Buy D7100 or D610 for Real Estate?

PaRealtor

Have to say, had no idea what a Ball Head was! Now I know I truly need to ADD one to my list!
Lol.
Thanks again.
Been on B&H all this time. Signed up for membership already!

KnockKnock

If that 14-24 is a stretch, look at the 16-35 or even the latest 18-35. Quality would be roughly a toss-up for most purposes (+1 to MSmoto), although 18mm is not nearly as wide.

How much you have to spend will have a lot to do with how truthfully you need to print big, and I mean wall-sized. If everything is on A4 or web, and you still want the killer gear, just realize that you're rationalizing... and I'm all for that if you can afford it. Someone has to drive the economy

Keep in mind that the huge 60-100" 4K/UltraHD screens run 8-10mp. All of these cheaper options are well capable of resolving at that level. We're no longer in 2005.

spraynpray

Before you buy, I would seriously consider the D7100 with the 11-16mm f2.8 Tokina lens as the field of view is enough that you can get in a corner and include all the walls with it zoomed back. I did a job a while back where I would have been stitching pano's for a week without that lens. I didn't take it off my camera for the entire shoot. It was a beautiful big French Chateau hotel brochure and website and they wanted shots of every room, the outside and all of the gardens.

My point is that you will not see a difference between that combo and the hugely more expensive D610 and 16-35.

Msmoto

@Ironheart

As I remember, I used the correction tool in LR4.4. If one looks carefully, it is clear that LR does not do this as well as one could do it in Photoshop.

Or, I am a vampire….mmmmm….?

heartyfisher

as spraynpray said on DX my 12-24 was not wide enough to get both walls in if I stood in one corner. as he said 11 mm may be enough but I would go with the 10-24. ( just to be safe :-) ) you really dont need the large aperture F2.8. as you will be using a tripod and you do want the increased DOF from a smaller aperture anyway.

And the reason I suggested the D5300 was that articulating screen would help when you are shooting in tight corners. or need a high vantage point.

Photobug

Okay, had to go back to check out the mirror. Terrific, shot made by a vanishing photographer. )

PaRealtor

Lol.
This is fun and such a great learning experience! Went and played with both the D610 and the D7100. So on the fence! Looks like the D610 is the Best investment. However, all I really need is the D7100....where's the D400??? Lol.
Ok. So, I "guess" I'll pay the extra $$$$ for the D610 camera and go with the 910 flash...
Now, are VR lens the top of the line Nikon lens?

PaRealtor

Or I may buy the D7100 and FX lens. The snow was coming down, so, I left the camera shop empty handed.

proudgeek

My 2 cents: If you're going to buy the D7100 and you're shooting interiors (which require the widest possible field of view), you're much better off getting a DX lens. For instance, the best known wide FX lens is the 14-24 and costs about $2,000. The widest DX is the 10-24 and costs less than half that. That's not to say that the 10-24 is a better lens than the 14-24, but for what you're doing and the camera you're considering buying it might be.

PaRealtor

Did you see the D7000 for 549?
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Hmmmmmmmmmm.

Golf007sd

The D7000 is a great body. Should you get it, then you may want to consider the Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 on the wide-end.

realized

personally, the only real estate pictures ive looked at for more then 2 seconds have had multiple flashes in the scene - usually hidden and bouncing.. I used to pay close attention to the flickr real estate group to see how things were done because some of the pictures were so beautiful.

Some of the pictures in the group have "setup information" where they detailed how it was shot.. generally speaking, the ones i would consider "good" had multiple flashes..

for example, one might have been hidden under a chair pointing against the wall to bounce around the room, another next to the couch out of frame, another one someplace else. all bouncing and helping to bring exposure to match the outside in such a way where everything was exposed perfectly.. the types of pictures you would see in a high-end home magazine. look at here: http://www.flickr.com/groups/photographyforrealestate/

with that said, ANY camera will give you "perfect" pictures in a "studio" type setting....which is really what was done in the pictures i saw

Others used flashes but also HDR to "bleed" the photos to look natural.... take a look at here: https://www.flickr.com/groups/hdrforrealestate/ though most of these photos also required multiple flashes as well.

before considering the camera/lens... i'd do more research on real estate photography in general.

Golf007sd

If I was doing HDR photography on in-door houses, I would definitely want an FX body. Would use and ultra-wide lens, and take about 6 shots with +/1 1EV and go from there. I love HDR.

spraynpray

@PaRealtor: Just a thought - I am getting the feeling that if you think that the Nikon results you have seen blew away the Canon results so obviously, I am thinking you are producing .jpg files and so what you are seeing is just a difference in camera set-up. You may want to tell us all about your settings and method?

Vipmediastar_JZ

Always good info on this site. I'll try to pursue interior building photos where permitted. I may or may not attend a HUD seminar this weekend and this would be a good time to talk to the real estate agent. I should do some research for pricing...

PaRealtor

I was using a Canon Rebel Ti3 with the 18-55 lens.
Never invested in a wide lens. Used another Realtor's Nikon D3000 and fell in love!
She has a DX wide lens. My pictures turned out Beautiful!! So, I Know the D7100 is perfect and the D610 is over kill (maybe). But, why not buy the D610 now. Just trying to justify the $800. Difference.....
In our area, Montgomery County, PA most photographers charge $125 for 25 photos. That's how many photos we can upload into Trend (our MLS).
Great deal. However, my pictures usually turn out just as nice. Have an average of six listings a year. Why not invest that money into a better camera and not interrupt my homeowner with another appointment for photographer.and use the money for more lenses? I So Love taking pictures!!!!

PB_PM

The D610 might be a better long term purchase, simply because the image quality will hold up longer. Meaning that even next generation DX bodies wont match the D610 in terms of overall performance.

PaRealtor

@Golf007sdIf I was doing HDR photography on in-door houses, I would definitely want an FX body. Would use and ultra-wide lens, and take about 6 shots with +/1 1EV and go from there.

Loving the HDR photos! Thanks for sharing!!! So, do I need the D610 for HDR photos?

Vipmediastar_JZ

@PaRealtor The D610 will give you up to 3 frames for exposure bracketing for HDR or you can do in camera HDR with a .jpg output.
I recommend the 3 frames and use Nik Software for the processing.

D610 specs: 2 to 3 frames in steps of 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, 1 or 2 EV

When I had the d600 I did a few HDR pics and I thought it did a good job. Cameras like the d300 and d800 do 9 frames. I think 3-5 might be the sweet spot.

Here is one of the D600 shots that I did with 3 frames

PaRealtor

That's Sweet!!!!
Very Nice!!!

PaRealtor

Thanks for all of your advice! Going with the D610!.
Tripod, 14–22 Lens, and of course a ball head!

DaveyJ

My father was in real estate for years. Msmoto's advice was very good. I do not think I would buy a D610 myself though over a D7100 as the 10-24 DX Nikkor is easily one of the best interior rigs out there bar none. Unless you were trying to get home photos in magazines or BIG ads I cannot fathom what FX D610 would do that a D7100 would not especially with the 10-24 DX. The 12-24 DX is my favorite camera for interior and exterior shots of buildings and it is quite awesome for landscapes too since I am sure these homes have some land attached. I have used both the D610 and the D7100. Now I own two D7100s. Still waffling on the D610 but it sure isn't to take very low light photos for a real estate application. Personally I think my little D3200 could take very nice real estate photos with the right lens. One thing I always realize about taking say interior photos is that having used medium and large format to do this stuff I do miss tilts and swings from that era for me. I did own a Nikon 35mm shift lens but got rid of it as it strangely did not match well color wise with my other Nikon 35 mm lens (used on a F5 Nikon which I will never part with). Still a D610 would be certainly nice but I doubt it could do anything in this arena a D7100 could not. Frankly I would rather have a D7100 and a Go Pro drone that could do aerial real estate shots like we have.

ChasCS

What are you flying, and which Rx?

Buying a Parrot AR Drone 2.0 with its two built in cameras is probably much cheaper.
http://ardrone2.parrot.com
I think quite a bit easier to control for the beginning RC PILOT as well, with an iPad or iPhone.
The best AR Drone apps are free. There are several ways to record your pics or vids.

http://forum.parrot.com/ardrone/en/index.php

I enjoy mine anyway,,, plenty of fun.

I'd like to eventually buy a nice camera holder, or even just securely strap my D800 to the landing skids of my
Align TRex 700E DFC HV
Pretty expensive proposition thar' ...

Ironheart

If you are using aerial drones (unmaned aircraft system, or UAS) for any commercial use (like real estate photography) you are in violation of FAA rules in the USA, unless you receive special training and your aircraft receives an air worthiness certificate, which can take up to a year:

http://www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/uas/uas_faq/

Let's be careful out there :-)

ChasCS

I live in freedom, Canada...
We don't have an Area 51!! ;-)

Just don't invade others privacy, or annoy the wild life.