Product photography - Camera / Lens reccomendation
Discussion
Interested to see what suggestions people have regarding camera selection for doing product photography.
The current unit is a Canon 550D with an 18-55, its an old unit, seen some milage and probably not well suited to the job in hand. The studio gets by, but it appears that it might be time to replace it for some more sophisticated kit.
We need to photograph around 3000+ product lines from beauty shots to close up detail work, so looking for something that will deliver nice crisp images. I dont know a huge amount about cameras but I have done some googling and have seen suggestions around a getting a full body DSLR and a 50mm & 100mm lens.
One detail that would be ideal is WifI so images can be beamed to a screen as they are taken as there is a lot of back and forth with SD card comparing images.
Interested to know peoples recommendations - on brand, model and lens to go for. This will need to last 5+ years of pretty extensive use so will have to be a quality unit.
Thanks
The current unit is a Canon 550D with an 18-55, its an old unit, seen some milage and probably not well suited to the job in hand. The studio gets by, but it appears that it might be time to replace it for some more sophisticated kit.
We need to photograph around 3000+ product lines from beauty shots to close up detail work, so looking for something that will deliver nice crisp images. I dont know a huge amount about cameras but I have done some googling and have seen suggestions around a getting a full body DSLR and a 50mm & 100mm lens.
One detail that would be ideal is WifI so images can be beamed to a screen as they are taken as there is a lot of back and forth with SD card comparing images.
Interested to know peoples recommendations - on brand, model and lens to go for. This will need to last 5+ years of pretty extensive use so will have to be a quality unit.
Thanks
In a correctly lit environment you wont notice a jot of difference between a FF image and a crop image at similar resolution, you will be shooting at base ISO.
Crop actually has an advantage in terms of depth of field (more) and shorter focal lengths (easier to use and cheaper, plus.. more dof!)
There is zero actual practical need for a FF camera here unless ~24mp isnt enough.
Crop actually has an advantage in terms of depth of field (more) and shorter focal lengths (easier to use and cheaper, plus.. more dof!)
There is zero actual practical need for a FF camera here unless ~24mp isnt enough.
If you go full frame, I wouldn't bother with a 50mm unless you're photographing large items.
The previous model Canon 100mm macro would be ideal - no need for the latest version with image stabilisation as you'll be on a tripod.
Alternatively, you could send a box of product to a pro once a month and get it all done for you. Not what you asked I know, but I had to say it...
The previous model Canon 100mm macro would be ideal - no need for the latest version with image stabilisation as you'll be on a tripod.
Alternatively, you could send a box of product to a pro once a month and get it all done for you. Not what you asked I know, but I had to say it...
If you go for mirrorless and good continuous lighting you will get WYSIWYG through the viewfinder (or on the rear screen) which could save you a massive amount of time setting the lights right exactly as you want them Prather than taking and checking shots.
Obviously the WYSIWYG view of such an arrangement let’s you get the lighting and light shaping just right before you press the button, meaning you can take fewer shots and save time.
Something like the Sony A7iii with a suitable (macro?) lens for close ups if required (although it depends upon the size of the product of course). Rotolight Neo 2 are an option for you on the lights, a set of three is around a thousand quid or thereabouts but that should provide plenty of options for creative lighting.
Edited to addd it has WiFi or you can tether to a PC or Mac with free Sony Edge software (or Capture One Pro Sony if you want to push the boat out).
Tech is moving on since DSLR and speed or strobes, leaves you to concentrate on creativity
Obviously the WYSIWYG view of such an arrangement let’s you get the lighting and light shaping just right before you press the button, meaning you can take fewer shots and save time.
Something like the Sony A7iii with a suitable (macro?) lens for close ups if required (although it depends upon the size of the product of course). Rotolight Neo 2 are an option for you on the lights, a set of three is around a thousand quid or thereabouts but that should provide plenty of options for creative lighting.
Edited to addd it has WiFi or you can tether to a PC or Mac with free Sony Edge software (or Capture One Pro Sony if you want to push the boat out).
Tech is moving on since DSLR and speed or strobes, leaves you to concentrate on creativity
I'm with Rob on this one. Just about any camera will do this well. Take your time creating a decent light set up and ideally either creating a jpeg profile in camera you like or a set of raw conversion parameters that you can just apply to all. Then it's just a case of locking everything down and just firing your shots off like a production line. Same thing every time. Set it up once and away you go. No need for WYSIWYG if you're shooting in the same lighting over and over again, which I imagine you will be if you have 3000 products to shoot. You don't want to be pissing around making changes. Full frame? Won't make the slightest difference for this sort of thing. It'll just mean more £'s on body and lens for no real benefit. A macro lens might help if the products are small but even that might not be needed. I guess just anything that will frame your smallest subject fairly tightly with a reasonable focal length.
All wise words here. The camera is the least of your worries.
That said if his goal is 'crisp' I doubt hes not much worried about converging verticals.
tog said:
I'd agree with all Rob's points, and add that if you're doing lots of pack shots you may want a shift lens to keep everything square.
Having wrestled with a TS lens (albeit a cheap manual one) I find it far more practical to use 'distort' in PS. Cheating? You bet!That said if his goal is 'crisp' I doubt hes not much worried about converging verticals.
spangle82 said:
What don't you like about the photos you're getting? Or is it just the wifi you want?
Here is the key question!Before we can recommend kit, we need to know what is wrong with your current setup!
If you need to see images on a large monitor then use the camera you have and tether via USB or use the AV out to connect directly to the TV.
My advice would be to hire a pro-product photographer for a day to help you set up the studio and teach you some tips. - This will be way more valuable than any camera you can buy.
Tony1963 said:
I can’t believe that anyone is still fixated on pixel counting.
OP: see if you can borrow a FF camera and a modern cropped camera. Do your best with the lighting, look at the results, see what you think of the results.
Yup this ^ ^ Suppose they need to sell cameras and this is what makes people think i need a new one - I have done some great product shots using a 40mm 2.8 lens on my 60D, live view is great to zoom in and see what is perfectly in focus (Prime glass is best in every respect and Manual focus is a must imo)OP: see if you can borrow a FF camera and a modern cropped camera. Do your best with the lighting, look at the results, see what you think of the results.
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