Equipment Best camera

I use Cannon Rabel T7. It is affordable and takes good photos. You can change up lenses as you need - that's where the money goes. I am so far happy with default lenses (50mm and 18mm-55mm) It was about $500 altogether. I've been photographing doll, family, wedding, live concerts etc. I also have macro lens attachment for closeup photos for faces and smaller scale dolls and miniatures. The downside is that there is no external mic output (that's why it's cheap) but if you are only photographing, it really does not matter.

 

I think even when it comes to cameras, the best tool is the one you know how to use. Smartphone camera technology is already pretty good if you know what you're doing. Sometimes really nice doll photography usually involves some degree of editing afterwards. If you're interested in closeups or detailed miniature photography though, I second looking into a macro lens. You'll have an easier time picking what works for you and within your budget if you're not worried about optimizing for "the best"!

 

As @apple for you said, the best camera is the one you know how to use and will use!

I use my iPhone camera more than any other, and I'm really impressed by how well the pictures turn out, especially with the more recent models that have a physical zoom. If I want my doll in focus but have the background blurred (like in my profile pic), I'll set up my doll, take several steps back, then use the 2x zoom to narrow the depth of field so that she's in focus but the background is blurred. If I want the background clearer, I'll use the 1x. I can't speak for other smartphones (I've only used an iPhone), but the iPhone has a lot more manual adjustments that you can make now, too. Plus it's small and always with me.

If you did want to invest in a more traditional camera, brace yourself--they can get quite expensive, especially if you want one where you can change the lenses. A basic little point-and-shoot is less expensive, but it may not have many more capabilities than a smartphone at this point. If you want a bigger camera without getting a DSLR, I really like the OM-5 Mark II. It's a Micro Four Thirds camera, so it's smaller than a DSLR, but you can swap the lenses and it still has a lot of great capabilities. I don't think I've used it for doll photos yet, but I've enjoyed using it to take travel photos and portraits. That said, it's kind of a brick to carry around (though still not as heavy and bulky as a DSLR).
They also have less expensive models, though those are still $600+ for just the body of the camera without a lens.

But to again echo what @apple for you said, the more complicated you get with your camera, the more editing you may need to do afterward. Even the best professional photographers edit their photos before posting or selling them! My iPhone pictures may not be as high resolution or have as many capabilities, but they generally require less editing, and the in-app edits available in an iPhone are also pretty easy to use and play around with (vs. something like Photoshop that has a pretty steep learning curve).

 

Most cameras these days, including phones, take sharp photos with good colours. The choice is very (intimidatingly so) big so it really comes down to your budget, skill level and preference. It's also good to think about whether you want something compact, if you need changeable lenses, do you want it to be easy to shoot with or if you want to have lots of control over the image. I think to really give you good suggestions, it would be good to know a bit more about what you'd want from the camera.

Photography mostly has to do with light, so it's always worth thinking about your lighting conditions also. A good camera will still take a potato picture when it's too dark, and a cheapish phone can still take good photos when there's enough light. Daylight is mostly the best for a good well-lit photo, I've also gathered some smaller lamps over time to set up my doll photos with (nothing fancy, I honestly use like €3 IKEA usb powered desk lamps and a cheap "sunset lamp" a lot). But again, depends on what you're looking for and what you want from the photos.

 

Just adding my observation to other answers - If you are currently unhappy with phone even after you do everything you can do (zoom to reduce warping, editing photo etc.) I think a real camera will significantly reduces stress for you as it did for me. But camera alone doesn't automatically make good photos. You still need to consider lighting, angle, composition etc. and some editing if needed.

 

I am Old School ;-) Just as I sometimes prefer older BJDs with character, it's the same with cameras. Nikon forever!
DSLR full screen or my old D5100. Professional fashion photos are not taken with a smartphone.

 

Hihi! I worked in a fashion and product studio for 7 years. My personal camera is a Nikon 5300. The best camera for product, which is what I would categorize dolls as, depends on what you want to do with the photos.

If you could describe what your goals are for the images I can give you specific advice. There is too much nuance otherwise.

 

What would you say sets the Nikon apart from, say, the EOS 2000D? I plan on getting a reflex and while I have no particular demands I'm in a bit of an empasse from the choice. I generally shoot in low light in a studio setting, not outdoors. I don't care much about having a general camera for things other than dolls. I imagine that lenses make a lot of difference, but I'll have to think about that at a later time.

 

I also use a Nikon 5300, but honestly choosing between equal-ish Canon and Nikon models is more of a question of preference similar to Android vs iOS or Nike vs Adidas etc rather than one or the other actually being better Canon EOS 2000D gets described as entry level and 5300 as mid-range, and comparing the two it seems like the 5300 offers a few more ISO options and a couple other slightly improved specs (plus a non-fixed screen which is not always necessary but something I do love having). Other than that they are pretty similar, and neither have an auto-focus motor in the camera body, which means you'll need to look for lenses with an AF motor if you ever want to get other options (which are a bit more expensive than ones without, but then again the camera body is cheaper, making the price overall kind of the same unless you want to have many extra lenses). If you can see both at a store in person, I would just see which one feels better in hand and maybe look and which brand's lens choice is more to your liking. If you're shooting low light mostly, getting an additional portrait lens with a smaller aperture might be a good shout, I find the kit lens needs the iso very pumped up for this sometimes which adds lots of grain.

 

@cobaltconduct Thanks a lot for the explanation! I think I've grown used to full manual as far as my phone allows, so I'm comfortable without autofocus and other functions. Dolls are good at staying still so I can take my time.
It's a pity that the kit lens is dark, I'd probably have to get a dedicated lens as you suggest. And it's a good idea to go look at them at a brick and mortal store, I'll do that.

 

I use a manual focus portrait lens just because it is what I already had, but there is no pride in choosing MF over AF imo, and it's a bit of a struggle to get things in focus well in low light conditions. AF can always be turned off, but it's mostly very handy to have, especially if you're mainly used to shooting on the phone as you'll be holding the camera differently. I'd try the kit lens out first regardless, it is still a very practical piece of equipment that will be sufficient most of the time

 

@lutke I agree with what @cobaltconduct said- the main difference between canon and nikon in my experience is lens quality & sensor size. This fluctuates a lot between manufacturing versions. I learned on a Canon T3, and found it very difficult to use in low light settings without studio light. A T7 would be more comparable to a Nikon 5300, but won't have all the bells and whistles. (the 5300 can upload images over wifi when it's connected, which is useful if you are working an event with several other photographers and a digital technician. you would not need something like that for doll photography)

If you want to shoot in low light conditions and not use studio lighting, I would recommend looking at more recent Sony and Fuji film cameras, which have larger sensors and better lenses. They handled dark subjects extremely well, and I was very impressed with the amount of data they captured per pixel.

older Nikon and Canon have a lot of different lenses, but the lens to sensor combo can end up with some dark images without studio lighting. They're better for professional lighting and outdoor photography in my experience, especially if you're using a kit lens. A thinner portrait or "pancake" lens would suit you well, and maximize light for the smaller sensor. Because dolls don't move a manual lens works well. I'd also invest in a tripod, so you can put the camera right where you want it and it will stay there as you make adjustments to your doll.

If you want to edit your photos extensively, always look for the maximum amount of "data" in an image- this means no completely white or black pixels. The image may look "flat" in camera, but as long as there is subtle variation in the pixel values they can be pushed using levels, curves, etc to create a very dynamic image. Some cameras allow you to do this in-camera.

Ultimately, choose the camera that accomplishes what you want to do. The T7 is a decent DSLR but will take more attention to the settings and lens than a Sony or Fuji Film.

 

@P0laris @cobaltconduct Thanks a lot for the information! I shoot in low light only in part because of constraints - I enjoy that kind of moody photo a lot, so I think I'll keep it that way in the future and I want gear that works well in that context. I have my phone mounted on a tripod when I shoot the dollies and I agree it's essential, especially since I try to keep ISO to a minimum and use a slow shutter. My phone takes decent photos but it is what it is, I often butt against the technical limitations, warping, artefacts and grain. And OpenCamera is a great app but working a complex UI on a phone is clumsy and frustrating. What you say about Sony and Fujifilm cameras sounds ideal, pretty much all the editing I do is tweak the levels to push the whites a bit so I think I'll feel comfortable.

 

There will be less warping with lenses that match the focal range you're shooting at. Artifacts & grain get worse with smaller sensors and lower lighting, which are also improved with smaller F stops, better lighting, and larger sensors.

It is really hard to push the lighting on phone cameras because the sensors are so small. Megapixels can be misleading, because a phone can have, say, 32 megapixels but the sensor size is less than a centimeter! Megapixel to sensor size is what will really tell you what quality image a camera will produce. More pixels on a smaller sensor leads to artefacting, less pixels on a larger sensor leads to grain. Ideally you want lots of megapixels and a big sensor for a crisp, clear, detailed picture.

 

I just got my second Olympus mirrorless OM-D E 10 Mark IV yesterday and I’m so happy to have a camera again. I love the lighter weight and consistently sharp photos. My first one (Mark II) stopped working. I tried everything but it didn’t connect to the battery. It was 10 years old. I bought it for a trip to Sicily because it was perfect for travel. I bought it again because it’s a great camera that I know well that fits all my lenses. I use automatic settings and autofocus and a portrait lens most of the time. I’m old and my father was a combat photographer in WWII so I have used tons of cameras (Brownie cameras, Leicas, Canons, Panasonic, Speed Graphics, etc.). I like to be spontaneous with my doll photos. To me, they are snapshots rather than slick portraits (where I would use more manual settings, studio lighting, and a tripod). My posts on Social Media are stories so my photos are sequenced. I edit almost all my photos because that’s where I have control. When I shoot inside I use natural light. I know which rooms/different sides of the house have strong warm or cool light and when the sun will streak into the rooms. I often shoot outside too. Some advise. Whichever camera you choose, shoot a lot so it becomes an extension of you rather than something you are fighting. The more often you use it, the happier you will be and the faster you will master it.