Which camera for Portraiture in Studio??

[Montana]

I like the dual card slots. APS-C though?

 

[Derrel]

Not to put too fine a point on it, but you are planning on buying an over two year-old crop-body design from Sony??? The A700 is due for replacement very soon--perhaps in as little as five weeks. The PMA show is February 21-23, 2010...the A700's replacement, with a better sensor is possibly going to be announced before February is out.

"I'm just sayin'..." as some Americans say.

 

[xposure]

Hi,

Thanks for the heads up about a poss new model coming out. The thing is , i would love a full frame Sony A900 or A850 but what lens do i put on it to be able to use that 24mp and be able to have good range for portraiture in my budget

I have absolutely maximum £2150 and the A900 body only is £1700. That leaves me £450 for a decent lens (and was hoping to get a zoom lens and a nifty fifty)

Matt

 

[inTempus]

I don't see any Canons on there

That's exactly why I won't take his question seriously.

Let's not mention he put Sony above Nikon. WTF?

 

[xposure]

I don't see any Canons on there

That's exactly why I won't take his question seriously.

Let's not mention he put Sony above Nikon. WTF?

You dont take this question seriously because somebody has their own opinion? Someone doesnt like the feel of the Canon's hes held (5dmkII, 50d, 1dMkIII)??

My favourite drink is Brandy? I wont take you seriously if yours isnt , and your favourite colour isnt yellow! :lmao:

People are allowed to have their own opinion you know.

Tell me why i should choose Nikon or Canon over Sony? 1 GOOD reason (more lenses and accesories arent a good reason to me as all makes have good lenses)

Matt

 

[Montana]

But as you said, you are gonna blow your Sony budget getting full frame and portrait lenses. The camera is only a tool. You could have bought a used 5D (classic) and some nice primes or a 70-200 f/4 and been done. Unfortuneatly, a used Nikon full framer is more expensive, the 5D classic is old technology but still takes amazingly great photos. Who cares how the camera "feels" if it is mounted on a tripod in a studio?


ANd who likes yellow anyways? LOL:lmao:

 

[xposure]

But as you said, you are gonna blow your Sony budget getting full frame and portrait lenses. The camera is only a tool. You could have bought a used 5D (classic) and some nice primes or a 70-200 f/4 and been done. Unfortuneatly, a used Nikon full framer is more expensive, the 5D classic is old technology but still takes amazingly great photos. Who cares how the camera "feels" if it is mounted on a tripod in a studio?


ANd who likes yellow anyways? LOL:lmao:

Tripod?? Most if not all of my portrait shots will be done handheld. Isnt that normal?

 

[c.cloudwalker]

I don't see any Canons on there

That's exactly why I won't take his question seriously.

Let's not mention he put Sony above Nikon. WTF?

Minus the , this is one person into gear and,

But as you said, you are gonna blow your Sony budget getting full frame and portrait lenses. The camera is only a tool. You could have bought a used 5D (classic) and some nice primes or a 70-200 f/4 and been done. Unfortuneatly, a used Nikon full framer is more expensive, the 5D classic is old technology but still takes amazingly great photos. Who cares how the camera "feels" if it is mounted on a tripod in a studio?


ANd who likes yellow anyways? LOL:lmao:

here we have a person interesting in photos. What gets you the sale? the gear or the photo?

 

[Montana]

Tripod?? Most if not all of my portrait shots will be done handheld. Isnt that normal?

If thats your style and what you are comfortable with, then yes it is normal.

 

[Derrel]

I own both Nikon and Canon d-slr bodies and lenses--and I understand fully what you mean about the "feel" of Canon cameras. They are different from Nikon bodies and lenses. I can appreciate personal preference; I have often times used my 5D, even though it is a less-superior camera *body* than a Nikon I own,simply because the 5D and a full-frame body is a better solution than a crop-body Nikon. The body and the sensor are different things...

For studio and people work, small-format APS-C or 4/3 bodies like the Olympus with its 2x FOV factor and almost infinite depth of field (lol) are really not in the same category as FF bodies. Montana's suggestion of a first-generation Canon 5D is actually a very good suggestion--the 5D has an excellent sensor in it, and at close distances on people, high MP count really is of very little advantage, even on large prints. The 5D has superb detail,right down to the pore and eyelash level when shot under studio lighting with any decent Canon lens. You cannot utilize more than 12-14MP indoors at distances of 7 to 25 feet...no matter how large the print.

Hand-held versus tripod-mounted studio portraiture--the two are very different situations. I have done a lot of both. Tripod-mounted is excellent for many reasons--less fatigue, easier interaction with subjects, better for small kids, consistent framing,etc. I can understand the positive feeling for Sony equipment, but there are a number of underlying technical advantages for a FF camera--Nikon,Canon,or Sony. Sony bodies are priced reasonably, but many of their lenses are somewhat more expensive than Canon or Nikon lenses of roughly comparable range. In studio portraiture, the camera "format" used plays a huge part in the process. The camera's format impacts how you shoot virtually every single frame.

 

[xposure]

I own both Nikon and Canon d-slr bodies and lenses--and I understand fully what you mean about the "feel" of Canon cameras. They are different from Nikon bodies and lenses. I can appreciate personal preference; I have often times used my 5D, even though it is a less-superior camera *body* than a Nikon I own,simply because the 5D and a full-frame body is a better solution than a crop-body Nikon. The body and the sensor are different things...

For studio and people work, small-format APS-C or 4/3 bodies like the Olympus with its 2x FOV factor and almost infinite depth of field (lol) are really not in the same category as FF bodies. Montana's suggestion of a first-generation Canon 5D is actually a very good suggestion--the 5D has an excellent sensor in it, and at close distances on people, high MP count really is of very little advantage, even on large prints. The 5D has superb detail,right down to the pore and eyelash level when shot under studio lighting with any decent Canon lens. You cannot utilize more than 12-14MP indoors at distances of 7 to 25 feet...no matter how large the print.

Hand-held versus tripod-mounted studio portraiture--the two are very different situations. I have done a lot of both. Tripod-mounted is excellent for many reasons--less fatigue, easier interaction with subjects, better for small kids, consistent framing,etc. I can understand the positive feeling for Sony equipment, but there are a number of underlying technical advantages for a FF camera--Nikon,Canon,or Sony. Sony bodies are priced reasonably, but many of their lenses are somewhat more expensive than Canon or Nikon lenses of roughly comparable range. In studio portraiture, the camera "format" used plays a huge part in the process. The camera's format impacts how you shoot virtually every single frame.

Derrel,

Im really grateful for the help here.

I would truly love to go full frame but with a budget of £2150 and the a900,5dmkII and d700 all roughly £1600-£1700 , that leaves me with only £550 maximum for a decent zoom lens. Ive always been led to believe that for portraiture you should be working in the 85-135mm range on a FF camera. Where on either of them cameras could i get a decent, sharp lens for £550? as i cant see how

Matt

 

[Derrel]

Like Montana said a used 5D--the original 5D. That's the easy answer. There really is not much need for any more than 12 MP in indoor work at distances of 7 to 25 feet--that is plenty of MP for even large prints. I'm familiar with being short of funds and of having more time than money--the idea is to locate a good deal. Used lenses represent excellent value in my opinion. I'm not advocating for the 5D Mark II.

Portrait work can be done a number of ways, and one of the easiest,oldest ways is to set the camera up on various "marks". 7 feet, 8 feet, 9 feet, 10 feet, 3 meters, 12 feet, 15 feet, 4 meters, 20 feet, etc. All using one, quality zoom lens, like a 70-200 or and older 80-200. The better professional Nikkor lenses have a number of focusing distances scribed on the barrel, and you can tape out your studio floor,and set the focus by hand,and use the zoom to adjust focal length.

Some of the Nikkor portrait primes, like the 85, 105, and 135 have multiple,precise, incremental focusing distances inscribed because those lenses were designed for "people work". Using focal lengths of 85-135mm on FF makes sense, but on APS-C the effect is not the same; equivalent angle of view does not make the photographs look "the same". The format of the camera, half frame 35, APS-C, 35FF, 645, 6x6, or 6x7--all look "different". I guess I'm old-fashioned. I'll come right out and say it--I think APS-C looks like crap shot in-studio. Most of the time. But especially when shot in a smaller studio, or by a beginner. I think your decision-making process has price far in front of performance and final "look". Many people get pretty irate about it, but APS-C is simply not the ideal format for studio portraiture,and it never will be. I'd rather have a FF Canon 5D original and an adapted manual focus Nikkor lens or two than a brand new APS-C camera and AF lenses.

For me, the camera is what makes studio portraiture. The camera itself is very crucial to the kind of pictures you can and do make.

 

[skieur]

Sony A900 only if you buy the 85mm F1.4 Zeiss Welcome to Carl Zeiss Camera Lenses

If you can't afford the A900 go with the A850. If price is no object, wait for the Sony A950 which will be out shortly. Zeiss lenses of course and the 85mm is outstanding.

skieur

 

[inTempus]

I don't see any Canons on there

That's exactly why I won't take his question seriously.

Let's not mention he put Sony above Nikon. WTF?

You dont take this question seriously because somebody has their own opinion? Someone doesnt like the feel of the Canon's hes held (5dmkII, 50d, 1dMkIII)??

My favourite drink is Brandy? I wont take you seriously if yours isnt , and your favourite colour isnt yellow! :lmao:

People are allowed to have their own opinion you know.

Tell me why i should choose Nikon or Canon over Sony? 1 GOOD reason (more lenses and accesories arent a good reason to me as all makes have good lenses)

Matt

Ever heard of a "joke"?

I thought it was pretty obvious. I was mistaken.

 

[IgsEMT]

EVERYTHING depends on your shooting style...
Since this thread is turning, unfortunately, into brand debate, I'll back up regarding my point on 18-200.
My portraits I shoot at f/8, reception, ceremonies, I shoot at f/8 (all +/- a stop). My lighting is controlled by strobe lights. 18-200 is a GOOD choice if want to avoid switching lenses and have no need to go wider then 5.6.
By default the lens is very soft, but if boost up the sharpness, it does a pretty decent job. Unfortunately, my assistant gave me a $600 gift the 2nd week I had that lens by dropping it and paying me for it. - its built isn't the best, it isn't fast, BUT depending on your situation and shooting style, it might be something to look in to. But hey, that's my opinion and my experiences...
Good Luck