2024 Holiday Gift Guide for Photographers: Our favorite gifts under $1,000

As we gear up for the biggest shopping season of the year, we’re presenting our favorite gifts for photographers this holiday season. If you’re still finalizing your shopping list for yourself and for the camera-loving people in your life, we have you covered!

Below are a few of our favorites that are valued under $1,000. These are great gifts for the photographer in your life!

Need more gift ideas, and want to see all the latest holiday deals? Check out our Holiday Deals and Holiday Gift Guides!

Sekonic Speedmaster L-858D-U Lightmeter

Recommended by Kevin Ames | $629 – $679 | Available via B&H Photo

Sekonic Speedmaster L-858D-U Light Meter

This update to the venerable Sekonic incident/reflective light meter has gone digital. It’s controlled with the big, bright touch screen that replaces the previous versions LCDs. All of the features are there just easier to use and more sensitive. It reads flash and ambient either together or individually. New to the L-858 is the ability to read super-fast hyper-speed sync (HSS) flashes. For high-end video and cinematographers, this meter reads shutter angle too. Optional built-in transmitters serve to this meter too. I have been using this series of Sekonic meters since the L-558 replaced my Minolta Flashmeter IV and Pentax Spotmeter. 

Harlowe Avant Max LED Light Creator Kit

Recommended by Julie Powell | Read Review | $799 | Available via B&H

Avant Max

If you enjoyed the Avant LED Light like I do, or are looking for some amazing studio lights, you’re going to love the Avant Max. Such a brilliant addition to your kit for photographers and videographers, in and out of the studio. The battery pack and Dual AC options are versatile and fantastic. The quality of light is exceptional and it is extremely well-made, durable and just plain cool!

Godox AD200 Pro II

Recommended by Julie Powell | Read Review | $349 | Available via B&H, Amazon

Godox AD200Pro II: Ugraded Flash Head

Quite possibly the best speedlight you can get for under $1,000. This powerful 200W speedlight is more than powerful enough to overpower the sun on bright days. A full charge will give you close to 400 full power flashes, the menu system makes it easy to use, Bowens mount modifiers for it are plentiful and affordable, the quality of light is superb and it even has a built-in modelling light. I have been using mine steadily in the studio for a while now and found they are one of the best buys I made.

Mint Camera Rollei 35AF (Black)

Recommended by Joy Celine Asto | $829 | Available via Rollei, B&H (Coming Soon)

Looking for something for the film photographer in your life? We don’t always come across new film cameras, so the Rollei 35AF by Mint Camera will surely thrill photographers with a hankering for functional nostalgia. Dubbed as a “tribute to the timeless elegance and the extraordinary legacy of the Original Rollei 35,” Mint Camera modified the iconic compact camera with a bunch of modern features, most notably the LiDAR autofocus. The black version is especially gorgeous!

Kamvas Pro 16 2.5K QHD Pen and Drawing Tablet

Recommended by Julie Powell | Read Review | $899.00 | Available via Huion, Amazon

The Kamvas Pro is a gorgeous QLED screen to work with. For the price (under $900.00), it is incredible value for those wanting the high-end tech without the price tag. This tablet is fabulous to work on and would suit someone wanting to really up their game as a digital artist or retoucher.