It's time to carry on an annual tradition here at
Next week I'll present a similar list, but I'll focus on goodies that will appeal to folks who are fanatical about digital photography (like you, for instance).
If you know someone who still transfers pictures to the PC via a clunky USB camera cable, do them a favor and give the gift of convenience. I'm talking about a desktop media card reader. With a card reader attached to the PC, just remove the memory card from the camera and pop it into the right slot to copy pictures. Take my word for it: It's tons easier than trying to find the USB connector every time you need it.
If you're shopping for a card reader, make sure it has slots for all of the kinds of cards the recipient needs, like CompactFlash and Secure Digital. And make sure it uses USB 2.0, for faster transfers.
I like SanDisk's ImageMate 12-in-1 Reader, which has slots for just about every kind of media card ever invented. There's nothing you can throw at this gadget that it can't handle. It costs $35 at SanDisk's site, but I found it for less using
Battery chargers are a dime a dozen, right? That's what I thought before I discovered the MH-C801D Eight Cell 1-Hr Charger from Maha Energy.
According to Maha Energy, the charger can top off up to eight nickel metal hydride or nickel cadmium AA or AAA cells, in any combination, in just an hour. And gadget fans like me will love the LCD display that shows the charging status of all the batteries. It's not just a battery charger; it's a work of art. Maybe that's why this is on my gift list, even though it costs a whopping $85.
Everyone is always looking for a good way to get photos off the camera's media card on an extended trip.
Solutions abound: You can bring along a laptop, or buy a special portable hard drive. Now there's a better--and cheaper--way, for anyone who has an Apple iPod Photo. Belkin's Media Reader for iPod with Dock Connector plugs into the docking port at the bottom of an iPod Photo and transfers images via pretty much any common memory card--CompactFlash, SmartMedia, Secure Digital, MultiMediaCard, or Memory Card.
The convenience of Belkin's device can't be overstated. It turns all that free space on an iPod into a place to securely keep photos, and transferring them to a PC is easy, too. It costs $50 at Belkin's site, but I found it for much less with our Product Finder.
Let's face it: We shoot lots of digital photos, but print very few of them. That's why a digital photo frame makes such a great gift.
The Philips 7FF1AW Digital Photo Display ($249) is an attractive 7-inch LCD that's surrounded by either a wood or clear plastic frame. It's attractive enough to take a position in your living room, which is exactly the point. The device can store 50 pictures internally, or you can play slide shows of your photos via Secure Digital, CompactFlash, or Memory Stick media. It even has an integrated rechargeable battery, which means you can unplug it and pass it around at parties.
I couldn't find many places on the Internet to buy one yet, but Philips says it will be readily available very soon.
Does someone you know need to learn more about digital photography? Then get them a good book on the subject. As usual, I'm making a shameless plug for my own book, How to Do Everything With Your Digital Camera ($16). The newly updated fourth edition has just hit bookstores, and it's packed with the latest info on photo editing, getting the most out of modern digital cameras, and even composition and exposure basics.
Hot Pic of the WeekGet published, get famous! Each week, we select our favorite reader-submitted photo based on creativity, originality, and technique. Every month, the best of the weekly winners gets a prize valued at between $15 and $50.
Here's how to enter: Send us your photograph in JPEG format, at a resolution no higher than 640 by 480 pixels. Entries at higher resolutions will be immediately disqualified. If necessary, use an image editing program to reduce the file size of your image before e-mailing it to us. Include the title of your photo along with a short description and how you photographed it. Don't forget to send your name, e-mail address, and postal address. Before entering, please read the full description of the contest rules and regulations.
About this week's photo, Jae says: "I was driving to Tall Tree Grove in the Redwoods. I stopped and took a picture to capture light diffusing through fog and redwoods. I took the picture by positioning the tripod on the driver's seat."
Dave Johnson
