G10 good enough for food photography?

[origamione]

I've recently bought G10, using for most of my landscape photography.

I'm thinking of getting the conversion lens adapter (LA-DC58K) & Tele converter (TC-DC58D).

My question is, will the additional tele-converter lens help to do food photography (magazine)?

Or should i invest in DSLR (Canon 50D) with Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II lens?

[clipper_from_oz]

I've recently bought G10, using for most of my landscape photography.

I'm thinking of getting the conversion lens adapter (LA-DC58K) & Tele converter (TC-DC58D).

My question is, will the additional tele-converter lens help to do food photography (magazine)?

Or should i invest in DSLR (Canon 50D) with Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II lens?

I would suspect a DSLR would be better for you as you would more than likely shoot indoors and then low light may come into play as the flash on the camera would be next to useless for even light you would need. G10 isnt the best at high iso's if you need to shoot at ISO400 +. In additon to this you wont get as narrow depth of field you would with a say a prime 50mm 1.8. ......... A fair % of food shots Ive seen especially of plated up food tend to have very narrow depth of field to emphasise/ isolate the food .

Also using a teeconverter will lower the Image Quality and decrease available depth of field

Im sure at a pinch a g10 mounted on a tripod at slow shutter speeds might be ok but if you have the money I would go for an entry to medium level dslr and fast 50mm prime like the 1.8 or 1.4 and leave the G10 for point and shoot duties

rgds

[MarKap77]

A G10 will work just fine as long as you have enough light. As with all these small image sensor cameras, high ISO settings get noisy very quickly. I use my G9 with off camera strobes quite effectively. A couple of Pocket Wizards and I can do merchandise photos for eBay quite nicely.

[origamione]

I would suspect a DSLR would be better for you as you would more than likely shoot indoors and then low light may come into play as the flash on the camera would be next to useless for even light you would need. G10 isnt the best at high iso's if you need to shoot at ISO400 +. In additon to this you wont get as narrow depth of field you would with a say a prime 50mm 1.8. ......... A fair % of food shots Ive seen especially of plated up food tend to have very narrow depth of field to emphasise/ isolate the food .

Also using a teeconverter will lower the Image Quality and decrease available depth of field

Im sure at a pinch a g10 mounted on a tripod at slow shutter speeds might be ok but if you have the money I would go for an entry to medium level dslr and fast 50mm prime like the 1.8 or 1.4 and leave the G10 for point and shoot duties

rgds

Thanks for the comment, totally agreed.
After further consideration, i'll would opt for 40D + EF 85mm f/1.8 USM lens instead of 50D + EF 50mm f/1.8 II lens.

[origamione]

A G10 will work just fine as long as you have enough light. As with all these small image sensor cameras, high ISO settings get noisy very quickly. I use my G9 with off camera strobes quite effectively. A couple of Pocket Wizards and I can do merchandise photos for eBay quite nicely.

I did test this morning of decorative food with G10. It didn't turn out well especially close up. When i try to shoot in studio lighting condition, the focusing didn't work very well, the camera tried very hard to focus, not very responsive. But this camera is not meant for this type of assignment anyway, it's great camera for outdoor/landscape/outdoor portrait & etc.

[MarKap77]

interesting. I have used my G9 for many small, close up merchandise shots and it works fine. Were you using the marco mode? I see many people try to take shots of stuff from short distances and get frustrated when they couldn't get the camera to focus. A quick couple of clicks into macro mode solved the problem.

Sorry you had so much trouble.

[LBaldwin]

UH no! If you are doing magazine work, get the right tools and the training to use them!! Good food photography is highly specialized....

[erure]

I'm no professional but I took some nice food photos with the G9 -- it's close enough to the G10, right? ;)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v69/jinji/cIMG_0356.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v69/jinji/cIMG_0145.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v69/jinji/cIMG_0147.jpg

The photos were taken with just the G9 (no converters) and handheld.

[LBaldwin]

If you say so, but to me a studio created food photograph should make me want that food, or for illustration purposes show the cooking processes and the artistry of the chef. It is not just a close-up shot...

[Moppie]

If you say so, but to me a studio created food photograph should make me want that food, or for illustration purposes show the cooking processes and the artistry of the chef. It is not just a close-up shot...


The standard of the magazine is really going to be the determining factor here.
Is it the food equivalent of vogue, or a small local publication with a few thousand readers?

Any good camera with a competent operator could take a photo for the later, but you need something special, both in terms of the photographer and the gear for the former.

[LBaldwin]

The standard of the magazine is really going to be the determining factor here.
Is it the food equivalent of vogue, or a small local publication with a few thousand readers?

Any good camera with a competent operator could take a photo for the later, but you need something special, both in terms of the photographer and the gear for the former.


The reason I say no is not the photographer so much as the limitations of the lens and body. No TS which in food photography is really a mainstay, No 2.8 or better and least of all no ability for DOF preview, grid screen, tethered work.

Now one adavantage it may (I'd have to check) but if it has higher synch speeds for strobes that would be a great advantage.

I am sure in the right hands a good photographer would get usable images but with the price of even an elementary body so cheap why limit oneself?

It is the glass that really matters here..

[Moppie]

Again, it is a matter of scale.

I have successfully used my A80 with an off camera flash in a light tent to take product photos. They wouldn't make it into a high end magazine, but they were of a publishable standard.

The G10 does have DOF preview, and exposure preview via live view.
For close up product work it is also able to provide more DOF than an SLR, thanks to its short focal length lens and small sensor.
Sync speeds aren't really an issue, as you go above about 1/320th you start to effect exposure, but there is no shutter to get in the way and create a dark line.
My A80 could work tethered, I would surprised if the G10 can't.

What it lacks is the ability to use specialist lenses and the sort of very high image quality demanded by very high end magazines.

Creativity can get around some of the limits in lens selection, and if your not shooting for a high end magazine then the image quality is less of an issue.

[justAL]

In low light with the G10 & G9 I've found you really need to go full manual on everything including focus in low light and on subjects that require pin sharp subjects.

It's okay but not great. You need to spend the money on a camera with a bigger sensor for finer control.

[origamione]

In low light with the G10 & G9 I've found you really need to go full manual on everything including focus in low light and on subjects that require pin sharp subjects.

It's okay but not great. You need to spend the money on a camera with a bigger sensor for finer control.

You're right! I tried using MF and it works.

http://www.wired.my/G10/IMG_1395.jpg

Exposure Time: 1/10 sec
F-Number: f/4.0
ISO Speed Rating: 80
Lens Aperture: f/4.0
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Focal Length: 21.46 mm

Although i can achieve the results that i wanted, there's still some limitation compared to DSLR. When we shoot in studio, 80-90% camera are mounted on a tripod and when you're locked on to the view you want, then you want to focus on the main subject, in G10, you'll have to go through more process, as for DSLR, all you need is adjust the manual focus to point to the subject, in other words, it's a lot easier, faster & convenient.

[EatMyShot]

If you are planing to shoot for a publication the g9 will not do. But a rebel will do just fine. A macro lens will be needed. canon 50mm macro is the least expensive one. The 100mmm 2.8 is a perfect choice. Here is a sample done with a rebel and 100mm macro.http://www.sashagitin.com/food/images/copyRight_f002.jpg
......
the food photographer (http://www.sashagitin.com)

[origamione]

If you are planing to shoot for a publication the g9 will not do. But a rebel will do just fine. A macro lens will be needed. canon 50mm macro is the least expensive one. The 100mmm 2.8 is a perfect choice. Here is a sample done with a rebel and 100mm macro.http://www.sashagitin.com/food/images/copyRight_f002.jpg
......
the food photographer (http://www.sashagitin.com)

Beautiful shot.
What do you think of EF-S 60mm f2.8 USM macro lens on 40D body?

[nordstern1]

Beautiful shot.
What do you think of EF-S 60mm f2.8 USM macro lens on 40D body?

hi! i have this combo & i can say that it is awesome! very sharp! its comparable to the IQ of the 100 macro but i cant prove this because i dont have the 100, its only based on reviews. the only difference is the focal length & working distance...& the EF/EF-S mount.

[clipper_from_oz]

Thanks for the comment, totally agreed.
After further consideration, i'll would opt for 40D + EF 85mm f/1.8 USM lens instead of 50D + EF 50mm f/1.8 II lens.

A good choice of lens if you want to do portraits....Not so sure with food though as 85mm is ok on a full frame but on a 1.6x frame like the 40D Im betting food shots would mean you have to be a fair distance from the subject.