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Finding a worthwhile but not-too-pricey gift for a photographer may be tough these days, but it can be done. To help you out, we've made a list of 40 worthy imaging-related items that cost $100 or less -- some will set you back less than $10. There's something here for every sort of photographer, and just about everyone should be able to afford something here. View the slideshow or scroll through the pages below to get started.
 3D Connexion SpaceNavigator Personal Edition
This input device is like a super-mouse for avid Photoshop users and 3D aficionados. Instead of just providing two-dimensional movements, the pressure-sensitive SpaceNavigator lets you pan, zoom, and rotate 3D images by pushing, pulling, twisting, or tilting its controller cap. It also provides enhanced control and efficiency for working with regular 2D images in Photoshop CS2 and CS3 by letting you pan, zoom, and adjust brush sizes by manipulating the cap. As a viewing navigator, it lets you "fly" through large 3D scenes such as those in Google Earth and NASA World Wind. The SpaceNavigator is compatible with more than 100 3D applications, including Photoshop CS3 Extended.
About $60
www.3dconnexion.com
 Lexar Professional UDMA Dual-Slot USB Reader
Waiting all day for images to transfer to a computer is a drag. This card reader will give you the best download performance that your super-fast UDMA CompactFlash and SDHC cards can offer, and also supports standard SD and CF cards. It closes when not in use to protect the card slots from dust and make it easier to carry.
About $80
www.lexar.com
 Purosol Optical Solution
Every well loved lens reaches a point when a brush or a Lenspen just won't get the dirt off anymore, and it's time to bring out the cleaning fluid. Unfortunately, it can be surprisingly difficult to find a good one, and many fluids leave a lens looking worse than before it was "cleaned." Purosol says its cleaning solution for optical glass uses enzymes to remove dirt without streaking or damaging lens coatings, and in our experience, it does the job well. We've used it to clean expensive multicoated lenses, with no streaking, smearing, or cleaning marks.
About $8 for a 1-ounce spray bottle
www.purosol.com
 xTrain Subscription
Winter can be a good time to stay inside and brush up on Photoshop skills or learn new photography techniques. xTrain's online video courses include numerous photography and digital darkroom topics, and the monthly fee will give you access to the full library of classes. Just cancel the subscription when you -- or your gift recipient -- have reached the limits of your quest for knowledge, or your budget.
$29/month (about $23/month with the promotional code "holiday" during December 2007)
www.xtrain.com
 Image Trends SensorKleen Pro
Photographers who have batches of photos with dust spots sitting on their hard drive can use this software to clean them up quickly. It automatically erases defects created by dust that was on the camera sensor when the images were captured. SensorKleen Pro corrects whole sets of images that have dust spots in the same place to make the process efficient, and also provides a SmartBrush tool for touching up single images.
$100
www.imagetrendsinc.com
 Sandisk Cruzer Titanium
A USB flash drive can provide a handy way to carry photos with you. This one has a built-in U3 software platform that will let you run compatible photo software directly from the drive, without having to download it to the computer that the drive is plugged into. The drive has a crush-resistant metal casing with a retractable USB connector, and offers fast transfer speeds.
About $35 for a 1GB drive, $50 for 2GB, and $100 for 4GB
www.sandisk.com
 Lenspen
Lenspens use a dry cleaning compound to remove dirt from lens surfaces without smearing. One end of the pen has a soft pad that's saturated with the compound; full-size Lenspen models have a retractable brush on the other end. The tiniest Lenspens can be carried on a keychain and larger ones slip easily into a pocket, making them extremely convenient to carry and use in the field.
Starting at about $9
www.lenspen.com
 Shozam Advanced Edition
This Web site building software is designed specifically for photographers. It provides templates and customization tools for creating online galleries and portfolios, and offers various levels of automation and manual control to accommodate users with different levels of gallery-building skill. (Note that it's for photographers who will host their own site. A home server, an ISP, or a service such as Amazon's S3 can provide the space.)
Splurge or save: The $200 Business Edition adds e-commerce for photographers who want to sell their images online, and the $50 and $25 Express and Lite editions offer more limited sets of gallery-creation tools for gift givers on a budget.
$100
www.shozam.com
There are more ideas on the following pages, but if you're still not satisfied, have a look at these for more inspiration:
• Holiday Gifts for the Sports Photographer
• Holiday Gifts for the Wildlife and Nature Photographer
• Holiday Gifts for the Portrait Photographer
• Holiday Gifts for the Landscape and Travel Photographer
• Jack Howard's Top Picks
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