Camera advice for newb (kind of product photography)

[larafan25]

I know there is a thread on this page about product photography, and that's kind of what I want to get at, but I don't know that it's exactly the same topic.

I'm going to be taking photos of dolls, and photoshopping them. However, I want a really great, HD base image, a nice, crisp image with great detail. However, I am a total newb when it comes to anything cameras. I have a really basic digital camera, and the photos I take are about 4000x2000 pixels, depending. However I need bigger, or at least more detail within that scale.

I know a lot of the issue can be lighting, and I need to work on that as well (in fact some advice about camera lighting and how it may be different from normal lighting would be helpful), but I also know, for a fact that I'll need an improved camera.

Problem being, I don't have 5000 dollars to spend. Not even close. :/

I mean, how do you come up with an image this crisp and clear:

http://d33y93cfm0wb4z.cloudfront.net/Tracy/barbie promo.jpg

Essentially, I'd like some recommendations on what type of camera to purchase, exactly. I'll need something digital I guess. I mean, I'm hesitant about spending over... 300 or 400 dollars. I mean, even that is a lot for me.

Already, I know that I can benefit from a tripod for my camera, and better lighting techniques.

Here is a composite of two photos (upper and lower body), and I can sense that something has gone awry with her proportions (aside from the fact that she's Barbie), and the lighting is too harsh for my liking and kind of all over the place:



The original size is about 4000 pixels wide, but even so the face is far too blurry for editing, and I'd like to have as little shading as possible on the face. Ideally, I won't have to take an upper-body and lower-body shot, but instead, one clear shot of the entire doll.

 

[The_Traveler]

We can't tell what you are doing without seeing the full image.
You've uploaded a tiny one without any of teh image data attached.
Please upload and link to a fullsize picture.

 

[robbins.photo]

I know there is a thread on this page about product photography, and that's kind of what I want to get at, but I don't know that it's exactly the same topic.

I'm going to be taking photos of dolls, and photoshopping them. However, I want a really great, HD base image, a nice, crisp image with great detail. However, I am a total newb when it comes to anything cameras. I have a really basic digital camera, and the photos I take are about 4000x2000 pixels, depending. However I need bigger, or at least more detail within that scale.

I know a lot of the issue can be lighting, and I need to work on that as well (in fact some advice about camera lighting and how it may be different from normal lighting would be helpful), but I also know, for a fact that I'll need an improved camera.

Problem being, I don't have 5000 dollars to spend. Not even close. :/

I mean, how do you come up with an image this crisp and clear:

http://d33y93cfm0wb4z.cloudfront.net/Tracy/barbie%20promo.jpg

Essentially, I'd like some recommendations on what type of camera to purchase, exactly. I'll need something digital I guess. I mean, I'm hesitant about spending over... 300 or 400 dollars. I mean, even that is a lot for me.

Already, I know that I can benefit from a tripod for my camera, and better lighting techniques.

Here is a composite of two photos (upper and lower body), and I can sense that something has gone awry with her proportions (aside from the fact that she's Barbie), and the lighting is too harsh for my liking and kind of all over the place:



The original size is about 4000 pixels wide, but even so the face is far too blurry for editing, and I'd like to have as little shading as possible on the face. Ideally, I won't have to take an upper-body and lower-body shot, but instead, one clear shot of the entire doll.

Well even an entry level DSLR should be more than enough to produce the kind of results you want, but before we go down that road what sort of camera are you using now?

 

[Derrel]

A tripod is needed if you are using continuous lights; it keeps the camera steady. I would say go to the Photoflex.com lighting school on-line.

Watch a few videos. Learn the basic-basics. You don't need much of a digital camera to get good, sharp, clear, well-lighted images of dolls or figurines; you need KNOWLEDGE.

Product/Still Life | Photoflex Lighting School | Photoflex

They have some lessons done with just a $259 digital P&S. And some lighting gear.

If you cannot afford Photoflex lighting modifiers, then you need to buy Chinese knock-offs, sold through a zillion eBay vendors.

 

[larafan25]

I think photobucket would just resize the image anyways, but I try:

I know there is a thread on this page about product photography, and that's kind of what I want to get at, but I don't know that it's exactly the same topic.

I'm going to be taking photos of dolls, and photoshopping them. However, I want a really great, HD base image, a nice, crisp image with great detail. However, I am a total newb when it comes to anything cameras. I have a really basic digital camera, and the photos I take are about 4000x2000 pixels, depending. However I need bigger, or at least more detail within that scale.

I know a lot of the issue can be lighting, and I need to work on that as well (in fact some advice about camera lighting and how it may be different from normal lighting would be helpful), but I also know, for a fact that I'll need an improved camera.

Problem being, I don't have 5000 dollars to spend. Not even close. :/

I mean, how do you come up with an image this crisp and clear:

http://d33y93cfm0wb4z.cloudfront.net/Tracy/barbie promo.jpg

Essentially, I'd like some recommendations on what type of camera to purchase, exactly. I'll need something digital I guess. I mean, I'm hesitant about spending over... 300 or 400 dollars. I mean, even that is a lot for me.

Already, I know that I can benefit from a tripod for my camera, and better lighting techniques.

Here is a composite of two photos (upper and lower body), and I can sense that something has gone awry with her proportions (aside from the fact that she's Barbie), and the lighting is too harsh for my liking and kind of all over the place:



The original size is about 4000 pixels wide, but even so the face is far too blurry for editing, and I'd like to have as little shading as possible on the face. Ideally, I won't have to take an upper-body and lower-body shot, but instead, one clear shot of the entire doll.

Well even an entry level DSLR should be more than enough to produce the kind of results you want, but before we go down that road what sort of camera are you using now?

Right now I'm using a Lumix, Panasonic DMC - F3 (whatever any of that means... ._.)

A tripod is needed if you are using continuous lights; it keeps the camera steady. I would say go to the Photoflex.com lighting school on-line.

Watch a few videos. Learn the basic-basics. You don't need much of a digital camera to get good, sharp, clear, well-lighted images of dolls or figurines; you need KNOWLEDGE.

Product/Still Life | Photoflex Lighting School | Photoflex

They have some lessons done with just a $259 digital P&S. And some lighting gear.

If you cannot afford Photoflex lighting modifiers, then you need to buy Chinese knock-offs, sold through a zillion eBay vendors.

Thanks for the links, I'll watch these.

 

[Light Guru]

I also know, for a fact that I'll need an improved camera.

And why do you say that? Just about any camera that lets you manually control it is going to be just fine for product photography. The rest is all lighting.

I want a really great, HD base image, a nice, crisp image with great detail. However, I am a total newb when it comes to anything cameras. I have a really basic digital camera, and the photos I take are about 4000x2000 pixels, depending. However I need bigger, or at least more detail within that scale.

4000x2000 pixels is equivalent to 8 megapixel camera. Which is cell phone quality.

I know a lot of the issue can be lighting, and I need to work on that as well (in fact some advice about camera lighting and how it may be different from normal lighting would be helpful)

To best do that you should first explain/show us your current lighting setup.

The original size is about 4000 pixels wide, but even so the face is far too blurry for editing

Sounds like you missed the focus when taking the photo in the first place.

 

[larafan25]

The camera said the shot was focused, so I believed it. D:

My lighting setup is hilarious. It's just two house lamps with like, 100 watt bulbs. Though really. Trust meh, I need more crisp detail from the photos, and I really am convinced this camera will not offer them, no matter how good the lighting setup.

 

[Dao]

A decent camera (Do not has to be expensive) and good lighting should be able to improve the result.

You may notice the shadow of the better photo is quite soft and it does not have hot spots (super bright spot), that must be the result of a diffused light. Google "diy lightbox" and see some examples. With a lightbox or light tent, you should see some improvement. Since you are using continuous light, it is better to mount the camera on a tripod. (if you do not have a tripod, at least use a bean bag)

 

[larafan25]

^Thanks! I was thinking I might need some form of a shade, or something (lightbox). Thanks for the tip!

 

[tecboy]

Pull some clothes on that doll!

 

[JoeW28]

Product photography (especially dolls and figures)...

1. Yeah, the camera matters but in terms of technical stuff and equipment, in my book it's about 5th or 6th on list of criticality. You need it to take the pictures, needs to have sufficient pixel count and sharpness for highly detailed shots but other things matter far more. You will need a tripod. If you're doing product photography for money (or for products you make money off of and it's on a mass scale) it's insane not to have a tripod. Not a $50 cheapo POS...but spend $200 or more on a Manfrotto, Benro or Gitzo that is rock solid and allows you to go vertical. Glass....no kit lens here but invest in a tacksharp professional quality lens. Studio lighting/speed lights and modifiers (so at least one and probably two soft boxes with stands) and a reflector. A setting (light table, light box, or small cyc, stand with small sheet of white seamless backdrop paper. And software (lightroom, NX2 Capture, Pixelmator would all be good and wouldn't break the bank or require an undergraduate degree in graphic design to learn how to use any one of them).

2. Get thee a copy of "Light: Science and Magic." It's not specific to product photography. But you'll need all of the info in it and all of the examples involve static objects (like products). You'll find it invaluable.

You can get all of the stuff I've just mentioned plus a DSLR it will work with for well under $5,000. As for which camera to get...bah. I've shot Nikon the past couple of decades and am happy with all of the Nikons I've used. Canon users would tell you the same about Canons. Same with Sony. Same with some other brands out there. There are a lot of DSLRs that will make you happy and satisfy your requirements and you will spend under $1,000.

 

[KmH]

I mean, how do you come up with an image this crisp and clear:

Use a high quality lens.

• Understanding Camera Lenses: Focal Length & Aperture
• Camera Lens Quality: MTF, Resolution and Contrast

 

[Derrel]

^Thanks! I was thinking I might need some form of a shade, or something (lightbox). Thanks for the tip!

Yes, what you want is called a "scrim". Scrims can be home-made with PVC pipe lengths,and four PVC elbow joints to connect the pipe sections. The completed frame is then fitted with a diffusion material of some type: tracing paper, frosted plastic like storm window material (aka VisQueen), shower curtain material, or white rip-stop nylon, to name a few materials that have traditionally been used. One, or two, or even three or four lights can then be shined through the scrim, to create a large, soft source of light that creates very large, soft highlights, and very soft,open shadows.

Here, I Googled scrim lighting set-ups: take a look.

scrim lighting set-ups - Google Search

 

[hirejn]

Any DSLR can take a crisp, clear image. That has more to do with decisions than equipment. All cameras take the pictures you tell them to. You need a brand name lens and since this is still life, manual focus might be the best, or single shot autofocus. Also, if you understand flash you can get consistent results with plenty of light at the lowest ISO for maximum file clarity, regardless of ambient light. Even the first generation DSLRs had good quality at 100. Also, use an aperture that gives you greater depth of field for maximum sharpness, such as f/8 or f/11, which you can achieve with Speedlights.

The main factors of a camera are print size and control. Twelve megapixels is enough for a 20x30 print at just under standard photo resolution. If you think you need to go larger than 20x30 consistently, then you would have to look at more megapixels. A used D90 would give you great files for prints maxing out at about 20x30, and you'd have a bit left over for a lens. What controls you need are up to you, but a D90 is a great beginner camera.