Which Minolta should I get for taking product images?

[cyberk9]

Hi,

I am looking for a digital camera (between Fuji, Nikon, Canon and now added Minolta) for taking product images for my catalog - mostly indoors a few outside. My products are in mostly plastic bottles and a few in glass. I can spend up to $1000.00 or so..

I am looking for a good suggestion and need a camera which will take sharp images and will not fall apart like my Olympus. Weight, size, color makes no difference...

I have been learning about Fuji, Canon on the other forums, but got quite confused when I learned more about the mp deal. I looked for an alternative and found Minolta a few sec ago.

So far I narrowed it down to Canon G2, Fuji 6900, Nikon Coolpix 5700, but I just found Minolta...

I was looking at Minolta Di7 - any advice would be great ...

Thank you for all the help...

Kay

 

[Hans59567]

Hi,

I am looking for a digital camera (between Fuji, Nikon, Canon and
now added Minolta) for taking product images for my catalog -
mostly indoors a few outside. My products are in mostly plastic
bottles and a few in glass. I can spend up to $1000.00 or so..

I am looking for a good suggestion and need a camera which will
take sharp images and will not fall apart like my Olympus. Weight,
size, color makes no difference...

I have been learning about Fuji, Canon on the other forums, but got
quite confused when I learned more about the mp deal. I looked for
an alternative and found Minolta a few sec ago.

So far I narrowed it down to Canon G2, Fuji 6900, Nikon Coolpix
5700, but I just found Minolta...

I was looking at Minolta Di7 - any advice would be great ...

Seems me that all cameras you named will do that job easily, even an Olympus which is absolutely not known to "fall apart".

An (not dedicated) hot shoe and remote control seems me easy because you are supposed to use a tripod and extra flash ? However: With none of the cameras you named you will have problems.
Hans.

 

[Cat 5]

All of the cameras you've named will handle your needs easily. ...but let it be said that the Minolta D5, D7, and D7i are all well known for their "industry standard" macro photography. Your products will probably be fine with any of the cameras' macro capabilities (i.e. they are not very small to begin with), but with the D7i I can make a 1/4" horsefly look like a Buzzard.

I can't believe your Olympus falling apart was the camera's fault. They are not particularly known for poor build quality - likewise actually. Get a decent case and take good care of whatever you get. Digital cameras simply aren't like their mechanical film counterparts. The sophistication level of the circuitry, lcd, ccd, etc. make them much more prone to failure - especially if you aren't careful.

Good luck!
Shane

Hi,

I am looking for a digital camera (between Fuji, Nikon, Canon and
now added Minolta) for taking product images for my catalog -
mostly indoors a few outside. My products are in mostly plastic
bottles and a few in glass. I can spend up to $1000.00 or so..

I am looking for a good suggestion and need a camera which will
take sharp images and will not fall apart like my Olympus. Weight,
size, color makes no difference...

I have been learning about Fuji, Canon on the other forums, but got
quite confused when I learned more about the mp deal. I looked for
an alternative and found Minolta a few sec ago.

So far I narrowed it down to Canon G2, Fuji 6900, Nikon Coolpix
5700, but I just found Minolta...

I was looking at Minolta Di7 - any advice would be great ...

Thank you for all the help...

Kay

 

[Andrew Loh]

I think D7i is da best one you should pick, because of it's manual focus ring. It is best for product close-up shooting.

I can't believe your Olympus falling apart was the camera's fault.
They are not particularly known for poor build quality - likewise
actually. Get a decent case and take good care of whatever you
get. Digital cameras simply aren't like their mechanical film
counterparts. The sophistication level of the circuitry, lcd, ccd,
etc. make them much more prone to failure - especially if you
aren't careful.

Good luck!
Shane

Hi,

I am looking for a digital camera (between Fuji, Nikon, Canon and
now added Minolta) for taking product images for my catalog -
mostly indoors a few outside. My products are in mostly plastic
bottles and a few in glass. I can spend up to $1000.00 or so..

I am looking for a good suggestion and need a camera which will
take sharp images and will not fall apart like my Olympus. Weight,
size, color makes no difference...

I have been learning about Fuji, Canon on the other forums, but got
quite confused when I learned more about the mp deal. I looked for
an alternative and found Minolta a few sec ago.

So far I narrowed it down to Canon G2, Fuji 6900, Nikon Coolpix
5700, but I just found Minolta...

I was looking at Minolta Di7 - any advice would be great ...

Thank you for all the help...

Kay

 

[Jurjen]

For this kind of studio work you want a camera with as much manual features as possible.

When shooting bottles and glass I wouldn't work with flashes because this makes the results quit unpredictable. Just use lights to nicely light out your subject from different angles.

Here is where the manual whitebalance comes in, when you are on budget not to use profesional studio lights, just use tl-tubes or halogen lights, make a whitebalance shot on a piece of paper and get great results. Whatever you buy, make sure your camera can do this.

When working with static objects and a tripod there is no need at all to use flashes, even times of 1 sec or longer would be no problem. Manual aparture and time setting is a must here.

For the features I would recommend the D7(i). Point is that the 28mm/7x zoom leaves some quality/sharpness to be desired. The Sony 707 does a better job here.

enjoy the journey
Jurjen

Hi,

I am looking for a digital camera (between Fuji, Nikon, Canon and
now added Minolta) for taking product images for my catalog -
mostly indoors a few outside. My products are in mostly plastic
bottles and a few in glass. I can spend up to $1000.00 or so..

I am looking for a good suggestion and need a camera which will
take sharp images and will not fall apart like my Olympus. Weight,
size, color makes no difference...

I have been learning about Fuji, Canon on the other forums, but got
quite confused when I learned more about the mp deal. I looked for
an alternative and found Minolta a few sec ago.

So far I narrowed it down to Canon G2, Fuji 6900, Nikon Coolpix
5700, but I just found Minolta...

I was looking at Minolta Di7 - any advice would be great ...

Thank you for all the help...

Kay

 

[cyberk9]

Hi Jurjen

This is by far the greatest reply and exactly what I was looking for. Thank you so much...

My D490 Olympus did break - had a faulty battery door (2 flimsy screws holding the door) and the zoom which extracted when you slide the front door broke (and the whole camera would lock up) within 6 months. This camera has never left my workshop, I used it once a month for 45 minutes max, had all the stickers on it still and was mostly on a tripod. It also was not a really expensive camera so maybe you that has something to do with it. Anyhow, I prefer to stay away from Olympus from here on due to their lack of customer support and interesting way of looking at warranties..

Thank you again for a positive and constructive feedback...

Kay

For this kind of studio work you want a camera with as much manual
features as possible.

When shooting bottles and glass I wouldn't work with flashes
because this makes the results quit unpredictable. Just use lights
to nicely light out your subject from different angles.

Here is where the manual whitebalance comes in, when you are on
budget not to use profesional studio lights, just use tl-tubes or
halogen lights, make a whitebalance shot on a piece of paper and
get great results. Whatever you buy, make sure your camera can do
this.

When working with static objects and a tripod there is no need at
all to use flashes, even times of 1 sec or longer would be no
problem. Manual aparture and time setting is a must here.

For the features I would recommend the D7(i). Point is that the
28mm/7x zoom leaves some quality/sharpness to be desired. The Sony
707 does a better job here.

enjoy the journey
Jurjen

 

[cyberk9]

Hi Shane,

Thanks for the help.

LOL..I am a very gentle and careful person

Sadly, the Olympus D490 broke due to not so smart design of the sliding door and extracting zoom..

Anyhow no need to worry about any of that, I am set to get a camera that is semi-professional this time around, thanks for the info about D7...and the rest

Kay

I can't believe your Olympus falling apart was the camera's fault.
They are not particularly known for poor build quality - likewise
actually. Get a decent case and take good care of whatever you
get. Digital cameras simply aren't like their mechanical film
counterparts. The sophistication level of the circuitry, lcd, ccd,
etc. make them much more prone to failure - especially if you
aren't careful.

Good luck!
Shane

Hi,

I am looking for a digital camera (between Fuji, Nikon, Canon and
now added Minolta) for taking product images for my catalog -
mostly indoors a few outside. My products are in mostly plastic
bottles and a few in glass. I can spend up to $1000.00 or so..

I am looking for a good suggestion and need a camera which will
take sharp images and will not fall apart like my Olympus. Weight,
size, color makes no difference...

I have been learning about Fuji, Canon on the other forums, but got
quite confused when I learned more about the mp deal. I looked for
an alternative and found Minolta a few sec ago.

So far I narrowed it down to Canon G2, Fuji 6900, Nikon Coolpix
5700, but I just found Minolta...

I was looking at Minolta Di7 - any advice would be great ...

Thank you for all the help...

Kay

 

[cyberk9]

Hi Andrew

Thanks much, I will be checking them out when I get to DC today...

Kay

I think D7i is da best one you should pick, because of it's manual
focus ring. It is best for product close-up shooting.

 

[THT]

Kay,

I am not a professional but I have some macro pictures in this folder:

http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=160156

I been using a D7 for almost a year and it travels we me sometimes not in a camera bag but just my shoulder bag. I shot several thousand pictures (over 20 CDs) and it has held up well (knock on wood).

TH

 

[cyberk9]

Hi TH

They are great! I will definitely look at D7. Thank you

Kay

Kay,

I am not a professional but I have some macro pictures in this folder:

http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=160156

I been using a D7 for almost a year and it travels we me sometimes
not in a camera bag but just my shoulder bag. I shot several
thousand pictures (over 20 CDs) and it has held up well (knock on
wood).

TH

 

[cyberk9]

Hi ,

Yesterday I bought a Minolta Di7i and Fuji S602...

I will use them both for a week and decide which one will stay. Wish me luck...

Kay

Kay,

I am not a professional but I have some macro pictures in this folder:

http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=160156

I been using a D7 for almost a year and it travels we me sometimes
not in a camera bag but just my shoulder bag. I shot several
thousand pictures (over 20 CDs) and it has held up well (knock on
wood).

TH