Everyone is a photographer. With smartphones, we all possess digital photo rolls that run thousands of images deep. Thanks to social media, we can be quick to share, as well. Together, this means a slew of accessories that actually aid camera phone captures. That said, nothing makes a photo better than understanding what goes into a good frame. Fortunately, there’s a beautiful history to tap into by way of books. And, of course, there are so many of us out there shooting on cameras—whether film or digital. Our Aperture Priority Gift Guide aims to appeal to everybody—from the semi-professional photographer to the smartphone user.
Two factors come into play when considering a drone purchase: size and capability. With the brand new Spark, tech firm DJI has struck an ideal balance—a palm-sized quadcopter that carries some of the best features available. As expected, there’s a stabilized camera that snags 1080 video and 12mp images in various shooting modes. It’s DJI’s other developments that truly impress though, from the drone’s range (1.2 miles) to intuitive functions like FaceAware (where the drone quick-launches from your hand because it recognizes your face) and Simple Control (which allows for direction changes without a remote, using only arm gestures). The Spark is top of its class and can fly for up to 16 minutes uninterrupted at speeds of 50 km/h. It also comes complete with a free 16-GB microSD card. Shipping for the Spark is slated for 15 June.
Taking photography back to the basics, the CROZ DIY Digital Camera only features two buttons: the on/off also acts as the shutter clicker and then one other switch selects photo effects. The design might sound simple—and it is, in a way. The clear acrylic case, however, means that the camera’s insides are visible. Two extra lenses (fish-eye and wide-angle) are also included with this purchase.
An artist at the forefront of gender inclusiveness, Chinese photographer Ren Hang’s work is full of nudity, but is somehow not entirely sexual. Certainly NSFW, his work is controversial in his homeland, but embraced elsewhere, and it’s completely compelling albeit at times shocking or surprising. Edited by the legendary Dian Hanson, this book is an essential for any photography or Chinese art enthusiast.
Beyond the 18-frames-per-second sequential shooting capabilities, everything else in Olympus’ recently released professional camera—the OM-D E-M1 Mark II—stands for precision. Housed in a lightweight weatherproof magnesium alloy body, features likes 121 Cross-Type On-Chip Phase Detection AF points and up to 5.5 shutter speed guarantee clean captures. This is a powerhouse of a tool, with built in WiFi and 4K video capturing as further evidence. (Lens pictured not included.)
With dozens of original photographs of vintage cameras, “Retro Photo: An Obsession: A Personal Selection of Vintage Cameras and the Photographs They Take” by David Ellwand chronicles some of the most curious and important developments in the world of photography. Hundreds of devices were captured, ranging from “the pinhole to the Pentax.” This is a celebration of camera design, and an accessible, exciting history lesson along the way.
Designed to offer adjustable brightness for all GoPro and smartphone camera photos and videos, each Lume Cube delivers up to 1,500 lumens when capturing a shot or take. Connected via Bluetooth and paired with a dedicated app (that can control up to five Lume Cubes at once), this is an intuitive system with tangible impact. And as it’s been constructed to light scenes up on the fly, the Lume Cube is entirely waterproof for those potentially tricky scenarios.
Whether on the field or in the studio, Sigma’s latest high-performance 85mm F1.4 Art lens can capture an array of photographic material, but makes for an ideal portrait lens. Among the key features for this professional-level camera accessory, are an updated Hyper Sonic Motor granting super-efficient autofocus (there’s also a full-time manual focus, of course) and a nine-blade rounded diaphragm that highlights the subject while establishing background bokeh.
For anyone who wants the security of a stable shot, but doesn’t want to tote along a heavy tripod, MeFOTO’s lightest, smallest kit meets all needs. Known as the Backpacker Air, and coming in a range of bright colors, this tripod maxes out at two pounds and folds down quite compactly. It’s ideal for smartphones and compact cameras.
The world lives in all 360 degrees, so it makes sense that our cameras have made the necessary steps to capture it this way. Shooting 4K UHD video and still, in a full spherical 360-degree field of view, Nikon’s KeyMission 360 uses two Nikkor lenses and two image sensors to pull everything in. It’s also WiFi- and bluetooth-compatible, but more importantly, it’s water- and shock-proof meaning you can take it absolutely anywhere.
With so many drones on offer, it’s a challenge to commit to one without understanding exactly what you need. As longtime users of Yuneec products, we can attest to their ease of use. But, with the new Breeze quadcopter there are a few other attributes worth mentioning: a 4K camera that transmits imagery right to your smartphone, a lens with a 117° field of view, a flight distance of 262.5′ from the controller and 12 minutes of continuous flight time (yes, this is actually very good). At less than a pound, it’s also easy to transport. There are some wildly complex drones out there now, but for most people this is all you need.
The second version of its portable instant film printers, Fujifilm’s Instax Share SP-2 means your smartphone photos don’t have to live only in your camera roll or on Instagram. Faster and with extra customization options (like saturation and brightness), the printer produces high-quality two-inch-by-three-inch photos that are available in just 10 seconds. There’s nothing quite like tangible pictures, and these high-res mini pics are real photos—on photo paper—made for sharing.
Since the Polaroid factory closed back in 2008—much to the dismay of fans all over the world—the The Impossible Project has endeavored to keep the magic of instant cameras alive—from refurbishing cameras to salvaging Polaroid film. Now, the company has created the I-1 Analog Instant Camera: the first instant camera to be released in 20 years for the original instant format. An easy-to-use point-and-shoot, the I-1 also boasts a unique ring flash that is great for portraits and can even be connected to your iPhone’s camera in order to play around with different techniques for interesting, artistic results.
Makers of dream cameras, Leica knows that some of the best shots are taken on the move or in less than perfect conditions. Their X-U digital camera comes wrapped in an anti-slip rubber exterior and is water-, dust- and shock-proof, so it can take on the rigors of action photography. A great option for adventure photographers and klutzes alike, with a 16.2MP APS-C CMOS sensor and a 23mm Summilux lens, it’ll never compromise on image quality.
Throughout his career, Robert Mapplethorpe archived his extensive output—from his student work to photography, sculptures and jewelry to commercial—and the the resulting collection is quite remarkable. Challenging ideas surrounding censorship, sexuality, gender, Mapplethorpe’s oftentimes provocative works are published in the scrapbook-style book—which opens with an essay by his collaborator, friend and soulmate, Patti Smith.
Creating peace of mind shouldn’t be scary or complicated—or ugly. Canary—designed in NYC—was created to be sleek and stylish, while also offering peace of mind. More than just a security camera, Canary reads the temperature, humidity and air quality of your space. It can sound a very loud alarm to startle intruders and can even help you get in touch with local emergency services if something goes wrong. Users control the device with an easy-to-use app on your phone, which sends alerts through intelligent notifications whenever something usual is happening at home.
There’s arguably no better way to learn how a camera works than by building one yourself. That’s exactly what Bigshot offers: a kit for constructing a 3MP digital camera from scratch—that’s easy enough for anyone over the age eight. There’s a flash and an LCD display, but most fascinating of all is the lens turn-wheel allowing for panoramic shots and even 3D imagery.
