Best camera and lens for an Estate Agent

AMc

A tripod and a camera with built in HDR mode to combine bracketed exposures will cover most circumstances where you want to correctly expose the garden through the patio doors and the lounge in one frame.
Houses don't generally move much - so slow shutter isn't an issue as long as the tripod is solid.
I'm guessing the OP probably doesn't want to spend hours on editing hence the suggestion of something that will do the job itself rather than doing it in post processing, though it's very simple to do in Lightroom with a couple of clicks.

I can't make a specific recommendation for a camera - I know my Olympus OM-D E-M10ii has it and it works pretty well. You can even use it handheld if you're reasonably careful.

shotokan101

Have
Have You actually read the response that you quoted - doesn't look like it to me?  

Also a rather combative and antagonistic manner

snerkler

Tbh most photos I see on estate agent sites and sites such as right move etc aren’t particularly great, clearly just taken with a general camera by someone who just points and shoots. In this kind of scenario you could do worse than getting something like the new iphone with the ultra wide angle lens.

Now if you’re a more high end estate agent and want the photos that look more like a Hello magazine shoot or something there’s a lot more to it, and most of it will be technique, composition and lighting but to get the level of lighting I’m referring to is costly and a faff to set up.

As a compromise and to fit the budget you could get something like a used Olympus EM10 Mark II or III, a used 9-18mm and a decent flash (something like the Nissin i40 would do) and bounce the flash (assuming the ceilings or walls are white/light neutral). I prefer bounced flash over fill as it can be tricky to get fill to look natural, and it can be more difficult to ‘hide’ reflections

shotokan101

So any actual suggestions for a replacement "comparable" camera?  

Johnmcl7

I was thinking the same although the Nikon lens is a bit wider than I was assuming as it's an 18-35mm ultrawide rather than what I guessed was probably a 24 or 28mm starting point, it's roughly a 2.7x crop.  That makes it a bit trickier as it means you'd need a 9-18mm on micro 4/3 or a 10-18mm on Sony E-mount to get that wider field of view and I think something like the Sony A6000 with the 16-50mm which I find a good package for the money isn't going to be wide enough.

I can't think of much in the way with a 1in sensor or better that goes that wide either, Nikon did show a 1in camera with an ultrawide lens which looked intriguing but never released it.

snerkler

See my post

bluesilver

It will also lead to specular highlights/reflections and unevenness, especially if you have nooks and crannies that the light doesn't reach very well. You will also get colouration if the walls and ceilings are not white. If you use HDRi you will get perfect exposures inside and outside. I can categorically say that this is how it is done for both high end estate agent house photography and for film..

smotiram

Precisely that. The output from the J1 has been fine up until now and have really had no intentions of replacing it if it still worked. However as we are in need of a new bit of kit, might as well get something that is half decent? I would really appreciate some actual suggestions of cameras and lenses.

noiseboy72

I would suggest a basic SLR - or better still mirrorless as they are smaller and 18mm - 55mm lens. Flash can make photos appear a little unnatural and it will take you longer to set up the shots, so maybe see how you get on without it. Use a relatively high ISO to keep shots sharp and all should be good. I did some shots for someone to promote their home business and took them on a Canon 60D with an 18-55 and 55-300mm lens - just to get some background blur and no flash. They looked really good, with natural colours and good levels of detail.

Quite honestly, an iPhone takes perfectly acceptable photos these days and has a nice wide lens - particularly on the latest models. I do appreciate however that some homeowners might feel short changed it you turned up and just took a few snaps on your phone!

smotiram

Hi Noiseboy72,

You are absolutely right when it comes to phone cameras. Such is the quallity of phone cameras these days, they would most certainly do a adequate job. The issue is - as you mentioned - not looking like a complete fool trotting around millions of pounds worth of property and taking photos on my phone.

Would you be able to link some potential camera and lens options? Would very much appreciate it,