Shutterstock Photographer Forum :: View topic - Is Nikon D5100 good for shooting stock photos?

infomages · Joined: 08 Apr 2006 Posts: 159 Location: United States

Here is the Nikon D5100 I am interested.

Nikon D5100 16.2MP DX-Format 3" LCD SLR Camera Bundle with 18-55mm VR and 55-200mm VR Lenses

Can this Nikon D5100 package produce good quality XXL size stock photo acceptable for Shutterstock? Is this camera a good investment for shooting stock photos / videos? Any other alternatives in the same price range?

Appreciate your experience, suggestions and feedback!

darla · Joined: 29 Apr 2006 Posts: 913

I don't see why it wouldn't be. It takes large enough pictures. The rest is up to you as the photographer to learn what you can do with it.

turboal1960 · Joined: 11 Dec 2008 Posts: 868 Location: Argentina

I have the Pentax K5 that uses the same sensor. It does a good job. As the Kx and K200 did before. The main advantage of modern sensors is less noise at high iso.

SS asks for 4 MP images as minimum, and some people actually downsize his images to 10 mp for submit here. So, 16 MP is more than enough.

If somebody asks why Pentax, look at theses 3 beauties:

http://www.photozone.de/pentax/618-pentax70f24

http://www.photozone.de/pentax/463-pentax_15_4

http://www.photozone.de/pentax/123-pentax-smc-fa-35mm-f2-al-photozone-review--test-report

A nice set for a light traveler.

rinder99 · Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2012 10:24 am

If it were my money. I would get the body only. Good glass is much more Important. Big Time. I also would Look into a D7000 body only instead.if you buy slow kit lenses. You will struggle unless you have a lot of light and you will be limited. Best to buy right first. then you don't have to buy again.

jeffbanke · Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2012 11:07 am

infomages · Joined: 08 Apr 2006 Posts: 159 Location: United States

Thank you all! Very good information and feedback indeed!

I do not have old lenses, so I don't need to look for a camera body with auto focus motor. Does most new lenses have built in auto focus motor these days? The D5100 camera comes with 55-200mm VR Lenses in addition to the kit lenses (18-55mm VR). I thought about D300S too, but it only has 12 Mega Pixels.

Is the 55-200mm VR Lenses good enough for normal shooting?

rinder99 · Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2012 3:15 pm

MP's. really dont mean much. You want good MP's. My $5000 Nikon D3 was 12 MP and so clean at 30 x 40 you could eat off it.Theres 300 dollar P&S with 18MP. But crappy tini sensors. Don't get to hooked On Megapixels.I have now the Nikon D800,36.3 MP"s Just did a studio client Product shoot. 400% blowups are nothing short of amazing.120MB files each. Crop it down to 8MP's and you got some fine detail.Maybe look for a used d300 or something.

infomages · Joined: 08 Apr 2006 Posts: 159 Location: United States

I learn something every time I check my post. Thank you!

I always think image quality directly related to the mega pixels. However, I do realize point and shoot cameras don't produce good pictures (mostly dark and distorted) even they have good pixels. Not sure I will go for a used one because I don't know how the prior owner use it.

jeffbanke · Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2012 12:55 am

Laurin and I agree that Mega pixels is not everything, my D300 is more than adequate for ANY stock images, and does just fine with my good glass for everything else up to 20x30" poster size.
The only thing that more pixels give you is the ability to crop an image to a greater degree, or to print in a larger poster size.

hkuchera · Joined: 19 Jul 2005 Posts: 1258 Location: Minnesota

rinder99 · Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2012 4:28 pm

yes, billboards were done with 35mm Images for years. 5 DPI.

jeffbanke · Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2012 11:21 pm

hkuchera · Joined: 19 Jul 2005 Posts: 1258 Location: Minnesota