which camara to use? - DPChallenge Forums

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro for Nikon

04/26/2006 10:41:40 AM · #1

hi every body, im starting my carrier as a photographer and i like it, but i have several questions to make for this how are pros in commercial and advertising (publicity) photography. my question is. do i have to improve my camara? i all ready now the answer. YES i have the 20D and is not good enough, but wich one is it? can be digital? or must buy a hasseldblad 6 x 6? any pors out there? can you help me to put my equipment togheter?
i just order my firt monolite im so happy but do i really need a medium format??

cryan

Nikon D700

04/26/2006 10:49:59 AM · #2

Your camera is just fine, i know many pros who use it, but it happens to be the right tool for them. That is the question you should be asking. I had to upgrade to the D200 from the D70 cause i do mostly action shots and need the speed of faster focus and frame rate. What kind of photography are you goingto be doing?

04/26/2006 11:01:51 AM · #3

Howdie rene and welcome to the world of professional photography!

The equipment never defines the photographer...the ability and experience does. I know lots and lots of pros that use the very same camera (The Canon 20D) that you have and make a nice living.

I work for a professional photography company and have photos being used in advertising, album covers, weddings, catalogues, etc and I have used cameras ranging from my Canon G2 to my Nikon D2x, a betterlight scanning back, a hassy, a ...well..you get the idea.

It really depends on the type of work you are going to do and the level of resolution and features you need to do the best you can for your clients within their budgets.

I would suggest that any good photographer should build up their total equipment before dumping too much money in a camera body alone. I had many thousands of dollars in lights, computer equipment and other support technology before I bought my Nikon D2x. It would have been fopolish for me to buy a $4,000 plus camera body without being able to light my subjects, communicate with my work, edit my photos, burn the disks etc etc. I would have had a lot of wasted camera tech.

Plus, when I had reached a point of clientele that needed a certain camera capapbility...that was when I spent the big bucks. I didn't spend the big bucks THEN built the business. Far too many people get all excited about the toys before they have any way to pay for them.

What type of clients and portfolio do you have now? What type of business and photography do you want to do? What is your skill level?
What is your budget? What type of equipment, studio, support tech do you have right now?

These questions will go a long way to help you make the right decision.

Message edited by author 2006-04-26 11:02:30.

04/26/2006 11:05:19 AM · #4

im going to do advertising, commercial, fashion, that kind of stuff, where resolution is and important thing, so i dont know what to do, improve to a better digital or switch to a film medium format? that wy im asking for opinions of pros in that field, i know that my 20d is not bad i have good lenses but sometimes i thing that is not enough.

04/26/2006 11:19:06 AM · #5

hey hokie
your post really help me, and i think your right when you say de hability make the photographer not the equipment.
maybe ive been thinking to much in the future (switching camaras)
thats why my next buy is going to be a lightining equipment, or half of it for now... for he beginning
if im going to be and commercial photographer i must be prepair, and i think a nice monolite is a good choice? any suggestions

04/26/2006 11:20:13 AM · #6

Originally posted by renefunk:

Great! Well....I love my Nikon D2x for the type of work you are talking about. I have lots of other pros that use Professional Digital cameras like the Nikon D2x or the Canon 1D series. I know a couple of photographers that also use the Canon 5D for fashion and even a few who use the Nikon D200 and even the Fuji Finepix.

A lot depends on where you going to use the photos. For magazine work and catalogues the Canon and Nikon Digitals at 12 megapixels and larger will provide nice files at full page. The good part about digital is that you will have ultra clean files, you will not have to scan and introduce potential problems or work and you can really keep track of your shots as you shoot which really helps workflow and getting the right shot.

If you are going to go bigger than magazine center spread but need to keep the high resolution (300 dpi) you may want to look at a medium format film or a digital back medium format. If you need files over 100 megs and final resolution at 300 dpi larger than 16" x 24" then that says medium format to me.

My company produces a lot of hi resolution fashion print posters and we are using files that measure about 36 megs and are taking them to as large as 4 foot x 6 foot and they look perfect. The Nikon D2x, the Canon 5D or the Canon 1ds and Canon 1ds Mark2 all can do this work with ease. Plus you get the advantage of 35mm format (speed, flexibility, etc).

04/26/2006 11:28:34 AM · #7

Originally posted by renefunk:

04/26/2006 11:30:09 AM · #8

Originally posted by hokie:

Originally posted by renefunk:
im going to do advertising, commercial, fashion, that kind of stuff, where resolution is and important thing, so i dont know what to do, improve to a better digital or switch to a film medium format? that wy im asking for opinions of pros in that field, i know that my 20d is not bad i have good lenses but sometimes i thing that is not enough.

Great! Well....I love my Nikon D2x for the type of work you are talking about. I have lots of other pros that use Professional Digital cameras like the Nikon D2x or the Canon 1D series. I know a couple of photographers that also use the Canon 5D for fashion and even a few who use the Nikon D200 and even the Fuji Finepix.

A lot depends on where you going to use the photos. For magazine work and catalogues the Canon and Nikon Digitals at 12 megapixels and larger will provide nice files at full page. The good part about digital is that you will have ultra clean files, you will not have to scan and introduce potential problems or work and you can really keep track of your shots as you shoot which really helps workflow and getting the right shot.

If you are going to go bigger than magazine center spread but need to keep the high resolution (300 dpi) you may want to look at a medium format film or a digital back medium format. If you need files over 100 megs and final resolution at 300 dpi larger than 16" x 24" then that says medium format to me.

My company produces a lot of hi resolution fashion print posters and we are using files that measure about 36 megs and are taking them to as large as 4 foot x 6 foot and they look perfect. The Nikon D2x, the Canon 5D or the Canon 1ds and Canon 1ds Mark2 all can do this work with ease. Plus you get the advantage of 35mm format (speed, flexibility, etc).

hi again hokie
that, that is really good info thanks again, i think i reply your first post a litle to late. but any way
i ivnite you to visit my web page //www.renefunk.com
please any kind of comments about my work are welcome and just be honest
thanks!

04/26/2006 11:39:25 AM · #9

I like Elinchrom 600RX's. They are powerful, flexible, reliable, not the most expensive and can even be used with variable power which means a generator for location work. I have a honda generator for shooting on location fashion, sports and music events.

I just finished shooting a rock band on location at an Earth Day benefit with a Nikon D2x, 3 Elinchrom 600 RX's, my trusty Honda generator powering all 3 Monolights AND a small refrigerator for cool drinks :-D [/quote]

well..
that is the kind of equipment i always dream of,.... im not very familiar whit elichrom, im better whit bowens. i think bowens is a good choice. and about this battery or generator.... what can i say? i have a little envide.. : (

04/26/2006 11:46:26 AM · #10

Just went to your website...you are very good! Clean, simple well exposed.

your straight on style reminds me of Avedon :-D

I like your simple lighting...very current. So many fashion photographers are leftovers from the 80's when complicated lighting was all the rage. I see great work being done to day with 1,2 and 3 light kits and some basic reflectors.

Some of the best lighting today is a 2 light kit one on the left or the right 45 with a reflector on the other side slightly below chin level and a nice back lit...that looks like your set-up.

I think you are right on track :-D

BTW.....3 lights for me is insane! I like natural light and I shoot a lot of atmosphere location using natural lights....but you got to be prepared

Message edited by author 2006-04-26 11:49:56.