Best Lens For Product Photography
Having a decent camera isn't enough if you're a product photographer. Only if you have the lens along with it you can take great pictures of your products, whether in the studio or outside.
That being said, there are many different types of camera lenses, and some can be quite large, heavy, and expensive. So what is the best lens for product photography among them? To get the answer, you will have to come along with me till the end of this article.
I've picked up a few lenses that I've tried and tested for product photography, and I've reviewed them here. I have also included a detailed buying guide and answered some of the most popular questions people have regarding this topic.
So, come on, let's begin to explore!
In a hurry?! Here are my top picks of the best product photography lenses
REVIEWS OF THE BEST lenses for product photography
1. SIGMA 105MM F2.8 EX DG OS HSM MACRO LENS - BEST MACRO LENS FOR PRODUCT PHOTOGRAPHY
PRODUCT DETAILS:
The first on my list is this Sigma Nikon F-mount, 105mm f/2.8, a true macro (1:1 magnification) telephoto lens with a least focusing distance of 1-inch for comprehensive implementation.
There are many reasons for me to include this product in the 1st place. And the main features among them are the focal range and the bright aperture of f/2.8. The focal range is good enough to give you pleasing flattened pictures of your jewelry, PR kits, or whatever product you're photographing.
You can capture even the intricate details in your products perfectly with this lens, another plus point.
Also, you know a prime lens is the best for product shot photography because it gives you tack sharp pictures. Luckily, this lens is a macro telephoto prime.
This lens has been optimized for Nikon F-mount and FX-format cameras and works with DX models with an equivalent focal length of 157.5mm.
As I already said, the maximum bright f/2.8 aperture is ideal for operating under the available light conditions in your studio or room. So, if you're working on a home studio, there could be no better option than this lens.
Next, moving on to the main part, which is the image quality of this lens. The lens is equipped with two SLDs to minimize color fringing and chromatic aberrations, thereby improving color transparency and fidelity. I've used this lens and realized the lens suffers from very negligible chromatic aberration only, and I was like, WOW. For such a low price, this lens does wonders!
Lastly, the lens elements have also been applied with a Super Multi-Layer Coating to reduce lens flare and ghosting and help produce rich contrast and color-neutral imagery, even under backlit conditions. And in combination with an internal focusing concept, the Hyper Sonic Motor performs quickly and quietly and manually overrides the focus.
With respect to the above-listed features, the SIGMA 258306 105MM F/2.8 LENS rightly takes the 1st position in this list.
What I liked about this LENS:
2. Canon TS-E 90mm f/2.8 - BEST Tilt Shift Lens FOR PRODUCT PHOTOGRAPHY
PRODUCT DETAILS:
Now coming to one of the most recommended lenses for commercial product photographers - The Canon CANON TS-E 90MM F/2.8. It is also Canon's first manufactured Tilt-Shift lens and is said to have the best optical performance.
I've used this lens on my camera for taking detailed pictures of a food plate and it came very well. I also won a prize for that during a food festival 😉
So, if you're looking for the best Canon prime lens for taking shots of small-medium sized products this is an ideal choice.
You can tilt this lens downwards to keep the vast area of the ground focused. This will help you to now keep selective focusing of objects placed on the table. This is how professionals take pictures of their PR products.
"This was just 10% percent about how a tilt-shift lens is useful for product photography. For a more detailed content on this comment below, it will take a separate article to explain this clearly."
As of now, that is all about this CANON TS-E 90MM F/2.8. For technical specs check the product details mentioned above.
What I liked about this LENS:
3. CANON EF 100MM F/2.8L IS USM MACRO - BEST CANON LENS FOR PRODUCT PHOTOGRAPHY
PRODUCT DETAILS:
The Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro Lens is a fantastic macro lens that is very easy to use, and is very useful for product photography.
Internally, the Canon 100 Macro focuses quickly, softly, and precisely. At standard focusing distances, it focuses very quickly. It's very convenient to have a lens that doesn't stretch while focusing at 1x subject lengths.
Also, the front element does not rotate, and Full-Time Manual focusing is allowed. Plus, its focus limiter switch allows you to choose between a complete and restricted focus distance.
Moreover, this lens is sharp, and it gets even sharper when stopped down slightly, with the corners showing the most change, thus, helping the lens to bring even the tiniest information of your tiniest subjects to life. Whilst, the use of eight aperture blades aids in the development of a high-quality background blur.
Lastly, this lens is an excellent option if you want a great macro lens. Also, it has excellent optical performance, working distance, and size/weight that are in the middle of the lane.
This lens even has a great price, making it a great buy. Thus, it's 100mm focal length, combined with excellent bokeh, makes this a fantastic portrait lens.
What I liked about this LENS:
4. NIKON AF-S VR MICRO-NIKKOR 105MM F/2.8G LENS - BEST LENS FOR PRODUCT PHOTOGRAPHY NIKON
PRODUCT DETAILS:
The Nikon AF-S VR Lens is a superb medium focal length macro lens that performs admirably in a variety of photographic types. This lens creates stunning macros, dazzling portraits, and more thanks to its advanced optics, f/2.8 maximum aperture, and 1:1 reproduction ratio.
When shooting handheld or in low light, vibration reduction and image stabilization eliminates camera shake giving you for crisp images and HD videos.
Adding to it, the Silent Wave Motor (SWM) technology ensures that auto-focus is fast, smooth, and unobtrusive, resulting in perfect images shot after shot, thereby making it the best lens for product photography.
The best part I liked is the focal range. The 105mm fixed focal length of the lens allows for a wide range of shooting options. The close-ups looked really fantastic when maintaining a safe distance for photographing flowers, insects, and small animals.
In contrast, its big f/2.8 maximum aperture produces excellent bokeh that beautifully isolates your subject from the background. Besides this, ghosting, glare, and chromatic aberrations are eliminated with extra-low dispersion glass and Nano Crystal Coat, resulting in superior images in any lighting.
Lastly, the SWM and VR technology feature a multi-group focusing, a rear-group split configuration that saves weight and keeps the lens length constant during operation.
What I liked about this LENS:
5. ROKINON 135MM F2.0 ED UMC TELEPHOTO LENS - BEST AFFORDABLE LENS FOR PRODUCT PHOTOGRAPHY
PRODUCT DETAILS:
The Rokinon 135mm lens for Canon is a manual focus telephoto prime lens that could be utilized for portrait and other typical-structure photography.
Its maximum opening quick f/2.0 is successful in low light and allows for a low field monitoring depth. The low field imagery is also made of a circular 9-blade diaphragm with pleasant out-of-focus highlights.
The full-frame, as well as the APS-C format of DSLRs, is compatible. And when used in APS-C cameras, this lens has an equivalent focal length of 35 mm to 202.5 mm.
Moreover, its optical design includes an extra low-dispersion lens element for controlling chromatic aberration that contributes to the accurate imaging of each of its lens components. Plus, an internal focal system avoids a rotating front end, thus allowing the variable filter to be used more effectively.
Finally, a sturdy metal barrel with a large focus ring and a handheld opening ring provides tactile focus and exposure control.
What I liked about this LENS:
6. SONY FE 135MM F/1.8 G PRIME LENS - BEST SONY LENS FOR PRODUCT PHOTOGRAPHY
PRODUCT DETAILS:
The Sony FE 135mm F/1.8 G Lens is a Full Frame E-Mount Lens that has a 950g magnesium alloy body that is weather-sealed and has a Fluorine-coated front element that resists dust and moisture.
I've tested it with my Sony a6000 camera and I'll you my honest opinion about it's performance. Even in poor light settings, the maximal f/1.8 aperture produces sharp and precise pictures, while the freshly reorganized twin-autofocus groups permit for a 0.7-meter minimal focus distance and an utmost magnification of 0.25x.
Also, this G Master series lens, can render high-resolution images around the frame and creates pleasing bokeh, which is ideal for portraits.
Plus, when shooting in bright light, a Nano AR coating is applied to the lens to reduce lens flares, surface reflections, glare, and ghosting while increasing color fidelity and contrast. And with the latest FE 135mm F1.8 GM Full Frame E-Mount Lens, Sony pushes the limits of focusing efficiency without sacrificing design or usability.
Further, its four XD linear motors speed up AF tracking for any fast-moving subject, and a control algorithm ensures low-vibration AF with the fastest control response.
Finally, the built-in aperture and focus rings provide additional customization options, while a focus range limiter switch, a focus-mode switch and two focus hold buttons, and allow you to switch between auto and manual focus easily.
What I liked about this LENS:
7. OLYMPUS M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 100-400MM F/5.0-6.3 IS LENS - BEST MICRO FOUR THIRD LENS FOR PRODUCT PHOTOGRAPHY
PRODUCT DETAILS:
Another contender to the list is the M.Zuiko Digital ED 100-400mm F/5.0-6.3 lens that is a brand new 4x telephoto super zoom lens for the Micro Four Thirds system from Olympus.
The dust, splash, and freezeproof Olympus 100-400mm lens has a focal length of 200-800mm in 35mm terms and features near-silent and high-speed focusing. Also, it has a maximum magnification of 0.57 xs and a near focusing distance of 1.3m across the zoom range.
Four Extra-low Dispersion lenses for color bleeding suppression, two Super High Refractive Index lenses, and two HR lenses are among the 21 components in 15 classes.
Plus, this 100-400mm lens has three stops of image stabilization built in to help fight camera shake, and the aperture is rounded thanks to 9 circular diaphragm blades.
Moreover, it also has a 1.4x Teleconverter MC-14 and the M.Zuiko Digital 2x Teleconverter MC-20 that expand the focal range to 1,120mm and 1600mm, respectively, when used with an optional teleconverter.
What I liked about this LENS:
8. FUJIFILM XF100-400MMF4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR - BEST FUJIFILM LENS FOR PRODUCT PHOTOGRAPHY
PRODUCT DETAILS:
Fuji's marketing for the XF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 lens is geared mainly toward portrait, wedding, landscape, and travel photographers. But on the flip side, this lens is also targeted squarely at the sports and wildlife market.
Plus, the lens's twin linear motor autofocus system allows it to focus quickly on fast-moving subjects. And the 35mm focal length is equivalent to 152mm to 609mm on the lens makes it suitable for photographing distant subjects.
Moreover, because of the OIS and the lens's lightweight, it's simple to handhold and shoots in low-light situations.
The Fujifilm XF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 lens even has a solid build quality that Fuji photographers have come to expect from Fuji lenses. Likewise, the lens barrel is made of high-grade plastic, while the tripod collar and mounting ring are made of metal.
According to Fuji, the lens is weather-sealed to an extraordinary degree, i.e., it has 13 water and dust resistant seals at 12 stages. Besides this, its permanent metal tripod collar is 360° rotating, so that when placed on a tripod or monopodium, it is easy to switch between landscape and portrait orientation.
Lastly, a twin linearly motor autofocus system is used for this lens. Plus, the motors that change the lens elements are scarcely audible, which is a plus when photographing squeamish wildlife.
What I liked about this LENS:
9. SIGMA 150-600MM 5-6.3 SPORTS DG OS HSM
PRODUCT DETAILS:
Sigma's 150-600mm f/5-6.3 HSM for Canon EF mount is a Sports-series lens. This lens is designed to provide excellent optical performance, speed, and other personalized features, which make it the best lens for product shot photography, wildlife, sports activity, and other rapidly changing topics.
Besides, the Telephoto zoom is intended for Canon EF-mount full-frame cameras but can also be used for APS-C models where a focal length range is equal to 240-960mm.
The optical design includes two F low dispersion and three special low dispersion elements, which help reduce chromatic aberrations and color rings for improved clarity and color accuracy.
Also, lens elements have been applied with a Super Multi-Layer Coating to reduce lens flare and ghosting and help produce rich contrast and color-neutral imagery, even under backlit conditions.
Plus, the integrated HSM with a rear focus system realizes rapid and silent autofocus, which is further supplemented by a smoother focusing output using the optimized AF algorithm.
The OS device also minimizes the camera shake's appearance to make sharper imaging during handshake shooting.
At last, it even has dust and splash-resistant construction for use in uncommon environments with front- and rear elements for cleaning purposes.
What I liked about this LENS:
FACTORS TO KEEP IN MIND WHEN CHOOSING THE BEST CAMERA LENS FOR PRODUCT PHOTOGRAPHY
You needn't worry about a slowly focusing lens for product photography because the subject here is immovable. That's the best part about still photography.
You should keep in mind other things, which are discussed below.
Prime lenses have worked better for me for product and food photography because they tend to be sharper and have wider apertures.
Also, when using a zoom lens, you might require additional working parts, which might cause lens diffraction. I'm not saying zoom lenses are bad. Brands like Canon Nikon has some premium zoom lenses, which give excellent results. But they are hefty and are also pricey.
Make sure the lens delivers razor-sharp images, beautiful bokeh, and shows very minimal aberrations. I'm saying "minimal" because every lens does give at least some kind of aberrations.
Every lens has a specified minimum focusing distance above which you can't focus.
If the size of the products is quite large, you don't need the minimum focusing distance to be large or the magnification ratio to be in the true size 1:1.
However, when photographing very tiny products, you have to make sure that the minimum focus distance will give you the proper magnified image of the subject.
Also, you need to make sure the lens belongs to a true macro (1:1), which is the most important. Only then the product in real life will appear the same size on the screen.
Choose a fast lens to get brighter shots while shooting indoors or in-home studios. By fast lens, I mean a lens with a wider aperture (smaller f-number).
Apart from giving brighter images, you also get to play with shallow depth of field (Your product alone will be in focus, while the background will get blurred) techniques when using a fast lens.
Lenses that will be focal lengths greater than 100mm are not commonly suggested for product photography because they give you tighter crops, which is not suitable for this purpose.
For product photographers, it is necessary to choose a smaller focal length lens because they will give you a wider field of view, allowing you to capture more area in the frame.
Knowing the focal length is very critical for still photography. Only then you can determine how magnified your subject will look when taking shots.
Moving on to the next part, the minimum focus distance. Only if you know this can you understand how close you can get to your subject and still maintain the camera focus.
The lens' minimum focus distance determines how close you can be to your subject with it still in focus. Say a lens has a minimum focusing distance of 91cm, which means you must keep a 91cm distance from your subject to get the perfect focusing for your shots.
A lens with a large and easy-to-turn manual focus ring is a blessing for product photography. So, make sure the lens you wish to purchase has that.
For still photography like product and food photography, macro lenses work best. Apart from giving magnified images, you will also be able to see the finest details in the products clearly using a macro lens.
A true macro lens will have a magnification ratio of 1:1, meaning the product in real life, be it your jewelry, necklace, food items, etc., everything will appear the same size on the camera screen. So, if you're particular about getting detailed shots, you can go for a macro lens.
Also, with a macro lens, you can go very close to the subject and still maintain the focus. This means you can get very close to your subject, and it will still be in focus.
With a tilt-shift lens, you can change the lens' position with respect to the camera's image sensor.
Professional product photographers use a tilt-shift lens for their commercial branding purposes. This specialty lens is great for product photography but is very pricey. If you have a high budget, you can opt for a tilt-shift lens for product photography.
FAQ
Yes, 50mm is one of the best focal lengths for product photography because the field of view is wide enough to capture photographs of products greater than 6 inches.
A lens with a focal range of 50mm or above will work best for product photography. If your camera is an APS-C type, make sure your lens has a focal length anywhere between 35-60mm. On the other hand, if your camera has a full-frame sensor, make sure the lens's focus distance lies between 50-100mm.
Basically, for product photography, you need to ensure 2 things, a wide field of view and the capability to focus sharply between f/8-f/11.
Using a macro lens is going to remain almost the same for flower, food, and product photography. I have attached a video below to make you understand how to use a macro lens in general. Have a look.
Usually, vloggers who shoot outdoors prefer camcorders because they perform better in daylight conditions. In contrast, vloggers prefer a mirrorless or a DSLR camera for indoor videography.
CONCLUSION
That was all about my take on the best lenses for product photography. I hope you will soon become a professional product photographer after picking up the right lens for your camera.
If you wish to upgrade your camera kit for product photography, kindly lemme know in the comment section below. I will come up with my top picks for that as well.
Have a great day!
