Christmas Gift Suggestions

[PrevailingConditions]

I'm looking for some help. I've got some family that have demonstrated a growing interest in digital photography and would like to further their habit/hobby with some helpful Christmas gifts. Does anybody have some suggestions on what would be good gifts for the budding photographer? And yes, the $5,000 camera kit is way off the list

What gifts have you got in the past that really helped?

Thanks,

PC

[another view]

Gift cards. Really, it's hard to pick out gear for someone else. One thing that I use all time that a lot of people aren't familiar with is a hotshoe mounted bubble level - this is assuming they already have a good tripod. Memory cards, a card reader and a spare battery should be pretty helpful and easy to pick out. Tripods and camera bags really are more of a personal choice...

[mjs1973]

I use the shoe mount bubble level all the time. I love it! Another thing that I love is my Rocket Blower. IMO this it the best $10 you can spend on photo gear. I use it to blow dust off my lenses, and sensor.

What about photo books, or a subscription to a photo magazine that they might be interested in?

Unless someone knows exactly what I want, I would rather have a gift card.

[photophorous]

It's hard to say with out knowing what they already have and what price range we're talking about, but things that beginners often over look or undervalue:

Tripod
Cable release or remote
lens hoods
50mm f1.8
polarizer filter
card reader
gift card to print shop
monitor profiler

...that's all I can think of at the moment.

Paul