Camera Upgrade

[Anonymous]

Hey All,

I'm coming back to selling full time and dropping the diecast cars and going to hardgoods.

I've been taking pics with my phone and looking to upgrade to a digital SLR type camera.

I'm looking to spend about $300 or so, maybe a little more for a camera that will give me more professional pics. 

I have set up a dedicated photography area with white backdrop that is well lit......just need a good camera to raise my game a few notches.

I will most likely purchase it here, just need suggestions on what camera to get.

Thanks !

[johnrj1226]

One more thing - while a white back ground is nice for many colors have found that a light blue, red and black back ground  works  better  for others.  In my experiences found -  white can wash your subject as  white reflects light back into the lens, light blue helps minimize washing  and   produces sharper edges, red and black gives higher  clarity/definition to  things shiny colors like polished silver & gold (e.g. jewelry, etc.).  Darker colors  absorb light reflection when you are using flash.  Used to work with a pro photographs in  preparing   product  brochure for equipment - he gave me some nice tips for taking home pics.  Was amazed  when  one camera set up in his studio he invested 20K.  He never put  any advertising on  the outside of his studio - so not invite the midnight shoppers.  Just used a Purple Door and  numbers for the entrance.

Getting to know your camera is half the battle of taking good pics - they seem to  have their own personality - just like people

Just  free suggestions

[toysaver]

Unless you plan to take pictures for print you don't need anything fancy for an image that will be viewed with the resolution of a screen.   Make sure it has a close-up feature.  I have good results with Canon, does not matter which one the as they have such similar work settings.  If you use one you can figure out how they all work.   Consider the batteries too, some use simple rechargeable AAs versus a special battery pack.

[m60driver]

High end cameras for taking photos for use on Ebay is overrated unless you are selling either clothing, high end jewelry, or the like.  I use a small 12 year old 10MP Lumix camera I bought at Costco that you can buy used for cheap on Ebay.  Your photos are fine but you should run them through a free photo editing app like Gimp that has a tool (under colors:levels) that can help remove the off white background.  You can also use the Ebay editing tool to remove the excess background and increase the size of the image.

[wrong66]

You'd need about 150 diecast car sales to pay for an entry level SLR that may not even improve photo quality. Is it really worth that?

[jewelbiz]

Pix me & “zombie man” on HighLine NYC  last time I had my Nikon for picture taking.

Had friend take pix of me having fun there with man statue.

You know that day I remember feeling so vulnerable with my good Nikon camera out there.

It was 2017 & since that day I only 100% use my iPhone camera for every & all Ebay 

pix & other pix!

Nikon never ever used anymore whatsoever!

iPhone pix fine enough & sure easy to have in pocket 24/7.

[12345jamesstamps]

I was using a Canon camera to take photos and transfer them to my PC. Two weeks ago I got a message on my computer that "iphoto" is no longer supported by Apple on my Apple computer. So I can't transfer photos to my PC from my great Canon camera(bought in 2004). My camera is great. So I take photos on my iphone and list  generic listings on my iphone eBay app. Then I go on my PC and update the generic listings and post them. I have to get a new PC now that will be able to download my photos from camera to my PC. So be careful to make sure your computer will support your camera with the "iphoto" app on it. Maybe keep the receipt of camera in case you have to return it. My computer still works...the "iphoto" app doesn't because its no longer supported by Apple. You can always add a different photo app on your computer for a monthly charge but that just takes the profit away from selling.

[printpeople]

Personally, I have gotten rid of all the “camera bulk”, editing, sorting,etc. and take all pics on an iPad.  It’s made the work part easier.

[Anonymous]

I use a Nikon D3300. I posted the other day about how much I suck at photos. The camera is really easy to use even for me...the problem is when my cat occupies my lightbox.

[mam98031]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Well, one issue is that I am going from just selling diecast cars to selling bigger hardgoods that won't fit in my little light box. 

I think I got that whooped with the new photography set up.

I'll check out the background remover you suggested and see how that works for me.

I'm sure it will make a big difference when I stop photographing under fluorescent light and use the light ring.

The light ring has 4 brightness levels, as well as blue-hued light and yellow-hued light modes. I need to find which works best with my phone and I think I'll be set.

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Still give it a try.  Why have the expense of another camera if you really don't need it.  You can always come back and share some pics with us for our opinions.  We are certainly full of opinions here.  LOL

[mam98031]

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@earthdreamer wrote:

Thanks for starting this thread. 

I am also looking to upgrade from my phone camera. Even though it is reasonably good, the major drawback is that it does not represent the colours accurately, and I spend ages in photo edits trying to get the colour just right, most of the time unsuccessfully.

My worry is that I will be subject to an INAD claim because the colour of the item does not match the photos.

Anyway, will look into all suggestions on this thread. 

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A new camera may help with color, but you can't control what device someone views your listings on and that will determine how the color really presents to them.  It is always advisable to also describe the color in the description.

[simply-the-best-for-you]

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@earthdreamer wrote:

Thanks for starting this thread. 

I am also looking to upgrade from my phone camera. Even though it is reasonably good, the major drawback is that it does not represent the colours accurately, and I spend ages in photo edits trying to get the colour just right, most of the time unsuccessfully.

My worry is that I will be subject to an INAD claim because the colour of the item does not match the photos.

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@earthdreamer  If that's your main reason, IDK that I would bother, unless they're really off.  Here's why.  You can control the color in YOUR photos.  You can control YOUR monitor settings.  You CANNOT control the eBay compression algorithm.  You CANNOT control the monitor of your buyers, nor can you control what their eyes see (everyone sees color differently, don't believe me look blue dress/white dress).  There is no way to know or control what your buyer sees.   

[simply-the-best-for-you]

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@m60driver wrote:

High end cameras for taking photos for use on Ebay is overrated unless you are selling either clothing, high end jewelry, or the like.  I use a small 12 year old 10MP Lumix camera I bought at Costco that you can buy used for cheap on Ebay.  Your photos are fine but you should run them through a free photo editing app like Gimp that has a tool (under colors:levels) that can help remove the off white background.  You can also use the Ebay editing tool to remove the excess background and increase the size of the image.

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@m60drvr Not even for clothing.  I sell clothing.  I use an old 5MP Kodak Easyshare LOL.  My photos are great compared to the average seller.   

[earthdreamer]

Thanks for your reply, you make a good point. 

So after spending 10 minutes correcting the color of an image, the onine viewers may end up seeing slightly different hues. 

[byrd69er]

Expect to pay more than 3

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@Anonymous wrote:

Hey All,

I'm coming back to selling full time and dropping the diecast cars and going to hardgoods.

I've been taking pics with my phone and looking to upgrade to a digital SLR type camera.

I'm looking to spend about $300 or so, maybe a little more for a camera that will give me more professional pics. 

I have set up a dedicated photography area with white backdrop that is well lit......just need a good camera to raise my game a few notches.

I will most likely purchase it here, just need suggestions on what camera to get.

Thanks !

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00 for an entry level DSLR. Look at getting a bundle package. You'll be

[mam98031]

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@earthdreamer wrote:

Thanks for your reply, you make a good point. 

So after spending 10 minutes correcting the color of an image, the onine viewers may end up seeing slightly different hues. 

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They may see them a whole lot different.  It is going to depend on the device they are viewing the pics on.  Is it old or new or somewhere in between.