Best Camera for a Graphic Designer/Hobbyist

[MikeLegacy]

I am looking for some advice on what camera to buy.

I was a Film/Video major for about a year, so I know video cameras, but not still cameras.

I am a professional Graphic Designer and lately I have been wanting to offer more to my customers by taking my own photography. That way I can reduce their cost and increase my business.

Obviously, if they need incredibly professional pictures, I would still use a pro photographer, but if they are on a budget I would like to still off them custom photography as an option, I would just do it myself. I at least know how to setup shots from taking film/video.

Basically, my questions is what would be a good camera/lens setup for me? I would want something that takes as crisp an image as possible within a $600 or so price range.

My girlfriend has a Nikon D40, but that just isn't cutting it to be honest. I would like to get a model or two better than that if possible. Problem is, I don't know a ton about Nikon or Canon, or the other brands to make a suitable pick.

I was looking at the D3100. Problem is, it's gonna be hard or impossible to stay in my budget since I want a lens with a very shallow depth of field i.e. a telephoto. I saw a Nikon telephoto for like $150, but It was only F4.0-F5.6 and it didn't have the VR image stabilizer feature.

Can anyone help me out here? If you need more information on what I do or will be using the camera for, let me know. Also, I prefer a camera that takes pictures with nice contrast and good low light shooting, such as lighted night shots.

PS - Sorry if you get annoyed with these type of posts. Some of the forums im a regular at, I feel the same way, but I'm really at a loss here

[RichardTaylor]

Re the $600
Are you in the USA or in another country that uses $$$?
Do you want to buy new or second hand.
I feel you may have a lot of problems meeting your budget, even in the USA (unless you want to buy an old film camera) )

Keep in mind you are looking at both a lens and a body for a DSLR (It is impossible to get shallow depth of field, at normal shooting distances, with point & shoot cameras).

Just about all of the cameras are capable of taking pictures with nice contrast and good low light shooting, such as lighted night shots, even some of the better P&S cameras for satic low light shots (and that means a tripod). You may, if you are not happy with what is supplied with your camera, also need some post processing software to get the most out of your camera.

[cyber3d]

Hmmm, my 2 cents. How big do you work? That would determine the best lens set up for you. If your work is scannable - use a scanner for better quality. if your work is in the 2ft x 3ft max size then get a DSLR camera with a full frame sensor and a portrait lens. IMO, the larger a sensor is the better your capture is going to be. Get a really good tall and stable tripod and an easel to place your pieces. You should consider a used camera.

Be sure to see this thread: Photographing artwork

[MikeLegacy]

Originally Posted by RichardTaylor

Re the $600
Are you in the USA or in another country that uses $$$?
Do you want to buy new or second hand.
I feel you may have a lot of problems meeting your budget, even in the USA (unless you want to buy an old film camera) )

Keep in mind you are looking at both a lens and a body for a DSLR (It is impossible to get shallow depth of field, at normal shooting distances, with point & shoot cameras).

Just about all of the cameras are capable of taking pictures with nice contrast and good low light shooting, such as lighted night shots, even some of the better P&S cameras for satic low light shots (and that means a tripod). You may, if you are not happy with what is supplied with your camera, also need some post processing software to get the most out of your camera.

I have found the D3100 for $700 USD with a a standard 18-55mm lens. If I have to go a LITTLE ($100-150) over budget, that's alright, I just prefer not to.

Also, im a graphic designer, as I said, so I have CS 5.5 master edition, therefore I have photoshop and lightroom. I've got all the programs I need. I actually edit/process photos for people all the time in my business, I just never actually shoot photos myself. I want to start doing this.

Originally Posted by cyber3d

Hmmm, my 2 cents. How big do you work? That would determine the best lens set up for you. If your work is scannable - use a scanner for better quality. if your work is in the 2ft x 3ft max size then get a DSLR camera with a full frame sensor and a portrait lens. IMO, the larger a sensor is the better your capture is going to be. Get a really good tall and stable tripod and an easel to place your pieces. You should consider a used camera.

Be sure to see this thread: Photographing artwork

Basically, I wouldn't be printing images that are larger than a standard magazine spread (max of 11"x17" or 3300p by 5100px (is this possible to shoot that large on a 14.2 megapixel camera?)) Also, I don't do magazine spreads often at all, as I am mostly a web designer, so the images for the web could be 2000x1500 or so and I would be good.

But that said, the images that would be printed would have to be 300dpi MINIMUM.

BTW, I think you misunderstood me, I am not going to be photographing my artwork. I will actually be taking photographs to be USED in websites and magazine spreads if my clients would prefer that. I already have a fluid motion tripod that I had when I used to own an old Panasonic HVX-100A video camera.

I was really looking into getting a telephoto lens because of the ability to shoot a really shallow depth of field. It's hard to find those in my budget.

That said, im not against buying used. I would prefer that actually, as long as the camera is in good condition. No scratches or a bad sensor or anything like that.

[Nicole]

You can get good, and very shallow depth of field with something like a 50mm f/1.8 lens which usually runs around $100-200 depending on the camera you're using. For something like the D3100 you would be looking at this: Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G Lens | Nikon Wide-Angle Lenses or if you want something a little wider, this: AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G from Nikon

Canon has similar lenses, but I shoot with Nikon so I know those better.

[RichardTaylor]

Edit. (I just read the printing requirement).
That basically means an 18MP Camera.
That generally means better lenses also for maximum image quality.

Bodies, only, start at $629 (Adorama prices) for Canon cameras.
Canon EOS Digital Rebel T2i

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Otherwise.
Any of the entry level DSLRs with a kit lens will get you started.

I'm a Canon shooter so I will talk Canon, however Nikon have similar products.

Just looking at Adorama prices.

Refurbished Canon XS (that's a 2008 camera) with a kit lens ($399)
New $479.
That will take care of the normal day to day,and the night, on a tripod, pics.

Now for the shallow depth of field (telephoto)
A Canon 50mm F1.8 will give you a taste of shallow DOF, but is not real sharp wide open.
$120

After that it's basically a $400 approx lens.
The Canon 50mm F1.4 or the 85mm F1.8

The other alternative and will still keep you in budget is one of the entry level longer zooms like the Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS Image Stabilizer Telephoto Zoo.
Price $229.
The DOF at longer focal lengths can be pretty shallow. at the wider apertures.
IQ will be OK at mid range apertures lile F8-F11.

Keep in mind that you will not be be getting any think like what you get with a $1000 lens.

--------------------------------

In the Nikon world I would be looking at a refurbished (by Nikon) D3000 with a Kit lens ($400) + a Nikon 55-300 ($300).
Maybe the Nikon shooters can help out, and still keep you within budget..

[inkista]

Don't assume you need a telephoto lens. The sensor in a dSLR is a lot bigger than what you're used to with video cameras, and you can get a thinner DoF accordingly. A crop-body dRebel and a $120 50mm f/1.8 II can get this kind of background blur at f/4:


Canon XT (350D), EF 50mm f/1.8 II. iso 400, f/4, 1/40s. handheld. sooc jpeg.

My caution would be that if you go with an entry-level Nikon, you won't have a focus motor in the body, so autofocus won't be happening unless the lens has AF-S. The longer primes, like the 85/1.8 are AF, not AF-S. This isn't an issue on the Canon side of the fence. Personally, I don't think you need an 18MP camera, particularly if you're mostly delivering at web-sizes. You could look for something as ancient as an XT (350D) or an XTi (400d), let alone an XSi (450D), T1i (500D), T2i (550D), or T3i (600D).

A used XT goes in the $300 and under price range these days. And you could always go for a factory refurb in Canon or Nikon. A D80 refurb is $500. That has a focus motor.

But overall, yeah, I think your budget's a little low for what you want, given that lenses have to be part of the budget. For a pro photographer, the cost of a single lens can easily outstrip the cost of a body.