Different Camera Setups For Taking Real Estate Photos
There are many different cameras available that can be used for Real Estate photography, but their quality output varies greatly. In this video Brad Filliponi, Professional Photographer and Director of BoxBrownie.com, discuss the different options available for real estate photography, how they are best used and their pros and cons.
Smartphone with the Moment Wide Lens Attachment
Most people have a Smartphone so the convenience of using one for real estate photography makes sense, but using a smartphone on its own is not enough for real estate photography. Here are some pros and cons of using a smartphone for real estate photography:
Pros:
- Convenience, nearly everyone has one
- Easy to use.
Cons:
- Low quality compared to a standard camera
- Images are cropped
- Inability to take multiple exposures (there is an HDR option on most smartphones, but this isn't enough for real estate photography)
- Single shot causes windows to become overexposed.
If you do decide to use an iPhone for your property photography, Brad highly recommends the Moment Wide Lens and cover attachment on your phone. This will enable you to get the wide angle shots required for capturing a whole room, but you will still have the issue of overexposed windows. We recommend this set up for Property Managers, who may not have the budget for professional photos, or even as an option for property reports for their landlords. Alternatively, smartphones take excellent external photos, so use this set up for external or locational property images.
Canon M3/M5 Camera for Amateur Photography
Brad discusses how this set up is perfect for real estate agents taking their own property shots, or those just getting into photography. The Canon M3 & M5 are great entry-level cameras that are versatile and affordable on smaller budgets. This camera is great as it provides the easiest method for taking bracketed photos, which is a technique used by professional photographers.
Pros:
- Affordable. One of the cheapest on the market
- Small and lightweight
- Easy to use exposure compensation button on the top
- It comes with a wide angle lens as standard when you buy the camera
Cons:
- Involves a manual process for taking bracketed exposures (although the bracketing dial is easy to use)
The Canon M3 or M5 camera is great for Property Managers or Agents that have some basic skills in real estate photography. It can be used as a solution for agencies or clients that have limited marketing budgets.
Nikon D7200 Camera For Professional Real Estate Photography
For years Brad used the Nikon D7200 camera when doing real estate photography. This set up is for Agencies with an in-house photographer or those a little more skilled in photography. The camera is perfect for real estate due to its lightness, quality image output
Pros:
- Will take 5 bracketed shots automatically. Is one of the few on the market that will do this.
- Input the settings then just push the button, it will then automatically take all the different exposures 2 seconds apart.
- Professional level of DSLR camera
Cons:
- More expensive
- Involves a little more knowledge to operate.
This set up is for Agencies with an in-house photographer or those a little more skilled in photography. Due to the expense involved in purchasing this kind of camera, the setup might not be a viable option for everyone.
All of the camera options above provide an image output that is suitable for submission to edit via the BoxBrownie.com system. The popular edits used by Agents who take their own photos are:
If you want to see just how easy it is to take bracketed photos check out our tips for 'Using a DSLR Camera For Real Estate Photography'.
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