The best photography gifts for dads

If you want to be a hero for Father’s Day, just get Dad Fujifilm Instax Square SQ40 instant camera and thank me later. It allows you to take real, physical photos (3.39 x 2.83-inch Instax Square prints) that your friends and family can see, touch and enjoy instantly – a very different experience than digital photos on a screen. It is stylish and comes with a flash, selfie mirror, front shutter release and hand strap and is relatively light and easy to carry. The camera alone costs $150, but you’ll also need to budget for film, which costs about as much $33 for 40 prints.

GoPro’s Hero 12 Black It’s a relatively mild upgrade compared to the Hero 11, but it’s launched at a lower price point and is often available for slightly more than the Hero 11 Black – so it’s easy to recommend. It can record up to 5.3K video at 60fps in 10-bit color at a high data rate, and 8:7 shooting that uses the entire sensor now works in all modes. The battery lasts about 10 to 15 percent longer than before and features a new quarter-inch tripod mount. Otherwise, the Hero 12 still has the best digital stabilization (aka Hypersmooth) of any action camera, a full-color front screen, and overall the best image quality of any camera in its class.

DJI’s Osmo Pocket 3 has become a mini-phenomenon, with tiny gimbal cameras being snapped up in droves by creators, travelers and others. The new model has a larger 1-inch sensor that improves image quality and low-light capabilities compared to the previous model. It also offers a beautiful flip screen that automatically changes from 16:9 to a TikTok-style vertical video when you flip the video sideways. The updated ActiveTrack feature is better than ever and makes vlogging almost automatic as the camera follows the surrounding subject and keeps it in focus. Along with 4K 60p regular video, it adds 4K 120p slow motion. The main drawback is the reduced resolution, which worsens taking photos.

With a solid, practical design, Peak Design’s Everyday Messenger Bag an ideal gift for the adventurous or photo-loving dad. It’s constructed with a lightweight yet durable 100 percent waterproof recycled 400D shell, with ingenious Flexfold dividers in the main storage area. It also offers a pair of zippered pockets, two elasticated side pockets, and a compartment big enough for a 13- to 15-inch laptop. I own one myself and find it practical for both work and everyday activities, allowing me to fit a camera, lens and laptop along with my wallet and keys. At $230, it’s not the cheapest bag, but your dad won’t have to buy another for a long time.

The most useful accessories for vlogging dads are Joby’s popular mini tripods and the best for the money GorillaPod 3K. Attaching your camera couldn’t be easier thanks to the built-in secure clip-on mounting plate. Flexibility also allows you to position your camera anywhere to shoot, even wrap it around a tree or other object. And, of course, you can tilt and shoot them for the ideal vlogging angle.

If you’re planning on splurging or saving up for a serious Father’s Day gift, my pick would be the 24.2MP. Canon R50 — is a great model for both photographers and content creators. It can shoot bursts at 15 frames per second in electronic shutter mode and delivers 4K 10-bit video at up to 30p without supersampling or cropping. It has a full-screen display and, unlike other cameras in this price range, it has an electronic viewfinder. It uses Canon’s Dual Pixel AF with subject detection mode and even has a pop-up flash.

For dads who take videos and photos Magnus VT 4000 It is the best budget tripod option that offers more reliability and better functionality than other models in this price range. It’s strong enough to handle a mirrorless camera and accessories up to 8.8 pounds, which is more than the 8 pounds of the tripod itself. The lack of weight makes it practical for travel, while the liquid head helps it tilt and glide smoothly. Other features include a center spreader to keep things stable and legs that extend up to 64 inches so you can match the eyeline of your subjects. All these features come in at $199, a relative steal considering the quality.

This is a popular tool It will help keep your dad’s camera rig clean. Each squeeze delivers a strong yet continuous stream of fresh air, and the elongated shape makes it easy to reach tight spaces without damaging fragile parts. It’s well built and looks cool, with rocket-like legs that allow you to place it anywhere.

If your dad has trouble keeping track of memory cards, get one Case for SmallRig SD memory card. It includes 15 slots (6 for SD cards, 6 for microSD cards, 2 CFexpress Type A and 1 CFexpress Type B). It’s relatively lightweight, yet water and shock resistant, with a soft silicone interior—all for just $17.

Photographers always appreciate the gift of storage, especially quick storage. Western Digital’s 1TB My Passport SSD It fits the bill with NVMe speeds of 1050MB/s read and 1000Mb/s write, fast enough to back up an entire drive in about 20 minutes. It’s drop-resistant up to 6.5 feet, offers USB-C connectivity, supports 256-bit AES hardware encryption, and can often be found on sale for under $100.

Camera-loving dads can never buy enough memory cards, but they can be pretty expensive. One of the best budget options Lexar’s V60 UHS-II SD cardswhich offers a good balance between speed and value. 120MB/s write speed is enough for most H.264/H.265 4K video modes, and then you can transfer files to your computer at 250MB/s. If that’s not fast enough, Lexar’s new 1800X V60 II cards offer 270/170MB/s read/write speeds at good prices, and for best performance their V90 UHS-II cardsProviding read/write speeds of 300/260MB/s.