ot: good gift idea for a photographer...

I have a friend who's an avid photographer, and need to get 'em something for their birthday. I don't really have a budget. I just want it to be a kick ass gift. I know they have a Canon. I believe a 40D. I'd like to get a whup ass lens, but I don't know what she already has. I know she needs/needed something for distant action stuff. But getting a lens would be a gamble, and require me to trick her into telling me what she has without giving away that I'm looking into getting a lens. And I'm not very tricky.

Thoughts and/or suggestions appreciated.

 

Memory cards or external drives?

 

I thought about that, but that seems to easy. There has to at least be the appearance of effort. :P

 

Unless you are trying for the score a good long lens is going to be pricey, anywhere from $600 to $8K. I guess that depends on her hotness, post a picture and I will give you some ideas.

 

Why does it need to be photo something? Make an event of something. I once gave a two up ride in a glider as a gift. I never got around to a balloon ride but its always been a thought.

 

It's my step sister. And, let's just say, a two up glider ride would end up in a lot of downward circles in only one direction being flown. She's a nice person though, and I owe her a lot.

So no one has any recommendations for camera related gear? Good tripods or unipod (whatever)? Kick ass gear bags? A decent lens for taking action shots while standing along the fence at T2 at Beaver Run?

Aside from a lens the size of titan missle, what would impress a photographer?

 

Sean,
You could drop Ray (photog at BeaveRun "SBimage" a quick email and ask him. He's a great guy and could probably help with some suggestions.

raymondbradlau "at" earthlink.net

 

The best gift for a Photographer is Photoshop CS4 or if they have it, get Photoshop Elements, with a Tutorial book to show them how to use it and touch up their photos. I'm sure they will love it. You might want to look into Photoshop Lightroom too.


www.adobe.com

Just look for Photoshop

 

Bags and stuff like that are nice but need to be picked out by the user IMO.

Is taking pictures of you at the track the only thing she shoots?

A 70-200 L series lens is a great all around lens and if you can get close to the action it is long enough, espicailly with a converter. I have a 100-400 L and that does pretty good also. For real good stuff a 300 f2.8 or maybe a 500 f4 would be a killer lens, they are about $4k and $7K.

 

Do you have a budget?

 

Yeah, good software would be cool. Even Adobe Lightroom and a Photoshop class would be real good.

If she likes portrait stuff and studio work then a good lighting kit would be awesome to have.

 

Damn, I found something we can agree on.

I hate it when that happens.

 

She does some studio work. Weddings and stuff too. She only recently started shooting action stuff (me at the track). And she mentioned at the time that she didn't have the ideal gear for that sort of stuff. But the pictures she took all came out pretty good, at least by my eye. She mentioned she had to do some stuff in PS to get them to look "right", but that could just be the anal photog talking.

I like the lighting and software idea. I know some people she's worked with, so I can ask them what she has lighting wise. Thanks for the info on the lenses! I'll see what I can stomach.

 

Photoshop is an excellent idea. :up:

 

OBJECTION, your Honor!!!...the Defendant is completely tricky and this clever ploy to get us all to help him shows his nefarious core.


+1 on Photoshop.

 

If she's getting into shooting action stuff a monopod is a great gift and vital to shooting sports, after a good long lens.

Manfrotto or Gitzo is the best out there and for even more bling factor get one in carbon fiber.

Here are some to chose from: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?ci=397&N=4294539191+4291428784+4291348219+4294950354

Gitzos are $250-300 or you can get the Manfrottos for around $200.

Anything in aluminum is gonna be around $100.

I tend to like the Manfrottos because of their quick release and adjustments.

Cheers,
D

 

For something not all that expensive, but interesting, I'd suggest a lensbaby. She could certainly use it during a wedding once in awhile.
http://www.lensbaby.com/

 

Lensbaby would be kinda cool.

 

A decent tripod or tripod head is always nice. Pricey but nice.

 

That's kickass.