Portrait camera and lens set up with high mega pixels / medium format choices...???

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Hi everyone, thanks in advance for any help on this. Always appreciated! After writing the below realise its a lot of questions. Soz!

So long story short, im looking to do more portraiture. I've been a sports photographer for a few years but enjoying working creating portraits, hopefully moving to do more brand work. The camera could be used outdoors with natural light but more than likely helped with some strobes. I'm unsure of which route to go with but hopefully in the next 6 months to buying a higher res/medium format camera for just this use. I am a Nikon user but not held to any company and guess anyway the lenses i own won't work without adapters (adapters any good in practice?) , i just want the right equipment for the job to do people and portraits. I have seen fuji/sony/nikon z7 (maybe add d850 too?)/hasselblad as potentials (anymore for the list?) but all in some ways have advantages and disadvantages for me. I'm aware the sony has amazing eye tracking tech, the z7 with great EHF, speed on focusing on Blad X1Dii reviews say is slow? etc. So much out there and hard to tell if the reviewers are being paid for review or honest???

I like the idea of the digital display showing exactly what you are going to take but have seen the fuji 50gfx 50 and looking through the viewfinder is like looking at a mid 90's video camera. Im genuinely shocked how bad it is but have heard z7 is good in comparison. How does the A9 1v and Blad look, guess its a lot to do with refresh rate and pixels?

If my piggy bank can take it I'd ideally get a body and a standard portrait lens but want to make sure its the right route first time. Hard i know as trends/tech changes but something i can use for 3 years and make money from without regret. Lens is of course a very important factor so suggestions on that too please? Just read that on medium format if i have an 85mm, that it goes down by a number to say 70mm? Sorry don't know the exact figures but heard it does this so as an example if I'm doing portraits and had a Blad, would it be better to get a 120mm so it reduces nearer to standard 85mm?

Thats a good start i think, again thanks for any insight and be good to hear from those who work creating portraits and your experiences.

Cheers, Col
 
Colbo said:
Just read that on medium format if i have an 85mm, that it goes down by a number to say 70mm? Sorry don't know the exact figures but heard it does this so as an example if I'm doing portraits and had a Blad, would it be better to get a 120mm so it reduces nearer to standard 85mm?
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The Blad, Fuji and Pentax MF bodies have smaller sensors than traditional MF film sizes and the 'conversion' for focal length (against 35mm format) is 0.8x. You also need to appreciate that the aspect ratio is 4x3 and not 3x2.

Bob
 
@Raymond Lin I'm all about getting the right kit. Spending Blad money is a big thing for me, sadly im not rich but rather spend wisely than cheaply and regret it. If i have to wait to get the right kit then I'd rather do it that way. Im a professional so dont want kit excuses or issues.
@Canon Bob aspect ratios don't worry me really, thanks.
 
I see where you are coming from totally...I too are in the camp if getting it right from the off but seeing you have a Nikon kit, the logical start would be get a D850, have that mega pixel and pair it with something like the Nikon 105/1.4 etc for some portraiture and see how you do.

Get a Z7 if you want mirrorless but if you are doing paid work then the D850 with the dual cards is the way to go, or the way I would go.

Then perhaps if the portraiture side takes off then look into it more, which at that point, it would be cheaper.

Personally I like the new Fuji MF stuff, they seem to have the better AF.
 
@Raymond Lin That could be a good shout on the 850. Ive got some good lenses so would just be a body cost. Im renting one for a portrait session this week so will see how good it is in practice.

Ta!
 
I just hear so many good things about the Sony gear and shadow comp etc. Seems like the technology can only help. I also love the idea of the see what you get in the viewfinder, DOF, exposure etc. I guess ill give them a try in the next few months and see if its worth the jump sometime soon.
 
Colbo said:
I just hear so many good things about the Sony gear and shadow comp etc. Seems like the technology can only help. I also love the idea of the see what you get in the viewfinder, DOF, exposure etc. I guess ill give them a try in the next few months and see if its worth the jump sometime soon.
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The D850 have as good DR as the Sony sensors, they are made by Sony after all, so I wouldn't worry about that.

You can always shoot with the rear screen if you want to see what it looks like...adjust your exposure that way then switch to the optical view finder to focus....Long way round, but to be honest, and no offence, if you are getting paid work then you should know how it looks by reading the metering anyway, or at max, couple of test shots and you are there so having a EVF shouldn't be that big an advantage in a controlled lighting environment with a flash.
 
I've had the X1D, with the X1D II on order - it is my choice for the portraits I rarely do :)

I posted some examples in the Digital Medium format thread - I used the 90mm f3.2 in the portraits here.
https://www.talkphotography.co.uk/threads/digital-medium-format-thread.699936/

When it comes to portraiture it is a camera that will slow things down, that could feel frustrating as a business decision if you weren't familiar with the camera's functional limitations.

I enjoy the camera and I'm looking forward to using it and the 80mm 1.9 for a calendar portrait project.

edit. But I wouldn't go as far to recommend it, it requires personal research.


Table with FF equiv FL
https://shuttermuse.com/hasselblad-...xcd-lens-full-frame-equivalent-focal-lengths/
 
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How about starting with what you have, get some experience and then evaluate the performance vs your needs. Rent or borrow to see which model soits you and your needs the best.
 
Surely being able to see what you're focusing on at high magnification is always an advantage? But does that focus accuracy and sharpness suit a portrait? The detail you can capture with modern bodies and lenses is very revealing.
 
@soeren the job i have this week they are going to be for bill boards and print. My sports set up - nikon d5's falls short for brand/portraiture which is why i want to ask peoples experience with the new wave of cameras in high res. Renting for a long term is very costly but agree a good way to see if something is right once the research and good solid advice is given. Thanks for the reply!
 
Colbo said:
@Canon Bob aspect ratios don't worry me really, thanks.
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My mention of aspect ratios was based on your comment in the initial post "would it be better to get a 120mm so it reduces nearer to standard 85mm?"

If you're shooting portraits based on distance then the 0.8x factor is the key, if you're shooting based on framing then the aspect ratio difference will change the perspective distortion and this will impact the "classic" portrait look.
 
Colbo said:
@soeren the job i have this week they are going to be for bill boards and print. My sports set up - nikon d5's falls short for brand/portraiture which is why i want to ask peoples experience with the new wave of cameras in high res. Renting for a long term is very costly but agree a good way to see if something is right once the research and good solid advice is given. Thanks for the reply!
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Billboards, although large, you are viewing them from a distance so mega pixels is probably not as important as you'd think it is.
 
Currently using a D810 with a Sigma Art 85mm, f/1.4. Difficult to justify the upgrade to a D850, let alone digital MF. Expensive cameras don't necessarily take better pictures. A decent tripod and lighting (if you're into that) can make a *huge* difference.
 
I was lent a GFX50 from fuji and it produces fantastic images but ergonomics were not great and X-sync max of 1/125. I own D5, D850, D500 the last 2 with grips and the Nikon 105 f1.4 - most comfortable fit in my hands is the D850 and the 105 is a cracking lens but a lot of modern portraits are being shot on wider lenses - never tried a hasselblad but from reports it has an edge in certain situations, seeing that edge is another matter

Dynamic range on the D850 puts the D5 in the shade

Mike
 
holty said:
d850 and some fast glass sorted
where's the link to your website ?
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hi, sorry for the delay, the shoot i rented a d850, wow! Read lots of stuff about blad etc being slow and this camera i can use my current lenses and performs perfectly. Ill defo get this unless someone says defo get the new 100mpx fuji but that of course would need some serious piggy bank looting. I can get an 850 for just under 3k so a really good choice i think for portraits. Maybe the extra cash i save not buying a blad/fuji ill buy an additional art lens too :)

my sites are below:

newer site - https://pro-pix.com/
older site - http://colinmorley.photography/athlete-photography5/

Thanks again for everyones feedback
 
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