Digital Camera Recommendations for Model Photography

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I am getting ready to purchase a digital camera. I think I am going to go with an 8 or 10 megapixel Canon Digital Rebel. I was wondering what lens I need to get with that for model photography to get the proper depth of field. Anyone’s experience with the Digital Rebels and lenses, especially as it relates to model photography is appreciated. I will also use this camera for general photography purposes, but I am trying to cover this as well as my model photography needs at the same time. Thanks!

Jeff

2

The Canon EF 35mm f/2.0 lens is an excellent lens for model photography (I use it on my original Digital Rebel and the current 30D). It’s 35mm, but due to the 1.6x field-of-view modifier, it acts as a 56mm lens on the Digital Rebel XT or XTi (or 30D, for that matter)–which is a good, “normal” perspective. It’s fast, compact, and very, very sharp. The 50mm f/1.8 lens is also excellent, but rather flimsily made.

The EF 100mm f/2.8 macro lens is superb, but I’ve found that it really, really, excels in drawing out all the flaws in your subjects and models. Besides, that 100mm becomes 160mm on the Digital Rebel, which makes it kinda awkward for anytihg other than an extreme close-up.

I wouldn’t recommend a zoom lens for hobby photography. Depending on the zoom range and price, the lens distortion is much greater than prime (fixed length) lenses.

If you don’t have one, best invest in a good, sturdy tripod, cable release so that you don’t always use the timer or risk shaking the camera with longer exposures, and think about lighting. NEVER use onboard pop-up flash for any kind of photography, unless it means the difference between photo and no photo.

There are basically 3 lighting options: You can use an external flash via the hotshoe, or use a tripod and your ambient room lighting and settle for longer exposures (say .5 second and up), or you can set up a mini-studio with a lightbox and a dedicated light setup. If you get an external flash, be sure to get one that has adjustable tilt-and-swivel flash head. The Canon 580EX flash can act as a master flash, and trigger slave flashes from different angles, but they add up fast (around $300-350 for the 580EX, I think ).

As with all things a lot of it is “it depends” on your situation and finances and acceptable limitations. If you have more questions, post!

P.S. One of my other hobbies is sci-fi/fantasy mi

3

Which lens came with the camera? The EFS 17-85mm that comes with some of them is a fantastic lens. Depth of field is more a function of f-stop rather than the lens. Also a good tripod will greatly help the quality of photos.

I just got a Canon EF 24-105mm 1:4 IS L just for this purpose as well as for photographing real trains with. It is a little heavy and bulky compared to the stock 18-55m that my Rebel came with. It is also pricey for someone not really getting into photography. It sometimes makes me nervous having a lens that is worth twice what the camera is. Of course, I did just fine with a much cheaper Sigma 28-90mm 1:3.5-5.6 Macro that I was using before this one. I even won a few photo contests with it.

I would be probably purchase a Canon EFS 10-22mm if I didn’t already have the Sigma 12-24mm DG HSM. Of course that is an special ultra-wide and not going to work for general photography.

4

Buy the Rebel with the 18-55mm kit lens, it will be all you need for now, and maybe in the future. Stopped down to f:22 it works great. There is no reason at all to spend a whole lot of money to buy more expensive lenses. I’ve used the kit lens on my first Rebel 300, and now on my 350D (Rebel XT). I’ve had photos published in magazines using this lens, and have taken many more.

Here are two to show you the depth of field in these HO scale scenes:

Those are HO scale figures in the foreground!

(Click on photo to enlarge).

Check out my model photo website in my signature for some how-tos and more of my qualifications.

Good luck!

5

After lugging 35mm SLRs around for over 30 years I find some prosumer models do a fine job, the 24mm wide end of a Kodak P880 has done the trick for many people, 28mm lens on the Fuji S9600 and S6500fd are also pretty good at this type of work.

6

Wow, Bob.

No, really, wow.

Have you learned about helicon focus and some of the esoteric programmes that use mathematical focusing? Seems the hobby has room for it, and some of the guys in the Trains forum next door are reportedly using it.

-Crandell

7

I know of the Helicon software, don’t really have a need for it personally. Just using the 18-55mm lens that came with my Canon Rebel XT, shooting at f:22 seems to do a good enough job.

8

No argument from me about your need for it. I guess by the time a fella gets Adobe, if that is useful, plus all the imaging paraphernalia, adding yet another proprietary software to get tack sharp images throughout the visible area must be for those who actually make a living at it.

Your last two images are really very nice, Bob. Your Danby Sawmill one got me hooked on doing that model myself, and maybe I can do it justice as you did. I’ll give it a shot, anyway.

Thanks for your reply.

-Crandell

9

Here are a couple more photos with a Canon Digital Rebel XT. Mine is 8 megapixel. I have had great success using it for general photography as well as for model photos published in the major magazines. These were taken with the basic kit zoom lens that came with the camera.

Jim Policastro

10

Just a quick note of agreement…if you get an 18 - 55mm lens with your camera (which is pretty standard) that’s all you’ll really need. The depth of field you achieve is governed by how you adjust your aperture - if you use 22 or even greater, you’ll have great depth of field. So the bottom line is that there’s no need to buy a special lens for your layout pics…do, however, get a sturdy tripod, and use the camera’s timer function to eliminate shake on pics that need long exposure times.

Cheers.

11

http://www.dpreview.com/

I reccomend DPreview.com as a great site to learn about digital cameras. THey have several Forums divided by different makes. If you want a war, get Canon fans to be nice to Nikons.

Frankly, don’t forget to check out the Z series of Kodaks. I have a Z612 and it makes good pictures. It has been replaced in the lineup by newer Z712IS & Z812IS cameras. For about $200-300, you get a 6-7-8mp chip, 12x zoom, image stabilized. All 3 models use tha same battery, SD card & other accessories. THey can make great photos when you don’t want to carry a DSLR around. THe newer models get better for about the same MSRP price every year.

12

Thanks to all of you for your input. It’s been very helpful (as I knew it would be). I may not post much, but I do visit this forum every day and I knew that I could get answers here. Thanks!

Jeff

13

Very entertaining visiting the DP Review Canon and Nikon DSLR forums, never seen so many head strong morons in the one place at the same time, with over 7,365 entries into the Kodak forum I can say I have only ever witnessed about three real stouches, I guess Kodak users are just a wee bit more content with less to prove.

14

Last fall I had similar questions. I managed to get lots of help. I bumped the thread FYI. Goodluck.

Sue

15

I have had my digital Nikon 5400 for about 3 years now and have used it extensivly for magazine articles. It has a built in zoom Nikkor lens, so no dust can get into the camera housing as can happen with a changable lens . Their cheeper now and never have had a problem with the camera.