Taking pictures of faceups

The question of which camera is good starts with the question of what your budget is. And the answer to the question of how to capture small detail is "macro". So, you'll either need a point-and-shoot or compact with macro capability, or a DSLR to which you can get a macro lens.

I suppose it is also a question of whether or not you see yourself developing doll photography into a side hobby alongside everything else you do with your dolls, or whether you just want to be able to capture decent "product shots". If the latter, you should be able to get by with not too advanced a camera. As long as it has macro, of course.
If the former however, I'd recommend you consider forking up the $400+ it takes to buy a DSLR with a kit lens; as good a one as your budget allows. Beside getting you a more capable system to start growing into from the outset, it'll save you no end of money compared to upgrading the hardware in increments as you grow out of each intermediary step.

 

While DSLRs are fantastic, they aren't absolutely necessary if you mostly just want to take nice photos of faceups. I have a simple Canon PowerShot point-and-shoot that I love - just be sure to read any manual thoroughly to get the most out of your camera. Like The Dragon said, the main thing to look for is a macro function - that's what allows you to take very up close pictures of tiny detail work.

 

I have a Nikon point-and-shoot and it works fairly good for small details. While DSLRs are a little pricey and have great photo outcomes, they aren't needed (like Kate said). I know Canon makes some really good cameras that are not DSLRs that take amazing pictures. Just consider your options, and look around a bit. Buying a good camera isn't something you can 'go pick up at walmart' more often than not. You need to research and be able to know what you are getting. Hope this helps!

 

Indeed, like I, Kate, and Shainigu now have reiterated a few times, if you just want to take nice photos of face-ups, a DSLR isn't needed. All you do need for close ups is macro.

However, even the most advanced compact or P&S camera does have a much lower capability ceiling than even the simplest DSLR, if for no other reason than that you always can expand a DSLR's capabilities by getting a new lens, flash, or other accessory.
I therefore maintain with some vehemence that anyone who is serious about developing as a photographer is wise to at least seriously consider getting a DSLR right from the start, because the point when you've outgrown the camera and must upgrade will come much sooner with a P&S than with a DSLR. I can say this with confidence, because I myself made the expensive mistake of buying what actually was quite a capable P&S when I in retrospect, seeing how ridiculously fast I actually grew out of it, realise I ought to have bought a DSLR.

So, what it boils down to in the end is two things:

• What do you want to do, photographically? Do you just want to take nice close-ups of face-ups, or do you see yourself wanting to explore doll photography as a side hobby, like many others here on DoA have done? If the latter, a DSLR is at the very least an option worth considering.

• What is your budget? If below $400, you can still get a fair DSLR on the second hand market, but the selection becomes much more limited. If over $400, I'd definitely recommend getting a DSLR. If your budget is more than twice that, my personal opinion is that a DSLR is the only option worth considering.

Whichever camera type you eventually find suits your intentions and finances best, you will need to do some fairly thorough research to determine which actual camera model you're best off buying.
We are of course here to help you, and you will find many of us here eager to persuade you to buy the specific camera we bought ourselves, but in the end you must find out which camera suits you best. And that is best done hands-on, in a dedicated camera store, with competent staff to help you out.

The best advice I can give you is to buy the best camera your budget allows, whether it be a P&S or a DSLR. Cameras in general "age" more slowly than other consumer electronics — a camera you buy now is still just as capable several years from now. The more expensive the camera, the truer this is. Trying to "future proof" your expenses by buying a lower-cost solution now only to upgrade to something slightly better when you've outgrown it, and then again when you've outgrown that ... tends to become rather expensive, in time.

Best of luck to you!

 

Like the others have said, you need macro to capture the little details. I would also recommend something that can zoom in a bit (most cameras probably have that anyway...), because using just the macro without zooming in can distort a doll's face. Basically, to get a closeup you can either stick your camera up in your doll's face (which causes barrel distortion- here's a short little explanation of it), or you can back up a bit and zoom in with the camera. It's not a huge deal, but when you zoom in, the photo is more accurate to what the doll looks like in real life. And if you're going to do faceup commissions, your customers will want an accurate depiction of what their doll looks like, you know?

 

I own a Kodak Z612 which has a macro feature but I find since playing with the settings I can actually get better close up pictures by standing back and zooming in on a landscape setting. Camera's need to be played with so you can get a feel for your own personal one, you could buy the same one that I have and still find it does things differently to mine. The Kodak's are a good beginner camera, not too expensive, the software is so easy that even an idiot like me can put it on my computer (and my laptop too) and I can get the pictures from my camera to my computer to photobucket in just a few seconds. They're so easy but as it's been said before your budget will dictate your first camera choice. Just make sure you check online reviews for what's best about the camera you want and make an informed decision based on your own needs.

 

Sorry i'm a newbie (real newbie) for a macro, that can be inclued in the Hybrid ? i have seen some people on Amazon.co.jp can make with this camera some macro. but with or without objectif ?

 

I think a white background and alot of natural light would probly do the trick... It can also depend on the camera, like people already said.

 

You want a plain mid toned background- gray might be nice- so that the camera does not adjust to too much brightness or darkness and ruin your shot of your faceup. You may need a camera with a macro setting- that means it has a setting for taking pics close up of small things. Turn off the flash, turn off the flash turn off the flash. There are a few times when you should use a flash- inside a dark house trying to get a good picture of a doll is almost never one of them.

 

As a DSLR user, my detail lens of choice is a 60mm Micro (used for close-ups of insects and very small objects, textures, etc.) Making use of the auto-focus can come in handy, too, when you're documenting a single stationary object like a doll head.

Don't forget; if you don't personally have a camera, you can always borrow one from a friend, or have a friend help you out and take the pictures for you.

 

a macro lens could be good for this use. You can also use the macro effects on a less profesional camera.