Holiday Gift Guide Updated for 2015!

 

The teenagers and grands on your holiday shopping list might not think of themselves as family historians, but consider this:

Every instagram photo, every snap of that baby’s smile is a future family keepsake!

Lately I’ve been working on new articles and presentations featuring digitizing your family history, and I’ve come across several fun and useful new gadgets that have made their way into my gear bag. Of course, a few of these are still on my holiday wish list, but I couldn’t resist sharing my favorite geeky finds that will make great holiday gifts for the genealogist, or shutterbug, on your gift list.

Faves Under $15

My Personal Favorite #1 Geeky Gadget: The Joby GripTight Smartphone Mount

In 2013, I wrote: 

It might not look like much, but the Joby GripTight Mount is my choice for Number 1 Geeky Gadget of the year.

Once again, in 2015, the Joby smartphone mounts once again take the #1 spot. These phone mounts are strong, well-made, and durable. Purchase a model that fits your specific phone model for a secure fit.

The original Joby GripTight Mount fits the iPhone 5 and 4/4S, and the many other phones. Use the Joby GripTight XL for iPhone 6 and 6plus, Galaxy Note, and other large smartphones. It turns your camera phone into a digitizing powerhouse. Screw the Joby GripTight Mount to any tripod with a universal mount or add a GorillaPod Tripod to make a DIY tripod with a chair or fence rail. When you’re finished, detach the phone and collapse the mount to stow it in your pocket or clip to a keychain.

The Mount and GorillaPod Tripod are also available in one unit as the GripTight GorillaPod Stand for Large Phones  or the Joby GripTight GorillaPod Stand for Smaller Smartphones.

#2 Favorite: Remote Shutter Release

Shutter jitter can create fuzzy shots. A remote shutter release, either wired or wireless, lets you step away from the camera to operate the shutter and achieve crisp, clear images.

The $6.99 Satechi Remote Shutter works great with my Canon Powershot G11/12 series and is compatible with several other Canon cameral.

Genealogists’ Gravestone Gadget

Move the light where you need it most to photograph fading tombstone inscriptions using the NEEWER 32-Inch Collapsible Light Reflector. This portable reflector won’t be as crisp and bright as a real mirror, but it’s quite a bit less fragile.

The kit comes with five different reflectors (translucent, silver, gold, white, and black) but the white and metallic will be most helpful directing light on tombstone carving. A handy pouch holds the reflectors between cemetery outings.

Smartphone Camera Macro Lens

If you use your smartphone to snap close-up photos the Easy-Macro Cell Phone Lens Band is an easy way to add optical zoom to most any smartphone. The lens is attached to a flexible band that snaps over the phone, with or without case, giving instant access to the macro lens without sticky adhesive or wobbly clips.

I’m always on a quest for new camera filters and lenses, especially something that fits over a case. For this price the quality doesn’t compare to a real camera lens, but it adds a bit of fun to the camera gear kit.

Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner Sketch Kit

Does your favorite genealogist already own a Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner? The Flip-Pal Sketch Kit accessory adds note-taking ability with a transparent write-on/wiipe-off film that lets you identify photos and make citation notes that will appear with the scanned image.

Kit comes with three erasable markers and clear acrylic sketch sheet.

Great Gadgets Under $100

Eye Fi SD Card

These little memory cards speed up digitizing by automagically transferring your snapshots or scans directly to your computer, smartphone or tablet device. The Eye-Fi Mobi Wireless Memory Card, transfers image files to your mobile device, while the Eye-Fi Pro X2  model handles camera RAW files and transfers to MAC or PC computer.

Olloclip iPhone Lenses

Don’t you sometimes wish you could get a really good close-up photo, or maybe a wide-angle shot with your iPhone camera? The Olloclip 3-in-1 Lens for iPhone 4 & iPhone 4S  is winning awards for  its high quality optical lenses designed to bring iPhonography to a new level. Choose from the 3-in-one Lens that delivers wide-angle, macro, and fish-eye capability, or the Olloclip Telephoto Lens + Circular Polarizer for iPhone 4/4S  that brings telephone and polarizer lens to the iPhone. Models for both iPhone 4/4S and iPhone 5 are available; unfortunately, Android smartphones are not included. The high-quality glass optics in Olloclip lenses have earned high praise in MacWorld and Wired.

I’ve been frustrated when trying to photograph framed documents and photos under glass one time too many, and am looking forward to putting the Olloclip Polarizing Lens to the test soon. Combined with the telephone, the CPL (Circular Polarizing Lens) will also cut through smog, haze, and fog making those grey winter skies less daunting.

Big Ticket Gadgets

Of course, you might also be looking for a Great Big Geeky Gadget for your favorite genealogist. Something like a new tablet or eReader.

You’ll have lots of choices in the world of mobile tablet devices, from Android devices like the Samsung Galaxy 7-inch Tab 3

to the Apple iPad Mini

and the Kindle Fire HD  and new HDX.

When comparing models, check compatibility with the available eBook platforms for access to a growing library of genealogy reference books and family histories. Titles available in the Amazon Kindle Store can be read on all kinds of tablets, not only the Kindle ebook readers. You will need the Kindle App, for iOS devices like the iPhone and iPad or for Windows Android.

Amazon Prime members have the added benefit of borrowing books, including many genealogy titles, from the Kindle library to read for free with the Kindle App or on a Kindle device.

Talking About eBooks

Save on shipping and wrapping by sending your favorite genealogist an eBook download via Family Tree Books, iTunes or the Amazon Kindle Store. Search Genealogy or Family History for a growing selection of titles, or lend a helping hand to the keeper of the stuff in your family by giving a copy of my book How to Archive Family Keepsakes.

Happy Holidays!

 

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