To get a DSLR or not?

[SimonSaysBleed]

So I’m doing research for my girlfriend who is looking to buy a camera. She is an art student in college and her primary requirement is that the camera takes high-resolution pictures of her artwork. She will also be taking an introductory photography class, but the class does not require a DSLR. Also, she is not looking to spend a whole lot of money of the camera if at all possible.

The 2 options that have stood out to me so far are buying a Canon EOS Rebel XS (body only) and then getting the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Lens or getting the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX9V.

I feel like I am kind of comparing apples to oranges here, but that is why I am posting here. Any advice or additional things for me to consider would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

 

[Leonard Migliore]

So I’m doing research for my girlfriend who is looking to buy a camera. She is an art student in college and her primary requirement is that the camera takes high-resolution pictures of her artwork. She will also be taking an introductory photography class, but the class does not require a DSLR. Also, she is not looking to spend a whole lot of money of the camera if at all possible.

The 2 options that have stood out to me so far are buying a Canon EOS Rebel XS (body only) and then getting the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Lens or getting the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX9V.

I feel like I am kind of comparing apples to oranges here, but that is why I am posting here. Any advice or additional things for me to consider would be greatly appreciated.

There's different kinds of artwork. If you're talking paintings or other art on a flat substrate, then you need a good setup. The camera itself is not so important since anything you can get today has tons of resolution.

For copying flat artwork, you need to put the camera on a tripod or other rigid stand and set it up square to the work. Lighting should be from two sources at 45 degrees to the camera axis. If you're photographing oils, you'll want to use a polarizer on the lens and polarized lighting to eliminate shiny reflections.

For the best representation of color, you should shoot RAW and use a Passport Colorchecker to generate a corrected profile, then use hardware calibration for your computer monitor. In my experience, artists are very picky about accurate color.

The Canon with a macro lens (not the 50mm f/1.8) would be the best choice for minimum distortion and highest picture quality, but the f/1.8 is a lot cheaper and should be sharp enough. I don't know about the Sony but it appears to be a travel zoom, which is not the best sort of thing for this. But as I said, almost any digital camera will do OK if it's on a solid support.

If your girlfriend's artwork is 3-dimensional, then it gets harder, mostly for lighting.

--
Leonard Migliore

 

[C7AEA67]

Thats a tough question. In my opinion it is not worth going to a DSLR unless you know that is what you want. It took me a while to go that route, but I have never looked back. They are larger and heaver then a point and shoot. If you are looking for an entry DSLR to learn the settings then that would be the way to go. You should also take a look at the canon s95 or soon to be released s100. Or the panasonic lx5. I started with the LX5 and it is a great little camera. I used it to learn how to use manual settings before upgrading to a DSLR, 5d mark II, after realizing the shortcomings of the LX5. The obvious advantages are superior low light capabilities and a narrow depth of field.

 

[Chato]

So I’m doing research for my girlfriend who is looking to buy a camera. She is an art student in college and her primary requirement is that the camera takes high-resolution pictures of her artwork. She will also be taking an introductory photography class, but the class does not require a DSLR. Also, she is not looking to spend a whole lot of money of the camera if at all possible.

The 2 options that have stood out to me so far are buying a Canon EOS Rebel XS (body only) and then getting the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Lens or getting the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX9V.

I feel like I am kind of comparing apples to oranges here, but that is why I am posting here. Any advice or additional things for me to consider would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

Since she is not "into" photography, and is planning on taking a photography course, and the only reason she Needs a camera is for her art work, heck, let her spend two, three hundred on a good P&S - That will do for the art work, and after she learns about photography, she can figure out what she wants to do.

Dave
--
"Everyone who has ever lived, has lived in Modern Times"

 

[baloo_buc]

Anything with a small sensor will make her want for better quality. APS-C sensors are quite good right now and you have a lot of cameras to choose from.

One it's the combo you mentioned but I wouldn't handicap the camera with only 50 mm prime lens (that is cheap but not so useful except portrait work).

You can get any entry level kits (Canon 550D, Canon 600D, Nikon D3100, Nikon D5100, Sony A580, Pentax K-r) and a good prime lens (35 mm or 50 mm).

As I am a Nikon user my biased recommendation would be Nikon D5100 + Nikkor AF-S 18-105 mm VR + 35 mm f/1.8. A tripod and a flash would also be highly recommended.

Why I recommend this? The body is a very good one with a very good sensor and tilt& swivel LCD. The 18-105 mm VR is a very good all purpose lens at an affordable price. The 35 mm f/1.8 is very good for mild distortions and speed. The tripod and flash would help improve the quality of the photos.

Canon offerings are similar with slightly lower IQ (smaller sensor with more MP) and only 18-55 mm IS kit lens available (there are available other kit lenses like 18-135 mm IS or 28-135 mm IS but both have severe shortcomings). Canon 600D would be the best because of LCD screen like in D5100 but 500D or 550D are not bad at all.
I let others to elaborate on Sony and Pentax offerings.

A small sensor camera has a very poor IQ (very limited DR, limited use of ISO speed, almost no control of DOF) so I consider that sooner or later she'll end up with a dSLR anyways. You can start only with the kit lens since it performs quite well at 35 mm and is versatile. Down the road you buy the prime (if required) and then the flash and tripod.
Good luck!
--
Victor
Bucuresti, Romania
http://picasaweb.google.com/victorpetcu69/
http://picasaweb.google.com/teodor.nitica/
http://picasaweb.google.com/vpreallize/
http://picasaweb.google.com/v.petcu.gci/
http://picasaweb.google.com/vpetcu.gci.arhiva/

 

[SimonSaysBleed]

I should have mentioned that she does primarily 2-D artwork. Thank you for your reply!

 

[C7AEA67]

I should have mentioned that she does primarily 2-D artwork. Thank you for your reply!

If it is behind glass a polarizing filter is almost always required, to reduce glare. The LX5 I mentioned can accept filters with the adapter tube.

 

[SimonSaysBleed]

Thanks for all your replies! She is interested in learning a lot about photography, so maybe the entry level DSLR is the way to go. However, all of the photos she has to take for her art portfolio should be relatively straightforward so a P&S would probably suffice. Tough decision...

 

[cberry]

Thanks for all your replies! She is interested in learning a lot about photography, so maybe the entry level DSLR is the way to go. However, all of the photos she has to take for her art portfolio should be relatively straightforward so a P&S would probably suffice. Tough decision...

Any P&S will suffice in terms of producing high res pics of artwork. The problem lies with lighting.
Here, you can literally spend thousands getting a good pic.

Here's what I'd suggest trying (and it's extremely cheap to test)

Take ANY P&S angle the artwork at about 45 degrees to a large north facing window or any window on a cloudy day.

Next, take a big windscreen heat reflector (preferably from a truck but depending on the size of the artwork) and throw light back on to the artwork.
Use a tripod.

This should get you better results than anyone else will be getting with an SLR and little knowledge of lighting.

Get a copy of Light - science and magic before you get the camera.

cb

 

[baloo_buc]

You are assuming that the only subject she will ever have it's the artwork. The lighting would be very important so your recommendations are very good for the OP.

Unfortunately entry level dSLRs have a rudimentary flash control so an used Nikon D90 or Canon 40D would be a good option as well. The P&S are even worse. For other types of lighting than flash with umbrellas I reckon than also a P&S would be OK (it should have RAW). The costs of the P&S with that feature is similar to the cost of an entry level dSLR or an used prosumer dSLR.

If his girlfriend is keen on photography she will hit rather sooner than later the P&S limits so buying one of these would be not worthwhile.
--
Victor
Bucuresti, Romania
http://picasaweb.google.com/victorpetcu69/
http://picasaweb.google.com/teodor.nitica/
http://picasaweb.google.com/vpreallize/
http://picasaweb.google.com/v.petcu.gci/
http://picasaweb.google.com/vpetcu.gci.arhiva/

 

[SimonSaysBleed]

After reading all of these posts I am starting to think it might be a better idea to just get a decent/good P&S like the WX9 ( http://snapsort.com/cameras/Sony-WX9 ) for under $150. Then she can focus on lighting and just learning photography. Since money is such a constraint, it seems wise just to wait for a while and when she is ready she will be able to afford a better DSLR...

 

[Leonard Migliore]

After reading all of these posts I am starting to think it might be a better idea to just get a decent/good P&S like the WX9 ( http://snapsort.com/cameras/Sony-WX9 ) for under $150. Then she can focus on lighting and just learning photography. Since money is such a constraint, it seems wise just to wait for a while and when she is ready she will be able to afford a better DSLR...

With the right lighting, you can shoot good images of artwork with that camera; I've gotten perfectly good results out of a Canon SD1100, which is a $150 pocket camera. Just make sure the camera's square to the artwork and the lighting is even and glareless.
--
Leonard Migliore

 

[Chato]

You are assuming that the only subject she will ever have it's the artwork. The lighting would be very important so your recommendations are very good for the OP.

Unfortunately entry level dSLRs have a rudimentary flash control so an used Nikon D90 or Canon 40D would be a good option as well. The P&S are even worse. For other types of lighting than flash with umbrellas I reckon than also a P&S would be OK (it should have RAW). The costs of the P&S with that feature is similar to the cost of an entry level dSLR or an used prosumer dSLR.

If his girlfriend is keen on photography she will hit rather sooner than later the P&S limits so buying one of these would be not worthwhile.
--

Unless she really knew what she was doing, a flash would be counter-productive. It would create reflections and glare.

Here's a link to an artist who I helped in taking pictures. She used a cheap P&S, and made use of natural light via her window.
http://patriciamelvin.com/

She used an old Olympus 520, or occasionally she would barrow my Sigma DP2

Dave
--
"Everyone who has ever lived, has lived in Modern Times"

 

[C7AEA67]

After reading all of these posts I am starting to think it might be a better idea to just get a decent/good P&S like the WX9 ( http://snapsort.com/cameras/Sony-WX9 ) for under $150. Then she can focus on lighting and just learning photography. Since money is such a constraint, it seems wise just to wait for a while and when she is ready she will be able to afford a better DSLR...

I don't think there is much to learn with that cameras lack of any manual control. There are so many options between a basic full auto point and shoot, and the most entry level DSLR. But in my opinion it is just a waste to buy a more expensive camera only to leave it in auto. Pics from a $5,000 camera can look bad if the person doesn't know what they are doing.

 

[sshoihet]

I'll give another thumbs up to the Canon S95. Great camera in a nice small package.

She can put it in her purse or a pocket, i always carry mine with me. If she has more opportunities to use it, she might find she really enjoys photography, more than just copying her paintings.

Thats a tough question. In my opinion it is not worth going to a DSLR unless you know that is what you want. It took me a while to go that route, but I have never looked back. They are larger and heaver then a point and shoot. If you are looking for an entry DSLR to learn the settings then that would be the way to go. You should also take a look at the canon s95 or soon to be released s100. Or the panasonic lx5. I started with the LX5 and it is a great little camera. I used it to learn how to use manual settings before upgrading to a DSLR, 5d mark II, after realizing the shortcomings of the LX5. The obvious advantages are superior low light capabilities and a narrow depth of field.

 

[bodger1]

Im just a beginer myself - but have had amazing results from the canon powershot sx210

I have used it photographing lots of art work, for work ive also used it for personal beach, countryside nature and Rugby and had a lot of comments about the quality of the pictures

obviously if you wanted to compare with an SLR and excellent lens then you will see the difference

Im now advancing to an SLR but purely for the shutter continuous shutter speed (Rugby shots) and not the quality of photo

 

[cberry]

After reading all of these posts I am starting to think it might be a better idea to just get a decent/good P&S like the WX9 ( http://snapsort.com/cameras/Sony-WX9 ) for under $150. Then she can focus on lighting and just learning photography. Since money is such a constraint, it seems wise just to wait for a while and when she is ready she will be able to afford a better DSLR...

I think you are on the right track but are missing a fairly important point or two.

1. RAW: It's a horrible fact that RAW is damn useful for correcting white balance which you'll need to do with a P&S camera. Plus it will be easiest to do with RAW.

My suggestion is to get a digital grey card and any canon camera supported by CHDK. CHDK basically allows you to shoot raw on nearly ALL canon models.

2. Lighting: Here you'll either need a home studio set-up specialized for the application with daylight/fixed lighting e.g. halogen floods or go the strobist route with 2 flash guns and diffusers which will require the camera to have a hot-shoe. In the first case, ANY CHDK canon will be fine. In the 2nd, it will probably be cheaper to go for a 2nd hand DSLR and some Yongnuo strobes, cables and diffusers. Just the Yongnuo bundle will set you back about $300 - hence the idea of using free window light.

This is why I suggested borrowing a camera for the window studio version of the set-up. A tripod will be a necessary expense either way as will the digital grey card - even if you are shooting JPG.
The crazy thing is that if you get this right, DSLR shots will be better too!
cb

 

[baloo_buc]

I guess a camera phone will be enough. The camera you picked is not an optimal solution. A good and cheap setup for the requirement doesn't exist. A P&S has all the odds against it (starting from the lenses and finishing with limited control over the variables). Only the lighting setup will cost you at least some couples of dollars if you want to have a decent quality.

Decent P&S that should be appropriate would be not cheap. Maybe you can use natural light ingeniously to replace the lighting setup.
--
Victor
Bucuresti, Romania
http://picasaweb.google.com/victorpetcu69/
http://picasaweb.google.com/teodor.nitica/
http://picasaweb.google.com/vpreallize/
http://picasaweb.google.com/v.petcu.gci/
http://picasaweb.google.com/vpetcu.gci.arhiva/

 

[SimonSaysBleed]

Well now she is wanting to get an s90/s95 (can shoot RAW), and with the s100 coming out soon, the prices on used ones will hopefully go down even more.

Also I found out that her professors have been teaching them how do proper lighting when taking pictures of their artwork and she has access to a studio that I believe she can use to take the pictures...
Well thanks for the help everyone.

 

[cberry]

With CHDK, nearly all canon's P&S shoot RAW.
Don't get the S95 for the raw capability alone.
cb