The holidays are right around the corner and it is time to start thinking about what you want to get your loved ones. If they are into videography or photography, you have come to the right place! We have gathered a list of items that would be perfect for any time of creator. We focused this list for the beginners and intermediate creators out there that will help get their journey started or even keep it going for longer. From drones to cameras and audio equipment, these are all products that we back and recommend from our own time using them. Check out the full list below
DJI Mini 4k
Price: $239-$299
A question I get asked often is what drone should I start with? First off, always go DJI. For beginners, I highly recommend going with the DJI Mini 4k for the price and ability. The drone is as easy to fly as playing a video game. The interface is user friendly and you will get crispy photos and videos. It is under 250 grams so you don’t have to register it with the FAA, it fits easily in any pouch/camera bag and is light as a feather. If you are getting a first drone, don’t sleep on this!
Samsung Portable SSD
Having back up drives or just simply for storage is a must for any photo or video creator. What we like about these Samsung Portable SSD drives is how compact they are and of course the read/write speeds. Watch large 4k files rip from your memory card in minutes.
Price: Varies In Size
Beginners Camera: Canon R100
The Canon R100 is a great first mirrorless camera for those coming from shooting on a smartphone. The APS-C sensor in this camera is much bigger than the one in your phone so you will immediately get better results. You have the ability to change lenses for different focal lengths. Aside from Canon’s batch of new mirrorless lenses, they have a back log of hundreds of other lenses that you can adapt to the camera as well. We recommend canon cameras due to their superb auto focus skills and all around camera feel. They have produced some of greatest cameras of all time and have a lot of technology built into their modern cameras. Sony and Nikon also make great cameras so don’t let our brand bias cloud your judgement.
Price: $499.99
Intermediate Camera: Canon R8
If you are looking to upgrade to more professional camera but don’t want to break the bank, the Canon R8 is the perfect option. This is a full frame mirrorless camera with sharp 4k video and 24 megapixel raw images. Combine this camera with one of Canon’s new RF mount “L Series” lenses and you are guaranteed to get high quality results. It has a flip out touch screen and can record videos for up to two hours long. For the professionals out there, the Canon R8 also makes for a great 2nd body to go along with your other full frame mirrorless camera.
Price: $1199.99
Vlogging Camera: DJI Osmo Pocket 3
The DJI Osmo pocket line has become one of the most intriguing line of cameras in recent years. While each edition of them have been great gimbals in your pocket, DJI perfected this camera with the Osmo Pocket 3. What makes this camera better the the first two versions is the fact that you can record vertical video natively or flip the screen and record traditional 16:9 footage. This camera is great for creating Instagram and Tik-Tok reels along with every day vlogging. It also has pro features like being able to record in a 10 bit color space, log profiles and epic slow motion footage. This camera is a MUST HAVE tool for content creators and is a great sidekick to your main camera.
Price: $669
Action Camera: DJI Action 5 Pro
Action Cameras have a unique purpose and we believe that DJI’s Osmo Action line is superior to anything that Go Pro makes. The user interface is incredible and we love how they set the trend for action cameras. There a ton of different 4K recording options including slow motion, Timelapse, hyper lapse and much more. The camera is waterproof up to a certain extent and the mounting system is revolutionary. The Action 5 a screen on the front and back making recording vlogs or POV shots a breeze.
Price: $349.99
Apple AirPods 4:
Who doesn’t need a solid head of ear buds? The Apple AirPods 4 are high quality wireless earphones. While they may cost more than other 3rd party headphones, the build and reliability is un-deniable. Don’t cheap out and have to buy twice!
Price: $129.99
iPad Pro M4:
The new iPad Pro has become a game changer for content creators. While iPads have always been a great tool for simple processing, they never were able to live up to the abilities of traditional laptops. Now with the release of the m4 chip, iPads have become much more powerful. It is great to know that if I don’t want to lug around my laptop, i can still do a good job editing on my iPad Pro. From Final Cut Pro to Adobe Creative Cloud programs, I feel confident knowing that I can still produce what i need to. With it having a USB port, I am able to utilize my solid state drives with it so I don’t have to store large media files on my iPad.
If you are someone who goes out and shoots and wants to turn around stuff for the next day for posting on social media platforms, I highly recommend getting the version with cellular service. After working many music festivals, not all have Wi-Fi available and this puts me ahead of the game and saves me time. Why wait until you get home when you can just edit and process on the go!
Price: $1099.99
Fujifilm INSTAX Mini 40 Instant Film Camera
Sometimes you want to have camera with you while out with friends or family but don’t want to bring your mirrorless camera. Or maybe even take fun photos that you can have printed off immediately to give to others. The Instax Mini 40 is cheap and takes instant photos that print off right after they are taken. This camera has a sleek design and is a joy to use. Start capturing sentimental moments today!
Price: $89.99
Lume Cube Edge Lit Desktop 12-inch Ring Light
Looking for a light that is great for YouTube and Tik Tok videos? This ring light made by LumeCube will get the job done and even has a holder for your phone. Ring Lights take out the stress of having to set up multiple lights while still being able to achieve a great look. Its compact has a handy dandy tripod that makes it stand up on its own. There are many different brands and versions of ring lights but LumeCube is a reputable brand that we are able to recommend.
Price: $129.99
Ring – Spotlight Cam Plus Outdoor/Indoor Wireless 1080p Battery Surveillance Camera
Do you have a ton of camera gear sitting in your home or office and are constantly worried someone might come in and steal it all? Well you can catch the thief in the process with a Ring camera. Completely document the whole crime and have the ability to watch the camera live right from your phone. Oh yeah, this is also great for all the amazon packages coming in that your partner/spouse ordered.
Price: $109.00-169.99
Sandisk Memory Card
You can never have enough memory cards that’s for sure. Sandisk is the industry standard for all SD, Micro SD, CF and CF Express cards.
Prices Vary
Memory Card Reader:
This seems pretty self explanitory but having a card reader that is compatible with all your devices is important and saves space in your bag at the end of the day. The card reader I have accepts SD Cards, Micro SD Cards and CF cards and is USB-C based. This allows me to use the reader with my iPhone, iPad, Laptop and Desktop. Having a solid card reader goes along way and you should not cheap out on this.
Price: $18.80
ProTapes Pro Gaffer Tape
What better gag gift or stocking stuffer for your loved one is there than Gaff tape. We all need it so let’s not deny its incredible abilities.
Price: 19.99
MagicFiber Microfiber Cleaning Cloth
Keep your lenses smudge free with a microfiber lens cloth. I keep one in every camera case I have because you never know when you are going to need it. They are easy to lose as well so stock up, buy in bulk and save money!
Price: $7.56
USA GEAR DSLR Camera Backpack Case
There are much better camera bags out there but we will always love USA Gear’s camera back back. Fit up to two cameras, multiple lenses, sd cards, your laptop and even a tripod! The inside of the bag is customizable and it is not super bulky. It even comes with a rain jacket for the bag so you are protected while shooting in the rain and snow.
Price: $69.99
RODE Wireless GO II 2-Person Compact Digital Wireless Microphone System
If you are looking for quality audio for when you or an interviewee are talking on camera that is wireless, The Rode Wireless Go II is great for just that. They are blutooth based and this specific model comes with two mics allowing for multiple people on camera to have clean lavalier sounding audio. This device is also something not to cheap out on so don’t sweat it and go with Rode products.
Price: $242.00
RODE VideoMic GO II-H Ultracompact Analog/USB Camera-Mount Shotgun Microphone
Wireless lavalier mics are tremendous but are meant for specific uses. If you are a run and gun videographer, it is important to have a shotgun microphone. If you are just starting and need a cost effective option, RODE VideoMic GO II-H will give you what you are looking for. The sound is better than what is coming from your on board camera mic and it is compact. you can use it with any camera and even your smartphone.
Price: $99.99
Zoom PodTrak P4 Podcast Recorder
Are you looking to start a podcast with the homies and need a device that is easy to use with multiple channels of audio? The Zoom PodTrak P4 Podcast Recorder is a great choice to get you off the ground. It can record up to 4 microphones, is portable and runs on batteries.
Price: $129.99
Peak Design Slide Camera Strap
While the camera strap is just fine, the Peak Design Slide Camera Strap is more sturdier. It’s design also allows for you to easily take the strap off and on your camera for the situations you are not caring your camera around. It’s a worthy investment that you should make at some point.
Price: $55.96
Manfrotto Befree Advanced Lever 4-Section Aluminum Travel Tripod
One of the biggest necessities of all, a tripod. Having a solid tripod with you is a must no matter what type of video your photos you are taking. For video purposes, no one likes shaky footage so having the ability to pan and tilt is crucial. Or even if you are recording yourself and don’t have someone to hold a camera. For photo purposes, having a tripod is great for things like long exposure photography. Having a small and light tripod is a bonus and one that I can recommend and have used for is the Manfrotto Befree Advanced Lever 4-Section Aluminum Travel Tripod. A tripod like this is great for hiking or run and gun style shooting.
Price: $99.99