In this article you’re going to learn about the best gifts for filmmakers and videographers.
| Editor’s Pick | Brand |
| Best Gift for Filmmakers | Canon EOS R5 Mirrorless Camera with 8K Video |
| Runner Up Best Videographer Gift | Dell XPS 15 |
| Best Filmmaker Gift Under $1K | Rode NTG3 |
| Best Filmmaker Gift Under $500 | DJI Mavic Mini Drone FlyCam |
| Best Gift Under $250 for Filmmakers | Rode Wireless Go Compact Microphone |
| Runner Up Best Videographer Gift Under $250 | Loupedeck+ Video Editing Console |
| Best Filmmaker Gift Under $150 | SanDisk 1TB Extreme Portable External SSD |
| Runner Up Videographer Gift Under $150 | Neewer 2-Pack 2.4G LED Softbox Lighting Kit with Color Filter |
| Best Filmmaker Gift Under $100 | Aputure Amaran Mini On Camera Light |
| Runner up Filmmaker Gift Under $100 | SwitchPod DSLR Tripod for Smart Phone |
| Best Videographer Gift Under $50 | Rode VideoMicro Compact On-Camera Microphone |
| Runner up Best Filmmaker Gift Under $50 | Joby JB01507 GorillaPod 3K Kit. Compact Tripod 3K |
| Best Cheap Gift for Filmmakers | Rebel Without A Crew Documentary |
| Best Gift for Young Filmmakers | Canon EOS M200 |
And more cool, fun, and useful gifts!
There is something here for everyone from incredible 8K cameras to filmmaker board games. Whatever you are looking for, this list will have you covered.
Are you ready? Let’s get straight into it.
Best Gifts for Filmmakers and Videographers
Best Gift for Filmmakers: Canon EOS R5 Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera with 8K Video
This ultimate filmmaker gift. The Canon EOS R5 is an 8K mirrorless camera and every single filmmaker on the planet would love to get one of these as a gift.
8K video in a device that you can carry in your hand almost seems too good to be true right? But let me assure you, this is the real deal. Canon are firing on all cylinders here. This camera is awesome.
The 45MP sensor works in full frame and gives you phenomenal image quality. It has a range of auto focus options to keep shots looking sharp and you can even use the EOS R5 as a wireless webcam, crazy!
Key Features of the Canon EOS R5
- 45MP sensor delivers phenomenal image quality
- The subject tracking works with both people and animals for maximum flexibility when filming.
- Films in 8K at 29fps. This means you can capture amazing 8K video anywhere you go with a handheld camera.
Runner Up Best Gift for Filmmakers: Dell XPS 15
Gift the filmmaker in your life the gift of a portable video studio and they’ll be able to create magic anywhere they go. The Dell XPS 15 was out runner up for best gift but it’s still such an awesome gift.
This is a 15.6in laptop with the power of a desktop workstation.
You get a UHD touch screen to show your videos in glorious ultra HD.
What about under the hood?
Well, you have the i7-1075 processor running the show. Coupled with the NVIDIA GTX 1650 Ti graphic card, 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD drive, this workstation is ready to rock any time you are.
For any filmmakers that like to edit on the go, the Dell XPS 15 can playback in 4K and render videos in record time with the NVIDIA graphics card.
Key Features of the Dell XPS 15
- 15.6in UHD display plays back in stunning 4K.
- The NVIDIA GTX 1650 card renders videos super fast
- With 16GB RAM and an i7 processor, the XPS 15 is ready to be pushed to its limit.
Best Videographer Gift Under $1K: Rode NTG3
For videographers, audio quality is just as important as video quality and the Rode NTG3 is the best gift to solve a videographers audio worries.
This super-cardioid mic is almost completely water resistant which is great news for anyone who does a lot of outdoor video work.
It’s super light weight, weighing in at just 163g. If you mount this to a camera, it’s not going to weigh you down on a long shoot.
The broadcast quality audio from the NTG3 will make anything from dialogue to ambient background noise sound awesome.
It delivers the typical rich and warm response that you expect from Rode microphones and the polar pattern ensures that you only capture what you want to capture. It’s awesome at rejecting unwanted background noise.
Key Features of the Rode NTG3
- Almost complete water resistant design makes it a great outdoor mic.
- Supercardioid polar pattern has fantastic background noise rejection.
- It is lightweight, weighing just 163g, making it perfect for camera mounting.
Best Filmmaker Gift Under $500: DJI Mavic Mini Drone FlyCam
Drones are becoming more and more common in filmmakers’ kit bags. They can help you get angles that simply aren’t possible with a handheld camera.
This is the best filmmaker gift out there for under $500 and it helps solve a bunch of practical issues that a filmmaker might face.
The DJI Mavic Mini is super lightweight. It’s just 250g, which isn’t much heavier than a conventional smartphone. This means it’s in the lowest and safest drone weight class.
You can capture 12mp images or 2.7k video and the camera is mounted to an onboard, motorized gimbal to ensure that even moving shots are smooth and precise.
It can fly over a range of 2km from the remote and it is designed to be worked hard. It’s temperature proof, shockproof and waterproof.
The Mavic Mini captures it’s video onto a micro SD card while broadcasting a full HD stream back to the remote control so you can monitor everything.
Key Features of the DJI Mavic Mini
- Captures 12mp photos or 2.7k video onto a micro SD card
- Weighs just 250g placing it in the lightest and safest weight class.
- It can fly for up to 2km from the remote while broadcasting a full HD stream
Best Filmmaker Gift Under $250: Rode Wireless Go – Compact Wireless Microphone System
The Rode Wireless Go is a portable microphone system, a modern spin on the forever useful omnidirectional lavalier style microphones. No one wants to be trailing cables behind them for their mics as they are working. This system includes everything necessary to deliver clean audio recordings wirelessly.
This best gift for filmmakers under $250 will help a videographer increase their creativity by giving them an easy way to create focal sounds. This wireless mic can be used to capture footsteps, fist throw sounds, and other recordings with little effort which makes syncing with enhanced audio sounds in post, 10x easier.
In addition to unlocking creativity, the Rode Wireless Go makes capturing vocals easy because it can get close to the speaker’s mouth without cords or other restrictions that come from typical shotguns and other mics.
Key Features of the Rode Wireless Go
- Tiny and Portable
- A modern spin on the useful omnidirectional lavalier mics
- Looks super cool and impressive
Runner Up Best Gift Under $250: Loupedeck+ Video Editing Console
Filmmakers love making films, and creating a product that people can enjoy. However, this process takes time.
The Loupedeck+ is a portable editing console that just happens to be the best gift for under $250 that you could possibly get for a filmmaker.
It allows you to adjust various parameters of your editing software from color temperature and vibrance to saturation and exposure.
It’s perfect for pro and beginner users and it can really speed up the time you spend editing videos.
The Loupedeck+ is compatible with Adobe Premiere Pro, Lightroom, Photoshop, Final Cut Pro and more. You plug it in and watch how much time you save in your edits.
You can also create your own functions for the controls and have it edit and move whatever aspects of your editing software you want.
Key Features of the Loupedeck+ Video Editing Console
- Works with Adobe Premiere, Final Cut Pro and more.
- Custom functions for complete control over your editing software.
- This portable video editing console is easy to use and intuitive even for a beginner.
Best Videographer Gift Under $150: SanDisk 1TB Extreme Portable External SSD
Ever been worried about your portable drive on those tough outdoor shoots? Yeah, I feel you.
No one wants to see their backup drive smashed or getting soaked.
The SanDisk Extreme Portable External SSD has this covered. It’s rugged, tough and ready to tackle the great outdoors. This is why it’s the best videographer gift under $150.
With 1TB storage as your disposal, you can store plenty of footage with ultimate peace of mind.
It’s water and dust resistant as well as having a shock-resistant solid state core to boost the durability. SSD drives are known for being more reliable, but this takes that reliability to the next level.
The SanDisk Extreme can even withstand non-operating temperatures from -20C up to 70C without breaking a sweat. If you need to use it in extreme conditions it can operate between 0C and 45C.
Key Features of the SanDisk 1TB Extreme Portable External SSD
- Water, dust and shock resistant to give you peace of mind
- Rugged outer casing protects your SSD even in extreme situations
- Super speedy 550MB/s transfer speeds for fast transfer of video files.
Runner Up Videographer Gift Under $150: Neewer 2-Pack 2.4G LED Softbox Lighting Kit with Color Filter
Everyone knows that great lighting is important. The way you light a shot can set the scene and it can make or break the thing you’re shooting.
This Neewer 2 pack LED Softbox Lighting Kit is a great gift for a videographer and it comes in at under $150.
It’s perfect for anyone who might just be getting their first lighting setup together and needs to get their hands on something simple and reliable.
This two pack comes with a pair of dimmable LED light heads, each with their own height adjustable stand.
The lightheads have adjustable color temperatures and also come with red, yellow and blue filters for added options when lighting a scene.
Each of the Neewer light heads can be adjusted manually via the rear panel, or wirelessly with the included remote control. The remote links to the light heads via a 2.4G network.
Key Features of the Neewer 2-Pack 2.4G LED Softbox Lighting Kit
- Color temperature and brightness can be controlled via a wireless remote
- Includes red, blue and yellow color filters for additional options when creatively lighting.
- Each of the light heads has a controllable color temperature range from 3200K to 5600K
Best Filmmaker Gift Under $100: Aputure Amaran Mini On Camera Light
For filmmakers who shoot on the go, lighting can be tricky. No one really has the ability to transport a full lighting rig everywhere they go and that can be a problem when trying to capture something special.
The Aputure Amaran Mini comes to the rescue. This is a portable lighting solution that is the best filmmakers gift for under $100.
This on-camera light has an adjustable color temperature, a high CRI score and it fits a boat load of features into something not much bigger than your standard credit card.
For any filmmaker on the move, the flexibility this little light offers can ease so many worries.
The Aputure Amaran Mini also has a bunch of creative FX modes including paparazzi, fireworks, lightning, TV, Cop car and more.
It’s also magnetic so you can mount it to any metal surface when you’re using it as an off camera light.
Key Features of the Aputure Amaran Mini
- Color temperature range from 3200K to 6500K
- Can be used as an on or off camera lighting solution
- Super portable and not much bigger than a credit card.
Runner up Filmmaker Gift Under $100: SwitchPod DSLR Tripod for Smart Phone
With the advancement of mobile technology, and knowing that most modern mobile phones can capture full HD or even 4K video, it’s no surprise that a range of accessories for the smart phone filmmaker exist.
The SwitchPod DSLR Tripod is a great gift for any budding filmmaker. It’s a desktop style tripod that doubles as a handheld camera stick.
You can mount your smartphone as intended, or using the thread mount on top, you can mount your DSLR camera.
This is great for getting some handheld moving shots, or vlog sequences. While it may not offer the stability that a great gimbal will, it’s still a great option for someone who needs to be able to move with the camera.
The SwitchPod folds flat in seconds for easy transportation and is infinitely customisable with all your favorite camera mounting accessories.
Key Features of the SwitchPod DSLR Tripod
- Portable and lightweight, perfect for filmmakers who travel a lot.
- Infinitely customisable by adding your own quick release plate or mounts to the thread.
- The lightweight aluminium alloy is durable enough to support a camera with a lens, microphone and more.
Best Videographer Gift Under $50: Rode VideoMicro Compact On-Camera Microphone
Ok, first off, I know this technically isn’t below $50, but for that extra 5 bucks, it’s certainly worth it. This mic will only cost you an extra days Starbucks and that’s a worthwhile sacrifice right?
Many solo filmmakers won’t have a dedicated audio crew with them on shoots and most in-built camera mics just aren’t sufficient when it comes to the quality you’d expect.
The Rode VideoMicro Compact is the best videographer gift for under $50 (Plus an extra five bucks!)
This camera mount mic will instantly step up your audio quality. It doesn’t require a battery, it draws all its power from your camera’s internal preamp via the input jack on the side.
It comes with a shockmount and a windshield to reduce noise when being used on to move and outside.
The Rode VideoMicro Compacts lightweight design won’t weigh your camera down either, it weighs just 42g.
Key Features of the Rode VideoMicro Compact
- No battery required. Draws 3v of power from the cameras mic input.
- Instantly boost your audio quality. This mic is a high quality cardioid condenser.
- It is lightweight and won’t weigh down your camera on the go. It weighs just 42g.
Runner up Videographer Gift Under $50: Joby JB01507 GorillaPod 3K Kit. Compact Tripod 3K
Having a selection of tripods is always useful for a videographer. This Joby GorillaPod is one of the most useful and functional mini tripods you can get and it makes for a fantastic gift idea.
While it looks simple, it’s beauty lies in it’s flexible design.
If you are shooting multiple angles and you need to get that perfect overhead shot, or some creative angles, you can use the flexible legs to hang your cameras from anything you can imagine.
The top of the GorillaPod has a standard thread which will accept most thread mount accessories giving you lots of options for how to use this tripod.
The head can be rotated 360 degrees and also tilted 90 degrees from it’s neutral point so whichever way you set this up, you can get the perfect angle everytime.
It can even be used with other Joby accessories as part of a modular system to hold additional items like flashes or microphones.
Key Features of the Joby GorillaPod
- Flexible leg designs mean it can be clipped onto anything.
- It can be used as a part of a modular system with other Joby accessories.
- Perfect for hanging your camera in places that a conventional tripod just can’t reach
Best Cheap Gift for Filmmakers: Rebel Without A Crew: Or How a 23-Year-Old Filmmaker with $7,000 Became a Hollywood Player
This book is a highly influential book for any budding filmmaker. If you’re wondering what the best cheap gift is for a filmmaker, look no further.
Rebel Without a Crew is a book that details a behind the scenes look at the director Robert Rodriguez and how he overcame the odds working as a low budget film producer.
The book is centered around the time he directed the film El Mariachi at just 23 years old.
The film was made on just a $7000 budget and this book details how he made that possible.
This book highlights to any upcoming filmmaker that you can only be limited by your creative mind, not your budget. Robert raised his budget himself before setting out to direct a film with no crew.
Rebel Without a Crew culminates with his “Ten Minute Film School” chapter where he shares tips and tricks that he used to overcome the odds and how you can apply this to your own working methods.
Key Features of Rebel Without a Crew
- Includes a Ten Minute Film School with advice and tips for your own use.
- Tells the story of how Robert Rodriguez directed El Mariachi on a shoestring budget with no crew.
- Gives you an insight into his working methods and mindset and how creativity can overcome budget issues.
Best Gift for Young Filmmakers – Canon EOS M200
All young filmmakers need to start out somewhere and with the advancements in camera technology, it’s even easier to get great quality on a budget.
This is the best gift for any young filmmaker who is about to embark on their journey. The Canon EOS M200 is a very high spec camera for a fantastic price.
It offers 4K video, which at this price point is insane. The 4K video is captured via the high quality 24.1 CMOS sensor which has fast and accurate dual pixel autofocus for keeping your images looking crisp.
All the settings can be adjusted via the 3 inch touch screen on the rear of the unit which can also be flipped around to the side for when vlogging or taking selfies.
The EOS M200 also has built in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth which makes transferring videos a breeze. No more digging around for that elusive USB cable.
Key Features of the Canon EOS M200
- Built in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi for easy file transfer.
- High quality 24.1MP CMOS sensor captures highly detailed video
- Offers 4K video capture in both horizontal and vertical alignments.
Cool Gifts For Videographers and Filmmakers
The Movie Buff Quiz Mug
This Movie Buff Quiz Mug is a really fun gift for any filmmakers. It has 50 movies to guess and will test even the most knowledgeable movie buffs out there.
If you really can’t work it out, the answers are on the base of the mug, but don’t cheat!
Video Vortex Board Game
Video Vortex is a board game specifically for filmmakers. It’s a great gift idea and it’s a lot of fun!
In the game you get to play as your favorite film genre, kill other movie genres and collect VHS tapes. It’s based in a post-apocalyptic world where VHS worshiping mutants control the world.
Enno Vatti 100 Movies Scratch Off Poster – Top Films of All Time Bucket List
If you love watching movies, and let’s face it, what filmmaker doesn’t, then this would make a seriously cool gift.
The Enno Vatti 100 Movies poster has 100 classic film titles all hidden under scratch off panels. Once you’ve seen it, scratch it. Can you unveil them all?
Lowepro ProTactic Camera & Laptop Backpack
For the videographer on the go, storage for your filming and editing equipment is so important. The Lowepro ProTactic Camera and Laptop backpack is the ideal solution to store your camera gear along with your editing laptop and accessories.
It has a moulded armor shell to protect your valuable equipment at all times.
The Filmmaker Says: Quotes, Quips, and Words of Wisdom
If you’re seeking some words of wisdom to inspire you then check out The Filmmaker Says.
This book is full of quotes and inspirational words of wisdom from some of the biggest filmmakers and directors including James Cameron, Charlie Chaplin and Mel Brooks.
It’s just the boost you need to inspire yourself.
DJI Mavic Mini Drone FlyCam
Videographers are always looking for new ways to get creating on shoots so why not give them the gift of unlimited creative angles with this awesome DJI Mavic Mini Drone.
This 250g drone can from 2km from the receiver and shoots high quality 2.7K video footage for up to 30 minutes at a time.
Optoma HD 146X High Performance Projector
Once you’ve shot and editing some awesome footage, you need a way to play it back right?
Check out the Optoma HD 146X. This projector gives cinematic HD playback that looks crisp in full 1080p resolution.
It is bright enough to even be used with the lights on!
MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 2060
Having a great graphics card is essential to help your computer handle those intensive editing sessions. The RTX 2060 from MSI is a 6GB card that packs some serious punch in the processing department.
Don’t let your graphics card hold you back from incredible looking edits.
Azden PRO-XR Wireless Microphone
Wireless mics can make shooting people so much easier for filmmakers. The Azden PRO-XR wireless lavalier microphone is perfect for capturing speaking on camera. It works wirelessly over a 500ft range and removes any cable trail in your clean looking shot.
Perfect if you are interviewing someone or shooting some dialogue scenes.
Lumu Power 2 Light and Color Meter for iPhone
If smartphone videography is your thing then you need to check out this light meter. The Lumu Power 2 fits into your iPhone lightning port and handles all your ambient exposure, flash exposure and illuminance.
It’s all controllable via the Lumu Power app to make your iPhone videos look incredible.
Portable Manfrotto Travel BeFree w/ Video head
Portable tripods are perfect if space is a premium when packing gear away. The Portable Manfrotoo Travel BeFree is a great quality tripod that can be packed down into a portable, easy to store size.
Perfect if you pack your camera gear into your suitcase or backpack on filmmaking trips.
Samsung T7 Portable SSD 1TB
If you’re a filmmaker, you always need extra storage. There is no such thing as too much storage space which is why SSD drives make great gifts.
The Samsung T7 is a portable 1TB SSD with incredible high data transfer speeds. If you need to back up your days filming in a hurry, this SSD drive is going to be your best friend.
MOZA Air 2 3 Axis Gimbal
Moving shots always look so dramatic. That’s why every filmmaker needs to be given the gift of a great gimbal.
The MOZA Air 2 is a 3 axis gimbal that will keep your DSLR camera steady as a rock even on the most demanding moving shots.
It even has zoom and focus controls built into the handle for easy control.
Conclusion
You made it to the end of this list of gifts for filmmakers and videographers. So now that?
Now it’s your turn to pick the best gift. Whatever you choose will be awesome and it’s surely going to take the recipients filmmaking to the next level.
There is a gift for every occasion here from incredible spec cameras to fun coffee mugs.
Now choose a great gift and get ready for your close up!