It’s that time of the year, when a nerd’s heart turns to thoughts of “what should I put on my Christsmas wish list?” Alternatively, if you’ve made a big of extra scratch this year, you may be looking to defray some taxes by investing in some new gear before the end of the year.
I have just the ticket. Okay, so maybe some of these tech gadgets are things I would love to find under my own tree on Christmas morning (hint, hint, hello Santa?), but what’s good for me is likely also good for any tech lover on your list, especially if they blog, or like to take pictures of food.
Photography Gear
Canon EF-M 28mm f/3.5 Macro IS STM Lens: I use a macro lens (50mm) for my food photography all the time. It allows me to get nice and close, explore depth of field and focal points. Basically, it makes for good food porn. Canon has recently come out with a new lens, however, that makes my heart flutter–I must have this. It’s a 28mm, so we’re talking serious macro, but in addition, it has a ring light built right in for those low light situations. This is the #1 thing on my Christmas list this year, I must have it. Currently on sale at London Drugs for $249.
Lightweight Camera. I started a YouTube channel 6 months back, and I haven’t invested in a lot of gear yet. I wanted to figure some stuff out before I put a lot of money in, but now I’m feeling ready to invest in a new camera. I love the idea of getting something small and compact. When I was in Europe last summer, I was carrying my DSLR, two lenses, a video camera and my iPhone–it was a lot. I would have much rather have taken one small compact camera. This Sony RX1000 V is known to be one of the best vlogger cameras on the market. It has a swing-out monitor so you can see yourself, but it’s also light and compact for travel. At $1249, the price is right, as well. If that’s too rich for your blood, or you’re just starting out, the Canon EOS M100 is about half the price, and offers the convenience of interchangeable lenses, especially if you already have a Canon in the house.
Or if you have a bit more to spend… the new Nikon DX7500 has 80-90% of the same functionality of the photographer fave, Nikon DX500, but at a price point that’s $1000 less. It’s a sexy beast.
XQD Cards: I love to give (and get) memory as stocking suffers. I mean, I can always use a new flash drive or an SD card. If you have someone in your life with a newer camera, chances are they are using the new XQD card, which write faster and allow for quicker shots, and better, less laggy video. Available in 32, 64, 128 and 256 GB, ranging from $129-$699.
Phones and such
I’m at the end of my contract and my iPhone has started to slow down a lot. You’ll remember a couple years back (prior to buying my most recent phone), I did a test on a variety of different phones to see which one took the most instagram-worthy pics. It’s become super clear to me that Android is the clear winner in this race. I’m considering the new Google Pixel 2, the ZenFone (love its fully manual camera and ability to shoot in low light), the Moto Z (because it has cool add-ons like a Hasselblad True Zoom lens), and the Samsung Galaxy 8.
Either way, even if you aren’t investing in a new phone, a great gift for the Instagrammer on your list is an OlloClip lens. It allows you to do macro, fish eye and super wide shots right on your phone. Now, the thing I don’t like about these clip-on lenses is that you have to take your protective case off of your phone to use them, which is a giant pain the butt. However, they’ve recently introduced a new case/lens combo for iPhone 7 which is the bomb.
POWER! One of the things any tech lover struggles with is having enough power. I’m out at an event, I want to know that my phone battery is going to last a night of tweeting, Instagraming and livestreaming. This means portable power packs are a necessity. I love Incase Design’s line of backpacks and suitcases that all come with power on board to keep your charged while traveling. Of course, I own several powerpacks and travel with them all the time. In fact, I try to keep one in my purse always. Mophie is the king of portable power packs–small and lightweight, they get the job done at a decent price. I’m also considering getting a Belkin Charging Pad for the sheer convenience of it–just keep it by your bed to charge your phone at night, or by your computer during the day. No more need to plug in your phone. Or, in our house, fight for the charging cable.
Livestream your life: I’m a big livestreamer, and I think these super cute Polaroid Cubes are going to be super hot this holiday season. At just $149, they feature an 8 megapixel camera, feature image stabilization, and are wi-fi enabled, allowing you to livestream from where ever. You can even mount them on helmets and the like. If you have more to spend, Ricoh has just launched the Theta V, a 360 degree camera that allows you livestream. Pretty cool.
So there you have it! My top picks for tech gadgets for the nerd in your life. What’s on your list this year? Let me know in the comments below.
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