Time to upgrade - advice appreciated
If anyone has the time to comment, I would really appreciate some suggestions as to how best to spend about $4-5K on a new camera and lens. I have been doing studio and outdoor portraits of children, and it's time to upgrade my very beginner level equipment. I've got the upgrades to my studio figured out, but am not quite sure about the camera and lens department.
I have used Canons all my life, but am not against a switch to Nikon.
Seems like the Canon options are the 7D and 5D?
Nikon D700?
Lenses - seems like such a huge range of price and specs for a 200mm lens, and I'm not sure which makes the best price/quality choice combined with the camera choice.
Thanks so much for any advice!
I have used Canons all my life, but am not against a switch to Nikon.
Seems like the Canon options are the 7D and 5D?
Nikon D700?
Lenses - seems like such a huge range of price and specs for a 200mm lens, and I'm not sure which makes the best price/quality choice combined with the camera choice.
Thanks so much for any advice!
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Comments
Will you be reusing any lenses that you currently own?
What properties are you seeking in the new camera?
What coverage do you need for lenses?
What sort of studio work do you do and what do you wish to do?
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I am looking for a nice fast camera/lens combination that can capture subjects seemingly in perpetual motion (aka kids) both in a studio and outdoors setting. I would like a 70-200mm lens and would take portraits primarily in the 150-200mm range.
(I just attended the Light it, Shoot it, Retouch it Scott Kelby seminar in Boston, and yes I am mostly parroting back what I learned there, so other suggestions are of course welcome! )
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I am a Canon guy but I am sure Nikon has alternatives. I would love the 5DMk2 on this budget and the 70-200 seems essential for serious photographers.
Business wise, I don't think you should let your decision be influenced by the flash (430). This is very sellable second hand and a fraction of the new price you will pay for your new gear.
If perpetual motion is really your requirement you might find a 5D a bit slow when not in video mode, although it would do me. For image quality the 5D is one of the best and that is what I would prioritize.
I know the OP said what he shoots and I'll guess he is presently shooting a crop cam. I like/love my D700 and the 70-200 VR2, but I'd think overall it would be a poor choice for fast moving objects within a studio, just because of focal length unless of course you have a 40x40ft space!
If I were thinking of shooting in-studio and chasing kids around within that space, I'd be thinking more like a D700 mated to the 24-70 f/2.8.
Congrats on having a decent budget!
I am not 100% sure of the diffs between FF and crop cameras, but as soon as I get home I will be looking it up!
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My primary lenses are the Canon 17-55 F2.8 IS which is not an L lens but has excellent IQ. My favorite lens is my Canon 70-200mm F2.8L IS. The image quality of that one is simply amazing.
Without any direct experience but based on what I have read the FF 5DMKII would be the top of the line as far as portrait image quality but I bet the 7D can also turn out professional portrait quality images in the right hands (not in my hands yet).
If you ever need to shoot sports or moving wildlife the 7D has the speed advantage.
Happy shopping.
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The Canon 5D MKII AF will probably match any of the Canon "Rebel" line so that would not be a problem.
FF cameras allow 2 primary advantages versus "crop" cameras:
Lower noise footprint at the same ISO.
FF cameras also tend to offer pretty good cropping opportunity, but then you start to affect the 2 previous points above.
Lighting is more important than either camera or lens and lens selection is more important than camera. Until you gain control over lighting I doubt that any camera/lens combination will satisfy either you or your customers.
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If I can swing this:
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM
Would that be the way to go?
Thanks everyone for the advice!
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Cynthia, I think that range is the perfect FX portrait lens range! You did mention chasing kids around in a studio, right? Like I said earlier I cannot imagine chasing kids around with that focal length inside. Outside, fine and Dandy.
I've got an EF-S 55-250mm lens right now and that's been fine for the space I've got. I think (hope!) a 70-200mm would work. I will definitely put some more thought into that though. I hadn't really considered the fact that my current lens starts at 55, not 70. Thanks for bringing that up!
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that is fantastic news thanks!
it's definitely going to take a little creative financing to pull this off...
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Oh, well thats easily figured by looking at your EXIF and seeing where you regularly pull the keepers from focal distance wise~
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM Lens?
My problem is that I can only afford one lens right now, and I would really like to be able to use it in the studio and outdoors. Tough I know.
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The Canon 24-105f4L is a very nice lens and you can do studio and portraiture with it. The smaller aperture does mean that you have less DOF control than a larger aperture lens and the f4 aperture will not activate the high-precision capabilities of the center focus dot. Only lenses of f2.8 or faster activate the high-precision capabilities. A lens of f2.8 also lets in twice the light of an f4 lens for focusing, allowing faster focus and/or lower light focus capabilities and faster shutter speeds when you really need them.
All things being equal I would always recommend a quality f2.8 lens over a quality f4 lens unless there is some other compelling need.
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Thank you so much to everyone who helped with this. I'm always amazed by the knowledge on these forums and the generosity of those who share it!
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I got an Elinchrom BX 500 ri and an Elinchrom 53" Midi Octa Light Bank. My old two lights have become background lights, I got two tall cutters so the background lights don't spill, I got a big reflector to put on the opposite side of the BX 500, 9' wide background paper (up from 6), and 2 4'x8' pieces of white tileboard for flooring
I set it all up last night and played around a little with it today. Have some tweaking to do still, but it's looking good! My major problem is my new Skyport Speed wireless transmitter is not triggering the strobe! Argh! It works via the cable, but not with the wireless transmitter. I've checked the frequency, group, and speed vs standard mode, and it all looks like it should be working, but it's not Also can't get the modelling light working on the strobe, but I suspect the bulb is bad. Just ordered some more and here's hoping that fixes that problem.
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