What type of camera do you use?

[TraditionAndTribe]

I'm thinking of investing in a new camera. What do you recommend that is less than $500 (if possible) and is good for product photography? Is it better to make a light box and just use my iphone?

[Former_Member]

I am looking forward to hearing the answer you get!!! I always wonder the same thing :)

[Former_Member]

I just got a Samsung Smart camera from Wal-mart. It takes good pics. Now I have to retake all my pics. It's less then $200

[poisonpear]

I got a Canon Rebel T3 for $300, and an external swivel/bounce flash for $200 and $20 diffuser and it's been the best investment so far. I no longer need to wait for the perfect lighting outside and freeze my butt off in the winter, I can light up a whole room with my flash by aiming it at the ceiling, or reduce shadows by using the diffuser. It's not too hard to use, either, once you get a feel for the settings by playing around with them and trying different things.

[Former_Member]

I use a Nikon D3100. I did a lot of research and found that this had good reviews for beginner's just breaking into the DSLR type, and it was only $400 on amazon, plus it came with a lens.

There are some things I don't like about it, but overall I think it was a great buy, especially for the price!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003ZYF3LO/ref=oh_details_o08_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[AnneHermine]

I had the same question a few months ago and I decided to buy a new camera. But I didn't want to have a big one, so I read a lot of reviews for compact cameras, which can be used for product photography and not just meal pictures :)

In the end I got the "Canon Powershot S110" and I am still very happy. The zoom is great, you can change from natural to artificial light. I don't like the flash, but for product photography I am not using it anyway.
I use 3 lights for the pictures of my smaller items and wait for the sun for my tote bags. But maybe I am going to change that soon. I still try to figure out, which wall in my apartment would be better for my bags.

I don't know the prices in the USA, but I got an offer on amazon.de and I paid 245 €. There are a lot of features, I still have to figure out and probably won't need them, but for such a tiny thing, it can do really a lot! And you can take the camera everywhere and show your items! :)

have a look on my photos. I know I have to work on some again, but I think you can see there how the pictures turn out. I don't edit my photos with the computer, this is how they come out of the camera.
I hope that helps a little!

greets,
anne

[Former_Member]

I also built my own lightbox using a large cardboard box (I basically hollowed the sides), tissue paper, white posterboard, and clip-on construction lights with 100 watt bulbs.

[Former_Member]

I recently purchased a Canon Rebel T3i and it was around $500. I am consistently blown away by the quality of the pictures. I haven't invested in lights or diffusers yet, but that will be my next step. I really recommend this camera!

[Former_Member]

I picked up a Canon Powershot SD1100 when I opened this shop and after 6 years of hard work its still going strong. Its been dropped, kicked and put through the mill and still takes great photos.

And it was less than $200

[TraditionAndTribe]

Thanks all for your advice! I'll have to do some research on all the recommended cameras. I really appreciate the help!

[TheFamilyJewelsWI]

I just purchased a Panasonic Lumix DMC -FZ200. It is a high end point and shoot. I got it for $479 from Abes of Maine. Their price was better than Amazon. Amazon was $598. I will get it Friday. Can't wait! I used some of my tax refund for this purchase. I enjoy photography a great deal. I will be using this outside of my Etsy shop too. I have a good friend who has a photography business who recommended this camera to me. Also the reviews on Amazon are amazing.

Happy shooting everyone!

[Mzcarley]

I use the Iphone 5c. I don't use the camera app that came with the phone. instead I use an app called Camera Awesome and that app is available in the app store on the phone. There is such a dramatic difference in photo qaulity There are separate lenses available for the iphone.

[dalystudios]

I use a Canon Powershot G15 and I love it.

[Former_Member]

I have a Nikon D5100 and I love it! I do photography on the side so I have several lenses - but my favorite by far for product photography is my 35mm 1.8 - it's an inexpensive lens and it's amazing how much better it does than the lens the camera comes with.

[Former_Member]

I usually just go outdoors or find like a wooden table or something and take the picture of the product then edit the photo using vsco cam (app)

[Untwistedsister]

I have the Nikon D3100. I like it. I thought about adding the 1.8 lens. Good to hear you like it Amanda.

[Former_Member]

The 1.8 lens is worth every penny - especially considering that it's on the cheaper end for DSLR lenses. It's also AWESOME for portraits - but with the short depth of field it only really works for one subject in each picture. I really like how great it does with the close ups on my products - and my kid, lol!

[HeidiDiCesareDesigns]

I use a cheap Canon that I got on Amazon for $50! I think the most important thing is not the camera, it's the lighting ! Pictures taken outside in daylight are so much clearer and the colors are so much sharper.

[Former_Member]

I live in a place where going outside is not always an option due to wonderful idaho weather (lol). Its windy here, like, 364 days a year. If you are like me and need to shoot indoors my advice is to do some "test" shots around your house to find the best light. I take photos in my bedroom after about 3 in the afternoon and then in my sons bedroom in the mornings, because he has an opposite facing window. I use two poster boards (one to go under the product and one propped up like a wall behind it) and make them face the light coming in the window. Its all very high tech, lol. You just have to work with what you've got. :) Even if you don't have a DSLR camera you can get amazing pictures with a point and shoot. I would suggest really reading the manual that comes with whatever camera you choose. Learning about the aperture priority mode will really help you with those detail shots, especially in indoor light. All of my point and shoots offer that mode! The best advice I would have is working with what you have and researching what you can do with whatever camera you choose. Google and YouTube are amazing resources if you're just learning. :)

[Former_Member]

im a photographer and graphic designer. You need a camera that will be good in low light, meaning that you can bump up the ISO over 400 but a camera below 500 $ can't do that. It's best to invest in a good quality lens than a very expensive camera. You need a lot of natural light and a 50mm F1.4 lens (its worth the investment, do not get the F1.8 (known to have focusing issues).

[SophiesKnitStuff]

I use the camera from my ipod touch, I switch on HDR (not sure what it means but the result is better.
I use the lightbox I made and edit the photos on Picasa.
Some of my pictures are a bit grey, those need to be edited as that was before I started using Picasa. Sometimes I can't make the background look clean without altering the colour of the item, which is why some of my pictures will stay grey.

[LydiasWeb]

Canon Eos Rebel T3i DSLR Gives nice crisp, clean pictures. Fairly easy to use. Has auto as well as manual modes.

[PurelyChicDesigns]

I have a Canon 60D and some prime lenses that I use. Overkill more than likely, but photography is a hobby of mine and it is available to do product photography.

[Former_Member]

I use my iPad mini, I am useless with cameras, but I love the iPad, I can edit too

[Former_Member]

Last year I made the leap and bought a Canon Rebel T3i, a reflector set, a tri-pod and a 50mm lens.

I love it so very much, it has made a huge difference in my shop photography. I love the selective focus of the 50 mm lens, and how with a tri-pod I can take pics in low light situations.

I know they are not cheap, but DSLRs are really nice.