BootsnAll Travel Community

To all the photographers out there... I need some ideas and inspiration! My boyfriend has recently become quite the prolific amateur photographer and is looking to beef up his equipment. He's done a significant amount of research into the topic, and has compiled a "shopping list" of everything he wants. He's also having a birthday in a couple of weeks. The trouble is, he doesn't like it when I get him things off of his obvious "things to get list" but instead would prefer a surprise. I would like to get him something related but unexpected... any ideas you guys have would be much appreciated! Feel free to send me a pm or else go crazy with your wishlist here...
(FYI, his equipment list is below):
Nikon D80 with 18-135 lens
Crumpler Camera bag
Extra battery
50mm prime 1.8 Lens
Tamron 90mm prime 2.8 Lens
70-300 VR zoom lens
SB600 speedlight flash

hey-

Sounds like he has a good bit of equipment already..

Have you thought about photo editing software? Something like photoshop?

A fish eye lens is always cool.
Digital Picture frames
Quality tri-pod
Monopod
rechargable batteries for flash
Backpack camera bag
Studio lighting

Hope that helps some. Feel free to ask me any questions..

Well, depending on how much money you want to spend, I'd go for a lens. It's always great having a new lens.

I'd go for a wide angle, something with a lower-end of 10 mm to 12 mm. Perhaps something like this. That one's pretty pricey, but there are third-party lenses out there for much less.

That's the big thing on my wish list, though I have a Canon. Never had an ultra-wide angle, but they look like a ton of fun.

If your budget is more "human," then Daved's suggestions are very good. A tripod would be great, especially if he likes taking night and low-light shots (and who doesn't?). You could also look at some filters for his current lenses.

Looks like he has quite a lot already. What's your budget? I think that would help us better suggest things.

Oops.. I should have made much more clear that his "equipment list" is actually his equipment wishlist beyond the camera body which he has. I guess I should probably modify my question a bit. I don't know much about the lenses he has on the list; in addition, this is the list that he is pretty much planning to buy for himself over the course of the next few months, so what I'd ideally like to do is surprise him with something really cool and complementary to his (as you all have noted) already decent amount of [soon to be acquired] equipment. What are some "quality tripods" and some recommended fish eye lenses, if I go in that direction? My budget for everything is probably about $500 or less. Not sure what if anything I can get for that. I know lenses can really hit stratosphere levels. He's really just starting out and I think another question I have for you all is my suspicion that it is probably not the best idea to overwhelm yourself with stuff until you know what you're doing and add things as you feel you need them? However, thanks for your great suggestions so far...!! I appreciate it and keep em coming... Otherwise it's gonna be a sweater and some socks. ha.

not sure what kind of photography he does, but how about instead of gear, arrange a short photo-op trip somewhere fun?

as for tripods, Manfrotto makes some of the best.

a quality fish-eye or super-wide angle lens will easily bust your $500 budget.

have fun shopping and let us know what you end up getting him! he's not a member is he? no chance he'll bump into this thread??

so funny you mention a photo-op trip... that lightbulb just went on in my head too! I think this may be much more fun... for both of us! and he's not a member, no, but he is familiar with it... I hope he won't bump into the thread!!

if you two go for the trip, we expect fotos in this thread afterwards.

Will do! In fact, his interest in photography was born during a summer trip we took through NZ, Australia, and SE Asia last summer... he found he had quite an eye for interesting compositions, and in fact captured some fantastic shots with a standard compact digital and then upgraded to a D-SLR and is continuing to build on his newfound passion. Isn't it fantastic what travel can do for a person...!