Cameras and Lenses for Product Photography

Make sure you’re properly equipped for product success.

One of the most common questions asked by those just starting out in product photography is what camera and what lens is best for product photography.

To help answer this question, Karl explains some of the camera choices for product photography before taking a closer look at some of the best lenses for product photography. He also details what lenses he uses when shooting products and why these are his lenses of choice.

Comments

  1. Hi Karl
    Please give me your recommendation about what is the best and cheapest lens to start in food and product photography.
    I use canon R100 and 18-45mm kit lens ,55-210 mm and 10-18 mm wide lens.
    I will start doing food and product photography for free so I can learn.
    Thank you

  2. Hello Karl,

    I watched your video and I truly appreciate your time, effort, and the valuable information you shared.

    I recently purchased the latest Sigma 24-70mm lens, and I also own the Sony 90mm Macro. My question is: I bought the Sigma 24-70mm mainly for two purposes — shooting a variety of products (since I can’t capture full product sets with the Macro lens) and also photographing wedding halls and desserts. Do you think this is a good choice? And what would be the ideal aperture setting for the Sigma 24-70mm?

    Thank you, you are truly inspiring!

  3. Hello Karl,

    I watched your video and I truly appreciate your time, effort, and the valuable information you shared.

    I recently purchased the latest Sigma 24-70mm lens, and I also own the Sony 90mm Macro. My question is: I bought the Sigma 24-70mm mainly for two purposes — product photography and also shooting wedding halls and desserts. Do you think this is a good choice? And what would be the ideal aperture setting for the Sigma 24-70mm?

    Thank you, you are truly inspiring!

    1. Hi, for product photography your 90mm Macro lens is the best choice. I use a focal length of between 70-100mm for nearly all my product photography. The 24-70 is not as good as your 90mm for product photography work unless what you are photographing is interior rooms or large sets.

  4. Hi, Karl

    I am having canon EOS 850 D camera with a kit lens 18 – 55 mm.
    is that a good start for product photography. And guide me that later how can i upgrade it, which lens should be better?

    Thank you

  5. Hi Karl,

    I hope you’re well. I recently picked up the Tamron 90mm f/2.8 Di III Macro and wanted to check in with you. Would you say this was a good choice for both product and portrait photography?

    Appreciate your thoughts!

    1. Hi, It’s the correct focal length for portrait work and also product work, especially as it’s a macro but I’ve never used that lens so I don’t have any information on it’s performance. Did you look at the MTF charts for it and compare to say the equivalent Sony 90mm Macro G lens or the Canon 100 macro lens. Only using the lens and checking the MTF charts can you discover it’s optical quality.

  6. Hi Karl, this is crazy and not at all what you recommend, but what about a 40mm prime like Voigtlander 1.2 Nokton? Why I am even considering this is because I work in a small space and I need something lightweight that I’ll also use for video work among other things, but it’s main purpose is product work. I already have the 70-180mm from Nikon but, as you said, can be a bit bulky and difficult to get around in a small studio. I work with a Nikon ZF that is a full frame. For close shots, I have extension tubes. Am I making a mistake to consider this focal length?

    1. Hi, you are making a mistake considering that focal length for product photography as it will create too much distortion on products especially if shooting close.

  7. Hi, I am Evelyn.
    I have a sony a7cii 33 full frame censor and a 35mm prime lens.
    What lens would be appropriate for me?
    Thank you

    1. Hi Evelyn, to ensure you watched this video and based on the information provided in this video which lens do you think is best for your camera?

    1. Hi, if you are rendering for product photography in CGI then I would suggest approximately 100mm-120mm for a 35mm format camera but if you’re rendering camera is say medium format then 80-100mm.

    1. Hi, I’m sure the camera is capable it will come down to the lens that you choose for the camera for product photography.

      1. Hey Karl its me again, I got the 50mm prime lens with the R5, Wasn’t sure what type of photography I would be doing until now, so I was thinking of getting the 85mm and a 100mm prime lenses for my product photography business. Would you agree with my options? I need some feedback. Thank you.

        1. Hi, yes the 85 and the 100 primes would be good choices for product work. I’m guessing the 100mm you’re talking about is the Macro lens which is a very good choice as it can shoot at normal distances and of course much closer if needed.

        2. Hi, the 85mm may be OK but it depends on how close it can focus. With the 100mm I assume you’re talking about the macro lens which is good.

          1. Hi, first of all have a listen to the recommended lenses in this video for FF35mm and why these are recommended and then you should be able to find a chart online that tells you the equivalent focal lengths for the APSC format. That would be your starting point and then you need to consider from those lenses which ones allow you to focus close enough for product photography (that information will be in the lens specifications). Then consider the quality of the lens, the type of glass and preferably a prime lens. The price will often dictate or tell you a bit about the lens quality but you can also evaluate the MTF charts of the lens.

  10. I’ve learned something about Nikon lenses recently. Some (or all) old film era AF-D lenses have an issue where, when stopped down, the design of the rear elements cause the light to bounce around inside the camera (because sensors reflect more than film) causing a purple spot in the centre of the frame when shot on a digital body (D500 in my case), especially when you have strong backlighting. Of course in product photography we often shoot stopped well down. I upgraded my AF-D 50 1.8 to a AF-S 50 1.8 and the purple spot is gone, I understand that the newer lenses have curved rear elements that prevent this issue.

    1. Thanks for the info Chris, I’m sure that will be useful knowledge to many people who read these comments.

  11. John

    HI Karl. Just joined and loving your courses. I’m just getting started in product photography and struggling with what lenses to use. I’m stuck using my Canon SL2 (cropped sensor) for now until I can upgrade. Currently I have the following lenses and perhaps you could suggest which I start out with or recommend a different focal length lense to purchase for starting out:
    – the kit lens 18-55mm
    – 50mm prime (nifty 50)
    – 35mm Macro prime
    – 85mm prime

    I’ve tried the 85mm but it seems I have to back up quite some distance from the product for it to focus correctly.
    Any insight would be greatly appreciated and thanks for all you do here!

    1. Hi, thanks for joining. The 50mm may be your best bet on a crop sensor if it focuses close enough. Most product photographers use a dedicated macro lens with a focal length between 60-100mm in 35mm Full Frame. For example if I’m shooting on a sony full frame I’d be using the 90mm macro lens which is an ideal focal length and super sharp macro for getting close. On my medium format I’m either using a 120mm macro (equivalent to about 100mm of FF35mm) or I’m using a 100mm lens with extension tubes. You could also get a cheap set of extension tubes that you could use with either your 50 or your 85 that would allow it to focus much closer. Cheers Karl.

      1. John

        Thank you much Karl. An extension tube set is on the shopping list until I can upgrade to a full frame camera.

    2. I had same issue with the 85mm 1.2. Beautiful lens.. for portraiture work, horrible for small studio product photography. I’ve learned to love my 100mm f/2.8 macro and 28-70mm f/2.0 beast, it covers probably anything I could need as a hobbyist and I’m sure as an entry level freelance pro.

  12. Hi Karl,

    Your courses are giving me the confidence I’ve been lacking, so thank you for that. I’m a fashion and portrait photographer and I’ve been working mostly outdoors with natural light or with continuous lighting, with a DSLR Nikon D750. For my current employer I’ve been asked to set up an in-house photo studio for product photography (cosmetics). Quite a game changer for me and I’m trying to step it up. We have about 8-10k to spend (including lighting etc.).

    For the camera and lenses I landed on a Sony A7III or Sony A7R4 with a 90mm macro lens.

    Does this sound like a good starting point? Is there any lens you would recommend to add straight at the beginning?

    Thank you in advance.

    1. Hi thank you for your comments. I too use the Sony 90mm macro lens and it as any excellent lens for product photography so for your camera and lens choice this is a very good starting point. It is your skill with lighting that will matter the most and that is what you can learn here.

  13. hi! im rlly enjoying this course, so thank you! I have a 24-70mm lens is that good enough to start product photography or would you recommend me to get a new one?

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