The Must-Have Holiday Gifts for the Olympus Shooter

This camera is almost always in my bag. This is a larger version of the E-M1 Mark III and is geared toward both wildlife and sports photographers. The E-M1X feels great in your hands and the quality of the images it can produce is incredible. With 60fps continuous shooting, 7 stops of image stabilization and 50MP handheld shooting, this camera body will rock your world. If you want something a bit bigger that feels both durable but is still lightweight, this is the body for you.

This camera body is my go-to in landscape photography and I would recommend it to intermediate and professional level photographers. The E-M1 Mark III is a professional level body that gives the user unique technology, offering live ND modes, in-body image stabilization, 50MP handheld shooting and more. Check out this first-look review by Gavin Hoey for more info on this powerhouse camera.

Another small and lightweight camera body, the E-M5 Mark III is the camera for everyone. From beginners all the way to professional level creators. Containing many of the pro-level features of the E-M1 Mark III packed into an even smaller body, this camera would be great for anyone wanting to get into photography and be able to grow into it over time. Want to learn more? Read Gavin Hoey’s hands-on review for more details.

A great camera for both beginners and intermediate photographers, the E-M10 Mark IV is about as lightweight and compact as they come. This camera is a great tool that you will grow with you. You won’t need to immediately upgrade after moving past that beginner stage. This was actually the first camera that I ever owned and kickstarted my career as a full-time creator. I highly recommend this to any first-time shooters who want an affordable camera that puts out quality images.

The Tough TC-6 is a unique and affordable option for underwater photography. This camera lives up to its name, being dustproof, freezeproof, waterproof, and crushproof, you can do just about anything with this thing. Geared towards the adrenaline junkies and on-the-go creators, this camera can easily fit in your pocket and has underwater capabilities without the typical cost of underwater housing.

Released just this year, the 8-25mm f/4 quickly became my favorite lens for landscape photography. Its versatility and compact size make it easy to fit in any camera bag but diverse enough to almost never need another lens. The in-body image stabilization allows me to shoot handheld while opening my shutter, sometimes up to 2 seconds. If I could only take one lens into the field, it would be this one.

This is one of Olympus’s fastest lenses and arguably one of its most used. The 12-40mm f/2.8 is also one of the smallest lenses in the PRO lineup. I know this lens for its sharpness and small design. I have had it in my pack since the very first day I owned it and I doubt that will change anytime soon. Weatherproof technology makes it unstoppable in the field. I’ve used it in pouring rain, sknow, sleet, subzero temperatures and more and it has never once hesitated.

Accompanying my E-M10, this lens was the first lens I ever purchased. I wanted something compact and affordable and this lens was perfect. Highly recommended for beginner photographers, this lens will give you a baseline look at pro-level technology built into a tiny lens. Though the aperture is higher, this lens is fast and uses an electronic zoo, so that it maintains its small size while shooting. If you want something that can fit in a purse or even your pocket, this lens is a great option for on-the-go, casual photography.

This is one of Olympus’s most unique lenses. I used it on a project in 2020, focusing on bug photography, which I have never done. The lens was seamless to use and made it easy for a beginner like me to capture some pretty amazing macro photos with very little experience. With the right light, a good subject and a lot of patience, this lens offers a fun and unique experience for someone looking to get into macro photography or simply wanting to try something new.

A great and affordable lens, the 100-400 f/5.0-6.3 is amazing glass for someone wanting to venture into the realm of wildlife or sports photography. Though this lens isn’t part of the PRO line, this lens features pro-level technology. Along with speed, the lens features Olympus’s revolutionary in-body image stabilization system.

I use a lavalier mic for all of my video work. The Rode Wireless GO II and lavalier mic combine for a compact system that can fly under the radar. It features a high quality microphone that you can connect with cameras, computers and even a smartphone. This system is easy to fit in your pack and is a good way to record the vocals of a subject while maintaining distance from them.

Anyone involved in the video industry should have a recorder of some kind. The Tascam DR-40X is a top-of-the-line recorder that you can take anywhere. Its small size allows you to operate it with one thumb, adjusting levels and deleting tracks with ease. Whether you are wanting to record RAW audio handheld, or wire it to a system, this recorder is a great and easy option for capturing true, unsaturated sound.

I use a circular polarizer filter on probably 90% of my work and Polar Pro is one of the best makers of filters out there. The quality construction mixed with the ease of use makes it one of the best filters on the market. For anyone looking to bring more natural color to their photos, or looking for a way to level up their game, check these out.

Being able to use ND filters is huge for a landscape photographer. But it can be a nuisance to bring multiple filters out on a shoot with you. Having a variable ND like this one allows a creator to use different levels of ND by simply turning the circular device one way or another.

The Lowepro ProTactic Messenger Bag is a casual, over-the-shoulder pack aimed at giving the user quick access to their gear. Without having to remove the bag from your body, you can easily swing it across your shoulder to access the topload pack. Keeping up with the rest of the ProTactic line, this bag is durable and comfortable for all-day use. If you’re looking for something more casual, while still maintaining a quality build and fit, check out this bag.

This traditional, lightweight aluminum tripod is a great option for travel photographers who need something light and portable. It features a 9lb load capacity, which would hold almost any mirrorless or DSLR camera. Despite its size, it can hold its own. Each leg is outfitted with twistlock technology that allows you to set up in less than 15 seconds. I have always hated having to carry around a tripod, so when I do, I prefer something that is compact and lightweight but still able to handle wild conditions. This is that tripod.

The Macbook Pro 16” is Apple’s most powerful Macbook yet. Though I prefer to edit at home on a larger screen, this laptop gives me the option of editing while traveling. Whether it be on a plane, in a car or coffee shop, it is easy to slide this computer in almost any backpack on the market. I prefer to edit photos on the Apple system because the color and quality are unmatched.

The F-Stop Ajna backpack is my favorite camera pack on the planet. Made for adventure and landscape photographers, this durable pack can survive any conditions or environments you might find yourself in. The ripstop materials virtually make this thing everything-proof, while also maintaining a lightweight feel. I love this backpack because the ICU’s are replaceable and you can use four different sizes, depending on your needs for each shoot. My favorite thing about this pack is the amount of storage it comes with. Featuring 5 different storage pockets, it is easy to keep everything separate yet organized. I recommend this pack for any photographer, but especially the landscape and adventure creators out there.

Often when I am shooting a wedding, I go through batteries insanely fast. The best way to deal with this is to either buy more batteries, or in my case, get a portable power station that you can keep in your car or on site to charge batteries while you continue your shoot. The Togo Power Pioneer is a great option for portable power. It comes with an AC outlet, DC Carport, 3 USB ports, and a USB-C port, so you can charge practically any device on the planet.

I recently got a pair of these for video editing purposes and I love them. The Sony XM series has been a crowd favorite for years now and the newest version doesn’t disappoint. Featuring high level noise cancelation and 30 hours of battery life, these are the perfect over-the-ear headphones for travel. I normally use them on a plane or in a coffee shop when I prefer to have no extra noise while working. And the features on these headphones are next level. By simply speaking, the headphones will turn off the noise cancelation, allowing you to hear sounds outside of the headphones themselves and making it easier to converse with others without taking the headphones off.