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| Ahhh - Too Many Choices!! |
Greetings Fellow Foodie Photogs - After blogging for 2 years, snapping 29,000 photos, and thinking about upgrading my trusty point-and-shoot super-zoom Panasonic Lumix FX-28 digital camera for at least a year, I've finally set a goal of buying an SLR or DSLR by the end of June. Only one problem, I have absolutely no idea what to get - another Panasonic, Nikon, Canon, Sony, Pentax, Olympus? The choices are endless.
Photographer friends have suggested their preferred brands, but most of them don't do food blog photos, so I'd really like to hear from actual food bloggers. What do you use? What do you like? What don't you like? What helpful suggestions can you pass along? Etc, etc.
I should also probably mention that I used to shoot exclusively with the auto setting, but I've been playing around with the manual options lately. In other words, I don't really have any idea what I'm doing, but I'm not afraid to experiment.
Okay, I can't wait to hear from everyone - hope you guys can help push me in the right direction.
Thank you, thank you!!
:)
Posts
All your great photos have been with a point and shoot? Wow. You could do an entire blog on point and shoot tutorial.
ReplyDeleteI'm a point and shooter! I love my Canon Powershot. I picked it by going into the store and taking no-flash pictures with all of the cameras on display. It was by far the winner, and I've had incredible luck with it ever since. It's the only camera I've ever used that takes such good non-flash photos.
ReplyDeleteI'm a point-and-shooter too. I don't know how it does digitally, but I still have my Olympus OM1 and adore that camera and company.
ReplyDeleteI also use a point and shoot...Sony Cybershot. I am very happy with it as it does very well with low lighting, and of course DSLR is not in the budget right now.
ReplyDeleteYour pictures are STUNNING!! I thought you had a DSLR...wow!! Couple questions for you
1) Do you use a Tripod?
2) What setting do you use to get the background to blur?
Thanks!! Denise @ Creative Kitchen
Gosh - thanks guys.
ReplyDeleteTo answer you questions Denise, Yes, I like to use a tripod. I bought one for $30 at Wal-Mart. To get good background blur, I set the camera up 5 or 10 feet away from whatever I'm shooting, then I zoom in on whatever I'm shooting, and the background blurs automatically.
I chose my current camera because it had an 18x optical zoom feature - I wanted a good zoom to capture bird shots in my yard, but that was before food blogging took over my life ;).
Impressed...I just got a Canon Rebel T2i. Check out the last 1 1/2 months of pictures at my blog. I only shoot in auto, but there are tons of *auto* settings. Have yet to read the manual...because I am lazy.
ReplyDeleteI love it so far, it is also super fast...just incase you need to also take family pics of moving stuff.
Canon Powershot SX10IS.. i love it. Thanks for the tip on the blurring!
ReplyDeleteWe just bought a Nikon D90 and LOVE it! Tony and I both love to take pictures of food, but we also needed a camera that could take photo's of the kids, the house, the pond. Wow..that was a lot to ask of a camera. We actually bought two lens and thinking about adding one more. We are very very happy.
ReplyDeleteVisit Wendy at http://almotaroses.blogspot.com/ and read about her "gear" she gives you lots of tips and pointers and tells you why she loves her Nikon D90 and Nikon D700. She takes amazing food photos. Hope that helps :)
Wendy
I have a Nikon and love it. I just keep it on auto and it takes great shots. I would love to learn how to use the manual settings. Good luck with your choice. Carla
ReplyDeleteI also use a P&S (Sony)... but like you I'm in the market for plucking down the cash and upgrading... I have my eye on the Nikon 5000 (because of affordability) but if I find some more money SOMEWHERE... the Nikon D90 is the golden goose.
ReplyDeleteI also had my eye on the Canon Rebel.. but after trying both out, I liked the interphase of the Nikon better, as well as the feel of it. The canon just seem to have complicated menu... while the Nikon was easier to change settings (like my Sony)... Sony is also coming up with good DSLR as well... and I have my eye on Sony A55.
I sent you my thoughts and probably just confused you more lol.
ReplyDeleteMy Sony point and shoot has a gourmet setting and I just use that to take pictures of food so I am sorry but I cannot help you with fancy cameras. Good luck picking the right one!..Christine
ReplyDeleteGreat question. I'm going to ensure I find out the answer by checking back on this post soon.
ReplyDeleteYou are where I was last year. I questioned many bloggers--food and landscape and got a lot of helpful advice. It came down to the Nikon D90 and Canon Rebel T1i. Ultimately, I chose the Rebel because it seemed easier to use and felt better to me. I'm pleased with the Canon but think you can't go wrong with either.
ReplyDeleteHappy shopping!
Best,
Bonnie
Whatever brand you choose, make sure that the accessories are adaptable to any brand. I am not sure which one it is but there are a few cameras that you have to use specific accessories, like the SD card. You can't just pop in any SD card. I use the Canon rebel T2i. I love it! I shoot only manual with it. You really don't want to be too concerned with the flash on the camera. Flashes on the camera are not recommended to use. You want to use some type of alternate lighting. Like a lamp with a shade off. Flashes on the camera don't necessarily light the object you are shooting, just the lens on the camera. Make sense?
ReplyDeleteI'm no expert... and i don't post a whole lot of my photos online.... but I think the lens you use is the key to great photos. for food or other indoor photos my go-to lens is the 50mm with a low f-stop (1.8) It always gives me bright shining photos. INDOORS without flash :)
ReplyDeleteso my advice would be to price the lenses you want....sorry i don't have a good lens resource to reference.... then go for whichever body suits your price range or has your ideal functions. (there are differences among brands, but ultimately you will get great photos from any of the brands) also take into consideration if you have friends/family with a huge lens collection- get the same brand as them so the lenses are compatible :)
What great information in the comments! YOu will have some fun choices to make. I have a DSL~ it was a gift from my hubby so I did not get to choose. But I love it. I use the AV setting and a telephoto lense whenever possible. It gives my photos a crisp foreground image with a blurry background. I also adjust the light setting for the best possible image.
ReplyDeleteStephanie is right about ther 50mm lense (1.8). I LOVE images taken with this lense. I can spot them a mile away. It is very very reasonale too, around $100.00 (very reasonable for a lense). I don't have one yet, but I have researched it and it is top on my "wishlist". Oh have fun, a new toy!!!!
xo Yvonne
I used to use a Canon Powershot, but I had a hard time with the food shots.
ReplyDeleteI got a Canon Rebel T2i before Cmas, about $800, and I am happy with it.
Good luck with your decision, Patricia!!! I'm enjoying by Canon Rebel T2i~
ReplyDeleteif you live in the bay area (california), why don't you try renting different cameras to see what you like best (borrowlenses.com i have a d90, and i like it.
ReplyDeleteI'm one stage behind you. I upgraded my sony cybershot to a super zoom Canon just yesterday. I had the hardest time deciding what to buy and for once I actually bought "less" than I planned. I simply couldn't stand the thought of having to carry a camera bag, lenses etc. I like having my camera in my purse or pocket.
ReplyDeletePatricia... I just love your blog... so I awarded you the stylish blogger award. Check out my blog for details... Vicki
ReplyDeletehttp://greeneyedgirlcrafts.blogspot.com/
Wow this has been really helpful to me!!;) I just use a point and shoot too but I reeeeally want to upgrade too:0)
ReplyDeleteI only shot food photos occasionally - but I absolutely love my Canon EOS 7D.
ReplyDeleteMy husband has a Canon T2i and loves it. He's not a food blogger... he's a videographer and hobby photographer... but he has taken some great food pictures with it at different events we've been to.
ReplyDeleteHaving said that, his sister is a photographer, and uses a Nikon D50... so it all depends on the person, I suppose!
I think I need one of those myself, these pocket ones are not good for super macro shots.
ReplyDeletehey that's really amazing...
ReplyDeleteregards,
AMAZING!
ReplyDeleteLove all of the camera/lens/shooting details -
Susan www.ugogrrl.com
I started doing my food blog nearly a year ago and went through the same challenge when I decided to buy my DSLR. In my research I found that it really came down to Canon vs. Nikon. They are quite similar, each with their devotees.
ReplyDeleteI chose the Canon Rebel XS and absolutely love it. I can do anything I need and more with the standard 50mm zoom lens that comes with it. For food photography, I specifically bought a 60mm Macro lens which gives me the popular extreme closeups. I always use a tripod with the macro lens.
I use natural light if it is available, but for those times when you must shoot at night, I bought Lowell EGO lights that are truly amazing. They make all the difference in the quality of my shots. Anyone can take professional looking photos with these lights!
Best of luck in your decision - have fun!
I'm a Nikon fan. My D40x is practically a dinosaur, but I love it. Bakerella did a good overview of her food photography & camera choice here: http://www.bakerella.com/cupcakes-and-cameras/
ReplyDeleteYour article is actually really clearly composed as well as easily understandable. Your current Blog theme is impressive as well! Would be awesome to discover exactly where My partner and i are able obtain it.
ReplyDeletePlease keep up the excellent work