What's a cool photographer's gift under 150 bucks?

How about:
a remote cable release
a GPS device (if it can work with the 400D)
a couple of budget flashguns and maybe some cheap radio-triggers from eBay
a budget - one-light studio kit

This is a sad commentary. 150 bones don't buy much in this game.

It's about as much fun as a CF card, but how about a nice external hard drive? $150 will get you a nice one. Or maybe buy him a custom domain name and put a few of his shots on a smugmug account under that name.

I like the gift card idea. Then he can buy what ever he wants and pitch in a few of his own bucks too!
My friends and family either give me a gift card or just check my wish list LOL!! I'm no dummy when it comes to my wants hee hee!

For around 150 bucks, I want an epiphanie bag. But, since he's a guy, he'd probably want something different. I've seen some nice looking messenger style man-bag camera bags on the Kelly Moore site. If he does events, he might really appreciate a good bag that was somewhat close/low profile working through a crowd....

Is he a Mac? What about the new aperture? Seems to be getting mixed reviews, but some people like it and I'm thinking of trying it. It's 150 on Amazon. I've never used them, but the Nik filter software might be fun to play with and possibly fit your budget.

I LOVED the idea of buying him a personal domain name or paying for his smugbug for a year. Assuming he doesn't have one already. But, if he's using Picassa or something, he might really appreciate the uprade.

Personally, I'd love a B&H gift card. He can put your 150 toward something he'd really love.

I think those L mugs are sort of a tease (with a very annoying habit of distorting my ebay searches!). I wonder if all those mugs on ebay aren't people trying to get rid of novelty gifts anyway?

+1 for the good bag, grey card suggestions.

I know you said memory cards were no fun...but there's a thought. Or a cute/personalized case for them.

You said he likes events...how about getting him a chance to shoot something really cool. If you have a chance to snag him some back stage, behind the scenes access to something he's interested in, try it.

I'm curious about what you decide on.

Raven wrote in post #10351202
How about a Canon Speedlite 270EX. If he can't afford a larger flash, this one is at least better than the built-in flash. And the price is right at what you suggested.
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …7-USA/Canon_3806B002.htm​l

That's what I thought when I saw the thread title.

Even if he doesn't use it for most of his images - man, will it help with the others. It's great to take pictures of people without blinding them. I just got mine, so maybe I am a tiny bit biased.

Thank you all for your replies! They were very helpful!

Cham_001 wrote in post #10355240
How about:
a remote cable release
a GPS device (if it can work with the 400D)
a couple of budget flashguns and maybe some cheap radio-triggers from eBay
a budget - one-light studio kit

He's got a wireless + wired remote release already, 400D's can't use GPS, and not into strobist!

drsilver wrote in post #10355377
This is a sad commentary. 150 bones don't buy much in this game.

It's about as much fun as a CF card, but how about a nice external hard drive? $150 will get you a nice one. Or maybe buy him a custom domain name and put a few of his shots on a smugmug account under that name.

He's got a 2TB harddrive filled with games and photos! I almost had to beg him to lend that to me because *I* didn't have enough space on my comp last time!

QueenChatty wrote in post #10355454
I like the gift card idea. Then he can buy what ever he wants and pitch in a few of his own bucks too!
My friends and family either give me a gift card or just check my wish list LOL!! I'm no dummy when it comes to my wants hee hee!

Good call. Maybe I'll just pass him my gift cert next time. Right now the friends don't find gift cards that cool because well... The dude got 3k to spend on his holidays over at Korea (He's Korean) ALONE, and he's already buying an 85mm 1.8. Doesn't seem like he really needs those S$150 worth of gift cards (;

LauraBella wrote in post #10356776
For around 150 bucks, I want an epiphanie bag. But, since he's a guy, he'd probably want something different. I've seen some nice looking messenger style man-bag camera bags on the Kelly Moore site. If he does events, he might really appreciate a good bag that was somewhat close/low profile working through a crowd....

Is he a Mac? What about the new aperture? Seems to be getting mixed reviews, but some people like it and I'm thinking of trying it. It's 150 on Amazon. I've never used them, but the Nik filter software might be fun to play with and possibly fit your budget.

I LOVED the idea of buying him a personal domain name or paying for his smugbug for a year. Assuming he doesn't have one already. But, if he's using Picassa or something, he might really appreciate the uprade.

Personally, I'd love a B&H gift card. He can put your 150 toward something he'd really love.

I think those L mugs are sort of a tease (with a very annoying habit of distorting my ebay searches!). I wonder if all those mugs on ebay aren't people trying to get rid of novelty gifts anyway?

+1 for the good bag, grey card suggestions.

I know you said memory cards were no fun...but there's a thought. Or a cute/personalized case for them.

You said he likes events...how about getting him a chance to shoot something really cool. If you have a chance to snag him some back stage, behind the scenes access to something he's interested in, try it.

I'm curious about what you decide on.

Bag - He's already bought over my Crumpler 7MDH and LOVES it!
Aperture - He's on Lightroom2 for PC
Smugmug - He's on Flickr already!
L mug - that's crazy BUT cool! We could even surprise him by saying that we bought him a 70-200 lens! Thanks for that recommendation!

Stuntman Mike wrote in post #10357434
That's what I thought when I saw the thread title.

Even if he doesn't use it for most of his images - man, will it help with the others. It's great to take pictures of people without blinding them. I just got mine, so maybe I am a tiny bit biased.

Getting a 430EXII himself already (;

How about a rain coat for his camera, like a Kata E-702 or E-705

I know you said he doesn't read much, but perhaps a 12 month subscription to like, photoplus magazine or any other sort of digital photography mag. IMHO reading won't kill you, in fact, I've learned a lot from such magazines...

Joby Gorrillapod SLR Zoom tripod and matching Joby ball head

p4olom wrote in post #10350622
hahaha

+1!!!