Should I buy a second-hand Packshot photo studio?
What elements should you take into account when you want to invest in a second-hand packshot photo studio? Lighting kit, photo light box for 2D shooting or even a complete photo studio with a 360 turntable: here are the answers.
Chloé is the head of a jewelry designer collective in Paris. She has just created her online store. To avoid logistical back-and-forth and be more reactive, the entrepreneur decides to Equip herself with an in-house photo studio. That to take his photographs and 360° product animations and those of his collective. Main motivation for this decision: to free herself from logistical constraints and external service providers to create her visuals herself. That's about 200 products to be photographed per month. Products to be revealed using multi-view photos and 360° animations of rings, necklaces, bracelets, earrings or pendants...
Second hand photo studios for product photography? Yes, but...
The creations are unique and the acquisition of a complete photo studio should allow him to benefit from complete equipment: light box and integrated 360 turntable. Another advantage the software that controls the studio. It is the central tool for organizing the photographic production flow. From product positioning, through image processing, to the output of files, and then their integration on a website. The whole process is controlled from a computer screen.
Chloé, after researching existing solutions for Jewelry shooting, decides to acquire one. She goes to classified ads and online sales sites, such as Ebay, Leboncoin or Rakuten. She focuses on two ads offering second-hand packshot photo studios. One of them sells a lightbox with four daylight neon lights and a backlight. Finally, image processing software and an old-generation Canon compact camera are included in this photo studio kit, vintage 2008.
Some offers on the second-hand market offer all-in-one: studio, computer, or even camera. Unfortunately, it is often obsolete equipment
... Several key elements need to be taken into account
Should she acquire it or invest in a new studio? Several elements must be taken into account in the decision-making process. This varies from the type of product, its complexity, and the quantity to be photographed. The acquisition of an old model initially seems attractive because of the prices charged. However, many technologies will be outdated: lighting, camera models that can be used with the studio or even compatibility of the software with the latest operating systems.
” The second-hand market is not always provided. Most of the systems put on sale on this market have sometimes been in use for more than ten years. At PackshotCreator, we offer a complete range of photo studios. It is aimed at all sectors of activity. Acquiring a photo studio is a long-term investment. This is why most of the studios offered for sale on the second-hand market have already been used for many years. In recent years, numerous innovations have profoundly improved these shooting systems.”, explain Laurent Wainberg founder and manager of PackshotCreator.
“A 2008 Packshot shooting system was designed to produce visuals that met the quality standards required at that time.”
What are the reflexes to have?
Over the last 10 years, numerous innovations have marked the world of technology: the gradual arrival of Focus Stacking, progressive and immersive zooms, the management of reflections and transparency, the Color Rendering Index (CRI)... As for shooting technologies, the observation is identical: “a Packshot 2008 shooting system was designed to produce visuals that met the quality standards required at that time. In 2019, standards evolved, as did the demands of Internet users. They always want more quality, richness and visual information. Just like the 2019 model cameras that produce better images, product shooting systems are changing from year to year.”, specifies Laurent Wainberg.
Here are the things that Chloé should take into account before making the decision to acquire a used photo studio:
Multi-source LED lighting to highlight complex products
Today, LED lighting is much more efficient than the fluorescent tubes found in older generations of photo studios. LED technology has a longer lifespan than a fluorescent tube. It is 20 to 50,000 hours, compared to 5 to 15,000 hours for fluorescent lamps. Another advantage is their low energy consumption. The absence of significant heating, even with intensive use, is also a decisive factor. “PackshotCreator studios are equipped with a ventilation system. It prevents the lighting system and all components from overheating, even under intensive use.”, explains Océane, PackshotCreator expert. In addition, there is also an instantaneous maximum light intensity. Using different LED light sources from the latest generation studios will allow Chloé to be more effective when shooting complex objects.
The compatibility of packshot photography software
Connecting all shooting equipment, providing a user interface, and managing the entire visual production workflow are the primary tasks of product photography software. The PackshotCreator software has been constantly evolving since 2004. Addition of new functionalities, evolution of compatibility with new DSLR cameras or with the latest Apple and Microsoft operating systems. “It is difficult, if not impossible, to guarantee the compatibility of an old software version. The buyer of a studio operated by a very old software version that is not updated will necessarily be limited. For example, newer versions of operating systems are not compatible with older camera software.”, adds Océane.
Older operating systems are no longer compatible with newer generations of product photography software
Use the full power of product photography software
The latest models of software-controlled studios therefore work with the latest operating systems, Microsoft Windows and Mac OS. The optimal use of the power of multi-core processors makes it possible to get the most out of new software features. These include, for example, powerful shooting algorithms,360° animation, clipping or even retouching. They make up the entire photographic production flow, the workflow.
A second-hand packshot photo studio driven by an old software version of product photography will therefore not be able to meet some of Chloé's needs. In fact, only new or recent Packshot shooting systems meet current needs and standards: image quality, ease of use and productivity.
