Best gear for studio & portrait
Studio and commercial work prizes resolution and colour fidelity over speed. A high-megapixel body, a sharp 85mm or 110mm portrait lens, and a clean tethering workflow are the foundation.
By budget
Where to start
The best-matched body in each budget band — ranked by fit for this workflow, not just price.
Sony A7 II
The full-frame that brought IBIS to the masses
Strong resolution and lens ecosystem for studio & portrait.
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Sony A7CR
61MP resolution in a compact body
Strong resolution and lens ecosystem for studio & portrait.
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Sony A7R V
61MP resolution monster with AI AF
Strong resolution and lens ecosystem for studio & portrait.
Build this kitCameras
Best bodies for studio & portrait
Ranked by how well each body's strengths map to this workflow.
Lenses
Glass that fits the job
The lenses owners reach for most in this workflow.
What matters most
Resolution
More megapixels mean more cropping and retouching latitude for commercial delivery.
Colour
Consistent, accurate colour science reduces time in post.
Tethering
Plan a tethered workflow for art-direction and instant client review.
Lighting
Strobes and modifiers matter more than the camera once you're in a studio.
Don't forget
- 85mm / 110mm portrait prime
- Tethering cable + software
- Strobes & modifiers
- Color checker
- Backup drives
Beyond the body
Editing, storage & upgrade path
What this workflow asks of your cards, drives and computer — and where to go as you grow.
Memory cards
UHS-I / UHS-II SD cards are plenty for this workflow.
Storage
Plan generously — big RAW bursts and 4K+ footage fill drives fast. A fast working SSD plus a per-shoot backup.
Editing
High-resolution RAWs cull and edit faster with extra RAM and a recent CPU.
FAQ
Studio & portrait questions
Is medium format worth it for studio?
For high-end commercial and fashion, the extra resolution and tonal depth can justify it; for most portrait work, 45–61MP full-frame is plenty.
How many megapixels do I need?
33MP handles most portrait work; 45–60MP+ is for large prints, heavy cropping and commercial detail.