discussion Photos, what camera do you use?

[pjgtech]

Currently, for taking photos, I just use my "smart" phone, and although its is ok, its not the best camera in the World.
I do also have a compact smart wifi digital camera, (Samsung), but I tend not to use it TBH.

Since retiring one of my potential hobbies, and something I've wanted to get more "into", is to take up photography, so have been looking at DSLR's for a while now.

Some (most) of the photos on here are great, so I would imagine some people have very nice camera setups.
What camera, and other photography gear do you use for taking photos of your models?
Do you use a light box?
Do you use a macro (micro) lens.
What camera would you recommend to someone considering taking up photography?

Been looking at Nikon D3300 as a good starter camera....
Cheers

 

[wotan]

I have an old NIKON D300 so I am a fan of NIKON gear. I have a selection of lenses but one you might look out for is the 50mm lens to which you can attach a diopter (this is just an extra lensy thing that attaches like a filter to the 50mm) to give you a really nice macro set up for those "showing the finger nails " on your 35mm figures piccies.

John

 

[Tworrs]

Peter, now you are talking a whole new rabbit hole, I know I have had a lot of photographic gear over the last 50 years.
At present I only have a Nikon D3400, which I can highly recommend, having said that I just use my iPhone to take pics of my models, it is quite good enough.
Good luck mate.

 

[rtfoe]

I usually have professional photographers take shots for me during my advertising days for work so it never became a hobby for me. As for my plastic hobby making the smart phone has taken over any digital cameras I've had in the past with ready high resolution and editing features at my fingertips. No need for fancy stuff just proper lighting and appropriate backdrop and cropping.
The days of expensive celluloid film, processing and waiting for results are gone and life is more simpler now.

Cheers,
Wabble

 

[Tim Marlow]

For models I just use my IPad. Lighting is just the overhead light I use for painting, angled to give the best illumination, and I crop out the background to focus more on the subject. I do have a good Canon SLR set up of an EOS 7D2 and quality lenses, but as I only post model shots on web sites like this it’s overkill. In fact, since I developed RA five years ago I have hardly used it, mostly due to the weight involved and muscle wastage caused by the illness. My main use for it was wildlife photography, but the inclination to do that has gone, along with the ability to do it…..

 

[Steven000]

I use a Canon Eos 250D for build/final shots, but also my phone sometimes for quick photos...

 

[boatman]

HI ALL well i use a nice simple canon camera as its nice an light easy to operate an its all automatic settin what it does it self
yes CANON model no' SX620 HS with 25 optical zoom len an i find its very good camera an all i do is take the pic an then take out the digi card an stick it into my laptop an it loads up the pics in to my laptop easy an then i resize the pics then to load onto forum easy peasy
CHRISB

 

[Valeron]

I have a canon DSLR but for my modelling photos i use my Samsung smartphone.

 

[dave]

Nikon D750 used here mainly for landscapes.

i don’t think you can go too far wrong with either Nikon or Canon, if I started again I might now consider the Nikon Z series. In terms of models it depends on your budget, I stretched mine a little to get the bottom end model with the full size CCD.

 

[pjgtech]

Well, I have bit the bullet and treated myself to a nice DSLR, Nikon D3300, from here, see linky....
https://www.mpb.com/en-uk
Just got a tax refund (my first ever) as I was paying too much tax when I retired 18 months ago, so they have just got round to issuing the refund!
So that has paid for this latest bit of gear.
Will try it out with the model stuff photos, but also want to do a bit of general photography anyway, so now I have a good excuse....
The above site was recommended to me and they seem to do some really good gear at really good prices.
Camera comes with basic lens, battery, charger, strap, etc, and I also got a macro (micro) lens for close up/small stuff, and a case and memory card, so all in I spent less than £300 for the whole setup.
Just waiting for it to be delivered now.... new toy.... (Yah!)

 

[Tim Marlow]

Well, I have bit the bullet and treated myself to a nice DSLR, Nikon D3300, from here, see linky....
https://www.mpb.com/en-uk
Just got a tax refund (my first ever) as I was paying too much tax when I retired 18 months ago, so they have just got round to issuing the refund!
So that has paid for this latest bit of gear.
Will try it out with the model stuff photos, but also want to do a bit of general photography anyway, so now I have a good excuse....
The above site was recommended to me and they seem to do some really good gear at really good prices.
Camera comes with basic lens, battery, charger, strap, etc, and I also got a macro (micro) lens for close up/small stuff, and a case and memory card, so all in I spent less than £300 for the whole setup.
Just waiting for it to be delivered now.... new toy.... (Yah!)

If you are planning on using a macro lens you will also need a tripod and a remote release. You won’t get clear shots at the aperture you will need for really close up stuff by hand holding

 

[pjgtech]

Here is my nice new (to me) Nikon D3300 with a Nikon 35mm 1.8DX general purpose lens and a Nikon Macro (Nikon call them micro) 40mm 1:28G DX lens for close up stuff. Not going to be getting any long lenses any time soon!
Came with charger, battery, strap, box, user manual, lens caps, rubber eye piece cover, 64GB SD card, etc. I have just bought a case and a IR remote thingy, to operate the camera in macro/close up without moving it.
Am now looking at tripods, as although I have a large one, its a right old cheapy job and not sure that I trust it 100% with my new toy! NB: I do have a fairly sturdy small one thats ok for desktop use.

So having fun playing around with this, still trying to figure out what everything does ATM.....

 

[PaulinKendal]

I got rid of all my camera gear some time back, recognising that the moment is everything, and in the moment I have my smartphone to hand - so that's what I use, all the time now.

I'd suggest you you pay close attention to lighting and background to take clear pictures of your work. Lighting should be from a couple of sources (at least), with lots of light coming from alongside your camera. I use coloured card for a background.

 

[LeytonO]

Panasonic G9 with a variety of lenses, these days I mainly use an Olympus 12-40/2.8 and a Panasonic 9/1.7

If I were buying today it would definitely be a mirrorless camera, possibly a Sony.
There again my Panasonic still gives decent results and M4/3 is a lot lighter and smaller.
Suits me because most of my photography is travel based, so heavy full frame lenses aren't really ideal.
Few of my efforts here https://www.scalemodelling.co.uk/fo...oto-printing-mounting-and-framing#post1250364

The annual Photography Show is on at Excel this month, practically every brand will be there.
Usually some good deals and you get to handle the cameras, very important to get one that feels right in the hand.
https://www.photographyshow.com/

 

[pjgtech]

As a supplementary question, what software do people use with their photography?
Looking for something half decent and ideally free. I don't do much with my photos other than basic editing.
Currently just use the Microsoft built in "Photos" software, but would be nice to have a few extra features.
Bit out of the loop with photo editing stuff, so don't know whats out there, cheers

 

[LeytonO]

As a supplementary question, what software do people use with their photography?
Looking for something half decent and ideally free. I don't do much with my photos other than basic editing.
Currently just use the Microsoft built in "Photos" software, but would be nice to have a few extra features.
Bit out of the loop with photo editing stuff, so don't know whats out there, cheers

I haven't used free software for years, but Gimp is the one I usually see recommended. For a reasonably priced non subscription package Affinity Photo is excellent.
My software of choice is Lightroom, been using it since version 2 and too invested now to change.

 

[Tim Marlow]

I’ve never used it (was a lightroom user) but you could try Nikons own NX Studio. It’s apparently free to download and will be tailored specifically to Nikon cameras. Lightroom will probably be better at catalogue stuff, but for basic picture editing NX Studio is probably fine.

 

[dave]

For software the free package that comes with the Nikon can handle most things you need.

for paid packages:
if you want more Lightroom is great, particularly for cataloguing your photos, you can add tags etc which makes it easy to find photos of particular aircraft or vehicles I took at different museums.

If you really want to get into photo editing Photoshop is still the leader, but is overkill for most people.

 

[LeytonO]

For software the free package that comes with the Nikon can handle most things you need.

for paid packages:
if you want more Lightroom is great, particularly for cataloguing your photos, you can add tags etc which makes it easy to find photos of particular aircraft or vehicles I took at different museums.

If you really want to get into photo editing Photoshop is still the leader, but is overkill for most people.

Photoshop Elements is a cheaper scaled down version of Photoshop, more than enough for the enthusiast photographer.

 

[pjgtech]

Yep, I already have the Nikon NX software installed, it but seems a bit light on features TBH, but then it is free, so?