Beauty photography

[Alex MacPherson]

I am contemplating getting a Phase One P30 (not the plus) for my Hasselblad 553ELX for my beauty photography work.

I currently have been using a Canon 1Ds Mark III.  Will there be enough of a difference in the files to warrant the expense?
I do all my beauty in studio on tripod. I was thinking the 31 mp would be great for provide larger files that would allow for
greater flexibility in regards to cropping.

Thanks in advance

[Frank Doorhof]

Try one out of possible.
For me personally the quality of the mf files are just better, pixels can be pushed around a lot more and there is more "realness" in the images.

[pcunite]

Because you're shooting from tripod and in a very controlled environment I think you would be pleased with MFD... if it shoots fast enough for you. Because of the expense in moving to MFD perhaps you could wait and rent the 1Ds IV for testing (32mp ) when it becomes available? I think MFD will still be better but how much?

[Chris_Brown]

I currently have been using a Canon 1Ds Mark III.  Will there be enough of a difference in the files to warrant the expense?

I use a 1Ds3 and have rented a Phase P30+ kit. The Phase sensor didn't have a anti-aliasing filter covering it, so the images had a much higher level of acuity. Fine details were not softened. However, moiré patterns showed up all over the fabrics I was photographing. After processing, the image retained a much higher degree of sharpness and acuity at the pixel level. Once the image has been reduced for magazine reproduction, or web use, that degree of detail is lost, though.

I also think that using Capture One with a fine-tuned ICC camera profile really helps, too.

[Alex MacPherson]

I think part of the reason I want the Phase One is because I dislike the way the skin is rendered by the Canon. There is something
very "digital" about the look. I can't really put my finder on it.

The back I am looking at is sub $5k... while somewhat pricey seems to be a good investment for the type of photography I do.

[avelpavel]

Maybe you can try a different raw converter. I'm using C1 for thethering shooting, then the chosen files are processed with Raw Photo Processor. There is a huge difference in between, sometimes it seems the 5D shots are not in focus but the real thing is the converter is not able to get out all the details, so everything is muddy, not crisp as you expect...

the image is made with 5D MII and 90mm tse, the files are converted as linear in C1 and RPP, no sharpening. Then the USM indicated is done in CS4. There is a difference in skin detail and RPP gives a look which is not so digital. I like it better.

By the way... let's wait for the 1Ds M IV to test!

Bye

Roberto

___________________
www.pastrovicchio.com

[Chris_Brown]

I dislike the way the skin is rendered by the Canon. There is something
very "digital" about the look. I can't really put my finder on it.

Are you talking about the flat, pasty look in the quarter tones (i.e., the light skin tones)?

[Anthony R]

It's more than just the sensor size and megapixels here let's not forget. You'll also benefit from the Blad glass vs the Canon. As stated, the files from the P1 back will more easily hold up to moderate to heavy post work and the repurpose much better than the smaller Canon files. You really can't go wrong here IMO

[UlfKrentz]

Especially for skin tones you should take a look at the Leaf Backs as well, we use the Dalsa / Leaf combination for this reason. An Aptus II 7 or the older Aptus 75S is very good regarding speed as well.

Cheers, Ulf

[Jozef Zajaz]

You will be amazed over the quality compared to your canon.

I use both systems. Always my p30+ in my studio for fashion and for beauty. The whole process is alot smoother with the p30+ images turn up on the screen in a instance, the canon takes forever. Sharpness and color and depth is awesom. At this moment i think you could get a really good bargain picking up a used unit.

Good luck!

[Dick Roadnight]

I am contemplating getting a Phase One P30 (not the plus) for my Hasselblad 553ELX for my beauty photography work.

I currently have been using a Canon 1Ds Mark III.  Will there be enough of a difference in the files to warrant the expense?

It amasses me how some photographers can earn/find the money for a new BMW, but they are loath to spend money on what earns them the money.

An H4D-60 would be the obvious choice, as you might need to see every stitch in a full-length picture to be printed life size, and you might appreciate the clever focusing...

...but the benefit of Hasselblad backs is the Phocus software, and you would get that with any Hasselblad back.

I have a 555ELD that I hope to use with a CF39... and you would have the option to upgrade to an H2 without changing the back.

[Rob C]

It amasses me how some photographers can earn/find the money for a new BMW, but they are loath to spend money on what earns them the money.

I would have written: it amazes me that any photographer can find the money for a new BMW.

You see the flaw in extrapolating from personal experience? What can I do? It's the only experience I have. I would add that this is because I learned to avoid hire-purchase (after my accountant twice convinced me it was worth it - and we pay those guys?) and leasing was never an option for a non-ltd. setup like mine... I would go further: I'd say that like Mercedes, you probably have to be prepared to pay extra for the wheels. All in all, I'd swallow the ego and buy someting that doesn't break your heart when the idiot beside you opens his door too far and too hard. When I had the little sports X1/9 my wife would sometimes drive it and hated having to park in a field or the most distant slot of the supermarket car park... and even then the guy with the Range Rover would instantly come out of the clouds and sit beside it.

Speaking of the X1/9, it had an amazing amount of space in the forward trunk/boot - I managed tripods, case with flashes, cameras, all that junk. Drawbacks? Well, it felt silly when Hillman Avengers passed me... I almost perfected the art of looking asleep at the wheel but never looking sideways.

Rob C

[Dick Roadnight]

I would have written: it amazes me that any photographer can find the money for a new BMW.

You see the flaw in extrapolating from personal experience?

This is not my personal experience - my car is 12 years old, and I am investing in pro kit.

I know a professional photographer, who's work I do not admire, who uses a low-res DSLR for landscape, who has a BMW which he bought new.

...being diplomatic, sometime I think I should say:

"Such talent and skill - if you can sell crap like that, why do you not give up trying to take photographs; and join my marketing department"

[Alex MacPherson]

It amasses me how some photographers can earn/find the money for a new BMW, but they are loath to spend money on what earns them the money.

An H4D-60 would be the obvious choice, as you might need to see every stitch in a full-length picture to be printed life size, and you might appreciate the clever focusing...

...but the benefit of Hasselblad backs is the Phocus software, and you would get that with any Hasselblad back.

I have a 555ELD that I hope to use with a CF39... and you would have the option to upgrade to an H2 without changing the back.

I have not yet reached a level where I am earning enough money to justify the expense of something like an H4D-60. I just want
to step up to MFD without breaking the bank.

[Rob C]

This is not my personal experience - my car is 12 years old, and I am investing in pro kit.

I

I can match your 12-year-old car! It's one of the last Escorts: came with an 1800cc engine and the title of XRi (no 2, 3, 4 nor anything else). Gone round the clock and showing about 1250k at the moment. Rust on the roof looks terminal, but it's MOTd until next July... I was going to say it answers to 'Rusty', but to tell the truth, it doesn't answer to much of anything.

No, I'm not investing in any more kit. I said that before a few times but think I mean it this time...

I took myself off to the local Sunday market today, D700 with manual 1.8/50mm and that was it. Boy, does that mother get heavy after a couple of hours! Thank God the M9 is out of reach! So is the road, come to think of it. I believe there is one up in Perthshire? Stamper?

Take care

Rob C

[Dick Roadnight]

I can match your 12-year-old car! It's one of the last Escorts: came with an 1800cc engine and the title of XRi (no 2, 3, 4 nor anything else). Gone round the clock and showing about 1250k at the moment.

A bit OT, but mine is 1,900cc, 212K miles, BMW Z3... the engine seems past it's prime.

I took myself off to the local Sunday market today, D700 with manual 1.8/50mm and that was it. Boy, does that mother get heavy after a couple of hours! Thank God the M9 is out of reach! So is the road, come to think of it. I believe there is one up in Perthshire? Stamper?

Take care

Rob C

I am thinking of getting a CF39 as a back-up system and 2nd camera... but having 2 4kg cameras round my neck for any length of time does not seem a good idea... especially as they could bang together and destroy each other!

[Imaginara]

Well i recently made the jump myself from a Canon EOS 5D mk2 to a Mamiya 645 AFD and a Phase One P25 back. Cost me roughly €3500 + vat which was a great price for a demo back from a reseller. And the quality jump really shows. The leap felt bigger than when i went from a crop sensor (40D/50D) to a full size sensor (5D) and for beauty work it's an absolute delight to work with. Just be prepared that you will retouch a lot more with a MFDB system than with the smaller systems, allthough the quality of the file it outputs is a lot nicer to work with.

Oh and i drive a 1990's rustbucket with a Honda label, cost me €700 and will prob only live this year before it goes to the great scrapyard It has struck me as kinda funny that when i go on location with the Phase and a 7b pack, all the gear would buy me many cars just like this one

And if a client sees my crappy car, he never ever complains about my prices

[ziocan]

Mr. Rob, after looking at your work, I think you should try to have another run at the Vogues and the likes.
They all are redoing your gigs again and ask other people to do it.
They should go for the originals.

You may then go for one of those roadsters.

[Rob C]

Ziocan

Thanks for the advice, which my ego forces me to see as a compliment, but no way!

The truth, in my case, was that the little magazine work that I did came to me from my non-mag stuff; it was the advertising and the collection shoots for manufacturers that brought in the work, but never did any money flow from magazines; in fact, it was embarrassing to work for so little, which just goes to show you how we all fall for our own ego-tripping, even when we know better. But, I did enjoy it - in its own way - and it feels a lot better from here than from there. But today? I wouldn't be able to cope with all the people that make up a 'team'. In my day, all the girls knew how to do their own makeup etc. and there were very few people around that didn't have to be there; on the calendar trips, it was sometimes just the two of us, but eventually I did see the wisdom of having my wife come into the business.

If what you say is right, I'm not surprised: how on Earth did people made with plastic ever become fashionable? I think skin is so much more interesting and appealing to another human being! But I think roadster money wouldn't be forthcoming from those sources... On the other hand, if they were to ask nicely?

;-)

Ciao

Rob C

[Dick Roadnight]

on the calendar trips, it was sometimes just the two of us,

Rob C

On the one calender job I did (Farm Contractor, November 1980) the star was a tractor mounted mower... I remember I used a telephoto to make the background hill look bigger.

The sales manager knew that I was the expert, and did not even look into the view finder when I suggested it.