what are the best professional cameras for artistic photography?

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Mana-chan

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i'm an artistic photographer, who likes to photograph all different kind of things such as nature, or even household objects. anything that can be made to look artistic or beautiful, really. i see that a lot of really skilled photographers choose the canon digital rebel or the nikon D60 (or sometihng similar to that).

i cant seem to find a place that lists the different kinds of cameras and pros and cons to them. i work with a very simple kodak digital camera that i bought at circuit city for like $150 but has 12.0 megapixels (therefore, it takes very, very clear pictures) but i'd like to eventually save up for a professional digital camera and i was wondering if somebody could point me towards some info on the popular or very useful kinds?
 
Its not the camera that makes the photograph but the photographer who shoots it.. For Fine Art black and white I use a Calumet 4x5 view camera with sheet film. Color depends on what I am shooting but the view camera is still the best choice by far.

Digital has its place but it is not the end all phase of photography. If it was then why do I see people dumping their digitals and buying up film cameras?
 
I found this site very helpful.

Buying Guide: Digital Cameras Side-by-Side


http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sidebyside.asp
 
All my "art" photography is shot using film. Period.

Those who buy photography as art want the photographer to be not only the one who figures out the proper exposure, composes the image, but also develop the film and use their skills in the darkroom to make archival fiber based prints ... this means black and white photography in about 80% of the cases. Those artists who have been successful exhibiting and selling colour images, usually shoot with a medium format or view camera and develop their own film as well as print it.

As with ANY art the process is controlled by the artist and the piece must be able to withstand centuries of enjoyment by art lovers.

At this time, calling a digital image printed on an Inkjet printer is stretching the definition of "art".

You may find having a conference with your art adviser to be worthwhile before you spend thousands of dollars on equipment you don't need or cannot use artistically.

Your comment about finding a digital camera that will take very, very clear pictures, shows us you do not yet have the technical skills necessary to be a photo artist. It is NOT the camera that defines the quality of the art, but the artist ... all artists must have a firm understanding of the medium from which they create their art, or it will be a failure, not matter how creative or how good the intentions.

Spend a few years studying art history, design and composition and learn the techniques necessary to shape art in a few different mediums and you will begin to understand that there is more to fine art than just excellent tools

You talk about pixel counts .. here is a treatise on pixel counts you should read.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/mpmyth.htm

And yes the Nikon D60 is a fine digital camera, but for a beginner, spending less will get you more if you buy the Nikon D40 instead.

By the way, there are only five current "Professional" digital cameras available today.

* Nikon D3 --- $5,000 body only
* Canon 1Ds, Mark III --- $8,000 body only
* Mamiya 645ZD --- $10,000 with lens
* Hasselblad H3Dii50 --- $44,000 body and digital back only
 
I agree, its not the camera, it's how you use it.

For instance, my brother in law has a $300 super nice camera (like 12.0 megapixels), and every picture to come out of that thing is blurry, or dark, and whenever he tries to blow up the pictures, they come out pixelated. I have even gone in and set the specifications in the camera for him, and its just the same thing.

But I have a $100 3.2 megapixel Nikon (and trust me, 3.2 megapixels is not a lot) and I have never had a bnad-quality photo. I do art shows sometimes, and everyone always asks what camera I use, and I have had professionals see me using my camera and tell me there is no WAY to get a good picture out of it, and yet I have been able to blow my pictures up as big as a wide-screen TV.

So I'm pretty sure its not the camera, but the person BEHIND the camera.

And I LOVE LOVE LOVE my Nikon 3.2 megapixel camera, and I would highly recommend it (my brother has the same camera and he loves his too).

If you are insisting on a higher megapixel (and I really don't blame you. I too will eventually get something higher), go with the Nikon brand. I personally think they are one of the best out there, and the cameras are very easy to use.

I used to use film because my uncle had a developing lab and would let me develop them myself. But I don't live near there anymore and I really don't trust anyone else to develop my pictures, so I prefer digital so I can print them myself at home, or if I HAVE to go to a digital printing place. It makes storage easier too, since everything is just on a CD.
 
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