Non professional cameras for professional uses

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

04/05/2005 07:04:48 AM · #1

I know... this is a bit awkward title for a tread. But let me explain:

the real deal is to know how many peolpe here uses supposed "non professional" cameras for porfessional or comercial business. For example some web sites in their reviews say that the Nikon D70 is an amateur camera. So I was wondering, ho uses it, or other like it, like the Canon 300D, or the new 350, the new Olymous E-300, the Pentax 1'Ds or other like it or top prosumer cameras for doin business.

I'm intendig to use my D70 to shoot weddings, but for example in an earlier thead I was reading that someone didn't want nothing less than a Mark II to do his wedding photos. But do all pros need something near a medium format camera to ensure qualaty, or is everyone going to do 1 meter prints out of it? Of course I'm extrapolating a bit but I think in my poor english I am passsing the idea. So please post your oppinions and your professional experience.

Thank's a lot.

samtrundle

Canon EOS-50D

04/05/2005 07:21:10 AM · #2

I was out doing a photography workshop the other day - the guy who runs it is a working pro who shoots both film and digital... when it comes to film he owns medium format hassalblad and mamiya jobs, but on the digital side (where apparently he does most most of his work these days) he uses a 20D.

On the same day I walked past a wedding photo shoot - and the photographer was also using a 20D... I guess that to an extent it depends on the clients needs as to the size reproductions, but that's two examples of working pro's using prosumer dSLR's (and just as another example - the australian professional photographer of the year for 2004 - who does some astounding portrait work, was using a 10D - now he likely doesn't use that anymore, as the prize for winning the competition included a canon 1ds and some fancy L glass :P).

So pretty clearly you can be successful with a prosumer digital SLR even in the professional arena, provided you have the requisite talent of course :).

Strikeslip

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

04/05/2005 07:30:03 AM · #3

I saw a bit of a documentary about super-model photographers. (The guys who make millions shooting supermodels) One of the top guys, don't remember his name, uses a little point & click camera, practically a disposable.

04/05/2005 07:46:17 AM · #4

You're both right to me in a point: creativity has nothing to do with the camera you use (unless you can't do that you imagine if the camera can't do it). so the brain (please read talent) in certainly the most important piece of equipment than any camera that you will ever use. Of course if you want to do an outdoor advertisement to put in a wall probably you don't have enough pixels with a point and shot of 4 MP. As many have said before, qualaty has nothing to do with megapixels. Only the print sizes, and even this is related with the distance in wich it is going to be seen.

Anybody has a different oppinion about the cameras? Has anyone work pro with this kind of material?

Mattel Barbie Photo Designer Digital Camera

04/05/2005 07:50:33 AM · #5

In a matter of cameras I have 2 D70 and I'm planning in buying another body in the end of this year (because the D70's is one for me and one for my partner, no spare). So I will love to get the D2X for me. But for a stricly matter of print size I'm not getting much more size with the D2X (other featuers aside). For that big print I would love to put my hands on the new Mamya ZD or something like it.

nsbca7

04/05/2005 09:07:36 AM · #6

We have a total of two professional studio photographers in the town I live in. One uses a 20D and the other a D70. I'm a perfectionist and I like my prints large so I have a 1Ds. It depends on what you need to do. There is definitely a niche for cameras like the 1Ds and the 1Ds Mk II, but there are also plenty of uses where the lower Mp cameras will do just fine.

sofap

Canon EOS-10D

Canon EF 75-300mm f/4.0-5.6 III

04/05/2005 09:25:29 AM · #7

I shoot with a Hasselblad, 4x5 view, 35mm and digital. They all have a place. Some of my clients demand very high quality images for reproduction in ads. Then I shoot 4x5 E100SW. When the client needs shoots say in a plant or some other setting that would make using a 4x5 impossible I shoot Hasselblabs with E100SW. 35mm is only used for events or model clomp cards. Digital works well for every thing I shoot on 35mm.

Wedding photos for the most part do not go to press, 11x14 or 16x20 so digital will work very well a Nikon D70 or a Canon 10D is going to be OK.

My thought is the biggest format and the slowest film that can be shot of a subject, with digital that would be ISO 100 RAW.

In all cases the clients needs will determine what format is best for the shoot. The equipment a photographer uses is only as good as the photographer.

Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) for Canon

04/05/2005 09:25:31 AM · #8

Y'es you're right. I would love to have more megapiwels to do larger prints withought having to decrease dpi value. I saw ina an exposition some guys ho did two kind of work in the same wedding. They shot digital all the wedding and at the end of the day, they came with meddium format cameras and did an extra session to get the best end of the day light. I saw some tretty amasing photos from them, huge, like 1,5 x 1,5 meters, but I gess unless you live in a castle you won't be asking those kind of prints. The average client will be more than happy with a poster 10x14 or so.

SmittyDFW

Canon EOS-600D/T3i Rebel

04/05/2005 09:29:59 AM · #9

Yes, it is definitely about skill as a photographer. I have the 300D and I am shooting a wedding later on this month. Plus, these entry level SLR's have the RAW file option, and you can click it over there if you want a certain pictures blown up.

Prof_Fate

04/05/2005 09:32:48 AM · #10

I plan to shoot weddings with a Rebel. Some may scoff at this (FM wedding forum users for one) but this camera is better than the best digital 3 years ago, and plenty good enough for the job. One of the big name pros at WPPI said he shoots wedddings at 4mp med jpg!

There is always a snob factor. TO the bride/groom/customer my camera may look imrepssive (to some of my non-photo hobbyist friends it indeed does) or it may look like their own rebel (in which case it reinforces their good judgement about what they bought).

I;m sure the D30 was used by pros for pro work. THe rebel is better, so it should not be an issue of quality or performance. I think it is more 'our' perception of things.

nsbca7

Mattel Barbie Photo Designer Digital Camera

04/05/2005 09:59:04 AM · #11

Originally posted by Prof_Fate:

I plan to shoot weddings with a Rebel. Some may scoff at this (FM wedding forum users for one) but this camera is better than the best digital 3 years ago,

The best DSLR 3 years ago was the 1Ds. Time goes by quicker then we think.

kosmikkreeper

Nikon D300s

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

04/05/2005 10:03:25 AM · #12

I shoot high end pro stuff for didactic publishing houses with my D70 and I'm always impressed with the photo quality of the camera (and so are my clients).

The lens you use will play a big part as well so if you plan to shoot pro don't be cheap on lenses.

Most clients don't know much about cameras so I wouldn't worry about it too much. :-) Just act like a pro and produce excellent work and they really won't care what you shoot with.

On a side note, I just got a 16 x 20 print of this photo taken with the D70 and it's perfect! So I wouldn't worry about wedding enlagements.

Telehubbie

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

04/05/2005 10:06:42 AM · #13

I've always believed that the lens is the most important part followed by the actual camera, to an extent. It was more evident in film at least. I'm hypocrytical though as I don't have any L glass yet (soon).

Fleximus

Canon EOS-50D

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

04/05/2005 10:23:07 AM · #14

The most important thing I can think of, for me to upgrade, is the noise produced by my 300d (Rebel), at higher ISO's, is a lot more than the 20d.

I have had an 18 x 12 print which came out well.

Message edited by author 2005-04-05 10:26:50.

Prof_Fate

04/05/2005 10:29:22 AM · #15

Originally posted by Telehubbie:

I have not used L glass, and certainly not done a comparison, nor do i recall seeing one in a magazine. I can only go on anecdotal evidence and the theory that you get what you pay for. One day i'd like to do a side by side test and see what and how much difference there is (for the price there had better be some!)

The next question is, at what point does it become noticeable in the end print? There is the theoretical advantage, which may be quite real and even measureable, but if you are shooting for a living then the investment you have made in equipment better give you a return that is worthwhile.

For example: Snap On hand tools are the best there is. 99% of mechancis will agree. BUT they cost more. Most pros will spend the extra. I spent 15 years as a mechanic, and my tool chest and tools cost me $4,000 maybe. I worked beside folks that spent 5 or 6 times that amount. It did not make the repair better, the nots were not tighter, etc. Certain SnapOn tools were much better than anything else out there and worth the premium, but 90% of the time a Craftsman tool world work as well.

Anyone got some L glass wanna meet up for a test? of course if i get convinced that L is that much better, you have to help me get therapy until I can afford a lens or 2.

Message edited by author 2005-04-05 10:30:37.

scalvert

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

04/05/2005 10:31:13 AM · #16

Two years ago, I shot a couple of weddings with a Canon Powershot G2, and put the professional, hired photographers to shame in both. Last year, I shot a wedding with my Rebel. We regularly take product photos for print at my office, and only switched from the Rebel to a 20D for the extra resolution. As long as you have sufficient resolution and camera settings for your needs, the photographer will be a more important measure of success.

neophyte

Nikon D810