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19 Best Photography Gadgets in 2023 (Updated)

Last updated: November 12, 2023 - 17 min read
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Photography gadgets are great add-ons to your camera system. These photography accessories could work with your camera system or smartphone device.

Either way, camera gadgets can make your photography more interesting. They also make great gifts for photographers in your life!

With such a wide range of gadgets, it’s difficult to pick a favorite. But we think that this YONGNUO YN360 LED gadget is a winner. It offers lots of interesting lighting possibilities without the expense and bulk of studio lighting.

Our Top 3 Choices for The Best Photography Gadgets
YONGNUO YN360 LED Video Light
YONGNUO YN360 LED Video Light
YONGNUO YN360 LED Video Light
Datacolor SpyderX Pro Monitor Calibration
Datacolor SpyderX Pro Monitor Calibration
Datacolor SpyderX Pro Monitor Calibration
KODAK Printomatic Digital Instant Print Camera
KODAK Printomatic Digital Instant Print Camera
KODAK Printomatic Digital Instant Print Camera

What Are the Best Photography Gadgets?

We’ve chosen 19 of the most interesting photography gadgets out there for you. Before we look at them in detail, here’s a summary of all our choices.

Best Variable Color Light
YONGNUO YN360 LED Video Light
YONGNUO YN360 LED Video Light
YONGNUO YN360 LED Video Light
  • Easily portable
  • Wide range of color temperatures available
  • Remote control
  • Lighting effects built in
Best Instant Camera
KODAK Printomatic Digital Instant Print Camera
KODAK Printomatic Digital Instant Print Camera
KODAK Printomatic Digital Instant Print Camera
  • Physical memories to keep
  • Fun to share
  • Also stores to memory card
  • Prints are self-adhesive
Best Mini Tripod
JOBY GorillaPod 5K Kit
JOBY GorillaPod 5K Kit
JOBY GorillaPod 5K Kit
  • Maximum 5kg capacity
  • Sturdy and flexible
  • Grips objects easily
  • Fits in your camera bag
Best Negative Copier
Negative Supply Basic Film Carrier 35
Negative Supply Basic Film Carrier 35
Negative Supply Basic Film Carrier 35
  • Keeps negatives perfectly flat
  • Works with almost any digital camera
  • Allows quick copying
  • Refines your copying workflow
Best Graphics Tablet
Wacom Intuos
Wacom Intuos
Wacom Intuos
  • Great for retouching
  • Mac and PC compatible
  • More intuitive than a mouse
  • Easily portable
Best Candid Accessory
Opteka Voyeur Right Angle Spy Lens
Opteka Voyeur Right Angle Spy Lens
Opteka Voyeur Right Angle Spy Lens
  • Perfect for unobtrusive shooting
  • Simple to use
  • Works with all kinds of lenses
Best for Fun Effects
K9 Optical Crystal Photography Prism Set
K9 Optical Crystal Photography Prism Set
K9 Optical Crystal Photography Prism Set
  • Beautiful to look at
  • Lots of creative possibilities
  • Four prisms to choose from
  • Works with any camera
Best Power Adapter
Power Junkie by Blind Spot
Power Junkie by Blind Spot
Power Junkie by Blind Spot
  • Greatly increases shooting time
  • Powers up to three devices
  • Useful power level indicator
  • Works with a large number of cameras
Best Monitor Accessory
Datacolor SpyderX Pro Monitor Calibration
Datacolor SpyderX Pro Monitor Calibration
Datacolor SpyderX Pro Monitor Calibration
  • Definitive analysis of monitor colors
  • Simple to use
  • Works with any monitor
  • Produces consistency across different devices
Best Film Camera
Lomography Reloadable Camera & ISO 400 Film
Lomography Reloadable Camera & ISO 400 Film
Lomography Reloadable Camera & ISO 400 Film
  • Great introduction to basic film photography
  • The convenience of a disposable camera, but refillable
  • Includes flash gel filters
  • Small and lightweight
Best Action Camera Mount
GoPro Chesty
GoPro Chesty
GoPro Chesty
  • Takes any camera or phone with a GoPro style mount
  • Secure fitting
  • Easy hands-free operation
  • Perfect for sports like kayaking
Best Rain Cover
Medium Form-Fitting Rain & Dust Cover by Peak Design
Medium Form-Fitting Rain & Dust Cover by Peak Design
Medium Form-Fitting Rain & Dust Cover by Peak Design
  • Snug-fitting and protective
  • Lifetime warranty
  • Closes completely to protect the camera
  • Soft, flexible material
Best Flash Alternative
Rotolight NEO 2
Rotolight NEO 2
Rotolight NEO 2
  • Works as continuous light and flash
  • Up to 1/8000th second sync speed
  • Adjustable color temperature
  • Hotshoe mount
Best Lens Hood
70-90mm Lens Hood for Nikon Canon Pentax Sony Cameras
70-90mm Lens Hood for Nikon Canon Pentax Sony Cameras
70-90mm Lens Hood for Nikon Canon Pentax Sony Cameras
  • Works with many lens sizes
  • Perfect for shooting through glass
  • Helps to protect your lens
  • Reduces flare and ghosting
Best Universal Lens Cap
KUVRD Universal Lens Cap
KUVRD Universal Lens Cap
KUVRD Universal Lens Cap
  • Fits a wide range of lenses
  • Provides some shock protection
  • Easily mounted and removed
  • Works for front and rear of lenses
Best Filter Set
K&F Concept 58mm Variable ND Filter
K&F Concept 58mm Variable ND Filter
K&F Concept 58mm Variable ND Filter
  • Simple to use
  • Solves exposure problems in bright light
  • One filter for up to 9 stops
Best Automated Assistant
Smartphone Pod & Holder: Pivo Auto Motion Sensor
Smartphone Pod & Holder: Pivo Auto Motion Sensor
Smartphone Pod & Holder: Pivo Auto Motion Sensor
  • Fits any smartphone
  • Autotracking technology
  • 360-degree rotation
  • Great for timelapse
Best Editing Aid
Loupedeck+ Photo and Video Editing Console
Loupedeck+  Photo and Video Editing Console
Loupedeck+ Photo and Video Editing Console
  • Works with Lightroom, Aurora HDR and others
  • Easy to set up
  • Customizable functions
  • Helps to speed up post-processing
Best Gimbal
DJI Osmo Mobile 6 Smartphone Gimbal
DJI Osmo Mobile 6 Smartphone Gimbal
DJI Osmo Mobile 6 Smartphone Gimbal
  • Works with any smartphone
  • Remote zoom and focus
  • Works as an extendable selfie stick
  • Easily controllable with the app

Now let’s look at those recommendations in more detail.

1. Yongnuo YN360 III Pro LED Light

YONGNUO YN360 LED Video Light
Gadget Type
Gadget Type
Light
Useful for
Useful for
Creating interesting lighting effects outside of the studio

This Yongnuo LED light is a portable light source that can be used in various fields of photography.

It’s portable and light so it can be handheld in any situation.

Its lighting mode and brightness can be adjusted easily thanks to its remote with a touchpad.

It allows you to simulate ten supplementary lighting effects such as sunrise, police vehicles, or lightning.

It provides the full spectrum of RGB colors and they can easily be modified through the mobile app. You can also adjust the color temperature from 3200k to 5600k.

9. Datacolor SpyderX Pro – Monitor Calibration

Datacolor SpyderX Pro Monitor Calibration
Gadget Type
Gadget Type
Monitor Accessory
Useful for
Useful for
Making precise adjustments to your monitor

This is not the type of photographer gadget you might go crazy about. But it’s a really useful one.

2. Kodak Printomatic Instant Camera

KODAK Printomatic Digital Instant Print Camera
Gadget Type
Gadget Type
Camera
Useful for
Useful for
Creating mementos at special events

The Kodak Printomatic Instant Camera functions as a simple point and shoot camera which stores images on a microSD. But it works as an instant camera too as it can immediately print your photos.

With one flick of a button, you can change it from color to black and white.

Paper cartridges are available with adhesive backs. So you can easily use them as stickers and stick them anywhere you wish. This makes them really fun. And you can use them to decorate notebooks or anything around you.

The results are 2 x 3″ high-quality prints.

3. Joby Gorillapod 5K

JOBY GorillaPod 5K Kit
Gadget Type
Gadget Type
Tripod
Useful for
Useful for
Always having a tripod handy

The Joby Gorillapod 5K is small, portable, and weighs less than a traditional tripod. It’s easier to place inside your bag.

You can wrap it around objects which makes it easy to stabilize your camera anywhere.

The versatility of this tripod is something any photographer can benefit from using.

Although it’s really small, it can hold devices weighing up to 5 kg (11 lbs.). Yes, your heavy DSLR can sit on it safely. It’s perfect for video and photo shooting.

4. Film Carrier 35MD

Negative Supply Basic Film Carrier 35
Gadget Type
Gadget Type
Copy Stand
Useful for
Useful for
Digitizing negatives

This one is for those who are into analog photography. The Film Carrier 35MD combines the Film Carrier MK1 with an automatic advancing mechanism.

The first product of Negative Supply, the Film Carrier MK1 allows you to digitize negatives and positives. You just need a digital camera and a macro lens.

The Film Carrier 35MD makes your workflow significantly faster. It allows you to capture frames in 2 seconds or even less.

This photography gadget also lets you step between frames automatically. All it takes is the press of a button.

5. Wacom CTL4100 Intuos Graphics Drawing Tablet

Wacom Intuos
Gadget Type
Gadget Type
Graphics Tablet
Useful for
Useful for
Precise editing and drawing

The Wacom CTL4100 Intuos drawing tablet is perfect for any software for digital art. If you are a photographer, you are going to use it mostly for retouching your photos. But it’s also perfect for any type of drawing, even animations.

This gadget can make your workflow much faster and easier. It’s easier to work with a tablet like this than to work with your mouse or touchpad.

It’s easy to use and allows you to work more precisely.

Its slim and lightweight design makes it easy to carry with you. The pen doesn’t need to be charged so you can use it anywhere you would use your computer.

It can be used with a PC or a laptop. And it’s compatible with all kinds of editing software or app.

6. Opteka Voyeur Right Angle Lens

Opteka Voyeur Right Angle Spy Lens
Gadget Type
Gadget Type
Lens Adapter
Useful for
Useful for
Unobtrusive shooting

The Opteka Voyeur Right Angle Lens camera gadget is mostly for street and documentary photography. Basically, any time you don’t want your subject to notice you.

This might sound a bit creepy, but it can be useful if you use it without taking advantage of anyone.

It allows you to point your camera one way and shoot the other. It can be easily attached to your lenses and it fits telephoto and wide-angle lenses.

It can be hard to get used to the fact that the angle you are pointing at turns at 90 degrees, but it’s worth a try.

7. Power Junkie

Power Junkie by Blind Spot
Gadget Type
Gadget Type
Power Adapter
Useful for
Useful for
Freeing your camera from battery dependency

The Power Junkie is a multi-use powering adapter. And it can be mounted to any type of DSRL or mirrorless camera.

The Power Junkie is a great addition to any photographer’s equipment. It gives power to your DSLR or mirrorless camera for extra 10 hours. This is especially useful while you are recording video.

You can also use three ports simultaneously. So you can power your camera, a film light, and another accessory at the same time.

An LED power indicator helps you by monitoring how much power is left. It also shows the level while it’s being charged.

8. K9 Prism Set

K9 Optical Crystal Photography Prism Set
Gadget Type
Gadget Type
Optical Effects
Useful for
Useful for
Beautiful lighting effects

Photography is all about light. Photographers usually love playing with it and manipulating light as they wish.

Prisms are easy to use and match perfectly with smartphone photography as well as professional gear too.

They reflect light in unlikely directions making your images look surreal. They also disperse light, so small rainbows appear which can be used creatively as part of the composition.

This particular set from K9 includes 4 handmade prisms in different shapes. They are so nice that can be even used as decorations.

The Datacolor SpyderX Pro is for calibrating your monitor. This is crucial for photo editing and printing.

You can spend hours editing and still have a weird coloring in every image if you look at them on another monitor or a print. With this gadget, you can achieve color precision within a minute or two.

Its lens-based color engine provides color accuracy. And it features room-light monitoring and automatic profile changing.

You don’t have to be an expert because this gadget is intuitive and allows single-click calibration.

10. Lomography Simple Use Reloadable Camera

Lomography Reloadable Camera & ISO 400 Film
Gadget Type
Gadget Type
Camera
Useful for
Useful for
Simple film photography

Lomography has its own community. You can be part of it by experimenting with analog photography. The Lomographic Society International holds it together. It’s a global organization dedicated to analog, experimental, and creative photography.

This small Lomography Simple Use gadget is a camera. It’s already loaded with a 35mm color film with ISO 400 which can be reloaded. Its minimum shutter speed is 1/120.

It also comes with three color gel flash filters. They can be varied and mixed so you can experiment with different effects on your photos.

This camera is small and light. So it’s portable and is always a great companion.

Although reloading your camera can be a bit tricky, it’s worth a try. Don’t throw it away immediately when you run out of shots!

11. GoPro Performance Chest Mount

GoPro Chesty
Gadget Type
Gadget Type
Harness
Useful for
Useful for
Hands-free shooting with an action camera

If an extreme sport or hiking is your passion, you are going to love this type of phone or action camera holder.

You can attach your smartphone or even your GoPro to your chest with this camera strap.

It’s great because you don’t need your hands to record on a video what you are doing.

You can capture all the action without having to worry about dropping the camera.

12. Peak Design Black Shell Rain Cover

Medium Form-Fitting Rain & Dust Cover by Peak Design
Gadget Type
Gadget Type
Harness
Useful for
Useful for
Hands-free shooting with an action camera

The Peak Design Black Shell Rain Cover is a really clever accessory. It’s especially useful if you love shooting outside. Weather is not going to stop you from taking photos anymore.

It fits in your camera bag or pocket easily. So you can grab it and put it on your camera in no time.

It’s available in three sizes. So they fit almost any DSLR or mirrorless camera body with any lens type.

It’s made of weatherproof stretch fabric. And it’s seams are taped to resist rain, snow, dust, and abrasion.

Also, Peak Design offers a lifetime warranty on this product!

13. Rotolight NEO 2

Rotolight NEO 2
Gadget Type
Gadget Type
Light
Useful for
Useful for
High-speed shooting in low light

The Rotolight NEO 2 is a powerful LED light that is designed mostly for portrait photography.

It is a continuous light and a high-speed sync (HSS) flash (up to 1/8000th) in one.

It can be used with your DSRL, mirrorless, or video camera.

You can adjust its color temperature in the continuous and flash modes. It ranges from 6300K to 3150K—from daylight to tungsten. You can also choose from various lighting effects, such as lightning or fire.

It also offers outstanding color accuracy, which makes it ideal for portraits.

It has no recycling time and no power loss. This is ideal for cameras with a high fps count.

14. Easy Hood Lens Hood

70-90mm Lens Hood for Nikon Canon Pentax Sony Cameras
Gadget Type
Gadget Type
Lens Hood
Useful for
Useful for
Shooting through glass without reflections

The Easy Hood flexible lens hood allows stretches to fit any lens between 70-90mm in diameter.

It’s the perfect alternative to polarizing filters and lens hoods. This is because it prevents reflections just as well as filters. But you won’t have to buy different sizes like you would with polarizing filters.

It’s made from soft material so it can be used while pressed to a window or glass. This way it stops light leaks and reflections.

It easily fits in your camera bag with your other accessories. It comes with a microfiber bag and is easy to clean.

15. Kuvrd Universal Lens Cap

KUVRD Universal Lens Cap
Gadget Type
Gadget Type
Lens Cap
Useful for
Useful for
Protecting your lens from knocks and dirt

These Kuvrd universal lens caps prevent water, mud, dust, and sand from getting into your camera lens. They come with a lifetime warranty which says how durable they are.

They fit almost any type of lens as they can be stretched from 60 to 120mm. They also function as a front and rear lens cap.

This is great for vintage camera lovers who have a glass without its own original cap.

These are shock resistant, so they’ll help protect your lens if you drop it. You can even put more than one lens cap on top of each other for extra safety.

When they are not on your gear, they are compressible. They’ll easily fit in your camera bag or your pockets.

And there’s great news for those who tend to lose their lens caps. These can only be removed intentionally so they are not going to drop by accident.

16. K&F Neutral Density Filter Set

K&F Concept 62mm Variable ND Filter
Gadget Type
Gadget Type
Filter
Useful for
Useful for
Long exposures in bright light

Neutral density (ND) filters are one of those things that solve a very specific problem.

Imagine taking a portrait in bright natural light. You’re using your lowest ISO and fastest shutter speed. But you have to stop your lens down to f/8 for the correct exposure. The trouble is, that ruins the beautiful bokeh your f/1.8 lens can produce. The answer? An ND filter. Suddenly you can open up your lens to achieve the effect you want.

This K&F ND filter set is pretty nifty. It’s one filter with variable stops of ND from 1 to 9 stops. So you can dial in the amount of neutral density you want. All without having to constantly screw and unscrew filters.

17. Loupedeck+ Photo and Video Editing Console

Loupedeck+  Photo and Video Editing Console
Gadget Type
Gadget Type
Editing Console
Useful for
Useful for
Quick and efficient control of editing suites

The Loupedeck+ is a photo and video editing console. It’s compatible with several photo editing software. This includes Lightroom, Photoshop, Camera Raw, After Effects or Audition, and Aurora HDR.

This photography gadget is perfect for professional photographers and beginner users. It’s easy to set up and you can begin editing your shots immediately.

If you feel like it, you can customize a lot of its features. Try the suggested combinations and experiment with them to see what fits your workflow the best.

All editors will love this gadget as it makes editing photos fast and fun. If you feel that post-processing takes too much time for you, this gadget is worth its price!

18. Pivo Pod Smartphone Tracking Holder

Smartphone Pod & Holder: Pivo Auto Motion Sensor
Gadget Type
Gadget Type
Motion-tracking Mount
Useful for
Useful for
Working as a virtual camera operator

Not everyone has a friend who is willing to wait for you to land that perfect skateboarding move. The Pivo Pod steps into that gap and tracks you as you zoom across the urban landscape.

The Pivo Pod can sit on its own on a level surface. Or you can attach it with the standard 1/4″ screw to a tripod or other mount.

The app gives you complete control over the functions. And you’re not limited to action shots. It’s gradual rotation feature enhances time-lapse photos.

19 . Osmo Mobile 6 Gimbal

DJI Osmo Mobile 6 Smartphone Gimbal
Gadget Type
Gadget Type
Gimbal
Useful for
Useful for
Delivering smooth video footage

A Gimbal is an absolute game changer when it comes to delivering silky smooth footage from your smartphone. DJI has a well earned reputation for the quality of their cameras and accessories. And the Osmo Mobile 6 doesn’t disappoint.

The smartphone app allows plenty of control. And you can set the gimbal to track your subjects (or yourself!) with ease.

There are even focus controls on the gimbal, so you can introduce some cinematic blurring or zooming to add that special touch to your footage.

Conclusion

As you can see, gadgets can be cameras, filters, external devices, cases, or straps. These extras can make your work more fun and your workflow faster. There is something for everyone here. They make great photography gifts for members of your family.

Of course, this list is far from complete. You can find endless numbers of photography gadgets on the market. But make sure to only buy things you really need.

We think a good place to start is this YONGNUO YN360 LED portable light.

Our Top 3 Choices for The Best Photography Gadgets
YONGNUO YN360 LED Video Light
YONGNUO YN360 LED Video Light
YONGNUO YN360 LED Video Light
Datacolor SpyderX Pro Monitor Calibration
Datacolor SpyderX Pro Monitor Calibration
Datacolor SpyderX Pro Monitor Calibration
KODAK Printomatic Digital Instant Print Camera
KODAK Printomatic Digital Instant Print Camera
KODAK Printomatic Digital Instant Print Camera