Ask most photographers what they want for their birthday and they probably would mention a lens, some lights, or some other expensive piece of equipment. No, they probably aren’t asking you to buy those things for them, but face it - that’s what they want. Wait, let me correct that - that’s what we want.

Unfortunately, a lot of the items we want are just too damn expensive to give away. Fortunately, there are still lots of little trinkets that we will always find useful and are still damn cheap.

I’ve got 10 gift ideas for photographers under $20. Some items are meant for more advanced photographers, but all of them are very affordable. Do you want to know what they are? Read on…

1. Foldable Light Reflector - $19.95: One of the keys to getting good photos is lighting - that’s why we will use whatever tools we have on hand to play with light. A reflector is one of those tools.
2. Bubble Level - $18.95: It’s not always easy to get the horizon level in a photo, but having a bubble level on your camera helps. Just slip it into your hot shoe (you do have a hot shoe, right) and adjust. A dual axis level like PopPhoto Flash recommends would be nice, but falls outside of our $20 budget.
3. Camera Straps - $15 and up: We carry our cameras around a lot - and the straps that come standard with our cameras don’t usually have a lot of padding. Good thing there are several third party straps available. Aside from the padding, this strap from LowePro features quick release buckles and a memory card wallet.
4. Radio Flash Triggers - $12 and up: They’re no Pocket Wizards, but they still get the job done. You can also get extra receivers or kits with two receivers. For Philippine shoppers, you don’t have to go online - just head on over to the photographers’ haven called Hidalgo.
5. Card Reader - $11 and up: Connecting a camera to the computer wastes time, not to mention batteries.  You can’t use your camera while transferring photos, and to make matters worse, you have to use up some juice while doing so.  Good thing card readers come cheap.  Sadly, portable storage isn’t quite as affordable.
6. Memory Cards - $10 and up: A photographer can never have too much memory. power or too much memory. CF cards (SD for some) are a must for DSLR users.
7. Rechargeable Batteries - $8 and up: Like memory, a photographer can never have too much power. AA cells are a requirement for anybody with an external flash, and with the proper adapters, can power some cameras. Throw in a quick charger and you’ve got virtually unlimited juice.
8. Air Blower - $8 and up: Cameras and dust don’t mix well - that’s why we try to do everything to keep our gear clean. An air blower is just one of the tools we need. One of the best, at $14.95, is the Giottos Rocket Air Blaster with Tiltable Air Nozzle.
9. Lens Pen - $7 and up: Yet another tool in the battle against dust and something so compact there’s no excuse not to have it in your camera bag.
10. Microfiber Cloth - $2 and up: Even cheaper than a lens pen, microfiber cloth is one of the best materials to use for cleaning lenses - that’s why you’ll always find assorted pieces in a photographer’s bag. This cloth in particular, though out of budget at $22.99, is pretty cool. It comes in its own bag so it stays clean, and is a neutral 18% gray - making it great for setting white balance.

There you have it - cheap gifts for photographers. In case you’re wondering what inspired this post, it’s my birthday - it’s just over a month away. Can you guess what I want?

Tags: gifts for photographers, foldable light reflector, bubble level, camera strap, radio flash trigger, card reader, memory cards, Compact Flash, CF, Secure Digital, SD, rechargeable batteries, air blower, lens pen, microfiber cloth