Setup for event photography and headshots (Page 2): Thank you for sharing your knowledge in great detail. Much appreciated.

OutdoorNH Loc: Atlanta, GA

E.L.. Shapiro wrote:

For headshots, KEEP IT SIMPLE! A headshot is a photo/model agency etc., slang for a portrait. People want to look good and possibly flattered in their headshots. They do not want the distortion that can be introduced with the use of a wide-angle lens. Any experienced portrait photograher (like me

) will attest to the fact that a medium longer focal length lens is best for portraits, especially in head and shoulder and close shots. For a full-frame digital camera, I recommend a 105mm lens or thereabout or the equivalent thereof for whatever format you select.

The recommend focal twill enables you to work at a distance that will not introduce distortion. Perspective is controlled by distance so the focal lengh accommodates a comfortable and optical correct working distance, and good composition is best.

If you are mainly a real-estate shooter, the 85 to 105mm range, in a prime lens will not serve you well in any kind of architectural or interior work, except perhaps in shooting small decorative or structural details. If you acquire a zoom lens that encompasses that longer range, you may find it more economical. A PRIME 105, however, is an excellent choice as per image quality.

Whether you go DSLR or mirrorless is up to you. Good lenses are available for both systems. It seems that the manufacturers are all trending toward mirrorless production. If I were retooling at this point I would go mirrorless, keeping in mind that lens production and availability, software support, and warranty service will be available for the longer term. The newer mirrorless models will probably serve you better in your real estate work, especially in difficult or contrasty lighting situations- more pixels, better sensors, l and likely better dynamic range than some of the older DSLRs.

I have been doing photography professionally for a very long time so I am not affected by GAS unless I overeat my favorite baked bean recipe. I haven't come up with a nifty, cool, pithy, and slick acronym for word for my equipment acquisition philosophy to replace GAS. My concept is "the right tools for the right job and anything else is extra baggage and dust collectors. If any of y'all out there come up with a good word, let me know- we'll coin a phrase together!

For headshots, KEEP IT SIMPLE! A headshot is a ph... (show quote)

Thank you for sharing your knowledge in great detail. Much appreciated.

OutdoorNH Loc: Atlanta, GA

billnikon wrote:

Your good to go as is. No problem. Wait a year or two. Nikon will be coming out with new and better mirrorless. But, understand, if you think your headshots will improve with mirrorless, your barking up the wrong tree.

Thank you Bill. With the excellent experienced advice I have received from those that have taken time to respond I’m starting to rethink any upgrades and hold off.

tcthome Loc: NJ

billnikon wrote:

Your good to go as is. No problem. Wait a year or two. Nikon will be coming out with new and better mirrorless. But, understand, if you think your headshots will improve with mirrorless, your barking up the wrong tree.

Something new will always be coming out IMHO. Unless the equipment that is for sale now will not do the work now, there is no other reason to wait. Did the OP consider Canon or Sony? Or plan on using F mount lenses on Z cameras?

MJPerini

Agree with Mr Shapiro about keeping it simple, and use a longer lens Nikon makes an 85mm f/1.8 that is great and affordable 85 to 105 will serve you well. Keep lighting simple and forgiving a simple flash with a medium umbrella will give you a good sized sweet spot.
For real estate agent portraits they need mostly fairly tight head shots for business cards with a non distracting background. Find a spot with a background that works, use spike tape to give people a quick reference of where to stand, once you dial in your light spike that too and measure it so you can recreate the setup easily.
The more you dial in the setup, the faster you can move and it will be easier in post to deliver consistent results
Good luck

avraham Loc: Reno, Nevada

I have been using an 85mm Nikkor lens with either a Nikon D3x or F6 for years with excellent results. I also have a 85mm lens for my Sony A7 with the same results.

bjojade Loc: Wausau, WI

If you're looking for video functions, the z30 is MUCH better than the d500 from a workflow and design perspective, especially when using Z lenses designed for video. It's diminutive size is wonderful when used on a gimbal. (usually you can get away with putting a smaller camera on the gimbal you have and it'll be fine. No need for a new one. But if the wife asks, I don't know what I'm talking about...)

For headshot photos, I don't know that you'd see any difference at all between the two. Even for basic headshots, moving into a full frame camera isn't going to make a lot of difference. Good lighting and poses will make far more difference in the end than a new camera will.

As far as lenses go, headshots I like shooting in the 85-120 range. (that's about 55-80 on a crop sensor). Wider lenses get the camera too close to the subject resulting in distortion as well as the need for a larger backdrop. Longer lengths mean you need more physical space for the setup which often is a problem, plus the physical distance from the subject makes the photo shoot less personal.

If you don't have a long enough lens, you can still back the camera up as though you have a longer lens and crop the final image. Yes, you lose pixels by doing that, but for your typical headshot that's only going to be viewed in a 2 inch image on a computer screen, you don't need a heck of a lot. Of course, if they plan to put the image on a billboard, that's a different story but then they're probably not going to use a 'free' headshot image for that sort of thing.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

OutdoorNH wrote:

Greetings everyone. I'm a real estate photographer... (show quote)

I hope you are not married to NIKON lens - The one lens I can highly recommend for you is the Sigma 17-70 f2.8-4 Contemporary F-mount crop frame lens - use it on mirrorless with adapter if you go that way - they are about $200 used. I have and use one extensively. Look at the reviews if you do not believe me .......
.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

OutdoorNH wrote:

Greetings everyone. I'm a real estate photographer... (show quote)

Ed's counsel is worth more than that of any 10 other people here.

I shoot with a D500, but have not used the 18-140 zoom. My perception is that it was intended as an improvement of the very quirky and occasionally unreliable 18-200mm zoom. I have one of those that I sometimes used, but it has suffered a fatal and unrepairable ribbon cable failure. I now use a 24-120mm f/4 full-frame zoom most of the time on my D500. It is a huge improvement. New, they cost about $1050, but nice ones can be bought used all day long for $450-500. Nikon sometimes offers refurbs for just under $500. Either option would cover Ed's suggested focal lengths nicely (and economically).

I'm not particularly a fan of the Z30, but do think it would work pretty nicely for your videos. Not convinced that it would get you anything better on your stills, though. That D500 is a pretty great camera. If you learn how to use Flicker Reduction and set your White Balance, there's a good chance that you could do without your lighting, or maybe just get a small LED panel.

stan0301 Loc: Colorado

OutdoorNH wrote:

Greetings everyone. I'm a real estate photographer... (show quote)

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

OutdoorNH wrote:

Greetings everyone. I'm a real estate photographer... (show quote)

The two 24-70mm f/2.8 lenses you mention are both excellent options if you stick with the D500. Choose based on price. The Nikon will have better resale value. The Tamron is less costly. I doubt at 21 MP that you would ever tell a difference, although the Nikon lens may focus a tad faster.

BUT:

If you move to mirrorless, and want to expand both your video and stills capabilities, my recommendation is to move away from both APS-C and Nikon.

If I really wanted to do real estate video in addition to stills, I would not hesitate to forget Nikon and get the Panasonic Lumix S5 Mark II, which is a TRUE hybrid (stills and video) camera capable of cinema-like results. It has fantastic in-body image stabilization features, DUAL stabilization with certain L-Mount lenses, phase detect hybrid AF, the ability to record true log video, anamorphic video, four channel audio capability, and more. Body is $2000. It doesn't get any better for video and full frame stills at that price.

DOZENS of reviews of this camera can be found on YouTube. I have tried in vain to find a BAD review of this camera, and haven't seen one yet.

> https://youtu.be/eDAKWDK3H8E — Emily at Micro Four Nerds reviews the Lumix S5II (about 14 minutes)

> https://youtu.be/A06GnDOx0vE — Hugh Brownstone at Three Blind Men and an Elephant reviews the Lumix S5 II (about 27 minutes)

> https://youtu.be/FYebjEgf3J0 — Gerald Undone reviews the Lumix S5 II (about 25 minutes)

> https://youtu.be/WjvZgZSpRWU?t=99 — Panasonic's Lumix S5 II and IIx introduction at CES (Warning: about 50 minutes, with parts full of geeky specs that some of us drool over)

> https://youtu.be/Y5auV2JC7fc — Richard Wong Reviews the Lumix S5 II (Very long 1:38, thick Asian accent, but THOROUGH review with many great comparison tests)

I can attest from seven years of using Lumix Micro 4/3 gear that no stills camera company puts better or easier to use video recording features in their hybrid mirrorless cameras. Panasonic's S5 Mark II has solved their only major flaw — mediocre continuous tracking autofocus — spectacularly well. You can see many tests in these reviews.

All S5 Mark II reviews on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Lumix+s5+ii+reviews

FIRST PARTY L-Mount Alliance (Leica, Panasonic, and Sigma) lenses are available for the S5 Mark II. Here is the mother of all lists for them, and some other brands:

https://lesdeuxpiedsdehors.com/en/lenses-for-l-mount/#lenses-mount-l-full-frame

Another long list of compatible lenses: https://alikgriffin.com/list-of-l-mount-lenses/

OutdoorNH Loc: Atlanta, GA

burkphoto wrote:

The two 24-70mm f/2.8 lenses you mention are both ... (show quote)

After your post I stayed with what I have and am going to make the switch to Panasonic. I know a few locals who also use that camera and the video quality is superb to say the least. I saw your post about the S5 Mark IIX in May is now out- that's what I'm planning to purchase.

I'm not up to speed on the quality of Panasonic lenses yet, but see they do have a kit 14-28mm new release but with variable aperture. Do you have any recommendations on that focal range you like better, or with a fixed aperture?

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

OutdoorNH wrote:

After your post I stayed with what I have and am g... (show quote)

Here are a few more reviews to help you understand the system.

https://youtu.be/nHhCQm14VRc Gerald Undone

https://youtu.be/L833ZhUtiBw Tyler Stalman

https://youtu.be/tyLV5-zMXd4 Tony Northrup

THE HOAX (A short film made with the LUMIX S5IIX + ATLAS MERCURY ANAMORPHIC LENSES):

https://youtu.be/jHaDXTNYQR8

“We are switching from Sony to Panasonic” https://youtu.be/ouVFlMx-83Q Larimore Studios

https://youtu.be/7XNIR62fYaI The Hybrid Shooter review

https://youtu.be/jfTHLX9Joig Josh Cameron rant (He has a ton of special videos on the S5 II and IIX cameras)

The Sigma MC-21 Mount Converter/Lens Adapter (Sigma EF-Mount Lenses to L-Mount Camera) is a $250 wonder that can mount Canon L glass to the L mount cameras. Apparently, from some reviews I've seen on YouTube, hybrid PDAF in the S5 II and IIX works well with them.

Leica, Panasonic, and Sigma are all FIRST PARTNERS in sharing the L-Mount specifications. Sigma makes 29 lenses that fit all L-Mount cameras. Those greatly expand the 13 Leica and 14 Panasonic offerings.

OutdoorNH Loc: Atlanta, GA

burkphoto wrote:

Here are a few more reviews to help you understand... (show quote)

Thank you for such a quick response and more links to further educate myself!

BebuLamar

I guess you do get paid for your photography work. Do you get paid enough to justify upgrading.