Camera suggestions for child portrait photography: I am doing more child photography and need a camera with extremely high quality detail. Many of my portraits are used as reference...

richarcs Loc: Michigan

I am doing more child photography and need a camera with extremely high quality detail. Many of my portraits are used as reference for art projects. I have had Nikon cameras for years, and am ready for an update. I have read up on the Nikon D-850, but would love some recommendations from other portrait photographers. I enjoy weddings as well and travel frequently, so need something that also does beautiful landscapes. Thank you for your suggestions!

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Since you're a Nikon user, I would suggest a D750. I know 2 professional portrait photographers who use the 750

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

richarcs wrote:

I am doing more child photography and need a camera with extremely high quality detail. Many of my portraits are used as reference for art projects. I have had Nikon cameras for years, and am ready for an update. I have read up on the Nikon D-850, but would love some recommendations from other portrait photographers. I enjoy weddings as well and travel frequently, so need something that also does beautiful landscapes. Thank you for your suggestions!

Cathy, it takes three things to do child photography. Ist Patience
2. A good camera. I used a D800 because the D850 was not for sale. The D850 will last you a long time.
3.For high quality detail you need some good glass in a lens. Do not know if you will be doing it outdoors or indoors in a studio with natural light or strobe.
Consider Nikon AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8E ED VR or
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.4G Lens

richarcs Loc: Michigan

Thanks for your response!

richarcs Loc: Michigan

I will probably be doing both.

mrussell

You may also want to consider a medium format camera for portraiture. Some, like the Pentax 645 series are somewhat reasonably priced. I shot a series of candids recently with a Canon 80d that can be seen at
https://www.markrussell.photography
and for web viewing the results are okay. However, the prints are far below what I think is acceptable. (These shots were just an outing with a couple of relatives and not a paid gig.)

CO

For extremely high detail, make sure you get a camera that does not have an anti-aliasing filter in front of the sensor. I've noticed the difference in cameras that have an AA filter and those that don't. The Nikon D3400, D5600, D7200, D7500, D500, D810, and D850 don't have an AA filter. I would purchase any of those cameras. The D610 and D750 have an AA filter.

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

richarcs wrote:

I am doing more child photography and need a camera with extremely high quality detail. Many of my portraits are used as reference for art projects. I have had Nikon cameras for years, and am ready for an update. I have read up on the Nikon D-850, but would love some recommendations from other portrait photographers. I enjoy weddings as well and travel frequently, so need something that also does beautiful landscapes. Thank you for your suggestions!

You don't mention your studio size, working distances, etc.

Ordinarily a Nikon D850 and a nice sharp and fast portrait lens like an 85mm F1.4 and a 105mm F1.4 - two of the best portrait lenses in their lineup and among the sharpest lenses Nikon offers. I like the 50mm F1.4, but it is too short for portraiture. If your budget allows this, it's hard to do better - unless you go to medium format.

Shutterbug57

richarcs wrote:

I am doing more child photography and need a camera with extremely high quality detail. Many of my portraits are used as reference for art projects. I have had Nikon cameras for years, and am ready for an update. I have read up on the Nikon D-850, but would love some recommendations from other portrait photographers. I enjoy weddings as well and travel frequently, so need something that also does beautiful landscapes. Thank you for your suggestions!

Understanding your current body and glass would help in formulating a response. All you have noted is that you are a Nikon shooter and have looked at the D850.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

"Extreme quality details" is something we could be talking about the rest of the day. A lot of that quality details depends on you more than the lens.
If you are using the 85mm f1.8 the lens should render all of the "quality details" you need.
I would say the D750 should do the job easily.

Gorzek

Check out :

https://www.nikonevents.com/us/live/
and
see
Tamara Lackey (Child photographer and many other photographers)

Note from Don in Menomonee Falls WI

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

richarcs wrote:

I am doing more child photography and need a camera with extremely high quality detail. Many of my portraits are used as reference for art projects. I have had Nikon cameras for years, and am ready for an update. I have read up on the Nikon D-850, but would love some recommendations from other portrait photographers. I enjoy weddings as well and travel frequently, so need something that also does beautiful landscapes. Thank you for your suggestions!

Given your wide range of photographic interests your interest in a multi-talented camera makes sense. The suggestions of the D750 and D850 are sound. I would say, that if you can afford the D850 it has some advantages for child photography. There are more similarities between wildlife photography and child portraiture than between child and adult portraiture. So the faster frame rate, the larger file size (for cropping) and the advanced AF system may help in catching the fleeting moments of a subject who may be more interested in what they just found in their nose than any thing you are trying to accomplish

aflundi Loc: Albuquerque, NM

CO wrote:

For extremely high detail, make sure you get a camera that does not have an anti-aliasing filter in front of the sensor....

That is only part of the story. A fuller description is that without an AA filter, 1/3 of the pixel-sized details are recorded in full and appear very sharp, but 2/3 of those details are completely and irrevocably lost. It's the lost details that cause moire, false color, false detail and other artifacts. That look appeals to some, but be aware of the compromise.

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

I use a Nikon D850 for this type of work. I use a combination of the Nikon 85/1.4G, Nikon 105/1.4G and the Sigma 135/1.8 ART as my usual portrait lenses. The best of luck.

Steamboat

Go with a Nikon D750 with 24~120 zoom
It's more camera and lens that you will ever need.