Photography Gift Guide 2011: Part 2

In part one of the gift guide I offered gift suggestions with budgets under $500. In this second part anything between $500 and $1000 will be considered. 

Budget $500-$1000

If you are considering buying something in this price range, there are plenty of options, cameras, lenses, and accessories of various types. Once you get into this price range you really need to find out what your photography loving recipient wants or needs, that last thing you want to do is give them something they already have or don't want. You may want to consider gift cards for someone unless they specify what they would like. None the less here are a few suggestions to consider.

Cameras: 

If you are looking at DSLRs you could choose from the Nikon D3100, D5100, Canon T3, Canon T2i or Canon T3i. There are some DSLRs from Sony and Pentax in this price range, but to be honest they don't stack up very well against the Canon and Nikon cameras, in my opinion. Depending on your budget and the camera of choice, you could get them either a single lens, or dual lens kit as well.

If you are looking at mirrorless cameras, you could consider the Panasonic GF2, GF3, GX1 with kit lenses, the Olympus, E-PL3, E-P3, Sony NEX-3C, NEX-5N (with kit lenses) or the Nikon J1 or V1 with kit lens(es). 

Point and shoot cameras: There aren't many in the price range, but the one that stands out most is the Fuji X10.

Lenses:

There are a wide range of choices in this price range, such as 18-200mm zoom lenses, and more. This is one of the areas where you really need to be sure what your loved one is looking for.

Accessories: 

There are so many possibilities that I could not even start to list them all. If you know someone who wants to get into studio or professional portrait work (indoors) you could help them buy lighting equipment, which can be very expensive (several hundred dollars for each piece of kit). If you know someone who shoots video with a DSLR you could help them buy some gear for that as well. Another possibility is money towards a good set of tripod legs and a head (like a Gitzo).