We’ve put together a list of Father’s Day gifts for photographers, from the cheapest (shame on you) to the more extravagant, so you have no excuse for being caught unprepared when June 15th rolls around.
If your dad spent most of your formative years looking at you through a viewfinder, you’ll definitely find something here he’ll appreciate.
1. Op/Tech Rainsleeve, £5
Inexpensive but eminently useful, the Op/Tech rainsleeve is a great way to keep a camera safe from the elements when out and about.
2. Expanded Guide, £14.99
Everyone’s probably got a tech shame story of buying a gadget and having no idea how to use it.
If your dad has a camera that he’s never taken off of auto mode, a book from the excellent Expanded Guide series should help him tackle it.
3. Vintage camera necktie, £18.39
There is nothing about this that is not fantastic.
4. Olympus XA2, £20-30
For something a bit different, how about a second-hand film camera?
You can pick one up for around £20 if you know what you’re doing on eBay, and it’s guaranteed to be a nice surprise.
We picked the Olympus XA2, but there are plenty of others you can get for less than £30.
5. National Geographic: Sublime Nature by Cristina Mittermeier, £27.50
All photographers need inspiration, and you can’t ask for better than National Geographic.
This new book showcases some of the best in the business, including Jim Brandenburg, Frans Lanting, Paul Nicklen, David Doubilet and more.
6. Photobox personalised photobook, £30(ish)
Of course, if your dad has plenty of his own images, why not let him be the author of his own book? Photobox allows you to create and arrange your own photobooks with whatever layouts you want. Also good for family photos.
7. LaCie Rugged Mini 500GB, £57.99
Backing up is vital, especially for photographers, and LaCie has a well-deserved reputation for its quality hard drives. The Rugged series is especially good for being able to take a few knocks.
8. Delkin Fat Gecko monopod, £59
A monopod is an invaluable companion for a photographic walk in the woods, and Delkin’s Fat Gecko is unique for being able to fold up, making it easy to stow away and carry around on the move. For more quality monopods, see our round-up.
9. Photoshop Elements 12, £78.15
If your dad tends to consider his photos done with once they’re off his camera, it’s time to introduce him to the wonderful world of Photoshop. Stripped-down Elements is the perfect place to start.
10. Lowepro Transit Backpack 350AW £98
Lowepro’s Transit Backpack 350AW is a great choice for a photographic city-break – it’s light and allows speedy access to kit.
It also comes with a pull-out rain cover and enough interior space to house a DSLR mounted with a large lens. For more backpack ideas, check out our round-up.
11. Nikon Coolpix S02 £99
For the dad who travels light, how about the Nikon Coolpix S02? The smallest camera currently in Nikon’s Coolpix range, it manages to find space for 13-million pixels and a 2.7-inch touchscreen.
12. Fujifilm Finepix XP60 £119
For the more outdoorsy types, a tough camera is probably the way to go.
Packing 16-million pixels and capable of shooting at up to 10fps, the Fujifilm FinePix XP10 can take a beating and a soaking and still come out with great images.
13. Pentax X-5 £149
The all-in-one Pentax X-5 provides a 26x zoom, 16-million pixels and full HD 1080p movies for less than £150.
