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Mischa,
I work mainly from life. I do not have a digital. When I use a camera I use is a Nikon FE2 which is mostly manual and I use fixed focal lenses. The lenses I use are a 55/f2.8 and a 85/f1.2.
Both are extremely fast lenses. The 55 is great for copy work because in photo parlance it is almost a one to one ratio which means no distortion and is invaluable in photographing paintings. It does (nor does the 80) barrel which means distort or round straight vertical edges.You have to check out the speed of your lens, that is THE most important. The faster the lens, the easier it is to take people in available light.
I use the 55 for full length and the 85 for head shots and full length. Before you shoot pick out the place you would be painting from and see what length gives you the most accurate picture of what you see with your eyes.
Mike McCarty is the go to guy here for digital. But I would make sure that the zoom lens you get is able to accomplish the above goals.
No camera is going to be as accurate as the human eye. For example, seated figures, especially straight on are best accomplished by proper life drawing first.
There is a Nikon D12 I am waiting to get, you get bigger and more accurate blowups without graininess, and is why I do not like the digitals as yet.
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