larryepage Loc: North Texas area

Most of you know that I am pretty confident with the things I know about. But I learned a long time ago to ask and learn about the other things. My friend Stephanie has been incredibly helpful in making me a better photographer. She has dedicated her professional life to educating both students and teachers to be better artists, or in many cases to be artists at all. After six years of teaching in a school environment, she moved to the Education Department of a well-recognized art museum. She has also just completed a MFA degree with a focus on illustration, and is already building an impressive portfolio in that field to add to her other work.

She currently uses a Canon Rebel and her iPhone to do the photographic work for her educational presentations and to build her library of reference photographs to support her illustration work. It is my intention to take her shopping for an updated camera and perhaps a couple of lenses to allow her to quickly, easily, and accurately do the photography she needs and wants to do.

If the target were to be something from the Nikon display, I'd know exactly where to start. But I would appreciate some insight from those of you who may have done this already. Heres what I already know:

This is high-volume work. Time is money. The ability to get images straight from the camera with correct color and sharpness is mandatory. So easily accessible and manipulatable picture control is mandatory.

On the other hand, she has the sharpest eye for color and tone of anyone I have ever known. So her images of museum works will likely be edited...probably while sitting in front of the originals. So those would be raw, most likely.

Again, my interest here is limited to Canon equipment, and the perspective is limited to those who are artists. I know I'll still have to do some filtering, but that's the request.

Thanks a million...in advance.

User ID

Some thoughts from an actual artist:

My sister has no MFA and doesnt need one as shes not an educator. She is a knowledgeable private collector, with broad ranging interests but also large focus on Chinese antiquity. She recently stepped up from an ancient digital Rebel to an R6 with 24-105/4.0.

Shes finding it a complex thing to learn, and having no interest in PP she hasta learn to set the camera for the desired SOOC result. Im not holding her hand on this. She did her own shopping and only contacted me foe a "final check" before buying it. Despite the learning challenge, shes managing on her own. I told her to get the David Busch book ... actually to get two so I would have a copy for reference whenever she phones me about any learning issues as they arise.

Altho she wants or needs SOOC finished results, I anticipate possibly teaching her to use the in-camera raw file processing so she wont always hafta perform perfect imaging presets in the field where there can be time constraints and-or "social distractions". This may be a beneficial approach for Stephanie.
So, I suggest that if entry level Canons lack in-camera raw file processing that she should buy further up the food chain.

The in-camera raw file processing is not at all a full featured PP editor. Basicaly, it allows the user to time shift imaging presets to AFTER the exposure, which allows trying a variety of such settings rather than being stuck with your pre-exposure imaging decisions.

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FWIW, Im wondering if Stepanies current ownership of an entry level Canon is really a compelling reason to stay with Canon when moving on to a more capable and versatile outfit. The most versatile midrange choices are in the m4/3 realm. But, that would be a separate discussion. This would be a grossly bloated post if I detailed the rationale for m4/3 right here and now. I apologize for the length already reached.

ThreeCee Loc: Washington, DC

RAW is basically a negative that requires post processing. If you want straight from the camera you might shoot in JPEG. It is a much smaller file. Canon colors are the reason I stay. I like them better than SONY and Nikon

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

Thank you for this very thoughtful reply. Your discussion of the "what" and "why" is very helpful, especially your discussion of in-camera post-processing. I should have indicated, by the way, that the desire not to do post processing has nothing to do with her ability to do it...she is quite expert and has raught the process to her students for years. It is simply that when taking large numbers of reference photographs, almost all of which will be kept, there is simply no time in her workday to do it.

And you are correct that a different format or maker might work for her. She is quite intelligent and adaptable. In fact, my plan for some time has been that all of my Nikon equipment will eventually end up with her. But for right now, my thinking is that starting out not too far from where she currently is might be most helpful.

Again...thank you for your very thoughtful response.

jimvanells Loc: Augusta, GA

I have been shooting Canon for over 20 years and love their color capture ability. It is not a stretch to shoot in "raw" and develop the images using software. There are multiple free programs that can show her what can be done to bring out the important elements of the image that may need some strengthening or diminishing. Even Microsoft Photo Viewer has some basic capabilities. That can work easily with JPEG as well as raw images.

SkyKing Loc: Thompson Ridge, NY

…when shopping, make sure you compare the Sony A7RV with the Canon R5 and the Nikon Z8…these should be your starting point…as a side note…the imaging on the Sony is really, really good…

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

Rebels are usually APS-C types. As such, the Canon APS-C mirrorless R series would be a good choice. Using an EF-RF adapter, she can use all of the lenses she had with the Rebel. I have the R7, Canon's best APS-C mirrorless and love it. There are also the R100, R50, and R10. You can compare them here:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/compare/Canon_R7_vs_Canon_R50_vs_Canon_R10_vs_Canon_R100/BHitems/1707911-REG_1748810-REG_1707912-REG_1769089-REG

If within their budget, the R7 with IBIS would be preferred.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Why would Steph need a new camera at all? Has she been listening too closely to the UHH nonsense that new is better and cropped is the worst? What kind of friend are you Larry?

Mustanger Loc: Grants Pass, Oregon USA

Canon RebelT8i might be sufficient…It does most if not all of your requirements. Checkout the specs

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Exactly, why would anyone waste money on a high frames per second or weather resistance to shoot indoors on static subjects? You might as well take that money and flush it down the toilet.

A quality tripod and quick release clamps to hold a lens plate on a collar and / or an L-plate on the body would be so much more helpful than dumping money in the toilet of a new unneeded body. Maybe an external speedlite and diffuser, again more useful to indoor static photography vs a new body.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

You may be absolutely right. I am taking her shopping to look for a possible graduation gift. She specializes in oils and watercolors. Photography is a secondary medium to her. But this new need to build a library of reference photos to support her new specialty as an illustrator puts a whole different spin on the suitability of her current setup.

On the other hand, the best choice may just be something like a new 24-105 mm f/2.8 lensfor what she already has. That's why I said we were going shopping.

So far, I have gotten one helpful response from a pertinently knowledgeable person. It would be nice to get a couple more.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

There are no EF / EF-S lenses that run 24-105 at f/2.8. See the additional comment about a tripod and Arca-Swiss standard plates and clamps. Or (and / or) a speedlite, possible a wired off-camera control. There's so many opportunities that have nothing to do with a new body. If she wants a super sharp lens for indoor static photography, that's the EF-S 60mm f/2.8 macro, used at KEH for $260.

srg

Wow!
How to illustrate failure to understand and disrespect at the same time.
Maybe read both of CHG Canon's replies.

MJPerini

Not certain she needs a new camera either. If she does, other than learning curve every major manufacturer makes cameras of superb quality.
Personally, I shot Nikon for film, and moved to Canon for digital (because at the time Nikon did not make a FF digital)
I shoot Canon and have lots of lenses including T/s etc. If she is photographing Art I would suggest she get one great prime lens & a Good tripod. If she really wants a zoom the EF24-70 f/2.8 is a superb lens with very little distortion. One of the sharpest lenses I own is the discontinued 50mm f/2.5 compact macro (sometimes called 'the plastic fantastic') these can be had for around $100 bucks. Canon also made an 85/1.8 and a 100 f/2 The more current 100 f/2.8 macro is very good. If you do change cameras one with 2 card slots would be nice, because she could use the JPEG for most things, but would have the raw files just in case.
If she envisions museum work in the future a FF camera would help.
Good Luck, wonderful Gesture

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

No true artist would use a Canon camera. NIKON all the way!!!