Jules Karney Loc: Las Vegas, Nevada

Hi to all members.

I am thinking about getting into real estate photography. As a matter of fact I shot my first interior-exterior yesterday.
The equipment I have is Nikon D500, D7100 50 1.4, 24-70 2.8, 80-400 4.5-5.6 70-200 2.8. Nikon SB 700 flash. Nikon 18-140.
My question is (I have read all in the search section real estate photography), I need either a 12-24 f4 or a 14-24. Which lens would I purchase? And why.
Thanks in advance.

Jules
Las Vegas

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tradio Loc: Oxford, Ohio

While the 14-24 is an awesome lens and should be in your arsenal, You may want a PC lens.

tradio Loc: Oxford, Ohio

While the 14-24 is an awesome lens and should be in your arsenal, You may want a PC lens.

tradio Loc: Oxford, Ohio

Perspective Control

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Jules, you need to get an excellent understanding of light, color, composition, post processing (compositing, HDR, color handling, focus stacking, layer blending, frequency separation, cloning, etc, etc, etc) before you consider going down this path. Your 18-140 will give you the width you need, and if not, you can generally do a stitched pano to get wider.

First image - horrible keystoning. poor control over light, not sure what you are wanting a prospective buyer to look at that says "buy me."

Second image - wrong time of day, too much contrast, the hour after sunrise and the hour before sunset would avoid your blown out sky and concrete driveway. Don't need to show the side of the house, it is unattractive. Slight keystoning here is ok, but I would have corrected it.

Third image - window totally blown out, keystoning, barrel distortion correctable in Lightroom, Photoshop PT Lens with the proper lens profile. Doesn't really show the room to it's best advantage.

In smaller rooms you will need to use a wider lens, but carefully, to avoid keystoning, volume anamorphosis, severe extension distortion. Or you can use a longer lens, but you'd have to start being concerned with having adequate depth of field, so you'll have to learn how to do focus stacking. A tripod with a bowl platform (often used in video) and a level will be indispensable.

Take a look at this guy's portfolio. I mentored him a few years ago and his work is really excellent now. You probably don't have the clientele, especially if you are doing MLS RE Agents, but you can certainly learn from his approach.

http://ronnachtwey.com/bas/beforeafter-residential/

FYI, he was a Canon 5d Mk III shooter until he found he needed a 14-24mm, at which point he bought a Nikon D800. A comparably wide lens on your camera would be an 8-16mm or a 10-20mm. I think the 12-24 or the 14-24 may not be wide enough for those difficult, tight spaces. But if you understand it and use it appropriately it should be your least used lens.

Dave327 Loc: Duluth, GA. USA

The 12-24, You are going to be confronted with small rooms and you will need all you can get. I have been in construction for 47 years and shoot Canon, frequently using a 10-18 for my completion shoots. Yes, there is distortion at the edges, but some can be fixed in PP.

Jules Karney Loc: Las Vegas, Nevada

Gene:
Thank you for your comments and suggestions. I knew I had a lot of learning to do.
You helped. The before and after is a eye opener for sure. Great work. What lens was used? Where two shots blended together to get away from windows blown out and for detail?

nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

Since you have DX cameras I would recommend the 12-24. A PC lens is ideal to correct distortion but I don't think they make one wide enough for DX, and PC's are very expensive. To avoid distortion use a tripod and keep the lens parallel to the ground!

Jules Karney Loc: Las Vegas, Nevada

Thank you for your comments nimbushopper. I will probably go with a 12-24.

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

You also need to take your speedlights (flashes) off camera and put them on umbrellas to spread and even the lighting. Since you are shooting digitally, you can shoot "preview " shots and see where the "dark spots" are that you need to add light to. This is especially true if you are shooting wide angle and multiple stories. In your first photo, a strobe adding light to the upstairs hallway would have helped reduce or eliminate that dark area. I generally shoot with 2 SB910's and an SB800 in addition to my popup on the camera. I use a Nikon D610 and a Nikon D7100 as my cameras.
Here is the site of a photographer in the LA area that I follow. I provided some help to him when I was working in Nikon's Professional Services group and have followed his work.
http://www.photosofmylisting.com/

He primarily works the Los Angeles area but also shoots mansions and estates all over the US and the world. While, I've only talked to him a few times on the phone and by email, I follow his work and respect his work.

While this doesn't address your lens issue, I hope it will give you some creative ideas that will help your general work.

Jules Karney Loc: Las Vegas, Nevada

Thanks for your comments. A lot to learn.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

PCs (T/S) are nice for exterior shots, especially of tall buildings. But if you are doing primarily residential homes, any distortion using a more standard lens can be handled in post.

I still want a tilt/shift lens anyway because... well i just want one.

jtal Loc: South Carolina

Also consider that you may be asked to do real estate head shots.
If you do, remember that many times you are updating earlier photos that they may have been using for the last 10 or more years.
Aka they are 10+ years older, but they want to look like they did then (not possible).
If possible recommend to a head shot specialist. If you have to do it, then get ready for a lot post retouching to satisfy their vanity.
Can you tell I had a bad experience?

John

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

In my opinion you need a wider angle lens than either one of those that you mentioned. For your crop sensor bodies you should have a 10mm lens. For indoor images you need a very wide angle lens. 10mm is the equivalent of a 16mm on a full frame body. Look for a zoom that goes down to 10mm. The reason you need wide angle is because you can make a room look larger and more appealing to potential buyers.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

Definitely wider. The third shot shows very little of the room. A wider lens may have allowed a better shot.