Most consumers these days want to see what a product looks like before they decide to buy a product. And whether you’re an online seller or an SME with a physical store, you have to give the customer what they want by providing images. With professional product photography, you can highlight the best features of a product and pique a customer’s interest enough to eventually lead to a sale. For professional product photographers, getting the best images means having the right equipment that can produce stunning results. And for many, this means investing in the right DSLR camera for product photography.
But which is the best DSLR on the market for product photography? You don’t necessarily have to buy the most expensive one available to produce stellar photos. As long as you know the features you want and have a realistic budget, you can find a camera within your price range that can take the best possible raw images to minimize the need for retouching and editing. So, before your next product shoot idea, consider investing in these DSLR cameras to maximize the quality and vibrancy of your photos.
Nikon D850
Price: The body alone can cost you around Php 128,000, while the Nikon D850 Kit that includes an AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm f/4G ED VR can reach around Php 141,000.
Pros:
- Fast and powerful performance compared to older Nikon models, allowing you to work fast and efficiently.
- Exceptional photo quality, especially its focusing features that can capture even the smallest details of your products.
- Built-in WiFi and Bluetooth features compatible with smartphones and laptops for fast image transfer.
Cons:
- AF illuminator and the built-in flash isn’t available in this model, which means you may have to invest in lighting equipment on top of this DSLR.
- Using the automatic viewfinder may prove to have a limited autofocus point coverage.
- On the higher-end of the price range for DSLRs, so not all businesses may have the budget for it.
Best for: Photographers who want to invest in a versatile DSLR not just for static product photography but for videos and other dynamic shots of products in action.
The 45.7-megapixel resolution that the D850 offers is ideal for product photographers who want to take their images to new heights – literally. The image quality from this camera is great for those who want large-format displays like banners, which need high-level resolution to avoid reducing the quality when scaled for size. On top of the model’s low level of ISO noise and a full-frame CMOS sensor record that allows you to photograph efficiently, the camera has an excellent dynamic range that makes it easier to adjust to lowlights, deep shadows, and bright highlights, as well as other unoptimized lighting environments.
On the downside, however, the cost can be a bit much for photographers who may not have a budget this large. And while many of these features include state-of-the-art features for video, this may be unnecessary if you’re limiting yourself to static product photography.
Canon EOS 6D Mark II
Price: The body alone starts at Php 72,000, while additional lenses can cost you up to Php 100,000.
Pros:
- Versatile features with high resolution and strong autofocus.
- 45-point all cross-type AF that covers a wide area and a tilting monitor that can help take photos at unique angles.
- Installed software can be upgraded.
Cons:
- Not as many automatic features, which can be difficult to manage for beginner photographers
- No built-in flash, which may affect lighting.
- Slow autofocus that always points to the center.
Best for: Photographers who want to go beyond your traditional static product image shot while still maintaining detailed focus that doesn’t minimize product quality.
This 26.2-megapixel resolution DSLR camera for product photography offers a better range for photographers who want versatile options for both static and dynamic product images. While you can never go wrong with a crisp white background when it comes to product photography, the 6D has the autofocus, range, FPS, and dual-pixel CMOS AF system that can take crystal-clear moving shots that you can use to show the product in motion, even in poor lighting conditions.
On top of its performance and image quality, it’s also built with the photographer’s performance in mind. It’s much lighter compared to DSLRs within its league. It’s also fitted with a tilting monitor, which can help you explore different – even extreme – angled shots to play around with creative shots.
While the 6D is on the more affordable side of quality DSLRs, it’s not necessarily best for beginners or those who prefer their automatic settings. With all the bells and whistles the 6D has to offer, it has a lot that beginners will have to play around with before they get the hang of it. If you aren’t tech-savvy, in this case, it might be best to pay extra for automatic features.
Canon EOS Rebel T7
Price: The body costs $479 USD on Amazon, which is around Php 27,000.
Pros:
- High resolution that can produce very low image noise even in environments with poor lighting.
- Speedy 9-point AF, which makes it easy to capture smaller details on a product.
- Impressive color balance and can create saturated, vibrant colors.
Cons:
- Main selling points are its automatic features, which give limited control to photographers who want to manually adjust their settings.
- Very limited features compared to the previous models, which limits the creative dynamic shots this camera can take.
- Slower continuous shooting speed.
Best for: Entry-level product photographers looking to start their careers with a quality camera that’s slightly better than your sophisticated smartphone camera.
For entry-level photographers who want more automatic features that can deliver vibrant and saturated colors in every image, the Rebel T7 is a good starter option. While you have some quick adjustment settings on the touchscreen UI, it’s designed for those with less experience in manually adjusting camera settings. Because of its fairly standard and basic features, it doesn’t have as much versatility in capturing videos and dynamic movement images, but if your main niche consists of static product photography, this shouldn’t be an issue.
Just like other Canon models, this DSLR is lightweight and includes an 18-55mm kit lens that can support advanced levels of optical image stabilization. The result: above-average image quality from a camera that’s easy to hold and use.
However, its basic features can also be a double-edged sword. If you want to venture into more creative product photography shots, its max frame rate of 3ps and 9-point autofocus may seem too limited to help you explore. And since this DSLR for product photography leans heavily on its automatic features, more seasoned photographers might not find the settings flexible enough for manual adjustment.
Pentax K-1 Mark II
Price: Sells for around $1800 USD on Amazon, which is around Php 101,000.
Pros:
- Reliable 5-axis image stabilization features, including in-body image stabilization.
- Highly durable build, great for outdoor use.
- 100% coverage viewfinder.
Cons:
- Much heavier than the average DSLR.
- No touchscreen features.
- AF system is not as good compared to other models, despite its higher price.
Best for: Product photographers who want a reliable DSLR in a studio that can also perform well in outdoor shoots.
Although not a popular brand in the Philippines, online reviews for the Pentax K-1 Mark II show that it’s a camera brand that’s worth the attention. With a full-frame sensor, three-way tilt, and other features that enhance image quality, you can expect exceptional results from this camera. Its dynamic range also helps provide versatile RAW files, especially when you consider that most product photography images will need some amount of retouching to get the best results. If you’re an experienced product photographer that understands the different needs of creating sublime product photos, you can appreciate the versatility this DSLR provides you with.
In terms of the K1’s use and performance, it’s more built toward outdoor use. It gets the job done in the studio, but you also have the advantage of experimenting with new product shoot ideas indoors and outdoors.
However, you should also note some of the disadvantages of getting the Pentax K1. First of all, it’s much bulkier and heavier than the average DSLR for product photography. So if it’s not set on a tripod, be ready for the arm workout that is handling your camera throughout a shoot. And for the price it’s at, its autofocus isn’t the best. So, if you have smaller products that need higher contrast and sharpness to emphasize their details, you should either know a thing or two about manually adjusting your settings, or find other cameras with superior autofocus features.
Zoom Into Your Products’ Potential with the Best DSLR for Product Photography
While good product photography requires skill and an eye for detail, photographers can take their images to new heights with a quality product photography camera. A DSLR camera can provide you with useful features that can help you capture even the smallest details of your product that your audience wants to see. But you don’t have to purchase the most expensive DSLR camera for product photography. As long as you know what you need from your camera, you can find one that suits your needs at the right price range.
At Stellar Studios, our professional photographers use high-quality cameras and are fully equipped to deliver the stellar images you expect from our studio. Our professional product photography services highlight the best of your products’ features and can satisfy the curiosity and pique the interests of potential customers, Get in touch with Stellar Studios today to take your product images to the next level.