Scott Kelby’s Gonzo Holiday Gear Guide

Hoodman UDMA RAW Memory Cards

Hoodman UDMA RAW Memory Cards Hoodman (the same people who make the HoodLoupe that I can’t live without) came out with their own brand of high-speed UDMA memory cards that are the highest-quality, highest-speed cards I’ve ever shot with. I’m using these almost exclusively now, and the fact that they’ve had zero failures makes it hard to use anything else. Their 4-GB compact flash cards go for $139.99 and their 8-GB cards are $249.99. You can definitely find cheaper memory cards, but one day, sooner or later, you’ll pay for it.

This just in: Fresh off the assembly line, I just got my hands on the long-awaited Hoodman HoodLoupe 3.0, and it was so worth the wait. It’s made to fit over 3″ (or smaller) LCDs found on the back of most mid- to high-end digital SLRs so you can see your screen outdoors—even in direct sunlight. It has a ±3 diopter built right in, so you can focus it to see your LCD without your glasses (in most cases), and at $79.99 it will make a perfect stocking stuffer.
www.hoodmanusa.com

Boda Lens Bag

I’ve never seen more people go crazy for a camera bag than they have for the Boda Lens Bag. It’s just the right size when you don’t want to lug a big bag but still need to have a few goodies with you. With easy access, a small size, and a brilliant design, the Boda is perfect for shooting on the run. All my buddies have one, and I finally broke down and got one myself. It rocks for less than $200.
http://goboda.com

Presentation Zen

Okay, this isn’t really a photography thing, but if you make presentations of any kind (including photography presentations), you’ve got to get this book. I’ve been a fan of Garr Reynolds for years (from reading his blog). His excellent blog, and now this book, have changed the design and layout of my slide presentations forever. It’s a killer book! Find it online for around $20.
www.presentationzen.com

Elinchrom Style RX 600 Strobes

This year I pitched all my other studio strobes and switched completely over to the Elinchrom Style RX 600 studio strobes. They’re well built, extremely consistent in their output, and easy to use. I also love the Elinchrom softboxes (and how easily they fold up for moving and storage). Couple the RX 600 strobes with the new EL-Skyport wireless transmitter and transceivers (which lets me control the power output of all my light from right atop my camera’s hotshoe), and now I wonder how I lived without them. I recommended these to a few friends and they can’t stop thanking me. An RX 600 unit goes for around $980.
www.elinchrom.com

Nik Software’s Silver Efex Pro

If you’re into black-and-white photography, than this is the plug-in of your dreams. I’ve never seen anything that does a faster, better job of creating luscious high-contrast black-and-white images than this Photoshop plug-in. It’s got a great interface, it’s fun to use, and the results are stunning. A perfect holiday gift for $199.95.
www.niksoftware.com

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