What camera and lens features matter most for still-life product photography?
Asked 11/25/2017
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I shoot fruits, vegetables, and similarly sized objects in a 60×60×60 cm light box and currently use a phone. I’d like to move to a dedicated camera system and want to know what features matter most for this kind of still-life work, and what type of lens is suitable. I may occasionally shoot outdoors, but the main use is tabletop/studio-style photography.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
8y ago
2 Answers
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Frankly, any camera with a flash hotshoe, RAW capability, and full Manual mode would probably be a good choice, so you could take better control over the lighting than you can with a small light tent and (probably) continuous lights. Off-camera lighting is liable to do more for this type of shooting than any specific camera/lens combination.
You don't need an interchangeable lens camera or a big big sensor to do this type of shooting, and in fact, a small-sensor camera is going to have an edge on macro shooting, because of the deeper DoF produced with the smaller/shorter lenses that pair with smaller sensors.
Originally by user27440. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user27440
8y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
For this kind of still-life photography, the camera body matters less than control and lighting. A good choice is any camera that gives you:
- full manual exposure control
- RAW capture
- a flash hot shoe if you may add better lighting later
- interchangeable lenses if you want flexibility
You do not necessarily need a large sensor or an expensive body. For close-up/tabletop work, smaller-sensor cameras can actually help because they tend to give deeper depth of field, which is useful when photographing small objects.
Lens-wise, look for a lens that focuses close enough for your subjects. A macro or close-focusing standard lens is often a good fit for fruits, vegetables, and similar objects.
The biggest improvement over a phone will likely come from better lighting control and manual settings rather than chasing a specific brand or high-end model. In practice, many interchangeable-lens systems from major brands can do this job well, so ergonomics and lens availability should guide your choice. Try handling a few cameras in person and then choose the system with a suitable close-focusing lens.
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