Resource Magazine, 12/5/13

Every photographer has one: that running wish list in your head of all the things you’d buy if you only had the cash to spare. As the air gets colder and the trees explode in twinkly lights, you fall asleep each night while visions of light kits and lenses dance in your head. But what about the items you wouldn’t buy for yourself? What about the things that are just plain fun?

We here at Resource are big fans of whimsy, especially as this most wonderful time of the year has us bursting with nostalgia for childhood days. So here, Santa Baby, is our list of the top ten things every photographer doesn’t know they want, all courtesy of our friends over at Photojojo. Each and every item is bound to have you giggling like a kid on Christmas morning. After all, what fun is a stocking if it’s stuffed with all work and no play? So, without further ado…

The 2013 Resource Top 10 Gifts for Photographers on Your “Nice” List

1. Camera Lens Mugs

If it looks like a lens and feels like a lens, it may in fact be filled with hot chocolate. For the caffeine addict in your life, guaranteed to have them squealing with initial horror before gasping with delight when they realize that, yes, that is supposed to be filled with coffee and, no, you didn’t just add another item to their “need” list. Team Nikon and Team Canon options available for the fiercely loyal. ($24-35)

2. Shot Glass Lens Set

The perfect way to top off a long day at a shoot, or to fuel a long night with Photoshop (oh, is that just us?). Sturdy and detailed, perfect for a morning espresso or a nightly pregame. Plus they come in a set of three: sharing is caring, kiddos! ($18, also available in Nikon or Canon)

3. USB Film Roll

For those folks out there who find themselves sighing for the days of good, old-fashioned film photography, but not quite enough to give up the ease and options of digital, we have the solution. With these upcycled wonders, you can finally have a roll of film that fits hundreds of images (4GB, to be exact), so you can look cool while also feeling good about yourself for saving a roll from a landfill fate. Photojojo buys up stock from film labs, so you never know what kind of film you’re going to get. Earn yourself some karma points and buy one for every photographer on your “Nice” list. ($20)

4. Photojojo iPhone and Android Lens Series

You’ve all seen them, at music festivals or on the street, taking fancy schmancy photos with their phones. Now you can join the masses of shutterbugs using magnetic lenses to turn their iPhones or Androids into quality shooting machines. Photojojo lets you choose between the Classic 4-in-1 Kit, which includes the Fisheye, Telephoto and Wide Angle/Macro Combo lenses, or the Android and iPhone Super Kits. The Android upgrade includes a new Super Fisheye, a Polarizing Lens, and a 2X Telephoto, while the iPhone Ultimate Kit packs a massive punch with six lenses plus a mini tripod. ($20 individual lenses, $49 Classic Kit, $79 Android Super Kit, $90 iPhone Super Kit)

5. Bamboo Solar Charger

Speaking of shooting with your phone, there’s nothing scarier than watching that red line inch closer and closer to the death of your phone or tablet. You’ll never know that nail-biting agony again with this little baby, which plugs into your USB cable to charge your devices anywhere under the sun. Plus, it’s made of bamboo, which as we all know is both sustainable and chic. For the shutterbug on the go. ($35)

6. Pocket Reflector

Practical and cute, this reflector packs a massive punch in a small package. Two sides—one white to reflect natural light, the other silver for concentrated light—all of which folds up into an itsy bitsy 5” case. Glare no more, fear no shadows: wherever you go, this reflector has got your back. ($15)

7. Bottle Cap Tripod

Finally, a solution to all your group shot, low light, how-to-avoid-selfie-arm woes. Just bust out your water bottle and one of these guys, and you’ve got yourself a bona fide tripod, capable of pivoting up to 15 degrees in any direction and of mounting any camera with a tripod socket. It’s so small and lightweight you can fit it in your pocket, turning any scene into a spontaneous photo shoot. And at just $10 a pop, this makes a perfect stocking stuffer. ($10)

8. The ‘ONA’ Any Bag Camera Bag Insert

Earlier today we helped break down for you how to find the perfect camera bag, but if you’re still on that quest, or unsatisfied with your current bag situation yet not ready to upgrade, ONA has a solution for you. With this camera bag insert, you can turn any tote, backpack or purse into a safe home for your DSLR, for that perfect undercover look. There’s plenty of padding and a waterproof waxed exterior to keep the goods safe, and with all these convertible options you’re really getting hundreds of camera bags for the price of one. Plus, you get to feel like a photography spy, and who doesn’t love that. ($59)

9. Projecteo Gift Box

Good things come in small packages, and this baby is teeny tiny. For the Instgram afficionado, turn nine of your favorite shots into a retro-tastic slide show. The kit includes a mini projector and a gift card for a custom wheel of slides, printed on 35mm film and cut down to fit the wheel. No filter on earth can take your Instagram to this level of nostalgia. ($35)

 

10. The Impossible Instant Photo Lab

We nearly lost our cool when our friends at the Impossible Project told us about their latest gadget. It’s just so freakin’ awesome! Turn any photo on your iPhone into an instant Polaroid pic with this incredible collapsible wonder. Get all the instant gratification and the tangible quality of a Polaroid, while also taking advantage of the editing options available on your mobile device. The price tag is a little heftier than the other stocking stuffers on this list, but we couldn’t resist. This guy is going straight to the top of all of our wish lists. ($299, or $315 with film)

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