Best Nikon Equipment for Product Photography in my situation?

fuzegraphics

fuzegraphics

New member
Hi,
I have been doing research for ages now and still have not come to any conclusions on what camera and lens to buy for professional product photography.


Everyone seems to have a different opinion so I thought I would just post my specific situation.


My budget is between $1000 and $1500.


I have already purchased and used a good continuous lighting setup (3 x Fluorescent Light 4x85watt with soft box covers).


Currently I am using a canon 350d with 18 - 55mm lens. I know its old and not the best camera for product photography, that's why I am upgrading.


I take pictures of any products from 5 x 5cm to 50 x 50cm.


I mainly need images for hires print.


Please help me choose the best Nikon equipment for my budget and situation.


Thank you in advance for your help.


To get the clearest response could you please add your equipment suggestions next to these numbers:


1) Camera:


Reason if any:


2) Lens:


Reason if any:
 
Ijustwant1

Ijustwant1

Senior Member
What product do you shot ? I use a D5100 for photographing jewellery , still playing with what lens but I hear the 105mm macro is very good !
 
R

riverside

Senior Member
fuzegraphics said:
Hi,
I have been doing research for ages now and still have not come to any conclusions on what camera and lens to buy for professional product photography.


Everyone seems to have a different opinion so I thought I would just post my specific situation.


My budget is between $1000 and $1500.


I have already purchased and used a good continuous lighting setup (3 x Fluorescent Light 4x85watt with soft box covers).


Currently I am using a canon 350d with 18 - 55mm lens. I know its old and not the best camera for product photography, that's why I am upgrading.


I take pictures of any products from 5 x 5cm to 50 x 50cm.


I mainly need images for hires print.


Please help me choose the best Nikon equipment for my budget and situation.


Thank you in advance for your help.


To get the clearest response could you please add your equipment suggestions next to these numbers:


1) Camera:


Reason if any:


2) Lens:


Reason if any:
Click to expand...

Pardon my density but what is/are "I mainly need images for hires print"?
 
Horoscope Fish

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
riverside said:
Pardon my density but what is/are "I mainly need images for hires print"?
Click to expand...

Based on the overall post, I think he means to say he needs 'print ready' images; most likely for professional reproduction. That typically means a PSD, EPS, AI, high-res JPG, PDF, or .TIFF file with a minimum resolution of 300 dpi at 100%, including bleeds.
 
R

riverside

Senior Member
Horoscope Fish said:
Based on the overall post, I think he means to say he needs 'print ready' images; most likely for professional reproduction. That typically means a PSD, EPS, AI, high-res JPG, PDF, or .TIFF file with a minimum resolution of 300 dpi at 100%, including bleeds.
Click to expand...

Appreciate that translation. 50cm x 50cm (odd size) @300dpi will require 6000 x 6000 resolution so he might need a D800 in his budget. Perfect Resize or such could do it but he doesn't mention if print requirements are for high definition, posters, etc. The reproduction industry is understandably very fussy about image quality.
 
P

pedroj

Senior Member
riverside said:
Appreciate that translation. 50cm x 50cm (odd size) @300dpi will require 6000 x 6000 resolution so he might need a D800 in his budget. Perfect Resize or such could do it but he doesn't mention if print requirements are for high definition, posters, etc. The reproduction industry is understandably very fussy about image quality.
Click to expand...


I think he's short a few thousand...
 
R

riverside

Senior Member
pedroj said:
I think he's short a few thousand...
Click to expand...

Or more. With the exception of low resolution requirements the big stuff in product photography is pretty much owned by medium format. It also owns the high end portrait and other such markets. Big capital outlay but from what I understand with a skilled photographer post processing compared to DSLR is minor. Ask any wedding/portrait specialist who uses DSLRs how much time is spent on post and you're going to hear 2-4 times actual shooting presence dependent on experience and equipment.

I do small product photography in a controlled studio environment with the D7000 (before that an Olympus DSLR, before that Nikon film) and if any degree of post processing is required there's no money in it. For internet stuff a point&shoot with some manual controls and good (consistent) lighting could be used but not if its going to be reproduced on anything other than newsprint. When it comes to quality reproduction resolution is right there with composition and colors.
 
Marcel

Marcel

Happily retired
Staff member
Super Mod
My first question is "How large will you need to print?" You did mention Hi res, but that does not dictate the camera you should be shopping for.

Where will your work go? If you only need hi-res for the net, than your camera is plenty.

​Sorry if I didn't make the choice for you.
 
fuzegraphics

fuzegraphics

New member
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: Collagen Matrix Red Cap New.jpg

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.
 
Ijustwant1

Ijustwant1

Senior Member
To start with you need to eliminate the reflections of your lighting , I made a light box out of a cardboard box with thin white plastic inside , cut out sides with a door on the front with a hole to shoot through , I will post a pic tomorrow !
 
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