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Photography
Questions about shooting your models and dioramas? Ask here.
What Cameras are Used?
MikeyBugs95
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New York, United States
Member Since: May 27, 2013
entire network: 2,210 Posts
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Posted: Thursday, February 22, 2018 - 07:31 AM UTC
Just out of curiosity, what kind of cameras and lenses are we all using here? I'm currently using a Pentax K-70 with multiple lenses but mostly a 50 1.4.
brekinapez
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Georgia, United States
Member Since: July 26, 2013
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Posted: Thursday, February 22, 2018 - 08:30 AM UTC
I use my phone: Galaxy 7.
varanusk
Staff MemberManaging Editor
ARMORAMA
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Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain / España
Member Since: July 04, 2013
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Posted: Thursday, February 22, 2018 - 12:49 PM UTC
For quick photos my old 3Mp Nikon Coolpix 3100 still works fine, if I need better ones for a review then I use the also-old-but-not-as-much Canon SX10 (10MP)
Pave-Hawk
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Western Australia, Australia
Member Since: May 05, 2006
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Posted: Thursday, February 22, 2018 - 01:00 PM UTC
I just use my phone for most photos, but for finished model photos I use a light tent, and my Nikon D7000 DSLR.
RLlockie
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United Kingdom
Member Since: September 06, 2013
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Posted: Friday, February 23, 2018 - 01:01 AM UTC
For what it’s worth, a Canon 60D, usually with Canon’s excellent 100mm macro lens (for model photography anyway). More important is a tripod, for which I have my trusty Kennet Benbo, which I can set up on a Chieftain turret and have the camera level. Bought it in the 80s when I was a poor student and it’s nevef given me any trouble.
timmyp
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Virginia, United States
Member Since: May 18, 2008
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Posted: Tuesday, February 27, 2018 - 01:02 AM UTC
I use a Sony Mavica camera...it's all of 1.3 megapixels! I suppose, if I wanted to get more field of depth options, I could pull out my old Pentax K1000 SLR camera. But then, I'd spend forever trying to find a place that could develop and print my photos! (And not to mention what a hassle it would be to get them uploaded).
mmeier
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Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Member Since: October 22, 2008
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Posted: Tuesday, February 27, 2018 - 06:30 AM UTC
These days a Canon EOS 7D that is near permanently fixed on a cheap tripod (A 30€ Mantona, a Manfrotto Clone - I use a regualr Manfrotto outdoors and "one quick change mount to attach them all is nice) and equiped with "Barney" the EF 85/1.8 (old and with a tendency to purple fringing). A USB cable within a fixed "can be stepped on" cable channel connects it to the PC.

EOS 7D is totally oversized but last year you could get one with according to the Canon service protocol less than 10.000 pictures on the shutter and from the last production run for less than a third it was sold for in 2014. With a cheap entry 1300D running barely 50€ less AND only available with an 18-55DCIII I have no use for(1) - I was sold. And Barney is my "5 times / year" lens so I can perma-mount him on the camera.

Not to mention that if I go train stalking (This year I WILL get a picture of BR 01 series 001-150-2! This year I WILL!) I have a nice second body, one for the "short lense" - typically the 7D and one for the "main tele lens" - typically the 80D

Before that I used a EOS 60D+Tamron 28-75, an EOS 1100D + EF-S 18-55IS2 and before that an Canon A710 Powershot digital compact.

(1) Mind the difference. I said "I have no use for it, not that I can not use it". It's important - just ask Mr Marston/Allan Rickman
barkingdigger
Staff MemberAssociate Editor
ARMORAMA
#013
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England - East Anglia, United Kingdom
Member Since: June 20, 2008
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Posted: Friday, March 02, 2018 - 10:27 PM UTC
Aside from my phone (Samsung Galaxy S3 mini - it's almost as old as me!) I use a Canon EOS450D with standard 18-55mm zoom lens, tripod, and shutter cable. Wish I knew more about photography...
165thspc
#521
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Kentucky, United States
Member Since: April 13, 2011
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Posted: Saturday, March 03, 2018 - 07:42 AM UTC
I am a little farther back historically; I use a Canon 50D and though I have used a number of lenses down through the years, for now I have settled on Canon's "Normal" 18 to 55mm zoom with image stabilization.

I am constantly amazed at the good job this combo does for me.

When I want to shoot something really serious I throw in a tripod and switch to manual so I can use a slow shutter speed and get lots of depth of field. Otherwise I just shoot hand held.
Silantra
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Putrajaya, Malaysia
Member Since: March 04, 2004
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Posted: Saturday, March 03, 2018 - 02:09 PM UTC
for everyday shooting or in progress shoot, i just take them with my samsung note4 camera...
for any other special, like finished models, i will take either my nikon d3200 or sony alpha 6100. I used to have nikon d7100 but sold to keep up with the mirroless trend.
I shoot with manual setting, slow shutter and small aperture, inside a LED photobox.

just my 2 cents
Joel_W
Staff MemberAssociate Editor
AUTOMODELER
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New York, United States
Member Since: December 04, 2010
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Posted: Monday, March 05, 2018 - 11:23 PM UTC
For all my model pictures I use a Nikon D7100 with a Nikkor 105mm macro lens on a tripod. lighting is generally with a 3 light setup. Digital post processing is done in Adobe Lightroom 6.1

Joel
tread_geek
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Ontario, Canada
Member Since: March 23, 2008
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Posted: Tuesday, April 10, 2018 - 12:44 AM UTC
Interesting topic and surprised that I haven’t seen a similar thread in the past. I’ve had my share of PDS (Push Here Dummie, Point and Shoot) cameras to see if “digital” was the way to go while still hanging on to my older Minolta SLR’s.

My main camera since has been a Sony 10.6 MP A-330 with 18-250 lens, set of three Macro filters (1X, 2X, 4X) and a pair of SONY HVL-F42AM wireless flashes. In the past I have used a 10.6 MP Alpha 100 with a Zeiss 18-200 lens and recently been experimenting with a 24 MP ALPHA A-68. All my lenses and cameras use the classic Minolta 'A' mount so are interchangable. All cameras are fitted with Manfrotto “Quick Release” attachments and used with a Manfrotto tripod with 222 “Joystick” attachment. Also have a couple of diffusers for the flash(es) and reflectors that I’ve used on and off with model pictures. Perhaps one might say photography is a second hobby or interest?

Happy model photographing,
Jan
drabslab
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European Union
Member Since: September 28, 2004
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Posted: Tuesday, April 10, 2018 - 01:59 PM UTC
I used a Nikon D7100 when I did a review, or feature.

For progress photo's I got in the habit of using my phone.


then there was the photobucket issue ...

now I am waiting until kitmaker offers a solution, so no more pictures for the time being.
kevinekstrom
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Illinois, United States
Member Since: December 08, 2017
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Posted: Saturday, December 22, 2018 - 08:45 AM UTC
For progress pics I use my old Kodak Z885 8 meg point and shoot.If I felt I needed an extremely impressive image I guess I would break out the Pentax K-3ii and grab one of my old m42 lenses and have it.
Robbd01
#323
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Arizona, United States
Member Since: February 13, 2013
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Posted: Saturday, December 22, 2018 - 08:49 AM UTC
iPhone 6 most of the time but when I want to feel more like a photo dude, I break out my Nikon D3200. Lots of moving parts with that thing

Cheers

165thspc
#521
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Kentucky, United States
Member Since: April 13, 2011
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Posted: Saturday, December 22, 2018 - 11:22 AM UTC
Very occasionally I will shoot with my phone but 99% of the time I use my Canon 50D with a 17-85mm IS zoom.

Normally I am shooting hand held at ISO3200. (I know that is a less than wise way to work but it makes it all so easy!) However when doing any kind of serious photography I put the camera on a tripod and drop down to a much more realistic ISO800. With the tripod I can use time exposures to get much better depth of field and the lower ISO produces finer image detail.

I know I really should put more effort into my photography like in the old days doing studio product work, but just for posting on the internet the "loosey-goosey" way seems to work for me MOST all of the time!

mmeier
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Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Member Since: October 22, 2008
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Posted: Saturday, December 22, 2018 - 05:20 PM UTC
Why use ISO800 from a tripod? With a tripod you can use 30min exposure time if you want (maximum a Canon in "non bulb" modes can do) so ISO100 is easily doable and you loose nothing from doing it. And given the "native" ISO range of the 50 (100-3200, from experience ignore the High "boost" with Canons) you are "borderline" for JPEG directly from the camera (JPEG OOC) and use some denoising software for RAW (Generally 1/2 exposures below "Max ISO" are the cut-offs for Canons of that sensor class/generation, gets a bit better with the DualPix of the 70D and newer)

Depth of field has nothing to do with time and all with f-stop. So f/8 or f/11 and "use whatever time needed for ISO 100" are a good start. Don't go to high in f-stop with the 17-85 since you will loose sharpness. Anything above f/11 will go there and f/16 is typically the "maximum useable" for a non-macro EF-S lens like the 17-85
165thspc
#521
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Kentucky, United States
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Posted: Sunday, December 23, 2018 - 04:14 PM UTC
Arbitrary choice on the ISO800 - no reason - simply smarter than ISO3200 for better quality.

The tripod of course allows for smaller f stop by using slower shutter speeds.
Lada_Niva
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Drenthe, Netherlands
Member Since: October 06, 2019
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Posted: Sunday, October 20, 2019 - 12:48 AM UTC
Interesting to read about the different camera's you are all using.
Any tips or things for a beginning photographer. Currently making pictures of my projects with my smartphone. But wanting to get more out of my results. Never really understood what lighting and other photographic aspects were or how good the quality of my pictures were. Any suggestions or ideas where I can share my pictures? For constructive feedback and other things?
RLlockie
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United Kingdom
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Posted: Sunday, October 20, 2019 - 03:56 AM UTC
And one of the advantages of digital over film is no reciprocity failure at long exposure times, which could throw up some unexpected results.
165thspc
#521
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Kentucky, United States
Member Since: April 13, 2011
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Posted: Sunday, October 20, 2019 - 05:22 PM UTC
Recently upgraded (two more time payments yet to make) to the Canon 60D body from the 50D.

Still using my older Canon 17-85 IS zoom.
Lada_Niva
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Drenthe, Netherlands
Member Since: October 06, 2019
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Posted: Saturday, January 25, 2020 - 03:22 AM UTC
I now have a Huawei P30 Pro.
I'm planning on using it in a tripod, to stabalize my phone for things such as zooming in.
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