Best Nikon Equipment for Product Photography in my situation?

[Horoscope Fish]

Hi All, thanks for your comments.

Let me clear a few things up:

1) The sizes I mentioned are the approximate product sizes in cm just to give you an idea of the sizes of products I shoot.

2) By "hires print" i mean for marketing and advertising material such as magazines, posters etc.

3) I am sure both Canon and Nikon are similar, but after researching it seems Nikon give slightly more value for money when comparing apples with apples. That is just an assumption so don't worry about it too much.

4) I have attached one of the best photos I have done to date with my current setup. I just feel its not good enough to sell and I have to do a lot of post processing to get it there which isn't profitable.

For that shot I used the following settings:

ISO 100
F11
RAW

Maybe I'm being fussy but I have seen much better photos than that and that is what I am after. I would also like to reduce the post processing as far as possible.

Let me know your thoughts.

If you want a suggestion on a Nikon camera and lens for this I can do that, but I think the issue may be more related to your shooting and post processing technique.

You definitely need to get the reflections under control.

Walk me through your post processing workflow. You've done the shoot, you've eliminated the really bad shots and you have a few good ones you want to work with. What do you do now? What software are you using and how are you using it?
​

 

[Marcel]

Hi All, thanks for your comments.

Let me clear a few things up:

1) The sizes I mentioned are the approximate product sizes in cm just to give you an idea of the sizes of products I shoot.

2) By "hires print" i mean for marketing and advertising material such as magazines, posters etc.

3) I am sure both Canon and Nikon are similar, but after researching it seems Nikon give slightly more value for money when comparing apples with apples. That is just an assumption so don't worry about it too much.

4) I have attached one of the best photos I have done to date with my current setup. I just feel its not good enough to sell and I have to do a lot of post processing to get it there which isn't profitable.

For that shot I used the following settings:

ISO 100
F11
RAW

Maybe I'm being fussy but I have seen much better photos than that and that is what I am after. I would also like to reduce the post processing as far as possible.

Let me know your thoughts.

If you want to avoid post processing, then get out of business. There will ALWAYS be post processing to do, ALWAYS.

Now you can work on your light setup and that would help you quite a bit. Product photography is not that easy and the more you do, the more difficult it gets because your expectations will never stop growing.

Don't despair, just keep working at it.

 

[fuzegraphics]

If you want a suggestion on a Nikon camera and lens for this I can do that, but I think the issue may be more related to your shooting and post processing technique.

You definitely need to get the reflections under control.

Walk me through your post processing workflow. You've done the shoot, you've eliminated the really bad shots and you have a few good ones you want to work with. What do you do now? What software are you using and how are you using it?
​

Hi HF,

1) Please suggest a Nikkon Camera and Lens within my budget if you don't mind.

2) If I use my EZ Cube Softbox will that get the reflections under control?

3) I have no post processing workflow. I shoot raw images and play around with them in the Canon Raw 7 program until they look 'right' and then take into Photoshop to crop etc.

Do you have suggestions on how to improve my workflow?

 

[fuzegraphics]

If you want to avoid post processing, then get out of business. There will ALWAYS be post processing to do, ALWAYS.

Now you can work on your light setup and that would help you quite a bit. Product photography is not that easy and the more you do, the more difficult it gets because your expectations will never stop growing.

Don't despair, just keep working at it.

I hear you but in order to make this business profitable I have to cut the time spent fixing what I cannot get right on the shoot. That's why I am trying to get advice on equipment and technique before the post processing starts.

Any suggestions?

 

[Marcel]

Hi HF,

1) Please suggest a Nikkon Camera and Lens within my budget if you don't mind.

2) If I use my EZ Cube Softbox will that get the reflections under control?

3) I have no post processing workflow. I shoot raw images and play around with them in the Canon Raw 7 program until they look 'right' and then take into Photoshop to crop etc.

Do you have suggestions on how to improve my workflow?

Oh, and I forgot to ask, Do you have the best tripod you can afford? Do you use mirror up before you shoot? This is of most importance in your case.


With the budget you have, I'd start with getting a good macro lens (sigma 105 I have and love, but there are many out there). Then work on the lighting. For products like the one you posted, lighting from above the camera and using white reflectors can bring out the best results. For post processing, I'd get Lightroom. This way you can batch process all your shots at once since you'll probably want the same colour temperature, sharpness adjustments etc. plus, you can also crop with it.

This is how I'd go about it. When the money starts coming in, then I'd get a Nikon D800E and a Nikon 105 macro lens and more lenses eventually as the cash flow increases.

Best of luck in your enterprise.

 

[Horoscope Fish]

Hi HF,

1) Please suggest a Nikkon Camera and Lens within my budget if you don't mind.

2) If I use my EZ Cube Softbox will that get the reflections under control?

3) I have no post processing workflow. I shoot raw images and play around with them in the Canon Raw 7 program until they look 'right' and then take into Photoshop to crop etc.

Do you have suggestions on how to improve my workflow?

1. Well your budget is a bit of an issue... I'd suggest a D7000 or D7100 with a 90mm or 105mm Macro for what you want to do but I'm not sure you could accomplish that for $1000.

2. Your softbox should get the reflections under control.

3. Well, not having a workflow, really, might be easier to correct since you probably haven't developed any bad habits.

I'm not familiar with Canon software, I use Photoshop and lean heavily on Adobe Camera Raw for most of my processing. A shot worthy going over gets the following treatment:

1. Application of a camera profile (typically "Landscape") for basic color enhancement.
2. Lens distortion correction using a lens profile.
3. Adjust white balance if needed, usually using a preset, "Daylight" for instance.
4. Adjust exposure if needed. ACR provides five sliders for adjusting everything from the highest Highlight to the deepest, darkest Shadow with graduations in between.
5. Punching up the midtones with the Clarity slider. This really can make an image "pop" by boosting the midtones. I call this the "Wow! Slider".
6. Adjust contrast if I think it's necessary, typically using curves, but that's negotiable.
7-10. Straighten, Crop and Sharpen
11. Save as TIFF.

That looks like a lot but it takes maybe... Three minutes to do that whole list.




...

 

[fuzegraphics]

Oh, and I forgot to ask, Do you have the best tripod you can afford? Do you use mirror up before you shoot? This is of most importance in your case.


With the budget you have, I'd start with getting a good macro lens (sigma 105 I have and love, but there are many out there). Then work on the lighting. For products like the one you posted, lighting from above the camera and using white reflectors can bring out the best results. For post processing, I'd get Lightroom. This way you can batch process all your shots at once since you'll probably want the same colour temperature, sharpness adjustments etc. plus, you can also crop with it.

This is how I'd go about it. When the money starts coming in, then I'd get a Nikon D800E and a Nikon 105 macro lens and more lenses eventually as the cash flow increases.

Best of luck in your enterprise.

Please remember I have a 8 year old canon 350d 8mp with cropped sensor. I want to upgrade to and I am willing to spend $1000 - 1500$ on a new Nikon camera and lens. You have mentioned a sigma marco lens. That leaves me about $900 for a camera - which one would you recommend?

I have a tripod, who knows how good it is. It seems to be stable. Why is there something else I should be looking for in a tripod?

I am not sure what you mean by "mirror up before you shoot"?

I just also just realised that I have a sigma 70 - 300mm lens with Macro functionality. Would this be better than using the 18 -55mm canon lens bearing in mind that I would probably have to sit quite a bit futher away from the products?

 

[fuzegraphics]

1. Well your budget is a bit of an issue... I'd suggest a D7000 or D7100 with a 90mm or 105mm Macro for what you want to do but I'm not sure you could accomplish that for $1000.

2. Your softbox should get the reflections under control.

3. Well, not having a workflow, really, might be easier to correct since you probably haven't developed any bad habits.

I'm not familiar with Canon software, I use Photoshop and lean heavily on Adobe Camera Raw for most of my processing. A shot worthy going over gets the following treatment:

1. Application of a camera profile (typically "Landscape") for basic color enhancement.
2. Lens distortion correction using a lens profile.
3. Adjust white balance if needed, usually using a preset, "Daylight" for instance.
4. Adjust exposure if needed. ACR provides five sliders for adjusting everything from the highest Highlight to the deepest, darkest Shadow with graduations in between.
5. Punching up the midtones with the Clarity slider. This really can make an image "pop" by boosting the midtones. I call this the "Wow! Slider".
6. Adjust contrast if I think it's necessary, typically using curves, but that's negotiable.
7-10. Straighten, Crop and Sharpen
11. Save as TIFF.

That looks like a lot but it takes maybe... Three minutes to do that whole list.




...

Thank you. I will definitely try to follow that.

 

[Horoscope Fish]

Thank you. I will definitely try to follow that.

I'm sorry I can't help you more specifically with the Canon software but if you want to send me one of your RAW files, I'd be happy to run it through my usual process and return to you a corrected .TIFF or .JPG image... Just to give you an idea what the difference might be.

 

[riverside]

Hi All, thanks for your comments.

Let me clear a few things up:

1) The sizes I mentioned are the approximate product sizes in cm just to give you an idea of the sizes of products I shoot.

2) By "hires print" i mean for marketing and advertising material such as magazines, posters etc.

3) I am sure both Canon and Nikon are similar, but after researching it seems Nikon give slightly more value for money when comparing apples with apples. That is just an assumption so don't worry about it too much.

4) I have attached one of the best photos I have done to date with my current setup. I just feel its not good enough to sell and I have to do a lot of post processing to get it there which isn't profitable.

For that shot I used the following settings:View attachment 44892

ISO 100
F11
RAW

Maybe I'm being fussy but I have seen much better photos than that and that is what I am after. I would also like to reduce the post processing as far as possible.

Let me know your thoughts.

How far away are your light boxes from the product (I can see reflections of two on the product), what are you using to defuse the light and what is your background material?

Are you lighting the entire product in an equalized manner such as a box on each front/side and one on top? Without the top light (I use a boom), which also provides backlighting, WB can make one crazy with post processing.

ISO 100 is fine, F8-11 is fine dependent on lighting, what exposure time and more important which lens?

Every lighting setup/camera/lens is different and it takes in some cases a lot of practice before you arrive at the optimum combination of lighting, background, and camera settings for reducing post processing to crop and if necessary minor tweaks for color enhancement. Your objective is a controlled environment which will provide consistency.

My advice would be conquering image quality/lighting with your existing setup before changing camera equipment. That'll put you way ahead of the game rather than having to learn lighting and a new camera.

I'm not a fan of light tents due to constantly having to move the camera/tripod, dropping the front to change products and the hassle of replacing backgrounds, all time consumers. Get a table or bench of comfortable height/width/length (which will also allow product top shots) and place a backdrop stand immediately behind it. The stand will allow you to drape background of choice, paper or cloth, over the table (don't forget lots of clamps), quick backdrop changes and lightbox placement as required.

 

[fuzegraphics]

I'm sorry I can't help you more specifically with the Canon software but if you want to send me one of your RAW files, I'd be happy to run it through my usual process and return to you a corrected .TIFF or .JPG image... Just to give you an idea what the difference might be.

That would be fantastic, thank you.

Not sure how to send you a raw or zip file? The size is 6mb so cannot attach it.

 

[Horoscope Fish]

That would be fantastic, thank you.

Not sure how to send you a raw or zip file? The size is 6mb so cannot attach it.

Dang it, forgot about file size limits. You could upload it to Media Fire and then email me the account name and password so I can download it.

 

[riverside]

That would be fantastic, thank you.

Not sure how to send you a raw or zip file? The size is 6mb so cannot attach it.

Several of these on the net. You'll need one or preferably a server based email program with a website if you're going to sell your images.

 

[fuzegraphics]

Dang it, forgot about file size limits. You could upload it to Media Fire and then email me the account name and password so I can download it.

Please let me know once downloaded so I can delete it. Thanks.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ho8e7d9q9ufxal8/IMG_0488.CR2

 

[Horoscope Fish]

Please let me know once downloaded so I can delete it. Thanks.

File received. I am assuming .CR2 is the Canon version of RAW?

 

[fuzegraphics]

How far away are your light boxes from the product (I can see reflections of two on the product), what are you using to defuse the light and what is your background material?

I tried to get them as close as possible to get more light on to the product - about 30cm. I used the white material that comes with the EZ cube Softbox for background material in some cases but for this shot no background material and it didn't seem to make a difference.

Are you lighting the entire product in an equalized manner such as a box on each front/side and one on top? Without the top light (I use a boom), which also provides backlighting, WB can make one crazy with post processing.

I am - 3 continuous lights with soft boxes, 2 sides from a front angle and one top.

ISO 100 is fine, F8-11 is fine dependent on lighting, what exposure time and more important which lens?

No idea what exposure time I used - are you talking about shutter speed? if so quite fast i think like 1/200. Lens Canon 18 - 55mm EFS

 

[fuzegraphics]

File received. I am assuming .CR2 is the Canon version of RAW?

It must be, are you able to open it?

 

[Horoscope Fish]

It must be, are you able to open it?

Yes, it opened just fine. Punching it up now.

Those reflections are killing me so I'm going to allow for just a hair of clipping in the highlights.

The label is killing me too, it's black in the center but it appears to be silver foil. This is a lighting issue. I could go in and fix that but it would take more time than I willing to spend on it. That needs to be addressed, though, before finalizing.

Also, your camera's sensor is dirty. I used the Spot Healing brush quite a bit to clean up this shot but yeah... You're due for a sensor cleaning.

Here's your shot with some quick and dirty fixes applied...

 

[riverside]

I tried to get them as close as possible to get more light on to the product - about 30cm. I used the white material that comes with the EZ cube Softbox for background material in some cases but for this shot no background material and it didn't seem to make a difference.



I am - 3 continuous lights with soft boxes, 2 sides from a front angle and one top.



No idea what exposure time I used - are you talking about shutter speed? if so quite fast i think like 1/200. Lens Canon 18 - 55mm EFS

Let's start with the lighting. What size softboxes, what wattage per box, what Kelvin rating on the lights?

 

[fuzegraphics]

Yes, it opened just fine. Punching it up now.

Those reflections are killing me so I'm going to allow for just a hair of clipping in the highlights.

The label is killing me too, it's black in the center but it appears to be silver foil. This is a lighting issue. I could go in and fix that but it would take more time than I willing to spend on it. That needs to be addressed, though, before finalizing.

Also, your camera's sensor is dirty. I used the Spot Healing brush quite a bit to clean up this shot but yeah... You're due for a sensor cleaning.

Here's your shot with some quick and dirty fixes applied...

Thanks, looks good and pops a bit more than mine did.

BTW it is silver foil Its black in the middle because that's where there was no light reflecting on it.