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Best Holiday Gifts For Underwater Photographers – 2019
Scuba divers love new toys! Especially if they take photos underwater as well! Nothing like the feeling of testing out an awesome new underwater camera, housing, light or lens on your upcoming dive trip and enjoying the improved results to show your friends and family.
But with so many options out there, what should you get as a Christmas gift for the underwater photographer in your life?
We’ve made it super easy for you this year. We’ve divided the gift ideas depending on which gear your loved one already owns!
Scroll down or choose one of the categories belowא:
Camera Upgrade for GoPro Shooters
Christmas Gifts for Compact Shooters – No Lights
Christmas Gifts for Scuba Divers With an Older Camera
Christmas Gifts for Compact + Strobe Shooters
Christmas Gifts for Video Lovers
Christmas Gifts for Full DSLR System Shooters
More Cool Toys for Underwater Photographers
And if you’re still having a hard time deciding, contact one of our experts via the online chat and they’ll help you out.
Gifts for GoPro Shooters
Scuba divers often venture into underwater photography by getting an action camera – GoPro or others. Once they fall in love with taking photos, they look for an upgrade. Here are a few awesome upgrade ideas:
T-Housing – 150m Aluminum GoPro Housing
This rugged high quality housing is a serious upgrade to any GoPro! Replace the standard plastic housing with a tough, 150m rated aluminum housing, designed to take your GoPro deeper and keep it safe in any environment.
Optional filters screw on easily and securely in front of the housing. Wider housing available for using the external 2300mAh power bank.
[magento store=”default” sku=”TH-THV2″ prefix=”US$” suffix=”” class=”mag-product-wide”]
[magento store=”default” sku=”TH-THV2POWER” prefix=”US$” suffix=”” class=”mag-product-wide”]
Canon G9X Mark II Camera and Housing Bundle
The FG9X Housing is manufactured to the highest professional standards of function, style and durability. It was specifically designed for the Canon G9X, thereby providing the most compact, sturdy and ergonomic housing in the market for this camera. Moisture detector, hand strap and lens port cover included at no additional cost!
[magento store=”default” sku=”FA-13971″ prefix=”US$” suffix=”” class=”mag-product-wide”]
Olympus TG-6 Camera and Housing Bundle
One of the most exciting bundles available! The Olympus Tough TG-6 is a spectacular piece of engineering, including a surprising amount of fun features and capabilities. This bundle includes the PT-059 housing allowing you to dive up to 45m with this excellent camera. RAW format is support and more control over shutter speed when using flash.
[magento store=”default” sku=”OL-TG-6-SET” prefix=”US$” suffix=”” class=”mag-product-wide”]
Kraken Smart Housing
The best universal underwater smartphone housing in the market! Compatible with 99% of smartphones in the market. This high end housing is the ultimate tool to protect your precious phone underwater and allow you to take stunning photos and videos without purchasing an additional camera. Add-on filters and lenses can easily be fitted on the front of the housing. PRO version includes depth and temperature gauge to help you track your dive profile underwater.
[magento store=”default” sku=”IT-KRH01″ prefix=”US$” suffix=”” class=”mag-product-wide”]
GoPro lighting set – Big Blue VL4200 Dual Kit
The Big Blue VL4200 is a powerful yet affordable light. This kit includes not one but two VL4200 lights for a total of 8400 lumens! This kit guarantees perfect lighting in every scene and every lighting condition, without breaking the bank and easily compatible with any GoPro model.
[magento store=”default” sku=”MOZ-GOPRO-VL4000P-D” prefix=”US$” suffix=”” class=”mag-product-wide”]
Gifts for Compact Shooters – No Lights
Novice underwater photographers who already have a nice underwater camera with a waterproof case, could benefit a lot by adding lighting to their setup! Here are some popular lights you can get them:
Sea & Sea YS-01 Strobe Kit
The Sea & Sea YS-01 Strobe is a compact yet powerful underwater strobe that can be used with multiple modes: DS-TTL, manual, TTL with converter. It can also be used as a Slave flash. The strobe offers a guide number of 20 and support a standard Fiber Optic connection.
[magento store=”default” sku=”MOZ-SINGLE-74″ prefix=”US$” suffix=”” class=”mag-product-wide”]
Sea & Sea YS-D2J Strobe
The Sea & Sea YS-D2 is the next generation TTL underwater strobe, following the widely popular YS-D1. Excellent for both wide-angle or macro photography above and under the water. Multi Core Fiber-Optic Cable II included!
[magento store=”default” sku=”MOZ-YS-D2-KIT” prefix=”US$” suffix=”” class=”mag-product-wide”]
For Macro Lovers – Kraken Ring Light 3000
The perfect light for beautiful macro shots! Fits on any 67mm lens thread and provides even and unique lighting for close-ups photos and videos.
The Kraken ring light gives you 3000 lumens (continuously) with 4 different power levels (100%, 75%, 50% and 25%) and can be easily mounted on any 67mm port or adapter.
[magento store=”default” sku=”IT-RING-3000″ prefix=”US$” suffix=”” class=”mag-product-wide”]
Gifts for Divers with an older camera
Those who are still shooting with a Canon G12, or an Olympus TG-1, might be getting great results, but they are missing the amazing technology leaps which took place in the recent years, improving shooting experience and image quality significantly. Help them reach the next level with their photography with the following upgrades:
Canon G7X III Camera & Housing Bundle
The Canon G7X III is one of the best high-end compacts available. Featuring a huge 1″ sensor, 24-100mm f1.8-2.8 very bright lens and all manual features we know from previous Canon cameras, this is a perfect system for underwater imaging.
The Fantasea FG7X III is a custom molded, Polycarbonate housing that is perfectly contoured to the camera. This high end design make their housing very ergonomic which almost feels as an Aluminum housing but at the price of Polycarbonate. The housing offers full control of all cameras function. Its dials and buttons are strategically placed at thumbs reach making it very comfortable to use. BONUS – Moisture Detector and vacuum circuitry comes installed in every FG7X III housing at no additional cost! Add an additional vacuum valve and pump for $100 USD to utilize the full potential of the Hybrid Vacuum System.
[magento store=”default” sku=”FA-FG7XIII-CAM” prefix=”US$” suffix=”” class=”mag-product-wide”]
Sony RX100 VA Camera & Housing Bundle
The FRX100 VA Housing, specially designed for the Sony RX100 III / IV / V / VA Cameras, meets the same high standards of function, style and durability as previously found in popular and successful Fantasea F series housings (FG16 and FRX100 III).
The FRX100 VA Housing is ergonomically designed, fully functional and features easy-to-use, clearly labeled controls. The waterproof housing is shock resistant, protecting your camera from impact and damaging elements including water, sand, dust, snow, ice and pollutants. The new model includes an M16 port with the option to install a vacuum valve and pump.
[magento store=”default” sku=”FA-15075″ prefix=”US$” suffix=”” class=”mag-product-wide”]
Sony A6500 Complete Mirrorless Bundle
The Sony A6500 has been one of the most popular cameras for underwater photographers. Paired with Fantasea’s excellent value housing, this kit is the perfect gift for the traveling UW photographer.
[magento store=”default” sku=”MOZ-FA6500-CAM” prefix=”US$” suffix=”” class=”mag-product-wide”]
Ikelite SL3 Mini DSLR Bundle
Best value for money! DSLR Camera + Kit Lens + Ikelite TTL Housing + Dome Port Bundle. The included dome port accommodates the Canon 18-55mm STM kit lens, AND the popular Tokina 10-17mm lens.
[magento store=”default” sku=”IK-6970.09″ prefix=”US$” suffix=”” class=”mag-product-wide”]
Gifts for Compact + strobe shooters
For more advanced photographers, who are already using a single strobe on their setup, it may be time for an add-on lens, or another strobe, which can expand their creative options and bring in a new dimension to their photography.
Sea & Sea YS-03 Slave Strobe
Underwater lighting just became easier with YS-03 strobe. YS-03 is designed to mimic the light intensity of the camera’s built-in flash. Say goodbye to manually adjusting the strobe output, as YS-03 is TTL.
[magento store=”default” sku=”SS-03541″ prefix=”US$” suffix=”” class=”mag-product-wide”]
Inon S-2000 Strobe
Excellent and travel-friendly strobe for compact or mirrorless cameras. This sleek and powerful strobe packs quite a punch, and works with nearly all cameras in the market! Includes Cable and Mount!
[magento store=”default” sku=”MOZ-S2000-KIT” prefix=”US$” suffix=”” class=”mag-product-wide”]
Sea & Sea YS-D2J Strobe
The Sea & Sea YS-D2 is the next generation TTL underwater strobe, following the widely popular YS-D1. Excellent for both wide-angle or macro photography above and under the water. Multi Core Fiber-Optic Cable II included!
[magento store=”default” sku=”MOZ-YS-D2-KIT” prefix=”US$” suffix=”” class=”mag-product-wide”]
Fantasea UWL-09 Fisheye Lens
High quality wet wide angle lens, with excellent optics and dome port, for optimal image quality underwater. Compatible with a 67mm thread mount, ideal for compact cameras such as Sony RX100 series and Canon G7X series.
[magento store=”default” sku=”FA-5157″ prefix=”US$” suffix=”” class=”mag-product-wide”]
Fantasea UCL-05 Macro Lens
The UCL-05 Fantasea Wet Macro (Close-Up) Lens will mount on top of a standard camera lens in order to magnify the subject and allow you to fill the frame with it while maintaining sharp auto focus.
[magento store=”default” sku=”FA-5115″ prefix=”US$” suffix=”” class=”mag-product-wide”]
Nauticam CMC-2 Macro Lens
The Nauticam CMC-2 is a new macro lens designed to stand alongside the previous CMC-1, offering a less powerful lens choice for ﾓlargerﾔ macro subjects that is noticeably easier to use.
Hundreds of engineering hours utilizing computer software to model a lens that complements an entire system – camera, lens, port, air, and water – as a whole, resulting in optimal performance underwater.
[magento store=”default” sku=”NA-81302″ prefix=”US$” suffix=”” class=”mag-product-wide”]
Gifts for video lovers
If your loved one prefers filming instead of still shooting, they would likely want a new and powerful video light! These lights make ALL the difference underwater and boost any video with spectacular colors and beautiful clarity
Kraken Hydra 5000 Video Light
New generation of high end lights! The powerful 5000 model includes Flood, Spot, Red and UV! Everything you need, in just one compact light.
[magento store=”default” sku=”IT-HYDRA-5000-WSRU” prefix=”US$” suffix=”” class=”mag-product-wide”]
Big Blue Black Molly V
No other lights beats the Black Molly V in value for money! This tiny light produces a whopping 2600 lumen beam, includes red light as well for focusing during night dives and can literally fit in your pocket. The new model now ships with a cool dry bag as default, as well as a ball mount and warm filter.
[magento store=”default” sku=”BB-AL2600XWP-II” prefix=”US$” suffix=”” class=”mag-product-wide”]
Sealife Sea Dragon 2300 Auto
The Sea Dragon 2300 Auto boasts 2300 true lumens of brightness. Powered by a rechargeable 7.4 lithium ion battery, the light burns for a full hour at 100% power at constant brightness with its new CREE XP-L LEDs. The light features an Auto Flash Detect Mode that turns off the light for 2 seconds when an external flash is detected. Auto Flash Detection helps eliminate undesirable shadows, color shifts or backscatter.
[magento store=”default” sku=”SL6740″ prefix=”US$” suffix=”” class=”mag-product-wide”]
Gifts for full DSLR System shooters
For those who already seem to have it all, it may be harder to shop. If they needed something, they’ve probably gotten it already!
Here are a few neat accessories they might still be longing for:
Kraken Ring Light
The perfect light for beautiful macro shots! Fits on any 67mm lens thread and provides even and unique lighting for close-ups photos and videos.
[magento store=”default” sku=”IT-RING-3000″ prefix=”US$” suffix=”” class=”mag-product-wide”]
Cinebag Grouper
The CB70 Square Grouper is the ultimate bag to carry your assembled underwater housing with strobes from the hotel, shuttle ride to the dive shop and your dive boat. It’s highly collapsible design makes it fit easily in your dive luggage.
[magento store=”default” sku=”CB-CB70″ prefix=”US$” suffix=”” class=”mag-product-wide”]
Underwater Photography Workshop
No amount of gear can improve a diver’s photos more than a proper underwater photo workshop, guided by an UW photo pro. Also, it’s super fun!
BROWSE UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY TRIPSMore cool toys for underwater photographers
Couldn’t find what you were looking for on the list above? Perhaps these items could give you some more ideas:
Set of travel bags for ports and accessories – Cinebag
The Cinebag port bags are made out of heavy duty tarpaulin fabric and includes a neoprene carry handle.
Designed for wet environments, the bags feature waterproof construction and heavy-duty saltwater resistant YKK zippers.
[magento store=”default” sku=”CB-CB71,CB-CB72,CB-CB73,CB-CB74″ prefix=”US$” suffix=”” class=”mag-product-wide”]
Kraken Smart Housing
The best universal underwater smartphone housing in the market! Compatible with 99% of smartphones in the market. This high end housing is the ultimate tool to protect your precious phone underwater and allow you to take stunning photos and videos without purchasing an additional camera. Add-on filters and lenses can easily be fitted on the front of the housing. PRO version includes depth and temperature gauge to help you track your dive profile underwater.
[magento store=”default” sku=”IT-KRH01″ prefix=”US$” suffix=”” class=”mag-product-wide”]
Coil Lanyard for securing camera to BCD
This is the single most important part in any UW photographer’s gear bag! Can be extended or contracted during the course of the dive allowing you to shoot freely or attach the camera close to your BCD.
[magento store=”default” sku=”BTS-CL36SSY” prefix=”US$” suffix=”” class=”mag-product-wide”]
Still can’t decide? Contact one of our UW Photography experts via the online chat on your right!
We’re here to help 🙂
Merry Christmas and happy bubbles to you all!
Visit his personal portfolio at www.ranmorphoto.com.
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