Which camera to use for product photography?
One of the most frequently asked questions I get, is which camera is the best to use for product photography?
And I can understand why. While I would argue you don’t need top of the line equipment to get started in product photography or even to start a business, your gear is still a crucial factor in your photography experience. And camera bodies are expensive regardless of whichever budget you may be working with. With so many options on the market, it can trigger decision paralysis if you haven’t done the proper research into what would work best for your needs.
So in today’s blog post, I’ve highlighted which cameras I keep hearing other product photographers rave about, the camera I started off with, and the camera I personally use right now (and love).
Cameras loved by product photographers
canon r5
Camera Type: Mirrorless
Current Price: $2899 (Body only)
Year of Release: 2020
With 45 megapixels and a full frame sensor, the high image quality will make editing smaller details in product photography a much easier task. It also has over 1000 focusing points, which is probably more than you’ll ever need for a single product photo.
As a mirrorless system, the R5 offers up to 12fps with the Mechanical Shutter and up to 20 fps with the Electronic Shutter. Although most of the time, product photography setups are static, having this feature would be great when you need to capture water splashes or pouring shots.
Since many product photographers are often working on video or motion based projects for clients as well, the 8K RAW and 4K video recording options will provide you with professional quality assets.
Overall, I can see why this is a well-rounded camera for product photographers, especially if they’re shooting a variety of content such a video and still images, and different types of product photography.
sony a7iii
Camera Type: Mirrorless
Current Price: $1799.99 (Body only)
Year of Release: 2018
This honestly would have been my second choice of camera to go with when I was researching upgrades for my gear. I’ve only ever shot with a Sony Alpha series once before and I immediately fell in love.
The A7iii offers 24.2 megapixels, and while I know this may sound like a downgrade in image quality compared to the powerhouse Canon R5, keep in mind how your images will be used by clients. Most of the time, product photography images are used for websites and social media, not so much posters, billboards or other large prints so the absolute highest resolution isn’t always a necessity.
In terms of video capabilities, the A7iii has 4K recording capabilities so it’s a great option if you’re planning on doing videography as well.
From a 2024 Shotkit survey, the Sony A7iii came out as the most popular camera model for product photographers by far. The slightly more affordable pricing, with equivalent capabilities that deliver results, I can see why this is still a go-to for many product photographers despite being released in 2018.
which camera did i start with?
nikon d3200
Camera Type: DSLR, Crop Sensor
Current Price: $160 (Body only, discontinued so available secondhand only)
Year of Release: 2012
Yes, you read the release date correctly. When I went full time into product photography in 2021, I was using a 9 year old camera by that point. And somehow, was still able to build a successful business without any camera upgrades for a while.
And guess what - I’m still using this camera all the time to vlog many of the scenes you see on my Youtube channel.
Rather than reviewing the key features of this camera, I want to emphasize that taking great photos lies with the photographer and the lighting and lens way more than the camera body. And even if you have a much smaller budget or don’t quite have the means to upgrade just yet, you can still create amazing product photos with what you currently have.
As proof, here are some images I took with the Nikon D3200 back in the beginning of my career:
which camera do I currently use?
Nikon z7ii
Camera Type: Mirrorless
Current Price: $1996.95 (Body only)
Year of Release: 2020
I finally took the plunge in 2022 and splurged on the Nikon Z7ii. I’d been reading and seeing a lot of praise for the mirrorless system, so I was curious to try it out for myself. And since I’d always had a great experience using the Nikon system and didn’t have the budget to replace my Nikon lenses, I was pretty set on staying with the brand.
Using the Nikon Z7ii for product photography has been a serious game-changer. I love how fast mirrorless cameras are. Since I was using a much older camera before, I’m amazed by how easy it is to focus and operate the shutter at the same time using the touch screen.
Also when you shoot full time, the ergonomics of the camera body make all the difference too. I love how the Nikon Z7ii fits in hands and how it’s not too heavy when strapped around my neck. It essentially feels like an extension of my body at this point and I don’t know that I could ever not shoot with Nikon ever.
Final Thoughts
When selecting a camera to invest in, pay attention to the megapixels if you’ll be shooting more detailed work like skincare texture swatches or tiny jewelry. Don’t overlook ergonomics if you’re going to be doing photography full time. For the purposes of shooting product photography in studio, your main focus (and budget) should be on lighting and lenses, not so much camera body. Since most of product photography is staged and not in motion, there is no need to rely so much on camera capabilities. Ultimately, you won’t see a drastic difference among Sony, Canon, and Nikon cameras so your end setup should be based on individual preferences.
If you’d like to see how my Nikon camera captures your brand’s products, let’s connect!
For more information on the Nikon Z7ii, please check out my unboxing vlog.