Question by wizeguy: slr camera?
i’m starting a photography business and i need a new camera. any suggestions as to what type of professional camera to look for? i know of a bunch of canon slr’s but which? looking for 1o megapixals, no more than $ 600, etc
Best answer:
Answer by Elvis
my suggestion
go to yahoo shopping
digital cameras
digital camera GUIDE
be sure to check titles on the left side
the guide should answer your questions
Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!
The photography biz requires some heavy investment. I will assume you have a basic education in traditional photography, composition, exposure, development and printing in the darkroom, so you may even have some 35mm equipment from that experience.
In the past we could buy a couple of 35mm SLR’s and a few lenses and be set for a decade or so and for not much money (under $ 6,000).
Now in the digital age one camera body will cost that much AND the camera is only useful for about three years. Add to that the computer is no longer a business tool for printing invoices and running a database of your customers. It has become a digital darkroom which too has to be updated every three years or so.
If you do any location work, you will need a second computer … a high powered notebook.
Since your mentioned Canon, I will assume your existing system is Canon.
One of my sports photographer friends just updated his three Canon camera bodies. He spent over $ 8,000 each and in about 18 to 24 months from now, he will be doing it again. I am lucky … I have a Nikon system so I “only” have to pay $ 5,000 each for my new cameras (D3).
That said, you are looking at, at least $ 30,000 for camera bodies, lenses, external flash units and other accessories. If you are going to maintain a studio, add another $ 15,000 for studio strobes and backgrounds … and of course the monthly fixed and variable costs surrounding that venture
Good luck on your business.
Unfortunately, you won’t compete with any pro using any $ 600 camera that I know about.
You’re going to need a camera with a full sized 35mm CMOS image sensor (1″ x 1.5″). That limits you to just the few cameras. If you like Canon you’ll need to get an EOS 5D. series or an EOS 1D series camera. If you prefer Nikon cameras you’re going to need a D3 series. And that is all that is available! All of the serious income earning professionals that I know, use one of these 3 cameras.
Unfortunately for your budget, the least expensive body in these camera models starts at just a little over $ 3000 not including any lens.
Unfortunately the CMOS image sensor size means everything. Comparing the results produced by the above mentioned three cameras to the results produced by the smaller size image sensor cameras is like trying to compare the results from a 35mm film Canon camera, to the results produced by the 16mm film with him Minox camera. They just do not compare.
Before starting the photography business, unless by that you mean opening a camera store in selling cameras, you’re going to require professional quality equipment or you will be unable to compete.