.-Reader suggestion – Thanks Gene B.
		Giottos AA1900 Rocket Air Blaster Large – Black Perfect for cleaning lenses, sensors(gently) and anything else that gathers dust.
		SanDisk Memory Card Carrying Pouch I have crammed four cards in cases in here. though it is tight, those little memory cards are precious and if for a few bucks you add a layer of protection that lets you keep your cards from flying out of loose pockets you should do it. Buy two and color code for used/formatted cards.
		Sandisk Flash Memory Card Case / Holder (SDAC-13) for SD, CF, MS, MMC, XD, MicroSD When you want to offer a bit more protection of your precious media. tip: put used cards in face down, fresh cards face up.
		Tiffen Filter Wallet for up to 6 FiltersSame idea as the card wallet, keep all your filters in one place and nicely organized. Then again if you follow my advice you might only have one filter
		Hot Heads Glomitts! Its a glove..and a mitten! If you can get past the silly name these are great for shooting in colder weather.
		Domke F-34L 19-Inch Protective Wrap Personal protective wrap for your camera or other gear. The largest will just fit around a DSLR- use them for backpacking or turning a normal messenger bag into a camera bag
		The Travel Coffee Mug/lens Cup/thermos in a Shape of Canon EOS Ef 24-105mm F4 Lens with Stainless Steel IneriorStraight up Silly! Reviews are not stellar and sharpness is very low
		Fotodiox Thermo Lens Cup with Stainless Steel Insulated Tumbler, Coffee and Refreshment Mug, 1:1 Nikon Lens imitation Thermo Cup (Modeling 24-70mm F2.8G Lens), 16ozHas better reviews than the canon version – just so folks don’t think I am a canon fanboy.
		I love blurb, prices are reasonable and the products excellent. What photographer doesn’t love seeing their work in print. Recently Blurb began offering notebooks, take just a few photos and make your own custom notebook. Blurb will offer Free Shipping valid 12/1 through 12/9 with promo code AFFILIATEFREESHIP and 15% off all Blurb Books valid 12/1 through 12/31 with promo code AFFILIATE15OFF.
		Understanding Exposure, 3rd Edition: How to Shoot Great Photographs with Any CameraSpeaking of books, it was an earlier edition of this excellent book that helped it all click for me (pun intended In plain language this book helps you understand how your camera sees the world and really understanding that is a huge step toward taking better photographs.
		The HDR Book: Unlocking the Pros’ Hottest Post-Processing TechniquesMaybe you or the photographer in your life has the basics down and is looking to explore the World of HDR, this text will guide the HDR curious to the next level.
		Canon PowerShot ELPH 300 HS 12.1 MP Digital Camera (Black)This camera has been my go to pick for the last year, it is still excellent and now that it is selling for less than $200 it is an amazing value. So tiny with HD video, stereo recording, snappy responsiveness and fun slow mo movie mode.
		Eye-Fi Explore X2 8 GB Class 6 SDHC Wireless Photo & Memory Uploads EYE-FI-8EXStick this in your camera and you suddenly have a network connected camera that can stream photos to another computer, the internet or a smart phone almost as fast as you can take them. I reviewed this version a few months ago but there are also cheaper models that offer all the functionality with 1/2 the storage for about 1/2 the price
		Dolica AX620B100 62-Inch Proline Tripod and Ball HeadThere are cheap tripods that I wouldn’t trust with a Fisher Price Kid-Tough Digital Camera and then there is this Dolica – I have loved the value and utility of this tripod for years
		Sony DPF-D1010 10.2-Inch WVGA LCD (16:10) Digital Photo Frame (Black)You got a snazzy digital camera show off those photos in a snazzy 2011 way, and although I am not usually a fan of Sony P&S cameras they did do an excellent job with this photo frame. resolution is good, USB or memory card slots to load your images and lots of options with the display.
		Gift CardsThey may not be the most exciting present to give but are always appreciated.
		Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3Fantastic software that makes it easy to get your photos in and then out to the gallery of your choice, or make a slide show or publish a collage or the list goes on.
		PhotoFrame 4.6 Professional EditionThere are times where a subtle texture or rough edge can really add to your images and for those times PhotoFrame is the program! -Reader suggested- Thanks Alan R.
		http://www.smugmug.com/,http://www.zenfolio.com/ How about a gift of some place beautiful to store, share and organize your photos. I use both Smugmug and Zenfolio and have nothing but great things to say – helpful support, multitude of customization options and privacy controls. Get your photos off Flickr and get them someplace where the people care
		SanDisk Flash Memory Vault 16 GBA neat idea for backing up your most precious photos- certainly much longer lasting than a DVD- which usually fails within 10 years.
		Related to the above but of a more immediate nature- the fast 16GB class 10 Transcend cards are now just $19 a piece – that is loads of storage for little $
		Energizer Ultimate Lithium Headlight (Batteries Included) If the photographer in your life heads out before sunrise, after sunset or during the night for star trails- having a headlamp for hands free illumination can be so. . . handy (sorry This headlamp has a red light mode that can save your night vision, perfect for setting up compositions in the dark. If you want to go smaller/lighter/cheaper take a look at thEnergizer Trail Finder 7 LED Head Light (Batteries Included)

Nothing on this list that interests you? Review the 2009 Holiday Gift Guide and 2010 Holiday Gift Guide AND Updated daily is my The Big Camera Holiday Recommendation Guide

Black Friday Deals & Guide

toby — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 15:17:57 +0000

This post will be updated regularly over the next two weeks - So Far Walmart – Nothing impressive, cheap P&S that are crap or deals that can be had on Amazon for currently the same price Best Buy – My Favorite all around P&S, Canon HS300, will be a low $149 Door Buster Deal! Sounds Great but the price has dropped at Amazon and the black HS300 is $149.99 with free shipping. UPDATE – HS300 currently sitting at $177, I strongly believe the price will be back to $149 to match Best Buy’s BF deal and combine that with the $10 off Deal and you can be sitting pretty. Canon T3i will be $799 (currently $770 at Amazon) BUT they are offering the 55-250 lens with IS (good budget zoom) for $150 with purchase of DSLR. Amazon currently has that listed for $219. Amazon’s sales keep getting better as Amazon is now offering $10 off $100 Electronics and Toys Purchases, along with a future coupon good for $10 off $50 Electronics and Toys, when you checkout using coupon code 8C65VF3Y and pay with a MasterCard! Target – Loads more updates coming!

T3i Bundle Deal on Amazon

toby — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 12:30:43 +0000

You have to work a bit for this- involves selling extra lenses and a printer but the effort could pay off and you end up with a T3i and kit lens for almos $300 less than retail. All of the following need to be purchased from Amazon NOT a 3rd party retailer through Amazon

Canon EOS Rebel T3i 18MP DSLR Camera w/ EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens + EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS Lens + EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III Lens + UV Filter + Canon PIXMA Pro 9000 Mark II I

Canon EOS Rebel T3i 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera and DIGIC 4 Imaging with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens = $849.00 Tiffen 58mm UV Protection Filter = $12.39 Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras = $199.00 Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras = $200.00 Canon PIXMA Pro9000 Mark II Inkjet Photo Printer (3295B002) = $449.99Total: $849.00 + $12.39 + $199.00 + $200.00 + $449.99 – $12.39 (UV filter instant rebate) $150 (55-250mm instant rebate) – $100 (75-300mm instant rebate) – $400 (printer mail-in rebate [images-amazon.com]) = $1047

You have to add everything to your cart, must be from Amazon and before checkout you will see the discount applied.Then sell the following: Printer = ~$200 55-250mm lens = ~$150 75-300mm lens = ~$110 For a net total of ~$587.00 on the T3i 18-55mm kit.

It is a bit of work and there are no guarantees on the sell prices, especially if you have to do Ebay fees + shipping costs but those are fairly reasonable estimates for sale prices. Good Luck!

Fantastic Photography Book. . you could WIN!

toby — Thu, 26 May 2011 16:32:08 +0000

Fantastic Foundation for Photography

There are loads of photography books out there, some try to be funny, some are packed with ridiculously basic information and some are filled with fluff(a problem closely related to the basic info problem). And then there is this book. I don’t think it matters where you are in your knowledge of photography and cameras this book is highly worth your time. The information is straightforward, explained with excellent photographs and I find the sections to be just about perfect in length – Giving what you need to understand how your camera “sees” without overwhelming or getting too technical. Check to see if you local library has a copy, mine did, or pick it up at Amazon for a reasonable and very worthwhile price of $15. Or you could win a copy from me Understanding Exposure, 3rd Edition: How to Shoot Great Photographs with Any Camera

Nikon D3100 Kit + Lens savings

toby — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 16:11:26 +0000

1. Select a qualifying Nikon digital SLR – D3100 2. Select your qualifying Nikkor lens(es) – I Suggest either the budget 55-200 ($100 off) or the excellent 70-300($200 off) 3. Add all qualifying products to your Shopping Cart. 4. Enter the corresponding claim code and the savings will be automatically applied at checkout. Note: There are a few other lens savings but these are the ones I recommend. Instant Savings Amount by Lens $200 off Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED IF AF-S VR Nikkor Zoom Lens. Enter code CZJH6H34 at checkout. Review: Excellent lens, fast to focus works well for sports and action shots. Price: $500 | Bundled Price: $939 $100 off Nikon 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR AF-S DX Nikkor Zoom Lens. Enter code OX53IO8R at checkout. Review: Solid lens, lighter than 70-300 with similar range, autofocus can be a bit slow. Price: $360 | Bundled Price: $900 $100 off Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED IF AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens. Enter code CLEN9QAO at checkout. Review: very similar to lens above w/ less range- Good value at current price. Price: 198 | Bundle Price: $740 Bottom Line – If budget is your main concern hard to beat the $740 price that gets you the D3100, 18-55 VR and 55-200 VR but if you want a zoom for sports and more action orientated shots you need to spend the money and move up to the 70-300 bundle for $939. As always if you have questions about this deal, this camera and or lenses feel free to ask @camerarec on twitter

Black Friday Deals and “Deals”

toby — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 17:06:15 +0000

Adding new deals as I see them (updated 10pm 11/26)

PowerShot SX210IS 14.1 MP Digital Camera with 14x Wide Angle OIS $199 (usually $280 on Amazon)

DSLR Deals

The Amazon Bundle is BACK!! This is huge because with the dropped T2i price you can get an amazingly sweet bundle! 1. Canon EOS Rebel T2i 18 MP CMOS APS-C Digital SLR Camera with 3.0-Inch LCD and EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens 2. Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras $210.00 3. Tiffen 58mm UV Protection Filter $12.31 4. Transcend 4 GB Class 6 SDHC Flash Memory Card TS4GSDHC6E $6.99 5. Apply code: RRB3D5ZU Items: $1,028.30 Shipping & Handling: $0.00 Promotion Applied: -$12.31 Promotion Applied: -$6.99 Promotion Applied: -$210.00 Total: $799.00 Nikon D3100 ~~for $599.~~ Price is back up to $639. This is an excellent entry level DSLR and although I give the T2i a slightly higher rating if you are looking to save money the D3100 is an ~~excellent~~decent buy! Amazon’s Black Friday Deals – The whole week leading up to Black Friday amazon will be posting deals.

Point & Shoot Deals (these are all cameras I have recommended, highlighting here because of recent price drops)

SD1300, solid all around camera now $109 use code UYFBFR9Z and free 4GB SD Card ($9 value)- just add card to cart and cost wil be subtracted. SD1400, Similar to above but includes HD video $149 – Free 4GB SD Card ($9 value)- just add card to cart and cost wil be subtracted. SX130IS, 12x zoom and DSLR-like body, HD video w/ Stereo sound $179 Free 4GB SD Card ($9 value)- just add card to cart and cost wil be subtracted. Kodak PlaySport (Zx3) HD Waterproof Pocket Video Camera Bundle (Black) $149 4GB SD card, mini tripod and remote control. Panasonic Lumix ZR3 14 MP 8x Zoom and 2.7-Inch LCD$179 8x zoom in a camera that still easily fits in pocket. HD video too. B&H Holiday Deals are here. I don’t see anything that out right beats Amazon but they do offer few other products I am always happy to chat about which camera is right for you. Use the Meebo widget on the side or find me on twitter @camerarec Check back often for updates.

Price Drop on T2i/550D

toby — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 06:03:50 +0000

T2i price gouging has stopped and most retailers are now selling for the correct list price of 899 Canon EOS Rebel T2i 18 MP CMOS APS-C Digital SLR Camera with 3.0-Inch LCD and EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens

Holiday Presents for the Photographer

toby — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 01:43:39 +0000

External Flash- If you don’t have one these can do more for the quality of your indoor, and outdoor, shots than any other upgrade/accessory. Both Nikon and Canon offer fairly inexpensive but excellent flashes that allow you to bounce the light of the ceiling. The result is bright, evenly lit photos without your subjects looking washed out or getting red-eye. Canon Canon Speedlite 270EX Flash for Canon Digital SLR Cameras $130 Canon Speedlite 430EX II Flash for Canon Digital SLR Cameras $250 Nikon Nikon SB-400 AF Speedlight Flash for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras $115 Nikon SB-600 Speedlight Flash for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras $218 In both cases the more advanced/expensive flash gets you faster recycling times, greater range/power and more detailed control. If you are not likely to be using the flahs in professional settings the cheaper of the two will be fine. Tripod- I already have a post about a wonderful, feature laden tripod for only $45 Accessories- Transcend 8 GB SDHC Class 6 $23 Easy stocking stuffer,stop worrying about running out of room, especially if you have a newer camera that shoots HD video. Eye-Fi Share Video 4 GB Wi-Fi SDHC $64 This is one of those accessories that makes me feel like I am living in the future. Not only do you get 4GB of space on a standard sized SD card you also get Wi-Fi that lets you wirelessly upload pics as you take them to your computer and/or a handful of photo sharing sites online. One of the best uses of these cards is to hook your computer to your TV, run a slide show of the upload folder and as you are taking pictures of the party/fun they will appear on the TV slideshow – blowing your guests minds! Waterproof your P&S DicaPac WP110 145X95mm Small Alfa Waterproof Digital Camera Case with Optical Lens (Clear) Filters- Another cross post – Filter information and links Books- For years I have been recommending Bryan Peterson’s Excellent “Understanding Exposure” He now has a second book Bryan Peterson’s “Understanding Photography Field Guide: How to Shoot Great Photographs with Any Camera” that looks to be very helpful Another book getting rave reviews The Best Camera Is The One That’s With You: iPhone Photography by Chase Jarvis (Voices That Matter) More Ideas- Waterproof housing, Pro-membership on Flickr, Smugmug, a photobook of their best images, Gift Cards, something fun from Photojojo.com I will add more ideas in the coming days! Leave your thoughts in the comments.