Which camera is best for Building Shot

[eProperty]

Hi guy,

Which camera do you recommend for a building close shot. I mean from near to cover the tall building vertically.

[eProperty]

My budget is 10,000 dollor approx

[Doug Nelson]

Generally, any camera with a shift lens.

[eProperty]

Originally Posted by Doug Nelson

Generally, any camera with a shift lens.

Thank you Doug for your help. I was thinking for a wide lens. But I need a shift lens

[igot2pman]

With that kind of budget, almost anything.

-I would sugest a full frame camera, as there is no crop factor (ie zoom, 50mm is now a 75mm, 1.5 crop factor)

-As you are not short on cash, I would say
---Nikon
-----D3 ($5k)
------ 12.1mp, 51-point AF, 9fps, iso 6400 (low noise)
or
-----D700 ($3k)
------ 12.1mp, 51-point AF, 5fps, iso 6400 (low noise), Self cleaning sensor

---Canon
-----EOS-1Ds Mark lll ($7k)
------ 21.1mp, 19 +26(assist?) AF, 5fps, iso 3600 , Self cleaning sensor
or
-----EOS 5D Mark ll ($3.5k)
------ 21.1mp, 9 +6(assist?) AF, 3.9fps, iso 6400, Self cleaning sensor

LENS NOT INCLUDED ON ANY OF THE ABOVE

Just remember the mp(mega pixles) are not everything, unless you are going to print huge huge, but a very good lower mp camra can still produce better pictures that can be blown up.

Personaly, I think the lens you buy is more important then the camra. Buildings have alot of hard lines, so distortion must be very low to none, unless you want that effect. Also, hard lines produce CA's (chromatic abrrations) so make sure they are low. lastly, keep in mind The resolution (MTF), as the higher the value, the better the output image.

Go here to research lenses

I perfer Nikon because its more user friendly, and their lenses are known for quality.

WHAT I WOULD DO

Nikon D700, Nikkor AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8 G ED N, Nikkor AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8G ED, PC-E Nikkor tilt 24mm f/3.5D ED Manual Focus Lens (as per the other sugestion), good tripod

Total cost: $8,000

Optional: Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8D VR G-AFS ED-IF

total cost: about $10,000

Other thoughts:
With this set up you can go from 14-200mm, but with building photography you may only need the 14-70mm.

[Mike]

For the very best result, one should use a "view camera" similar to the one pictured here:

http://www.calumetphoto.com/item/CC4020K1/

They are available in several formats and there is one available that will take a medium foremat digital back, but that would be above your budget.

[igot2pman]

Mamiya RZ Professional Pro II "D" Camera Body

+

Mamiya ZD Digital Camera Back 22mp ($7k)

+

Mamiya Super Wide Angle 50mm f/4.5 ULD Lens for RZ67

=$11,000 , close but over budjet

I have herd many many great things about digital backs, and I wish to have one myself, but they are just not as versitile as a digital SLR.

[Doug Nelson]

Don't forget a good tripod.

[DiamondsDr47]

Rent View Camera+ Lens + DB or polaroid+ some film+tripod - only if you know how to use it...
Best regards,

[L33t]

It's better to have FF camera because you dont have crop factor

[HughSteenk]

4x5, 90mm lens. Digital back.

[William Wilson]

Basically this calls for a technical view camera that allows full range of movements that go beyond shift and tilt lenses found in dslrs and MF camera systems.

Rental is first choice however it isn't for the inexperience photographer once you find the right combination of support, camera and lens consider buying your kit.

[JSFphoto]

I second, third and forth on the view camera! There is no other way I would think to shoot it. So easy to correct for convergence and divergence in camera. Just remember to keep your film plane parallel to the subject plane and your all set. Do the same with the lens plane if you want to keep your focus to run along the same path. If you want to bone up on the advanced concepts do a search on "schiemflug"

I recommend renting as well unless you really want to commit to lugging around a hefty picture taker! It would be fun to see a sports photographer on the sideline tilting and shifting while panning LOL :-) Speaking of which it's time to dust mine off and and play!


Never tested it out but look at this if you've got the cash:
http://www.calumetphoto.com/item/CB40187K2/