 Angelina J. Barber |
What is the best Portrait camera? My main and only camera I have used to take portraits is a Canon EOS Rebel 1000D which I have owned the past two years. I am looking to upgrade to something that is created to be more ideal for portrait photography, preferably a canon because I am so used to the settings on my camera. Something under $800. Any suggestions?
|
|
|
|
||
|
Lynn R. Powers |
It is the lens that is more important than the camera for portrait photography. I am not sure what the the Canon 1000D is aside from a Rebel which has a 1.6x crop sensor. Portrait photography is considered to be from waist up to nothing but the head. The lenses most recommended for 35mm film cameras and Full Frame cameras is between 85mm and 135mm. I prefer the 135mm since I feel uncomfortable getting into someones face/space to take a photo. But that is me not necissarily you. These lenses give the best perspective of the person. Due to the crop factor of your camera this translates to a lens between 55mm and 85mm. Canon makes a good EF 24-85mm lens which fits well into your budget. They also make a 28mm to 105mm which is not nearly as good. I have used them both. I used the 24-85mm on a trip to Europe and along with my EF-S 18-55mm were my two predominant lenses for 3 weeks. I had the 20D then but have also used it on my 5D. Some people mention 300mm and longer lenses. For a heaad shot in profile and properly composed they work fine but frontal portraqits will make the ears look even with the subjects eyes. I also recommend purchasing some books on portrait photography as well as taking a BP course or two. If you purchase the 24-85mm lens you will have enough left in your budget to pay for the course. The main thing is to keep the background clean and not have trees or poles sticking out of the subjects head or anything else that is distracting in the background. KISS! Goood Luck
|
|
|
|
||
- Gregory LaGrange Contact Gregory LaGrange Gregory LaGrange's Gallery |
In digital, the camera does play a role if it has lower noise in certain iso ranges or has an overall better picture quality. At the time it came out, the Canon 1D machII was touted by Canon as having the best picture quality out of it's lineup even though it didn't have the largest pixel count. But realistically, you're not going to find a camera known for best picture quality, even used, for $800. Unless you just happen to find somebody who's under selling one. Or it's really beat up. So find the best lens, or wait if it's a camera that you really want to get. And portraits can face, body, 50mm, wide angle, or anything you want it to be. Google some photos of environmental portraits
|
|
|
|
||
|
Angelina J. Barber |
Thank you Lynn and Gregory, your information was very helpful. I would like to ask Gregory, if I were to save up more, in your opinion what is the best camera you would recommend? I plan on taking Senior Portraits, Newborns, Family, weddings, children and babies, both outdoor and indoor. Thanks!
|
|
|
|
||
chrisbudny.com - Chris Budny Contact Chris Budny Chris Budny's Gallery |
There's really no answer to "What is the best camera for X subject." The question is kind of like asking "which gas oven should I use to bake cherry pies?" as if there's really only 1 oven choice for producing excellent cherry pies. It mostly isn't about the camera you choose, so much as it is the lens you choose... (Until as Greg mentions, perhaps image noise becomes a problem... say you only shoot dusk portraits, without flash or external lights, and thus you always need higher ISO settings to compensate... you'd want a camera with proven ISO noise handling at higher settings, such as a 5Diii, etc.) Under $800, for new, you'll probably only ever find the latest Rebel models - very capable cameras, by the way. At that price point, I'd probably choose to buy a new Rebel vs. a used model of some older, no-longer-manufactured body... You also mentioned children and babies (and weddings)---all of which point to the need for carrying fast lenses - again not a function of the camera body, but the lens choice. If you're happy with Canon, you may do well to invest in great quality glass (lenses) that you can migrate to future camera bodies as you upgrade down the road.
|
|
|
|
||
|
chrisbudny.com - Chris Budny Contact Chris Budny Chris Budny's Gallery |
(...and reading my note just now, I should have added, with a grin, the best body & lens choices won't matter as much as the person behind the camera, creating the shot - ie, give me a Viking oven, with all-organic ingredients and Calphalon cookware, and I likely would never be able to out-cook Julia Childs with a 100 year-old wood-burning oven!)
|
|
|
|
||
|
Angelina J. Barber |
Christopher, I am in total agreement with you that it's not the camera but the photographer behind it. My main concern is making sure I buy the right equipment, I need something that can snap pictures fast and efficently. I do know lenses play a huge part in this, which I will be investing in. I do however need a camera with a higher ISO (mine is 1600) Because I am photographing weddings I am in lots of indoor locations and I know a higher ISO would help.
|
|
|
|
||
|
chrisbudny.com - Chris Budny Contact Chris Budny Chris Budny's Gallery |
I hear the 5Diii noise is just amazing, and the 5Dii noise was not too shabby either. (There's now a $400 instant rebate on 5Dii brand-new bodies - bringing it down to about $1800.)
|
|
|
|
||
|
- Gregory LaGrange Contact Gregory LaGrange Gregory LaGrange's Gallery |
Without price getting in the way, a new camera I would like to get is at least the 5DIII. That one and the 1Dx I feel like I'd be almost limitless to where, when, and with what I could shoot. And I suspect, but haven't heard anything yet, that the 1Dx would be the best that Canon has put out so far as far as picture quality. But since price is always a concern, a new not yet sold 5DII as Chris mentioned, or a used 5DII would be a good camera. It was known for having great picture quality. Just as good as which ever version of the 1D was out at the same time. There's a video titled "Reverie" that was shot with the HD capabilities of the 5DII by Vincent Laforet that was used by Canon to demonstrate how good things looked with it. So with cameras having iso ranges going up into the 10,000 it could really add to your capabilities of shooting the things you listed by being able to keep the ambiance of the location while having the option of using different apertures. You could use the intimate feel of a wide aperture and still not worry about a dark room, all while keeping a low noise and good picture quality. And I'd bet money I could out cook Julia Childs with a Coleman propane stove. Just have her meet me any where. I bet she wouldn't even show up.
|
|
|
|
||
|
This old forum is now archived. Use improved Forum here
Report this Thread |
||