Camera suggestion

[dizmo]

Ok camera nerds. I need some advice. I know a bit about cameras, but I've never actually done much fiddling around with them.

I'm currently looking for a camera to take pictures of clothing.

• It'll be on a mannequin, or laid flat depending on the piece.
• I have lights that I'll be using (2 or 3 lights, 135w bulbs).
• I'll have seamless paper as a backdrop.

Basically, I'd like something cheap, as this is more of a test to see how well it'll sell.

 

I'm currently looking at the following:

• Nikon D7100
  I was also considering the Canon 7D, however it uses CompactFlash and I'd rather not have to buy a card as well as an adapter.
• Canon T4i
• Canon T5
• Panasonic G7
• Sony 5000/6000 series mirrorless camera

I think Nikon or Canon are easier to find lenses for, hence why I've stuck with them. I'll be using either a 50mm prime or 40mm (Nikkor) lens.

 

I'm definitely open to alternatives though.

 

[ThePointblank]

Budget? It seems your budget is fairly limited though, judging by how old all of the cameras are...

[dizmo]

5 minutes ago, ThePointblank said:

Budget? It seems your budget is fairly limited though, judging by how old all of the cameras are...

As little as possible. Probably would be looking at around $350 USD max.

[ThePointblank]

1 minute ago, dizmo said:

As little as possible. Probably would be looking at around $350 USD max.

Check refurbished or used sections; for example, this Canon EOS M3 with the kit lens is at your $350 USD max:

 

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/802038352-USE/canon_9694b011_eos_m3_mirrorless_digital.html

 

A factory refurbished Canon SL2 (no lens) is also in your price bracket:

 

https://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/refurbished-eos-rebel-sl2-body-black

 

Another good option is the Canon EOS M100 with the kit lens:

 

https://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/refurbished-eos-m100-ef-m-15-45mm-f35-63-is-stm-lens-kit-black

 

You will need to buy the EF-EF-M adapter if you get the EOS M3 or M100 to use Canon EF/EF-S glass; that runs for about $149-199 USD for the official one.

[dizmo]

1 minute ago, ThePointblank said:

Check refurbished or used sections; for example, this Canon EOS M3 with the kit lens is at your $350 USD max:

 

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/802038352-USE/canon_9694b011_eos_m3_mirrorless_digital.html

 

A factory refurbished Canon SL2 (no lens) is also in your price bracket:

 

https://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/refurbished-eos-rebel-sl2-body-black

 

Another good option is the Canon EOS M100 with the kit lens:

 

https://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/refurbished-eos-m100-ef-m-15-45mm-f35-63-is-stm-lens-kit-black

 

You will need to buy the EF-EF-M adapter if you get the EOS M3 or M100 to use Canon EF/EF-S glass; that runs for about $149-199 USD for the official one.

The SL2 isn't really in my price bracket if it doesn't include the lens

The Canon M3 is interesting...though the adapter really pushes it over price wise, and I'm not sure how the crop would be.

The M100 was problematic from what I recall when I was looking at cameras for my mom. It's also a little too small; I'd like something a bit larger.

[ThePointblank]

2 minutes ago, dizmo said:

The SL2 isn't really in my price bracket if it doesn't include the lens

The Canon M3 is interesting...though the adapter really pushes it over price wise, and I'm not sure how the crop would be.

The M100 was problematic from what I recall when I was looking at cameras for my mom. It's also a little too small; I'd like something a bit larger.

The EF 50mm f/1.8 STM lens is available for $125:

 

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1143786-REG/canon_0570c002_ef_50mm_f_1_8_stm.html

 

For product photography, where you can control the distance, it will work.

[harryk]

Given your use case is a static display in a studio I'd put more money and effort on lighting and setup. With the right lighting, any entry-level DSLR will be stellar. But no camera is going to fix poor lighting. 

[dizmo]

10 hours ago, ThePointblank said:

The EF 50mm f/1.8 STM lens is available for $125:

 

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1143786-REG/canon_0570c002_ef_50mm_f_1_8_stm.html

 

For product photography, where you can control the distance, it will work.

Aye, but that still puts it considerably over the budget.

3 hours ago, harryk said:

Given your use case is a static display in a studio I'd put more money and effort on lighting and setup. With the right lighting, any entry-level DSLR will be stellar. But no camera is going to fix poor lighting. 

I already have the lighting kit and backdrop.

I know bodies aren't a huge differentiator, and the lens makes way more difference, which is partly why I was looking at the much higher end, but older bodies.

Smart choice, or is an entry level, newer one still better?

[harryk]

2 hours ago, dizmo said:

I know bodies aren't a huge differentiator, and the lens makes way more difference, which is partly why I was looking at the much higher end, but older bodies.

Smart choice, or is an entry level, newer one still better?

For studio work, the lens isn't even going to make that much difference. Pretty much all new lenses being made today will outperform the lenses of yesteryear in terms of sharpness etc. Expensive lenses are expensive because they have large apertures and low f-numbers. For studio work that doesn't matter, unless you're chasing bokeh and soft focus, but a simple 50mm f1.8 will do just fine for that.

 

The newer entry and mid-level DSLR bodies are only going to be marginally better than something older in terms of base image quality. Improvements have been made mostly with autofocus and other photographer-aid technologies. You can look at some reviews and decide if any of these new features are worth paying the extra. The big difference between an entry-level and mid or upper-level DSLR is the number of buttons and controls. Except for the newest top-end full frame cameras, they all use the same sensor. So it might be worth looking at an older D7000 series versus a newer D3000 series.

[dizmo]

4 hours ago, harryk said:

For studio work, the lens isn't even going to make that much difference. Pretty much all new lenses being made today will outperform the lenses of yesteryear in terms of sharpness etc. Expensive lenses are expensive because they have large apertures and low f-numbers. For studio work that doesn't matter, unless you're chasing bokeh and soft focus, but a simple 50mm f1.8 will do just fine for that.

 

The newer entry and mid-level DSLR bodies are only going to be marginally better than something older in terms of base image quality. Improvements have been made mostly with autofocus and other photographer-aid technologies. You can look at some reviews and decide if any of these new features are worth paying the extra. The big difference between an entry-level and mid or upper-level DSLR is the number of buttons and controls. Except for the newest top-end full frame cameras, they all use the same sensor. So it might be worth looking at an older D7000 series versus a newer D3000 series.

Ahh good to know, yeah that's kind of what I was thinking in terms of body. Plus I can get them cheaper with multiple lenses, sell off the lenses it comes with (resulting in a free body), and then get the lens I want.