Canon 5D Mk II vs Nikon D700 for food photography

[workandturn]

Hi, first post in the forums so hopefully you guys will be able to help me.

Im a packaging designer, I work with food shots day in and day out and in my time I've taken quite a few shots of food, bottles, boxes and various other things for client presentations.

My photography has come on a long way in the last 3 years and a little while ago I started to sell a few images on a stock website. I currently have a D80 with a Nikon 18 - 70 lens and my work has a 450D with a 50mm macro lens which I also use. I comfortable with both but of the 2 I prefer the Nikon system overall as its what I learnt from the start.

So I finally saved the money to get a full Frame camera which means it comes down to the Canon 5D MkII or the Nokia D700??? Im not sure if this will affect the decision but I will also be buying a 60mm Macro, 50mm 1.4 and 1 or 2 lights (had planned on the SB600 before I got confused). My understanding is that the D700 has really good low light performance but as my main focus will be food that wont be an issue. So should I go for the higher pixel count as the bigger the image the better when it comes to selling online and I often heavily retouch my images afterwards too ???

This is a big investment for me, I've learnt a lot but but really Im just starting out so I want to get this purchase right.

Thanks a lot, no doubt there is no right or wrong answer but all opinions are both welcomed and appreciated.

James

[OsmosisStudios]

If you dont need low-light abilities, the 5DmkII will likely be best.

[mattdm]

Just make sure you get the Nikon D700, not the Nokia version.

Seriously, I think either of these cameras will do just fine for the purpose. Since you prefer the Nikon system, I'd recommend sticking with that.

[bruceliv]

For the work that you describe, I'm going to present a response you might not expect.
Low light needs are not the only reason for getting the Nikon. The available glass is most important.

The Nikon D700.
Nikon 85mm f/2.8D PC-E Tilt/Shift lens!!!

PC-E Micro NIKKOR 85mm f/2.8D from Nikon

In FX format, the 85mm will give you more working distance (slightly more than the 60mm Macro, which is a fabulous lens in itself) to help enable distortion free images. If you are cramped for space, there are 24mm and 45mm versions of this lens. I own and love the 24mm and use it mostly for landscapes.

These newer Nikon perspective control lens are all macro to infinity lenses, absolutely sharp and precise at all apertures. They are also "D" lenses which give complete control of aperture. However, these lenses are manual focus. With "Live View" on the D700, it's like working with a view camera.

Using a Tilt/Shift lens requires a learning curve and plenty of practice. With these features, you can control vertical and/or horizontal distortions and perspective. You can also decide which plane (any angle!) you want to be absolutely in focus (Scheimpflug Rule).

Any other approach to photographing the subjects your describing will look OK with the systems you're asking about. It would be like doing a technical shoot with a P&S. For truly professional results, this is the way I'd approach it.

[sk66]

Add to the Nikon vs Canon:
The D700 has built in Commander Mode. This will allow you to control multiple flash heads (SB600 and up) wirelessly which is great for setting up a portable "mini studio" for food photography.

[workandturn]

bruceliv, have to admit tilt shift lenes scare me, dont fully understand them and I would like to improve my level a little bit more before getting one, also its a little out of my budget for the moment. However in the many forums I checked they do recommend them for food photography and I understand why.

I've got confused, really really confused over the lens / camera situation. Seems the Canon 100mm Macro is highly recommended, but expensive. Also seen the Canon 20-70mm lens recommended but its not a macro, this lens is also expensive. Then on the Nikon side the 60mm Micro looks good and its very reasonable (thats why Id planned on getting it to begin with) The Nikon 105mm Macro looks good but this is also expensive.

This leads onto another worry, how much will a full frame camera affect the lens? To explain, I've just convinced my girlfriend to let me take over the spare room as a studio, hence me wanting to purchase a full frame camera and step things up a little. Its a attic flat with a huge window above so nice natural light, (as stated before Ill also be buying be a extra flash, stand and light modifier as well). Its a single bed room but has a decent amount of space.

So excluding the tilt shift lens what do you guys think would be right?? The purchase of a full frame camera is for sure, I have a Nikon 18 - 70mm lens which isn't bad so maybe I should keep that, seems silly to waste it? I've got a maximum of €2000 / $2500 for the lens / lenses, flash, stand and light modifier. When I say maximum it would be nice to come in under that as that really is the limit. If I get 1 lens for the moment then purchase another down the road fine by me to. Don't take too many out and about shots these days and Ill probably keep my D80 anyway as its worth almost nothing. I already have a decent Manfrotto Tripod so don't include that.

Ahhhhh, this is such a major purchase for me I want to get it right !!!

[bruceliv]

Not a big issue. The nikon 60mm f/2.8G macro is a superior lens, in fact, it's much better for several reasons than the 105mm f2.8 VR macro. I have both and I'm selling the 105.
Keep the D80 because the 60mm on that will give it a working focal length of 90mm -- more space! However, the 18-70mm, a pretty good lens for DX will be rendered almost useless on FX.

Since you have Nikon equipment, get the D700 and the 60mm, keep the D80. Furthermore, I would suggest, given the kind of shooting you do, search for a course at a school, a large camera store, or a professional who will give you some hands-on experience using a view camera. The nice thing is, you don't even need a darkroon because using a large format camera gives you the large "view" right through the lens! A few hours should do it! I was lucky my step-dad was a professional technical photographer and he taught me many of the techniques many years ago.

BTW, the D700, being a pro camera, permits you to use every lens Nikon ever made (since ai). I have some oldies that I bought dirt cheap on eBay -- there's some fantastic glass around...
Bruce

[workandturn]

Cheers for the input bruceliv.

It seems the D700 might be the winner as the 60mm lens appears to be perfect for the job at hand and it wont do too much damage to my pocket. Just checked out some of the prices of FX lenes, ohhhh, 24 - 70mm €1420 my word that is expensive. Oh well for what Ill be doing its fine the 60mm is fine.

Is it worth getting a 50mm 1.8 or 1.4 as well. Asking as Im well under budget and the 1.8 is really really cheap and I had planned on getting one to begin with ?

As for classes, Id love to but I live in Madrid and trying to find a food photography course is near impossible. As I work as a packaging designer I've watched some professional food photographers in action and there's most certainly an art to it. In fact we paid so around €10,000 to photograph some pizzas so there best be an art to it. Check his work out, its pretty good: PACO ARARÀ - FOTÓGRAFO

Saw that Kelby training has a food photography tutorial so Ill probably sign up for a month and watch that, also got a book on it so Ill read that as I go to. Might ask one of the photographers we work with on a regular basis if they let me watch them for a day (seeing as we pay them so much money!). Im going to hook the camera up to my mac so shouldn't be relying on the live preview alone.