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I need suggestions
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Mar 15, 2019 09:25:01   #
bellflory
 
I hope the knowledge I need from you isn't offputting. I'm not actually interested in photography as a hobby. My love is making leather goods. I live and breathe patterns and combinations to make beautiful things from leather. What I hope you will help me with is determining what camera equipment to buy to photograph my leather goods. My budget is in the $400 to $500 range. I will be listing my creations for sale, so need an easily accessible way to move photos to the computer. Photos will be taken both outdoors in natural light and indoors with possibly added light. I don't want a plain white background, but realize what I'm marketing isn't the background, so composition suggestions would also be appreciated. I need to be able to photograph close-up shots showing a roughly 6x6 inch area, as well as pictures of a grouping of about 3x3 feet. The camera would also be used to take 'real life' pictures on vacations etc. I've looked at camera listings, but am hopelessly ignorant of what to buy. Thank you in advance for your help.

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Mar 15, 2019 09:38:18   #
tommy2 Loc: Fort Worth, Texas
 
Ok, start by looking for a point and shoot with WIFI along with a tripod.

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Mar 15, 2019 09:41:06   #
kakima
 
This may be considered blaphemy, but do you have a camera on your phone? Have you tried it?

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Mar 15, 2019 09:41:08   #
out4life2016 Loc: Bellingham, Washington
 
bellflory wrote:
I hope the knowledge I need from you isn't offputting. I'm not actually interested in photography as a hobby. My love is making leather goods. I live and breathe patterns and combinations to make beautiful things from leather. What I hope you will help me with is determining what camera equipment to buy to photograph my leather goods. My budget is in the $400 to $500 range. I will be listing my creations for sale, so need an easily accessible way to move photos to the computer. Photos will be taken both outdoors in natural light and indoors with possibly added light. I don't want a plain white background, but realize what I'm marketing isn't the background, so composition suggestions would also be appreciated. I need to be able to photograph close-up shots showing a roughly 6x6 inch area, as well as pictures of a grouping of about 3x3 feet. The camera would also be used to take 'real life' pictures on vacations etc. I've looked at camera listings, but am hopelessly ignorant of what to buy. Thank you in advance for your help.
I hope the knowledge I need from you isn't offputt... (show quote)


Since photography isn't really an interest as a hobby and will be used only for product sales and vacations I would suggest a high resolution standard point and shoot digital that takes photos in a jpeg format. For that price range you can get many different ones that will fit your needs. Sorry im not really into the point and shoots but it doesn't sound to me like you need all the bells and whistles all the newer DSLR camera come with.

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Mar 15, 2019 09:46:19   #
Silverman Loc: Michigan
 
bellflory wrote:
I hope the knowledge I need from you isn't offputting. I'm not actually interested in photography as a hobby. My love is making leather goods. I live and breathe patterns and combinations to make beautiful things from leather. What I hope you will help me with is determining what camera equipment to buy to photograph my leather goods. My budget is in the $400 to $500 range. I will be listing my creations for sale, so need an easily accessible way to move photos to the computer. Photos will be taken both outdoors in natural light and indoors with possibly added light. I don't want a plain white background, but realize what I'm marketing isn't the background, so composition suggestions would also be appreciated. I need to be able to photograph close-up shots showing a roughly 6x6 inch area, as well as pictures of a grouping of about 3x3 feet. The camera would also be used to take 'real life' pictures on vacations etc. I've looked at camera listings, but am hopelessly ignorant of what to buy. Thank you in advance for your help.
I hope the knowledge I need from you isn't offputt... (show quote)


Check out the "Panasonic Lumix" line of Point & Shoot Cameras, quality Lieca lens and a great variety of models and prices, these might suite your requirements.

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Mar 15, 2019 09:48:33   #
jdub82 Loc: California
 
bellflory wrote:
I hope the knowledge I need from you isn't offputting. I'm not actually interested in photography as a hobby. My love is making leather goods. I live and breathe patterns and combinations to make beautiful things from leather. What I hope you will help me with is determining what camera equipment to buy to photograph my leather goods. My budget is in the $400 to $500 range. I will be listing my creations for sale, so need an easily accessible way to move photos to the computer. Photos will be taken both outdoors in natural light and indoors with possibly added light. I don't want a plain white background, but realize what I'm marketing isn't the background, so composition suggestions would also be appreciated. I need to be able to photograph close-up shots showing a roughly 6x6 inch area, as well as pictures of a grouping of about 3x3 feet. The camera would also be used to take 'real life' pictures on vacations etc. I've looked at camera listings, but am hopelessly ignorant of what to buy. Thank you in advance for your help.
I hope the knowledge I need from you isn't offputt... (show quote)


A 'point and shoot' camera with a 1" sensor such as the Panasonic Lumix ZS100 would probably work well for your purposes. Typically, a point and shoot camera has a very tiny sensor, which makes it difficult to get high quality images in low light settings. (indoor shots). The 1" sensor does better in low light. At $500.00 new, the Lumix ZS100 would fit in your budget.

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Mar 15, 2019 09:50:42   #
krl48 Loc: NY, PA now SC
 
Not knowing your location might negate what I suggest....which is that you visit the closest brick and mortar camera shop. Bring a sample of your leather work along and explain to the sales person exactly what you wish to accomplish with a camera in the price range you specified. An honest, professional camera sales person should be able to work with you to the point that you might leave the store with a camera you know you can operate and that it will provide the images of your products as you want them to be seen.

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Mar 15, 2019 09:52:55   #
art pear Loc: North Dakota
 
Get a used Nikon D7000 and a used or new 1.8 50mm lens. Should easily fit your budget.

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Mar 15, 2019 10:15:44   #
bbrowner Loc: Chapel Hill, NC
 
Sounds to me as though all you need is phone camera. IMHO the key to success will probably be experimenting with your lighting.

Between your lines... it doesn't sound as though you need to or want to really invest in a camera. What's important is your leather work and decent representation of what you do.

Barry

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Mar 15, 2019 10:18:37   #
gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast
 
Silverman wrote:
Check out the "Panasonic Lumix" line of Point & Shoot Cameras, quality Lieca lens and a great variety of models and prices, these might suite your requirements.


I agree with this suggestion. It would do a fine job. The lighting is perhaps the most critical issue in product photography, not the camera. Take a look at some of the many YouTube videos on the subject.

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Mar 15, 2019 10:43:29   #
rond-photography Loc: Connecticut
 
bellflory wrote:
I hope the knowledge I need from you isn't offputting. I'm not actually interested in photography as a hobby. My love is making leather goods. I live and breathe patterns and combinations to make beautiful things from leather. What I hope you will help me with is determining what camera equipment to buy to photograph my leather goods. My budget is in the $400 to $500 range. I will be listing my creations for sale, so need an easily accessible way to move photos to the computer. Photos will be taken both outdoors in natural light and indoors with possibly added light. I don't want a plain white background, but realize what I'm marketing isn't the background, so composition suggestions would also be appreciated. I need to be able to photograph close-up shots showing a roughly 6x6 inch area, as well as pictures of a grouping of about 3x3 feet. The camera would also be used to take 'real life' pictures on vacations etc. I've looked at camera listings, but am hopelessly ignorant of what to buy. Thank you in advance for your help.
I hope the knowledge I need from you isn't offputt... (show quote)


For composition, check the catalogs of some luggage, wallets, etc. - whatever is similar in size or use to your creations. Get ideas from there. You don't need to duplicate, just use your creativity to enhance your products.

Since you will be shooting natural light, you will need to control it to prevent harsh shadows. Do you own and EZ-Up shelter or similar (in white, of course)? Shoot under it. Put up the sides if the sun is coming in from the side - instant light tent.

If you cannot keep the shutter speed high enough to prevent blurring from camera movement, get a cheap tripod. Real cheap is fine. You won't be shooting star trails, so a good tripod is a great tripod. Use the self timer mode of the camera set on 2 seconds to take the photos.

You have gotten several recommendations on cameras from others, so I won't go into more on that. I hope this helps!

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Mar 15, 2019 10:47:54   #
bellflory
 
You guys are wonderful. Your kindness/helpfulness make me wish I was a photog. Thank you

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Mar 15, 2019 10:54:34   #
boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander
 
As you don't want photography as a hobby, you still need to know the basics. Check out Amazon, basics of photography, books. A good place to start.

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Mar 15, 2019 11:20:34   #
HOHIMER
 
The latest version of the Canon Power Shot A 620 will do all you are looking for. Takes good images and has a connector and software for transferring images to your computer and doing some post processing. Use an uncluttered, light color for your backgrounds

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Mar 15, 2019 11:24:10   #
E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada
 
As a commercial photgraher, I would be interested in knowing what kind of leather goods you are making before advising you on equipment choices.

Successful product photography for online or catalog sales is dependent on good rendition of your leather products. As a leather craftsperson you know that there are many different surfaces to deal with in different kinds of hydes, tanning processes, colors and finishes. Details is stitching, embossing, various fitting and findings are all important. As you know there are difference in say cowhide, boarded morocco, cordovan and manyothere kinds of leathers. The size is an importat factor as well- a wallet as opposed to a a briefcase requires different setups. Leather clothing is another issue.

So...You don't need a top-of-the line professional camera body but a decent DSLR that can accommodate sharp lenses, perhaps a macro lens for small products may be a good investment. A zoom lens may be helpful in that you can select a slightly longer than normal focal length to preserve perspective. One of the Canon rebel models or the equivalent in another make may be advisable.

Out-of-doors-lighting needs to be controlled to render texture and form. You need to illustrate the shape of the products in a dimensional way. Diffusion panels or gobos may be required to augment and alter natural lighting. Certain reflections can be problematic.

For costancy in your images and easy workflow I might recommend a fixed indoor lighting setup, a seamless background, with a flash or LED light source. You may be able to suggest certain environments with simple props and background materials.

You are a creative individual so you need to apply your talent to you photography. You don't need to becom an enthusiast or a serious hobbyist but there is a degree of technicalities and artistry that should be applied, especially if you want to represent you products favorably.

If you could tell me what you are going to photograph as to size, finish etc., I can provide you with some guidance. If you want to shoot a few rough images with your phone camera, post those as well- that can be helpful.

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