An Underwater Photographer's Holiday Gift Guide 2018

The holidays can be the toughest season to be an Underwater Photographer - especially if you're in the market for a new camera system. With underwater photography equipment being a niche market built for very precise needs, it can be hard to find the right holiday deals. In partnership with our sister company, Bluewater Photo, we have created a holiday gift guide to help you navigate this holiday season's specials for underwater photography. If you're looking for holiday gifts for an underwater photographer or some great deals for yourself, this guide is definitely worth checking out.

Check out a full list of holiday specials at Bluewater Photo!

Newest Gear

• Sony RX100VI - Premium compact camera with improved image quality, auto-focus and image stabilization for high quality underwater photos, and a new 200mm full frame equivalent zoom for great topside versatility. 
• Nikon Z7 - Nikon's first mirrorless camera, with a full-frame 45 MP sensor packed into a mirrorless-sized body. Check out the UWPG pre-review for more info.
• Canon EOS R - Canon's first full-frame mirrorless camera, with a 30 MP sensor. Priced a bit above the Nikon Z6, but below the Z7 and the Sony A7RIII, it's another interesting option with a claimed ability to autofocus down to -6 eV. Check out Bluewater Photo's announcement for more info.
• Nauticam macro to wide angle lens - Interchangeable lens shooters take note! Nauticam just released an extremely innovative wet lens which converts a 60mm full frame equivalent macro lens into a wide angle lens with 150 degree angle of view. Now you can switch between macro and wide angle underwater, within only a few seconds!

Bundles & Packages

• Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II Bundle - The perfect option to enter the world of mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras without breaking the bank, and save $700 when buying the package. Just add the renowned Olympus 60mm macro lens or an 8 mm fisheye lens and port, and you will be all set to take very high quality underwater photos.
• Olympus TG-5 Packages - The Olympus TG-5 is the little compact camera that could. Along with providing solid image quality and 4K video, at a very affordable price, it excels at taking macro photos with its phenomenal microscope mode. Check out our detailed UWPG review here. We even have a great article from a seasoned DSLR macro shooter who brings a TG-5 along with his DSLR to take photos of extremely small, hard-to-reach subjects.

Gifts Under $1000

• iTorch Symbiosis Pro Strobe with Video Light - A great strobe with a built-in video light on top, simplifying your rig, adding versatility, saving you space and reducing your mount requirements. Plus it's $200 off!
• Sea & Sea YS-D2J Strobe - the latest version of the classic standby. Comes with a free 4-pack of Eneloop Pro rechargeable batteries.
• Olympus 8mm f/1.8 fisheye Pro lens - the best fisheye lens for micro-four-thirds, allowing for dramatic wide angle photography, in a compact and weatherproof package. With a maximum aperture of f/1.8, it is also great for star photography. $150 off.

Gifts Under $500

• Kraken Universal Smartphone Housing with Depth Sensor - Works for both android phones and iPhones, and includes a vacuum leak detection system to protect your phone from flooding. The perfect option for the person who loves taking photos with their phone but doesn't want the bulk or expense of a larger camera system.
• Kraken Sports KRL-02 Wet Wide Angle Lens - Shooting a compact camera like the TG-5 or Sony RX-100? Take stunning wide angle photos with the 150 degree field of view provided by this excellent lens. $150 off.
• GoPro Hero 7 Black - The latest GoPro model, with improvements over the already excellent 6. The ratio of video/image quality to size/cost beats any other underwater camera, hands down. There is a reason so many people use GoPros underwater - they are tiny, super easy to use, and capture great videos with no hassle.

Gifts Under $300

• Light & Motion 2500F Video Light - Small and compact video light which produces a wide, powerful and even beam for great video color. Factory sealed so you don't have to worry about flooding. $134 off.
• Bluewater Photo 1000 Lumen Focus Light - Bright and wide white light in a compact body, along with a red mode for skittish subjects. Also comes with a "snoot" attachment allowing for creative lighting options.
• Thinktank Camera Bags - Roller bags and backpacks designed for underwater photographers. They provide padding and protection for all of your gear and fit most carry-on requirements.

Stocking Stuffers

• AO Cooler Bag - An affordable and very convenient padded bag for your camera rig, which fits as carry-on, protects your gear on the dive boat and doubles as a convenient dunk-tank for cleaning your gear after diving. 
• Bluewater Camera Care Kit - Useful accessories to keep your camera kit in great shape.
• Gifts for Beach Lovers - As much as we'd all like to, we can't be underwater all of the time! Why not consider a gift for the beach lover in your life?

Check out a full list of holiday specials at Bluewater Photo!