So you’ve got a YouTuber on your gift list this year. Or maybe they’re a streamer — or a podcaster. Or maybe you’re the creator and you need some ideas to add to your holiday wish list this season. Lucky for you, we’ve put together a gift guide to help you choose an awesome gift for the creator in your life — even if you’re not an expert yourself.
Lighting
Yongnuo YN360 II LED Light Wand
Lighting is essential for video and film. Good lighting can be costly but there are a lot of affordable options. The Yongnuo YN360 II LED Light Wand offers daytime and nighttime lighting. Its compact size makes it easy to use in motion or small spaces so it’s great for home studios or vlogging. RGB LEDs can be used to create custom lighting so narrative storytellers will love it, too. Find it here.
Sponsored: Lowel Ego LED
Your videos and photos deserve a better light. With the new Lowel Ego LED set up is quick and easy — simply plug in the light and go! The soft and even lighting of Ego LED hides blemishes and smooths skin to make every subject look their absolute best. This stylish light offers color temperature tuning from tungsten to daylight to match any lighting environment. Professional quality lighting is within reach for every content creator. Find it here.
Audio
Azden SMX-30
Excellent audio can make or break a production for your favorite videographer. Having good microphones is the best way to help save them a ton of time in post-production sound editing. We’ve been fans of Azden’s SMX-30 mic for a few years. It attached directly to the video camera and works like two mics in one allowing users to switch between stereo and mono. This mic has features that make the job easy so you know this gift will be used over and over. Find it here.
Røde Podcaster Studio Microphone Kit
If you have a podcast host on your list, give them a sound boost. Podcasts have particular sound quality needs since they are often produced in small spaces. They tend to have guests on their shows, so capturing dynamic audio is critical. The Røde Podcaster Studio Microphone Kit will definitely make their show even better. Find it here.
Sponsored: Tascam DR-70
Unwrapping this packed multitrack recorder will be a miracle come true for any filmmaker. With four balanced XLR mic inputs, a pair of built-in microphones, and a quickly adjustable interface, the DR-70D is a gift that keeps giving. Four XLR mic inputs with phantom power are included and all four of those inputs have individual gain controls. Additionally, it offers 64dB of gain and captures to SD card, SDHC or SDXC media. Both professionals and indie DSLR shooters will be thankful for the DR-70D from TASCAM. Find it here.
Post-production
LaCie 4TB Rugged Mini Portable External Hard Drive
It doesn’t matter if it snows, rains, or scorching hot during this Christmas. The LaCie 4TB Rugged Portable Hard Drive will withstand all the holiday weather and then some. Built tough, this hard drive is shock, rain, and pressure resistant and can withstand a two meter drop. Inside, it can transfer a 800 MB video file in around 6 seconds with USB 3.0. Save up to 4TB of all your holidays video on this small little drive and you’ll likely still have a ton of space left. Find it here.
Contour Design Shuttle Xpress
Small enough to fit in your stocking, the Contour Design Shuttle Xpress enhances video editing on the go. It can be used on its own or increase its control with a ShuttlePRO for multiple device control. Its design is super simple. There are just five buttons. Its inner ring rotates through 360 degrees and offers by frame by frame control. Find it here.
Sponsored: ViewSonic VP3481 – 34″ Display
Any creator with an eye for color will appreciate a good color-accurate monitor. The ViewSonic VP3481 certainly fits the bill. It’s a curved 34-inch display built with a WQHD+ resolution of 3440×1440 and 99-percent sRGB color accuracy. Plus, a 14-bit 3D look-up table produces an impressive 4.39 trillion colors. That makes it a great choice for creators who rely on precise color reproduction to get the look they want. A 100Hz refresh rate and AMD FreeSync promise smooth playback for video editors and gamers alike. And with its wide 21:9 aspect ratio, the VP3481 offers an extended workspace for editing video — or just keeping the chat window up at all times. Find it here.
Camera support
Zhiyun-Tech Crane-M2
A good motorized gimbal can help capture movements that humans can’t mimic well without appropriate gear. It’s an invaluable storytelling tool often used to capture intense or emotional scenes. The Zhiyun-Tech Crane-M2 supports camera-lens pairings up to 1.58 pounds and offers a combination of manual and push-button control. The battery can last up to 7 hours and the Crane-M2 even offers remote camera control via a WiFi-and-Bluetooth control module. Find it here.
Glidecam XR-PRO Stabilizer
If your video creator does a lot of handheld shooting, they might love the Glidecam XR-PRO Stabilizer. This has a three-axis gimbal and a comfortable foam grip handle. It stabilizes the camera so that even handheld footage looks professional. And since it doesn’t require a battery, it can be used anytime, anywhere. Find it here.
JOBY GorillaPod
If you have a vlogger in the family, a JOBY GorillaPod is a gift that supports their projects. It’s a tripod with flexible legs, easily hand-held for walking around while they shoot. Plus, it holds cameras up to about 6 pounds without tipping. We’ve seen them held high above crowds and wrapped around tree branches. They come in smaller sizes, too. Find it here.
Rat Rig 24″ Single Rail V-Slider Camera Slider
Eyeing camera support equipment? The Rat Rig 24” is sliding right into this holiday season. This slider’s movement is based on eight bearings that promise reduced friction and smoother slides. You should be able to get a super smooth shot even with heavy camera set ups. The Rat Rig 24” comes with 1/4″-20 mounting screw and works with motorized kits if you want to add a motor in later. The Rat Rig V-Slider 24” slides perfectly into any videographer’s arsenal. Find it here.
Shooting accessories
Manfrotto Advanced Travel Backpack, 13″
Every videographer needs a good backpack to carry all their goodies. The Manfrotto Travel Backpack 13” can fit photographic gear, tripod and personal belongings all in one area. It’s broken into sections. The upper part is for personal belongings while the bottom part can carry things like lenses, a flash and other accessories The Travel Backpack can carry a DSLR with attached lens, plus two additional lenses and accessories. Plus, a 13″ laptop can be stored right in the back compartment. Find it here.
And finally, the most important part of any video production kit: The Camera
DJI Osmo Pocket Gimbal
The DJI Osmo Pocket Gimbal is a lightweight gimbal stabilizer and 4K camera combination. Weighing just over four ounces and measuring only 4.8″ high, it’s a pocket-sized piece of gear they can take wherever the action is. If you have a creator who finds inspiration in unexpected moments, this is a perfect gift. Find it here.
Canon EOS Rebel T7i
With its affordable price point and Vari-angle touch screen display, the Canon EOS Rebel T7i is a great choice for budding vloggers. It’s a nice interchangeable lens camera with a host of specs and features to love. Canon even gave it Wi-Fi connectivity for easy transfers to social media and cloud storage. Find it here.
Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5
Most online content creators, vloggers or streamers would love to unwrap a Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5. We love its nerdy specs, like 4K at up to 60 frames per second and 5-axis image stabilization. For creators looking for a more cinematic image, the ability to capture 4K 4:2:2 10-bit video right in the camera will be especially exciting. Find it here.
Wrap it up
Whatever you decide to give, or ask for, make sure to wrap it up in festive paper and bows. Nothing spreads holiday cheer like a pile of surprises waiting to be unwrapped.