Advice on camera for interiors in real estate photos (wide angle) under 600$

[Pintadagua]

Hi everyone.

Need some advice on camera and lens for taking interior pictures of real estate.

I'm an architect and I need to take pictures of the houses I refurbish.

They usualy are very small appartments and I need quite a wide angle to frame the rooms all in. This is of extreme importance.

The camera can be heavy and bulky as I'll only need it every 5 or 6 months.

It doesn't need to be fast in taking photos.

It needs minimum zoom capability.

It should be under 600$ (500€).

The image quality should be very good (this also is of extreme importance) although the pictures won't need to be printed in large formats for they'll be mostly for screen viewing.

The photos I seek are not artistic. They should portrait the houses in a non deceiving way for they are intended to draw potencial customers (don't want to let them down as they visit the appartment).

Also need some guidance on the external flash.

Thanks a lot.

 

[AlbertTheLazy]

Hi everyone.

Need some advice on camera and lens for taking interior pictures of real estate.

I'm an architect and I need to take pictures of the houses I refurbish.

They usualy are very small appartments and I need quite a wide angle to frame the rooms all in. This is of extreme importance.

The camera can be heavy and bulky as I'll only need it every 5 or 6 months.

It doesn't need to be fast in taking photos.

It needs minimum zoom capability.

It should be under 600$ (500€).

The image quality should be very good (this also is of extreme importance) although the pictures won't need to be printed in large formats for they'll be mostly for screen viewing.

The photos I seek are not artistic. They should portrait the houses in a non deceiving way for they are intended to draw potencial customers (don't want to let them down as they visit the appartment).

Also need some guidance on the external flash.

Thanks a lot.

Do you have any pictures already? Posting a couple would give a better idea of just how wide an angle you need.

First stop, look at a second hand DSLR from any of the manufacturers with its kit zoom lens plus as wide a wide angle as you can find. You may well get the most bang for your buck this way.

You may need to learn how to eliminate lens distortion in post processing using something like Lightroom.

Buy yourself a decent tripod. It makes life much easier.

As for flash, learn about using bounce flash. Don't expect usable results from a built-in flashgun. Alternatively shoot after dark and learn about light painting.

Otherwise...

Check out the Fuji X-A1 with its 16-50mm zoom. If you need wider than that then you can add the Samyang 10 mm F2.8 -- that is a lot wider.

As for flash, learn about using bounce flash. Don't expect usable results from a built-in flashgun. Alternatively shoot after dark and learn about light painting.

--

Albert
Every photograph is an abstraction from reality.
Most people are more interested in the picture than the image.

 

[KCook]

They usualy are very small appartments and I need quite a wide angle to frame the rooms all in. This is of extreme importance.

Indeed, that is the tricky part. There are fixed lens compacts that will zoom back to an effective focal length of 24mm. Rent one of those and see if it is wide enough for you. If not, then find an old Canon DSLR body and add the new Canon 10-18 zoom. If that is over budget (or not wide enough) then hire a local pro instead of making this DIY.

Kelly Cook

 

[Pintadagua]

Hi Albert and Kelly,

Thank you very much for your input (and sorry for the late reply).

I saw this camera in FNAC in Lisbon.

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www.fnac.pt

It´s an Olympus PEN E-PL5 + M.Zuiko Digital 14‑42mm f/3.5‑5.6 II R + M.Zuiko Digital ED 40‑150mm f/4.0‑5.6 R.

It´s under a promotion and costs only 399,99€.

Would you recommend it?

Can you also recommend a bounce flash?

Thanks again.

 

[AlbertTheLazy]

Hi Albert and Kelly,

Thank you very much for your input (and sorry for the late reply).

I saw this camera in FNAC in Lisbon.

http://www.fnac.pt/Olympus-PEN-E-PL...ra-Fotografica-Digital-Camara-Hibrida/a813095

It´s an Olympus PEN E-PL5 + M.Zuiko Digital 14‑42mm f/3.5‑5.6 II R + M.Zuiko Digital ED 40‑150mm f/4.0‑5.6 R.

It´s under a promotion and costs only 399,99€.

Would you recommend it?

The 40-150 zoom will not be any use for interiors, though you might like it for holidays!

The short zoom might be a bit tight. It's equivalent to a full frame 28mm. Look at Amazon to see what wide angles are available for micro 4/3. Ideally you would want something like 10mm or wider.

Can you also recommend a bounce flash

Almost any cheap manual flash will do the trick.

Thanks again.

 

[KCook]

Very nice camera. And I have that same 14-42 kit zoom on my older PEN model, good imaging, if not very fast.

If you would rather buy a new speedlight, not used, there are low price models by Neewer and Yongnuo (I have a Yongnuo). So long as you are using the light in its manual mode (not TTL), don't be too fussed about whether it is configured for Olympus. My Yongnuo is Canon spec, and still works fine on my Olympus in manual mode.

Albert raises a good point on the 14-42 for WA work. For every day WA purposes 28mm (effective) is plenty wide enough. However, for shooting whole scenes (not details) in small rooms, there may be a need for even wider coverage. And to go wider than 28mm the corresponding lenses for DSLR (especially Canon) will be lower cost than for M4/3. So if you already know you need wider than 28, I would say just get a DSLR, even an old cheap one.

Kelly

 

[Pintadagua]

Hi Albert and Kelly,

Thank you very much for your input (and sorry for the late reply).

I saw this camera in FNAC in Lisbon.

http://www.fnac.pt/Olympus-PEN-E-PL...ra-Fotografica-Digital-Camara-Hibrida/a813095

It´s an Olympus PEN E-PL5 + M.Zuiko Digital 14‑42mm f/3.5‑5.6 II R + M.Zuiko Digital ED 40‑150mm f/4.0‑5.6 R.

It´s under a promotion and costs only 399,99€.

Would you recommend it?

The 40-150 zoom will not be any use for interiors, though you might like it for holidays!

The short zoom might be a bit tight. It's equivalent to a full frame 28mm. Look at Amazon to see what wide angles are available for micro 4/3. Ideally you would want something like 10mm or wider.

Are you referring to the 14-42mm lens, in this last paragraph?

Can you also recommend a bounce flash

Almost any cheap manual flash will do the trick.

OK. Thanks.

Thanks again.

--
Albert
Every photograph is an abstraction from reality.
Most people are more interested in the picture than the image.

 

[Pintadagua]

Very nice camera. And I have that same 14-42 kit zoom on my older PEN model, good imaging, if not very fast.

If you would rather buy a new speedlight, not used, there are low price models by Neewer and Yongnuo (I have a Yongnuo). So long as you are using the light in its manual mode (not TTL), don't be too fussed about whether it is configured for Olympus. My Yongnuo is Canon spec, and still works fine on my Olympus in manual mode.

Albert raises a good point on the 14-42 for WA work. For every day WA purposes 28mm (effective) is plenty wide enough. However, for shooting whole scenes (not details) in small rooms, there may be a need for even wider coverage. And to go wider than 28mm the corresponding lenses for DSLR (especially Canon) will be lower cost than for M4/3. So if you already know you need wider than 28, I would say just get a DSLR, even an old cheap one.

Kelly

Thanks a lot.

I'll take a look at the market and I' ll get back to you for some advice on specific equipment.

 

[Pintadagua]

Hi Albert. Never mind my last reply.

I took a look at Kelly's and I understood what you´re saying.

I'll take a look at the market and I' ll get back to you for some advice on specific equipment.

 

[Pintadagua]

Very nice camera. And I have that same 14-42 kit zoom on my older PEN model, good imaging, if not very fast.

If you would rather buy a new speedlight, not used, there are low price models by Neewer and Yongnuo (I have a Yongnuo). So long as you are using the light in its manual mode (not TTL), don't be too fussed about whether it is configured for Olympus. My Yongnuo is Canon spec, and still works fine on my Olympus in manual mode.

Albert raises a good point on the 14-42 for WA work. For every day WA purposes 28mm (effective) is plenty wide enough. However, for shooting whole scenes (not details) in small rooms, there may be a need for even wider coverage. And to go wider than 28mm the corresponding lenses for DSLR (especially Canon) will be lower cost than for M4/3. So if you already know you need wider than 28, I would say just get a DSLR, even an old cheap one.

Kelly

Thanks Kelly,

I´ll go with the PEN E-PL5 + M.Zuiko Digital 14‑42mm + 40‑150mm.

I think that, for what I intend to do, the 14mm will do just fine (don´t want potential buyers to be disappointed with the size of the rooms when they get there after seeing the photos).

The price is also very appealing.

Best regards.

Pedro Sousa.

 

[Pintadagua]

Hi Albert and Kelly,

Thank you very much for your input (and sorry for the late reply).

I saw this camera in FNAC in Lisbon.

http://www.fnac.pt/Olympus-PEN-E-PL...ra-Fotografica-Digital-Camara-Hibrida/a813095

It´s an Olympus PEN E-PL5 + M.Zuiko Digital 14‑42mm f/3.5‑5.6 II R + M.Zuiko Digital ED 40‑150mm f/4.0‑5.6 R.

It´s under a promotion and costs only 399,99€.

Would you recommend it?

The 40-150 zoom will not be any use for interiors, though you might like it for holidays!

The short zoom might be a bit tight. It's equivalent to a full frame 28mm. Look at Amazon to see what wide angles are available for micro 4/3. Ideally you would want something like 10mm or wider.

Can you also recommend a bounce flash

Almost any cheap manual flash will do the trick.

Thanks again.

 

[Leonard Migliore]

Hi Albert and Kelly,

Thank you very much for your input (and sorry for the late reply).

I saw this camera in FNAC in Lisbon.

http://www.fnac.pt/Olympus-PEN-E-PL...ra-Fotografica-Digital-Camara-Hibrida/a813095

It´s an Olympus PEN E-PL5 + M.Zuiko Digital 14‑42mm f/3.5‑5.6 II R + M.Zuiko Digital ED 40‑150mm f/4.0‑5.6 R.

It´s under a promotion and costs only 399,99€.

Would you recommend it?

The 40-150 zoom will not be any use for interiors, though you might like it for holidays!

The short zoom might be a bit tight. It's equivalent to a full frame 28mm. Look at Amazon to see what wide angles are available for micro 4/3. Ideally you would want something like 10mm or wider.

Can you also recommend a bounce flash

Almost any cheap manual flash will do the trick.

Thanks again.

 

[Pintadagua]

Hi Albert and Kelly,

Thank you very much for your input (and sorry for the late reply).

I saw this camera in FNAC in Lisbon.

http://www.fnac.pt/Olympus-PEN-E-PL...ra-Fotografica-Digital-Camara-Hibrida/a813095

It´s an Olympus PEN E-PL5 + M.Zuiko Digital 14‑42mm f/3.5‑5.6 II R + M.Zuiko Digital ED 40‑150mm f/4.0‑5.6 R.

It´s under a promotion and costs only 399,99€.

Would you recommend it?

The 40-150 zoom will not be any use for interiors, though you might like it for holidays!

The short zoom might be a bit tight. It's equivalent to a full frame 28mm. Look at Amazon to see what wide angles are available for micro 4/3. Ideally you would want something like 10mm or wider.

Can you also recommend a bounce flash

Almost any cheap manual flash will do the trick.

Thanks again.

--
Albert
Every photograph is an abstraction from reality.
Most people are more interested in the picture than the image.

Thanks Albert,

I´ll go with the PEN E-PL5 + M.Zuiko Digital 14‑42mm + 40‑150mm.

I think that, for what I intend to do, the 14mm will do just fine (don´t want potential buyers to be disappointed with the size of the rooms when they get there after seeing the photos).

The price is also very appealing.

That's fine if you want it but when you started the thread, you indicated that you wanted a very wide angle. As Albert has noted, a 14mm lens on micro 4/3 is not very wide. Most compact cameras will go that wide or wider for less money.

--
Leonard Migliore

Hi Leonard,

I said quite a wide angle witch I think is a little bit different than a very wide angle.

Still I´m not even an amateur and for me, as I saw on Flickr, 14mm lens provide quite a wide angle.

I also need an external flash and I think (forgive my ignorance if I´m wrong) that compacts don´t have hot shoes.

Pedro Sousa.

 

[KCook]

Fair point, extreme WA will distort the apparent size of a room. The trick is to have just enough WA, and not any more than that.

Kelly

 

[Mystery member]

I said quite a wide angle witch I think is a little bit different than a very wide angle.

Still I´m not even an amateur and for me, as I saw on Flickr, 14mm lens provide quite a wide angle.

The effective angle of the lens depends on the size of the camera's sensor.

14mm on your Olympus is definitely not a fairly wide angle; not wide enough for interior work.

Are real estate guys poor in your part of the world?

I don't know why you are worried about the cost of your camera, or why you are even doing it yourself. Hire a professional, or at least get yourself a decent DSLR with a proper wide angle lens.

This is taken with what I would regard as the minimum gear for the task. Cost $1000.


Sigma 10-20mm

 

[Pintadagua]

Hi Albert and Kelly,

Thank you very much for your input (and sorry for the late reply).

I saw this camera in FNAC in Lisbon.

http://www.fnac.pt/Olympus-PEN-E-PL...ra-Fotografica-Digital-Camara-Hibrida/a813095

It´s an Olympus PEN E-PL5 + M.Zuiko Digital 14‑42mm f/3.5‑5.6 II R + M.Zuiko Digital ED 40‑150mm f/4.0‑5.6 R.

It´s under a promotion and costs only 399,99€.

Would you recommend it?

The 40-150 zoom will not be any use for interiors, though you might like it for holidays!

The short zoom might be a bit tight. It's equivalent to a full frame 28mm. Look at Amazon to see what wide angles are available for micro 4/3. Ideally you would want something like 10mm or wider.

Can you also recommend a bounce flash

Almost any cheap manual flash will do the trick.

Thanks again.

 

[Pintadagua]

Thanks again Kelly,

Did you get to see my reply to Leonard? Can you give me a hint about these cameras?

As I said just before, forgive my ignorance. As Leonard stated there are some compacts that could do the trick.

What would you choose from the cameras below (Picture quality and wide angle being the most important)?

Canon PowerShot SX50 HS

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7

PEN E-PL5 + M.Zuiko Digital 14‑42mm + 40‑150mm

 

[Leonard Migliore]

What would you choose from the cameras below (Picture quality and wide angle being the most important)?

Canon PowerShot SX50 HS

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7

PEN E-PL5 + M.Zuiko Digital 14‑42mm + 40‑150mm

I have no direct experience with any of the cameras in the above list, but both the Canon and the Panasonic go wider than the Olympus; they reach 24mm equivalent while the Olympus only goes to 28mm. Of the two compacts, the Lumix has a larger sensor and a faster lens, making it (at least by the specifications) a better choice. The Canon has far more telephoto, which is not useful in the context you specified.

As has been noted, an even wider angle than 24mm equivalent is commonly used for interior photography.

 

[Bjorn_L]

Hi again everybody,

As I said just before, forgive my ignorance. As Leonard stated there are some compacts that could do the trick.

What would you choose from the cameras below (Picture quality and wide angle being the most important)?

Canon PowerShot SX50 HS

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7

PEN E-PL5 + M.Zuiko Digital 14‑42mm + 40‑150mm

I would not get the Olympus PEN because despite it being the best camera on your list, it is not very wide at 28mm FOV.

I'd suggest you revisit your entire goal here. Is it to go small, cheap, wide or what? You seem to be all over the place.

I think the right lens is either a tilt-shift (costly) or a Sigma 10-20mm on a 1.5x crop body giving your an equivalent FOV of 15-30mm. Wider then that and you get distortion.

 

[KCook]

Thanks again Kelly,

Did you get to see my reply to Leonard? Can you give me a hint about these cameras?

As I said just before, forgive my ignorance. As Leonard stated there are some compacts that could do the trick.

What would you choose from the cameras below (Picture quality and wide angle being the most important)?

Canon PowerShot SX50 HS

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7

PEN E-PL5 + M.Zuiko Digital 14‑42mm + 40‑150mm

The LX7 has the wider angle, but even so, I would pick the PL5 as simply the nicer camera. I will confess to being an Olympus fanboi :-D

Now, as for 28mm field width. It may be marginal for your purposes, or it may be just wide enough. Provide us with a diagram of the tightest room you expect to shoot. With all of the dimensions, both room size and the width of the field that you need the shot to cover. A few of us already have these cameras or lenses, we can then run quick trials to see what coverage you can expect to actually get.


Kelly