What camera for make up studio

[lawrencep93]

Bodyography is about to open it's make up training studio, and we need a good camera to take epic portraits. We want to stick to Nikon (because I have one and I can show the staff how to use it), but I'm tossing up between a D5000 and a D90. Also what lens would you recommend for portrait shots and also what lighting equipment, the space is not huge though, but there is a great deal of light.

I was thinking of getting the 18-55 VR and 55-200 VR, but I am not sure if this is good for portraits of people. Also thinking of getting a SB-600 speed light.

[r00b0y]

Get the cheapest camera & the best lights that your budget will allow. I wouldn't waste time with speedlights (although people will suggest Strobist & similar links) - get some proper studio flashes. They will make a FAR bigger difference to your photos than any subtle differences between camera brands or lens specifications

If you have lots of ambient light to play with you can go down that route but it's much trickier. The light varies in strength & colour temperature, & you simply don't have the ability to easily modify the light (by adding a softbox, brolly, grid, snoot etc etc).

[][ XpLoiT ][]

no use to get VR/IS gear if you are shooting under strobes.

echo'ing the above post, Speed lights have a use, but if u are taking studio shots, thats not there use, they are a poor mans studio light and definately studio lights are going to give u a better result.

[Zakari]

I think a 50mm f1.8 is essential then if you're doing portraits, coupled with great diffused lighting such as a umbrella or softbox you should be sweet for a small set up. Even an open window with indirect sunlight and a reflector should work just fine with a little practice.

[deepspring]

Originally Posted by lawrencep93

Bodyography is about to open it's make up training studio, and we need a good camera to take epic portraits. We want to stick to Nikon (because I have one and I can show the staff how to use it), but I'm tossing up between a D5000 and a D90. Also what lens would you recommend for portrait shots and also what lighting equipment, the space is not huge though, but there is a great deal of light.

I was thinking of getting the 18-55 VR and 55-200 VR, but I am not sure if this is good for portraits of people. Also thinking of getting a SB-600 speed light.

I have a D5000, and I love it. BUT, for what your doing I'd recommend the D90.

The D90 and the D5000 share a lot of the same features, but the D90 supports wireless flash which can be a bonus if you don't want to spend a fortune on professional lighting.

Edit: just be aware that the kit lenses (18-55mm and 55-200mm) are slow lenses. If you want something better for portrait work, buy the camera body only and invest in any of these lenses:

• Nikon AF-S VR 70-200mm f/2.8G IF-ED - link - Good for close up portraits without getting to close to the subject
• Nikon AF-S DX 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED - link - Good for group shots and general portraits
• Nikon AF 50mm f/1.4D - link - Good for general portraits

There are also fast lenses from other manufacturers like Tamron and Sigma that you can get.

* Edit #2:
I meant to put the newer Nikon AF-S 50mm f/1.4G in there not the older AF one.

[r00b0y]

You don't need fast lenses for studio work. Shooting tight portraits will normally be 100mm+ (on crop camera) and you will want to be around f8 for depth of field. He is shooting makeup - he/she probably wants to actually see the model's features rather than OOF blur.

Every lens is fine @ f8 so spend the money on lighting instead. A well lit shot @ f8 with a kit lens will look a million times better than a poorly lit zomg bokeh f1.4 shot with half a model's eyelash in focus.

I love using fast fixed lenses but cheaper zooms are much more suited to the OPs situation.

[deepspring]

Originally Posted by r00b0y

You don't need fast lenses for studio work. Shooting tight portraits will normally be 100mm+ (on crop camera) and you will want to be around f8 for depth of field. He is shooting makeup - he/she probably wants to actually see the model's features rather than OOF blur.

Every lens is fine @ f8 so spend the money on lighting instead. A well lit shot @ f8 with a kit lens will look a million times better than a poorly lit zomg bokeh f1.4 shot with half a model's eyelash in focus.

I love using fast fixed lenses but cheaper zooms are much more suited to the OPs situation.

Yeah your right. I guess slow lenses don't matter when you're using an aperture of f/8 or higher in a studio. I was thinking more on the DoF/Bokeh side of things with backgrounds.

I still stand behind my recommendation of the D90 over the D5000, and the recommendation of the 50mm lens though.

[mr_wrxman]

I'd say D90 + 50mm f1.8 + wireless triggers and a mono or two, the alienbees are cheap and may work well, would take more effort setting them up as it'd be manual flash settings.

Nikon's wireless flash (CLS) may help if you're lazy as it allows TTL as well as in body control of flash power, but then you'd need to buy SB600's or 900's.

[lawrencep93]

Ok one of the guys is getting the lights, What is a good tripod to use?
and I think they said they wanted a zoom lens so the 70-200mm should be good anyone know a good cheap place to get the D90 and the 70-200mm and 50mm lens from?

[myoheddie]

Originally Posted by lawrencep93

Ok one of the guys is getting the lights, What is a good tripod to use?
and I think they said they wanted a zoom lens so the 70-200mm should be good anyone know a good cheap place to get the D90 and the 70-200mm and 50mm lens from?

if thats the 70-200mm f2.8 VR, why not get the 80-200mm f2.8 nikkor - af will be fine for studio work on the d90, its cheaper than the 70-200 because it doesnt have VR, which is going to be a wasted feature in a studio with lights and camera on tripod anyway.

[lawrencep93]

What is the difference in zoom levels?

here are some pics of the studio, it's not finished yet we need to put up all the make up stations and then choose a spot to take photos.
(these photos are taken with a cheapo PnS the General manager has when it is done I will take some better shots with my d3000)
you can not see it in these photos but there is like a little corner office to the right where we will take the desks out and use that as a little studio. It's all white which is good.

[Nafe]

If you're short on space, then the 70-200 may not be the best lens. Sure it's great to go full headshot at 200mm, but you're standing further back, and it looks like you have limited space to work with. Why not start with the kit lenses and upgrade later if you find they aren't cutting the mustard?

[ya3]

Nice studio. But no mirrors? I thought it was pretty standard to have those mirrors with lights surrounding them.

If you don't want to spend on studio lighting, you can get shots like this using just a window behind the camera and a good fast lens.

Camera body shouldn't matter. Just look at price and ease of use. Ignore megapixels and other gimmicky bells and whistles, unless you really need something in particular.

[lawrencep93]

Originally Posted by ya3

Nice studio. But no mirrors? I thought it was pretty standard to have those mirrors with lights surrounding them.

If you don't want to spend on studio lighting, you can get shots like this using just a window behind the camera and a good fast lens.

Camera body shouldn't matter. Just look at price and ease of use. Ignore megapixels and other gimmicky bells and whistles, unless you really need something in particular.

the make up stations are not up yet which means no mirrors. I'll post some more picks when they finish building the make up stations and when we clear out the space where we will take photos.

[Athiril]

24-70mm f/2.8

Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8


You want a f/2.8 zoom, you dont want to be shooting at and relying upon f/1.8 due to lack of light or have a fixed angle of view in a confined space.

Since you have a low (as in accessibly close for a flash) ceiling, bounce flash off it would be great, as would from the side off a diffuse reflector (white card, polystyrene, etc).

Originally Posted by r00b0y

Get the cheapest camera & the best lights that your budget will allow

+1, you dont need a good body, but I do recommend something like the 17-50 f/2.8.

I dont agree about AC/studio flash vs AA battery flash, but you can get good studio flashes inexpensively, which is convenient if you dont need to take them anywhere, its also $10 or so for an optical slave trigger to put on the hot shoe, which work great indoors.