Do you have a business taking photos for clients of products, be that food, or equipment or do you work with clients who need to make their products look beautiful? Then we are here to help find the best camera for you given the choice on the market today.
The best lens for product photography must take many factors into consideration, such as your subject’s size, lighting setup, studio space, and the distance you need to your subject. You will need sharpness and the appropriate focal length from it, but there are basically just two main things to look for.
A number of lenses are suitable for this purpose. To help you find the best one for your camera and imaging needs, we’ve listed them down below and included different brands.
Importance of Choosing the Right Lens
Your choice of lens can have a significant impact on the final outcome of your product photography. Sharpness, depth of field, and overall image quality are directly affected by the focal length, aperture range, and optical qualities of lenses. Your product images will look clearer, more detailed, and more colorful with a lens designed specifically for product photography.
Popular Lens Types for Product Photography
It is possible to achieve different effects with different lens types when it comes to product photography. For product photography, the following lens types are popular:
Macro Lenses
Close-up photography requires macro lenses. Small products like jewelry, electronics, or cosmetics can be captured with fine details and intricate textures.
Standard Lenses
These lenses are typically 35mm to 50mm in focal length, and provide a natural perspective for photographing a variety of products. Their versatility allows them to handle a wide range of shooting situations.
Tilt-Shift Lenses
Depth of field and perspective distortion can be controlled with tilt-shift lenses. Especially useful for architectural and product shots with reflective surfaces, these cameras allow precise control over the plane of focus.
Telephoto Lenses
Whenever you need to photograph products from a distance, telephoto lenses with focal lengths of 70mm and above are ideal. Compressing the perspective and blurring the background is possible with them.
Best Lenses for Product Photography – Our Review
For capturing spectacular product photos, many photographers use the following lenses in their camera bags. We have reviewed each product and also conducted our own research to give you the best feedback. Our goal is simple, to help you find the best product photography lens.
1. Canon 85mm f/1.8 – Best Value For Money
There are no better prime lenses for product photography than the Canon EF 85mm f/1.8. The lens is always in manual focus, so you can make adjustments carefully before you shoot.
When stopped wide open, the focal length produces a narrow depth of field. Another reason why this lens is perfect for product photography is that it produces beautiful, creamy bokeh. The Lens is versatile but note it has a narrow aperture rating of f/1.8, which is less than some more expensive Canon lenses.
Overall, the Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 lens is a fantastic option for those looking for a high-quality lens at a reasonable price. It is well-suited for portraits and low-light photography, and its compact size makes it easy to carry around
2. Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L – Best for Quality
A true 1:1 macro lens, the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L provides excellent image quality. This is rated one of Canon’s best lens and your products will be presented in sharp, clear images.
A major advantage of this camera is its excellent image stabilization (IS). Even in less-than-ideal circumstances, available-light photography can be accomplished. A manual focus point can always be fine-tuned, so you can get the right focus point every time.
Overall, the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro lens is an excellent choice for macro photography and also doubles as a nice portrait lens. It is sharp, fast, and has a wide aperture, making it a versatile lens for a variety of different occasions. While it is more expensive than some other macro lenses, its image quality and features make it worth the price for serious photographers. The lens’s macro capabilities make it ideal for capturing detailed shots of small products, such as jewelry or food
3. Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II – Best Allrounder
With its sharpness and low-light capabilities, the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II is a favorite among professionals. As a standard lens, it works well for everyday use.
This camera has a wide aperture and a shallow depth of field, which are great for product photography. This lens offers sharpness at all apertures and focal lengths, which makes it one of the most popular in the world. For full disclosure this is the Lens I use. One comment I would make is that I have heard from other photographers with this version that the lens hood can be prone to breaking after light use – I have not found this but worth investigating further.
Overall, the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II lens is highly regarded for its exceptional image quality, solid build, and reliable autofocus performance. It is a versatile lens suitable for a wide range of photography genres, including landscapes, portraits, and photojournalism.
4. Sigma 24-105mm f/4 Art – Best Priced
As a result of its great performance at a price that is unmatched by the competition, Sigma has a fan club of people who appreciate a lens with great performance for a price that is unbeatable by the competition. For product photography, the 24-105mm focal lengths are versatile. With them, you can stay at a distance or get up close.
Additionally, Sigma’s image stabilization (IS) helps to maintain sharpness in low light. In addition to the Sony A-mount version, these lenses can be used with Canon EF-mount , Nikon F-mount , as well as Sigma SA-mount cameras.
Overall, the Sigma 24-105mm f/4 Art lens is well-regarded for its image quality, build quality, and versatility. It is a reliable and affordable option for photographers looking for a general-purpose zoom lens.
5. Sony FE 90mm f/2.8-22 G – Best for Image Quality
Solid. Durable and reliable. A great lens with a precise measurement and magnification ratio that can be found on the barrel of the Sony FE 90mm f/2.8-22 G. An excellent macro lens should show these measurements. By pushing or pulling the focus ring, you can switch between AF and manual mode. Bokeh: The lens produces nice bokeh, thanks to its 9-blade circular aperture.
There are three marked focus ranges on the camera: full, infinity to 0.5 m, and 0.5 m to 0.28 m. The left thumb rests naturally on the focus lock button. A superb image quality is also provided.
The Sony FE 90mm f/2.8-22 G lens is a highly-regarded macro lens that excels in image quality, build quality, and autofocus performance. It is a versatile lens suitable for macro photography, portraits, and other types of photography. Its high-quality optics and image stabilization make it a popular choice among professionals and enthusiasts seeking best performance.
6. Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 – Best for Low Light
If you need to shoot in low light on location, this lens is ideal. It is sometimes necessary to use available light when photographing products outside the studio.
You can do this handheld with the Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 lens. A natural feeling is given to the subject by the focal length. The autofocus performance of the lens is mostly good, but some photographers we know have mentioned that it can be hit-or-miss.
The 50mm focal length is versatile and suitable for a wide range of photography genres, including product photography, portraits, street photography, and low-light photography in particular. Overall we believe this to be a popular and affordable lens, that said you get what you pay for and the feel and durability of this camera will be less than others.
7. Nikon AF-S 50mm f/1.8 – Best Budget
You get sharp results at a reasonable price with the Nikon AF-S 50mm f/1.8 lens. By having manual focus available, you can make any necessary adjustments to the highly reliable AF (autofocus). The lens produces good quality, both sharpness and clarity throughout the aperture range.
The maximum aperture of this nifty-fifty allows you to take natural-looking low-light photos handheld. The lens produces a nice Bokeh thanks to a 7-blade circular aperture.
I was not a huge fan of the plastic feel and I found the autofocus a little slow at times. That said for a photographer on a budget this is a good option.
What to Look for in a Lens for Product Photography
You should look for the following features in your product photography lens:
Focal length
You should use a lens between 50 and 100mm for product photography. Lifelike images are produced by this range. The products can be distorted by a lens much wider than that. For product photographers, this is a good range to stick to, although you can get creative with wide or compressed shots.
Autofocus
A fast, precise autofocus is essential when choosing a lens. Additionally, you will be able to avoid having to reshoot the shoot if the focus was off, which will speed up the process.
Minimum focusing distance
Your product photography lens should have a tight minimum focusing distance. Macro-style product photos are easier to experiment with when the minimum focusing distance is smaller. Keep your distance between one and two feet.
Wide aperture
The wide aperture of a product photography lens may be its most important feature. To direct the viewer’s eye to the product, it is better to use a wider aperture (create bokeh). If you want to amplify your product images, shoot them at an aperture of between f/1.8 and f/2.8.
Tips for Capturing Great Product Photos
Consider the following tips when capturing compelling product photos:
- Make sure your camera is stable and shake-free by using a tripod.
- To ensure even illumination, use diffused or natural lighting.
- To demonstrate the product’s features, experiment with different angles and perspectives.
- Consider the background of the product and choose a setting that is clean and complementary.
- For greater flexibility in post-processing, shoot in RAW format.
FAQs
Can I use a smartphone camera for product photography?
In spite of significant improvements in smartphone cameras, dedicated cameras with interchangeable lenses give you a higher level of control over the final result. With a smartphone camera, you can still take decent product photos if you optimize the lighting and composition.
What is the ideal aperture setting for product photography?
In order to achieve the desired effect, you need to choose the right aperture setting. Wide apertures (low f-numbers) produce shallow depth of field and blurry backgrounds. The narrower the aperture (higher the f-number), the wider the depth of field and the more of the product in focus.
Do I need expensive equipment for product photography?
It is not always necessary to use expensive equipment for product photography. The quality of images can be significantly enhanced by high-quality lenses, but budget-friendly lenses can also deliver excellent results. To create impactful product images, you need to master lighting, composition, and post-processing techniques.
How important is lighting in product photography?
Product photography requires good lighting to establish the mood, highlight the product’s features, and represent colors accurately. To achieve the desired look and feel for your product images, experiment with natural light, diffusers, reflectors, and studio lighting setups.
How can I make my product photos stand out from the competition?
Showcase unique angles, textures, and details in your product photos to make them stand out. Ensure your images accurately represent the qualities of the product by using creative composition techniques and experimenting with different backgrounds and props. Your product photos will also stand out from your competition if you maintain a consistent style and branding.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the best lens for product photography is crucial to capture stunning and engaging product images. Your photography projects may require specific focal lengths, apertures, or lens types. Make sure your camera system is compatible with the lenses you choose, whether you choose prime or zoom lenses. Your product images can leave a lasting impression on your audience when you select the right lens and apply effective photography techniques.
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