The Photo Gear Pro Photographers Want for the Holidays

You may have seen our list of photo gifts for under $50, under $500, and no spending limit (if not, go check them out for some great photo gifts ideas!). But what do the hardcore professional photographers want in their stockings this year?

We decided to ask a few of our friends – here’s a hint: You’re gonna need that black card to help finance these goodies…

Robert Seale

Eizo ColorEdge CG275W 27 inch Widescreen LCD Display Monitor with Hood, 2560 x 1440 Native Resolution, Black – $3,389

“New badass Eizo or NEC 30″ monitors….why? Because my 30″ Apple is aging rapidly, and seems to be harder to calibrate these days……”

Vincent Laforet

CN-E30-300mm T2.95-3.7 LS – $47,000 (estimated)

“I’d ask for [the new Canon CN-E30-300mm cinema lens] –  in PL mount – you could travel the world with this one Zoom lens and a few wide primes and be set for life…” This, of course, assumes you already have the $20,000 EOS C300 cinema camera.

David Bergman

Elinchrom Ranger RX Quadra, S Head ” TO GO ” Standard Set EL10292.1 – $1,424.95

“I could use a set of Elinchrom Ranger Quadra packs, heads, and light modifiers. For my portraits, I currently shoot with either Nikon speedlights (they’re lightweight and travel easily) or Dynalite packs and heads (for bigger jobs that require more power). The Quadras are tiny and still pack a lot of punch with fast recycle times.”

Keith Bedford

Nikon D800 (not yet announced)

Nikon 24mm f/1.4G AF-S ED Wide Angle Auto Focus – $1,999

Apple iMac 27 inch All-in-one Desktop Computer with 3.4GHz Intel Core i7 Quad-Core Processor, 8GB Memory, 2TB Hard Drive, Two Thunderbolt Port – $2,799

“I wish Nikon would get with it and release the D800 or something comparable to the 5D Mark 2. I have been doing as much video as stills lately and it gets old borrowing my wife’s Canons. Since I have been a good boy this year, if Santa brought me one of those as well as a 24 1.4 I would not complain. I shoot almost all available light so I really appreciate the fast aperture. Lastly, Santa, can you bring me a 27″ iMac? Final Cut on my laptop is killing me.”

David Burnett

Vintage Speed Graphic 4×5, price varies

Apple iPhone 4s, price varies

“I know it’s just a matter of time until some genius fabricates a 4×5 digi back for my Speed Graphic…but I guess for now I’ll have to wait.” — Sent from my Android phone with K-9 Mail

I responded, “You don’t even want an iPhone? ;)”

To which he cheekily replied, “Of course I do…I’d settle for a 4s even…”

Brad Mangin

Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II USM – $11,499

 “My 400 is 13 years old and this new version of the 400 2.8 is supposed to be way lighter and much sharper. The old lens was made for film cameras and today’s digital cameras are too good for the old lens. Too many imperfections come out in the pictures. This is why I want the new lens. It is made for digital cameras and it would be sweet if there was one under my Christmas tree this year.”

Emiliano Granado

Leica M9 Digital Rangefinder Camera Body, 18mp with 24 x 36 mm Format Sensor – Steel Gray Paint – $6,995

Fujifilm Finepix X100 Digital Camera, 12.3 Megapixels, Supports SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Card, 23mm F/2 Lens, 2.8 inch LCD Monitor – $1,199.95

“Leica M9, please. Or if it needs to be a smaller purchase (Santa’s on a budget?) the Fuji X100.”

Melissa Lyttle

Hasselblad 501CM – price varies

 “I’ve been drooling over a Hasselblad 501 CM (and the one in red leather really makes my heart skip a beat!). I’m just ready to slow down, get back to analog, and see the world in a different format for a little while.”

Jim Goldstein

Kessler Shuttle Pod Kit – $670

Oracle Control System – $999

Red Epic-M Package – $58,000

“Other than a device to control time to get more work done during my day, I’d opt for an upgraded Motion Control system perhaps the Kessler Shuttle Pod Kit with an Oracle Control System and a RED EPIC camera to mount on it.

“I enjoy intermixing video and still photography together for some projects, and the quality of the Canon 5D Mark II video is not quit everything I’d like. Being able to take that to the next level would be a huge perk, especially in conjunction with a precise motion control system.”

Todd Owyoung

Red Epic-M Package – $58,000

Red Pro Prime Set – $19,000

“A Red Epic-M package with the Red Pro Prime kit of 25mm, 35mm, 50mm, 85mm and 100mm T1.8 primes. The confluence of still and motion capture is here, both in terms of technology and client needs – might as well be prepared. Besides, anything with a sensor called the “Mysterium-X” is something I want to shoot. I’m surprised the camera isn’t made out of Adamantium.”