15 Best Lens For Product Photography 2023
Updated on June 23, 2023 in Photography by Nishant Shrimali
Lenses can practically make your product photography easy and efficient by great margins. But all of it depends on whether or not you choose the best lens for product photography.
Product photography is mostly done for eCommerce who want to present their products on websites, social media, etc.
The goal is to make the product look appealing while ensuring no details or the side of the products are hidden from the customers—for the best experience.
And since there are multiple angles, products, and types of the shoot—it is important for a photographer to know what kind of lens for product photography they will need.
To make it easy, we are sharing the 15 Best Lens for product photography in 2023. The list comprises different types and brands of lenses, so be sure you’ll find your next partner.
Let’s get started right away.
Types of lens for Product Photography
Prime and Zoom Lenses
A Prime lens has a fixed focal length. It offers sharpness and clarity, along with consistent and deliberate compositions.
With its wide apertures, a prime lens produces compelling bokeh effects that make even simple products look extraordinary.
Now, if we talk about Zoom lenses, they have variable focal lengths. Which means it provides flexibility and versatility for product photography.
It allows you to adjust the field of view without moving back and for. This makes it an ideal pick for challenging shooting conditions.
Zoom lenses also save time by eliminating the need to change lenses in different environments.
Between prime and zoom lenses, it ultimately depends on the specific requirements of each project. Both have unique advantages that cater to the artistic vision and needs of the photographer.
Macro Lenses
The primary characteristic of Macro lenses is the ability to achieve high magnification ratios. Where most cameras can only clearly focus on the products close to them, Macros lenses bring the magic.
By allowing photographers to focus on subjects at extremely close distances, macro lenses allow you to capture textures, patterns, and fine details that may otherwise be overlooked.
From the texture of a handbag to the subtle textures on a piece of jewelry, macro lenses enable professionals to capture these mesmerizing details in stunning clarity.
Tilt Shift Lenses
Tilt-shift lenses are remarkable tools that allow you to control perspective and depth of field. These lenses can create miniature effects by tilting the lens and making real-life scenes appear like small models.
Shifting the lens corrects perspective distortion, especially for architectural photography.
Tilt-shift lenses also offer precise control over the plane of focus, enabling you to blur or emphasize specific areas selectively.
With this exceptional optical quality, Tilt-shift lenses empower you to explore unique creative possibilities and capture captivating images that stand out.
Best Prime and Zoom Lenses for Product Photography
Sony FE 85mm F1.4 GM (G Master)
Specification
| Focal Length | 85mm |
| Aperture | f/16 to f/1.4 |
| Format Compatibility | Full-frame |
| Image Stabilization | No |
| Autofocus | Yes |
| Lens Mount | Sony E-mount |
The Sony FE 85mm F1.4 GM lens is a high-quality prime lens designed for Sony’s full-frame mirrorless cameras. It’s popular among professional photographers for its exceptional build quality and performance.
With a focal length of 85mm and a wide maximum aperture of f/1.4, this is great for capturing portraits and achieving beautiful blur backgrounds. Its low-light capabilities are also impressive, allowing you to shoot in various challenging lighting conditions.
The lens is durable and weather-sealed, protecting it against dust and moisture. It features autofocus functionality and offers a minimum focus distance of 2.79 feet, making it suitable for various photography styles, including product photography.
The lens’s optical design minimizes distortion. This delivers sharp and high-resolution images. The 11-blade circular aperture produces a smooth and pleasing bokeh, enhancing the visual appeal for portraits and product photography.
The Sony FE 85mm F1.4 GM lens is excellent for product photographers for beginners and professionals. Wide aperture, superior image quality, and robust construction. All this makes the following lens a valuable tool for capturing stunning images in various lighting conditions.
Canon 85mm f/1.8
Specification
| Focal Length | 85mm |
| Aperture | f/22 to f/1.8 |
| Format Compatibility | Full-frame and APS-C |
| Image Stabilization | No |
| Autofocus | Yes |
| Lens Mount | Canon EF |
The Canon 85mm f/1.8 lens is a prime lens designed for Canon DSLR cameras. It has a focal length of 85mm and a maximum aperture of f/1.8.
This is a great lens for product photography that captures stunning portraits with a beautiful background blur effect. The wide aperture allows for excellent low-light performance and creative control over depth of field.
The lens is lightweight and compact, making it easy to carry around. It has fast and quiet autofocus, thanks to Canon’s Ultrasonic Motor (USM) technology.
The lens is compatible with both full-frame and APS-C cameras, offering versatility in various shooting situations.
Moreover, the Canon 85mm f/1.8 lens is an excellent choice for portrait photography, providing professional-looking results without breaking the bank.
Fujifilm XF 56mm (85mm) F/1.2
Specification
| Focal Length | 56mm |
| Aperture | f/16 to f/1.2 |
| Format Compatibility | APS-C |
| Image Stabilization | No |
| Autofocus | Yes |
| Lens Mount | X-mount |
The Fujifilm XF 56mm f/1.2 lens is a prime lens designed for Fujifilm X-Series mirrorless cameras. With its focal length equivalent to 85mm, it’s the perfect lens for product photography.
The XF 56mm f/1.2 lens has a wide maximum aperture of f/1.2, allowing you to create stunning images with a shallow depth of field. This means you can blur the background, keeping the subject in sharp focus, which adds a professional touch to your ecommerce photography..
The lens also features advanced optics, including extra-low dispersion elements and aspherical elements, which result in high-resolution, sharp, and clear images.
It produces a beautiful bokeh effect with its large aperture and rounded diaphragm blades. This helps separate the subject from the background, giving your images a pleasing and professional look.
Autofocus is fast and precise. Driven by a silent linear motor, the lens ensures you capture sharp images quickly and quietly.Fujifilm cameras also come with face and eye detection autofocus, which can be a great help in portrait photography.
It is important to note here that the lens doesn’t have built-in image stabilization. Some Fujifilm cameras provide in-body image stabilization (IBIS), so make sure you choose this lens after doing thorough research about your camera.
We have also shared the best camera for product photography that you must have read.
Canon EF 50mm f/1.4
Specification
| Focal Length | 50mm |
| Aperture | f/22 to f/1.4 |
| Format Compatibility | Full-frame & APS-C |
| Image Stabilization | No |
| Autofocus | Yes |
| Lens Mount | Canon EF |
The Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 lens is a prime lens designed for Canon EOS DSLR cameras. It has a 50mm focal length, which gives a standard angle of view on full-frame cameras and a slightly longer focal length on APS-C sensor cameras.
It is a lens known for its wide maximum aperture of f/1.4. This allows you to capture sharp images even in low-light conditions while also having a beautiful background blur.
It is an excellent lens for product photography in eCommerce, portraits, street photography, and low-light shooting, as we discussed.
The lens supports autofocus which makes it quick and accurate for capturing sharp images. This might really come in handy in fashion photography and various quick posses one needs to capture.
It also has a full-time manual focus override, which allows you to make manual adjustments even when autofocus is engaged.
One downside of this lens is it doesn’t have built-in image stabilization. You’ll have to use a tripod or increase your shutter speed to prevent camera shake when shooting handheld.
The overall lens is compact, lightweight, and easy to carry around. Its construction includes seven elements in 6 groups and a circular aperture with eight blades for pleasing bokeh.
To sum it up, the Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 lens is a versatile and popular choice for beginner and intermediate photographers who want to get started with product photography.
Its wide aperture, autofocus capabilities, and compact design make it ideal for various photography genres, particularly portraits and low-light situations.
It offers good image quality and the ability to create a shallow depth of field, allowing you to capture stunning photos with a beautiful background blur.
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM
Specification
| Focal Length | 24-70mm |
| Aperture | f/22 to f/2.8 |
| Format Compatibility | Full-frame |
| Image Stabilization | No |
| Autofocus | Yes |
| Lens Mount | Canon EF |
The Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM is a versatile lens and has high-quality zoom designed for Canon EOS DSLR cameras.
It has a focal length range of 24-70mm, providing you with a wide-angle to a short telephoto perspective. Making this Canon lens ideal for eCommerce product photography, portraits, landscapes, and general shooting.
With its fast maximum aperture of f/2.8, it allows you to capture images in low light conditions and achieve a pleasing background blur (bokeh) effect, to get a professional look.
The lens features advanced autofocus, which delivers quick and accurate focusing performance. Also, it offers full-time manual focus override, allowing you to fine-tune focus manually when needed.
While it lacks built-in image stabilization, the lens compensates with its sturdy and durable construction, making it suitable for demanding shooting environments.
With its 18 elements in 13 groups lens construction, the lens delivers sharp and high-quality images with minimal distortion and aberrations, ensuring excellent optical performance.
The lens has a minimum focus distance of 0.38m/1.25ft, allowing you to get close to your subjects for detailed shots, and it has a maximum magnification of 0.21x.
The lens accepts 82mm filters, which can be used for various purposes like protecting the front element or enhancing specific effects in your images.
Sigma 24-105mm f/4 Art
Specification
| Focal Length | 24-105mm |
| Aperture | f/22 to f/4 |
| Format Compatibility | Full-frame |
| Image Stabilization | No |
| Autofocus | Yes |
| Lens Mount | Canon EF, Nikon F, Sigma SA |
The Sigma 24-105mm f/4 Art lens is a versatile zoom lens for full-frame cameras. It offers a focal length range of 24mm to 105mm, making it the top pick for the best lens for product photography, landscapes, portraits, and general shooting.
With a constant maximum aperture of f/4, it maintains consistent exposure settings and depth of field control throughout its zoom range.
The lens is also known for its exceptional image quality. Thanks to specialized glass elements that reduce chromatic aberrations and deliver sharp, clear, and accurate colors.
The lens doesn’t have built-in image stabilization, but some camera bodies may have it. So, it’s important to check if your camera provides stabilization.
The lens is available in different mounts like Canon EF, Nikon F, and Sigma SA. Depending on your camera brand, you can find your pick. It weighs around 885g (31.2 ounces) and has a filter size of 82mm.
Nikon Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR
Specification
| Focal Length | 24-200mm |
| Aperture | f/22-36 to f/4-6.3 |
| Format Compatibility | Full-frame (FX) and APS-C (DX) |
| Image Stabilization | Yes |
| Autofocus | Yes |
| Lens Mount | Nikon Z-mount |
The Nikon Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR lens is a versatile product photography zoom lens for Nikon Z-mount mirrorless cameras. It covers a wide focal length range from 24mm to 200mm, allowing you to capture various types of photography. It’s suitable for landscapes, portraits, and wildlife shots.
With a maximum aperture of f/4-6.3, the lens lets you control the depth of field and achieve beautiful background blur. It also has built-in image stabilization to help minimize camera shake, ensuring you capture sharper photos even when shooting handheld.
The lens is equipped with autofocus and is compatible with both full-frame and APS-C Nikon Z cameras. The lens weighs approximately 570g, making it relatively lightweight and easy to carry around.
This single lens can handle a wide range of photographic situations.
Whether you’re capturing landscapes, portraits, or wildlife, this lens provides versatility, image stabilization, and reliable autofocus, making it a valuable addition to your gear.
Sony FE 24-105mm f/4G OSS
Specification
| Focal Length | 24-105mm |
| Aperture | f/22 to f/4 |
| Format Compatibility | Full Frame |
| Image Stabilization | Yes |
| Autofocus | Yes |
| Lens Mount | Sony E-mount |
The Sony FE 24-105mm f/4G OSS lens is a versatile zoom lens for Sony full-frame mirrorless cameras. It has a focal length range of 24-105mm, which means you can capture both wide-angle and medium telephoto shots.
The lens is equipped with optical image stabilization (OSS) to help reduce camera shake and produce sharper images.
Also, it has advanced optics with special elements to improve image quality and minimize aberrations. The lens features a Nano AR Coating that is known to minimize ghosting and flare.
The autofocus performance is fast, precise, and quiet, thanks to the Direct Drive SSM (Super Sonic Wave Motor). The build of lens has a dust and moisture-resistant construction, making it durable and reliable for various shooting conditions.
With a 77mm filter size, the lens is compatible with a wide range of filters. It has a focus hold button, AF/MF switch, and a zoom lock switch for enhanced control.
Best Macro Lens for Product Photography
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM Macro
Specification
| Focal Length | 100mm |
| Aperture | f/32 to f/2.8 |
| Format Compatibility | Full-frame and APS-C |
| Image Stabilization | Yes (up to 4 stops of correction) |
| Autofocus | Yes, with a ring-type Ultrasonic Motor (USM) |
| Lens Mount | Canon EF |
The Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM lens is a high-quality product photography Micro lens for Canon cameras.
It has a focal length of 100mm and a maximum aperture of f/2.8, which allows you to create beautiful background blur and work well even in low-light conditions.
This Canon lens for product photography is perfect for close-up shots. It can capture intricate details with its 1x magnification, which means it can reproduce objects at life-size on the camera’s sensor.
The lens has image stabilization, which helps to reduce camera shake, especially when shooting handheld. This is particularly useful for close-up shots where even the slightest movement can cause blurriness.
The lens is well-built and weather-sealed, making it resistant to dust and moisture, which is essential for outdoor photography.
The autofocus is fast and accurate, and you can even switch to manual focus instantly without changing any settings.
Whether you’re a beginner or a professional photographer, this lens can help you capture stunning close-up shots and achieve professional-looking results.
Canon EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro USM
Specification
| Focal Length | 180mm |
| Aperture | f/32 to f/3.5 |
| Format Compatibility | Full-frame and APS-C |
| Image Stabilization | No |
| Autofocus | Yes, with Ultrasonic Motor (USM) |
| Lens Mount | Canon EF |
The Canon EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro USM lens is a high-quality telephoto macro lens for Canon EOS DSLR cameras.
The lens has a maximum aperture of f/3.5 and a focal length of 180mm. This provides excellent reach and versatility for both close-up macro photography as well as general telephoto shooting.
This lens is compatible with both full-frame and APS-C sensor cameras. Additionally, it also features a durable construction with weather-sealing, making it suitable for various shooting conditions.
With a maximum magnification of 1x (life-size), it allows you to capture intricate details during product photography. The Ultrasonic Motor (USM) ensures quick, accurate, and silent autofocus performance, while the focus limiter switch allows for faster focusing at close distances.
The lens offers a wide aperture range, which allows you to control the depth of field and work well in low-light situations. The lens coatings minimize ghosting and flare, while the rounded aperture blades create smooth and pleasing bokeh.
Its superior image quality, robust construction, and versatile focal length make it among the best lenses for product photography.
Nikon NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S
Specification
| Focal Length | 105mm |
| Aperture | f/32 to f/2.8 |
| Format Compatibility | Full-frame (FX) and APS-C (DX) |
| Image Stabilization | Yes, built-in VR (Vibration Reduction) system |
| Autofocus | Yes, with Silent Wave Motor (SWM) |
| Lens Mount | Nikon Z-mount |
The Nikon NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S is a high-quality product photography macro lens for Nikon Z-mount mirrorless cameras.
It offers a focal length of 105mm, which is great for capturing close-up details with high precision.
The maximum aperture of f/2.8 offers excellent low-light performance and a beautiful background blur. The lens is compatible with both full-frame and APS-C cameras, giving you the flexibility to choose your camera.
The lens has a minimum focus distance of 0.29m, allowing you to get really close to your subjects for stunning macro shots. It offers a 1:1 reproduction ratio, meaning your subjects will appear life-size in your images.
One standout feature is the built-in VR (Vibration Reduction) system. This helps you stabilize your images and reduce camera shake, especially when shooting handheld or in challenging lighting conditions.
This is particularly useful for macro photography, where even the tiniest movements can impact image sharpness.
The lens uses advanced multi-focusing technology for fast and accurate autofocus, ensuring you can quickly capture your desired shot. The Silent Wave Motor (SWM) ensures quiet and smooth operation, which is important when working in quiet environments or shooting wildlife.
With its durable construction, including dust and drip resistance, this lens is built to withstand outdoor conditions. It also has a customizable control ring, allowing you to adjust settings easily.
Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS
Specification
| Focal Length | 90mm |
| Aperture | f/22 to f/2.8 |
| Format Compatibility | Full-frame |
| Image Stabilization | Yes |
| Autofocus | Yes |
| Lens Mount | Sony E-mount |
The Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS lens is a specialized macro lens for product photography.
It offers a focal length of 90mm and a maximum aperture of f/2.8, which allows for excellent control over depth of field and beautiful background blur.
With a 1:1 magnification ratio, this lens can capture subjects at life-size, revealing intricate details that may not be visible to the naked eye. It is ideal for capturing the delicate beauty of flowers, insects, and other small objects.
The lens construction includes advanced optics, such as aspherical and extra-low dispersion elements, which minimize aberrations and ensure high image quality. Additionally, it features optical image stabilization (OSS) to help reduce camera shake, resulting in sharper images.
Although this lens does not have autofocus capabilities, its manual focus mechanism is designed for precision and accuracy, allowing you to capture the desired details with ease.
The Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS lens is a reliable choice for photographers who want to explore the world of macro photography.
Its sturdy build, dust and moisture resistance make it suitable for outdoor use. Whether you’re a beginner or a professional photographer, this lens will help you capture stunning close-up images and unleash your creativity.
Best Tilt Shift Lenses for Product Photography
Canon TS-E 90mm f/2.8L
Specification
| Focal Length | 90mm |
| Aperture | f/32 to f/2.8 |
| Format Compatibility | Full-Frame |
| Image Stabilization | No |
| Autofocus | No |
| Lens Mount | Canon EF |
The Canon TS-E 90mm f/2.8L lens is a versatile lens for product photography that can help you take your images to the next level.
With its tilt-shift capability, this lens offers precise control over perspective and depth of field. This lens is particularly useful for architectural, product, and landscape photography.
Its f/2.8 maximum aperture ensures excellent performance in low-light conditions and allows for the background blur that you always want. The lens is designed for Canon EOS cameras and has a focal length of 90mm, providing a moderate telephoto perspective.
The lens does not have autofocus, so it requires manual focus, which can be a great learning opportunity for beginners and intermediates to improve their focusing skills.
Its sturdy construction and weather sealing make it a reliable companion for outdoor shoots, even in challenging conditions.
Canon TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II
Specification
| Focal Length | 24mm |
| Aperture | f/22 to f/3.5 |
| Format Compatibility | Full-Frame |
| Image Stabilization | No |
| Autofocus | No |
| Lens Mount | Canon EF |
The Canon TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II is a fantastic lens for product photographers looking to enhance their creativity and control over their eCommerce images.
With its wide-angle focal length of 24mm, it captures a broad view, making it great for landscapes, architecture, and even some environmental portraits.
One of the standout features of this lens is its tilt and shift capabilities. The tilt mechanism allows you to selectively focus on specific areas and achieve a unique depth of field effect.
Meanwhile, the shift mechanism corrects perspective distortion, making it ideal for architectural photography or capturing panoramic shots without distortion.
The lens construction consists of high-quality elements that ensure excellent image quality.
Special coatings minimize ghosting and flare, resulting in sharp and vibrant images. It also offers a minimum focusing distance of 0.21m, allowing for close-up shots with a maximum magnification of 0.34x.
While it does not have autofocus, manual focus operation gives you complete control over your compositions. The lens is also weather-sealed, protecting it from dust and moisture, which is handy for outdoor shoots.
Canon TS-E 135 mm f/4L
Specification
| Focal Length | 135mm |
| Aperture | f/22 to f/4 |
| Format Compatibility | Full-frame & APS-C sensor |
| Image Stabilization | No |
| Autofocus | No |
| Lens Mount | Canon EF |
The Canon TS-E 135mm f/4L lens is a specialized lens designed for photographers who want precise control over their images.
It offers unique features that allow you to adjust perspective and depth of field, making it ideal for architectural and product photography.
The Canon TS-E 135mm f/4L lens is designed for Canon cameras and is compatible with both full-frame and APS-C sensor models. It’s part of Canon’s high-end L-series lenses known for exceptional image quality and durability.
This lens lets you tilt and shift the focal plane independently, giving you creative control over perspective distortion and depth of field.
The lens features aspherical and UD elements to minimize distortions and chromatic aberrations, resulting in sharp and clear images. It also has a special coating to reduce lens flare and ghosting, improving contrast and color accuracy.
Keep in mind that this lens requires manual focus and aperture control, meaning you’ll need to adjust these settings yourself. While it may take some practice to master, the results can be rewarding.
Overall, the Canon TS-E 135mm f/4L is a powerful lens for product photography that lets explore creative perspectives and achieve precise control over their images.
In Conclusion
With the list above, finding the best lens for product photography would surely be easy. That being said, your choice will depend a lot on what camera you have and what your requirements are.
Make sure you consider all the factors when finding the perfect lens for product photography as per your requirements.
FAQ
Which type of lens for product photography?
Different types of lenses are used for product photography, like Prime Lens, Zoom Lens, Macro Lens, and Tilt Shift Lens. However, Prime Lens is the most preferred type of lens for product photography.
Is Prime lens or Zoom lens better for product photography?
Prime lens is generally better for product photography due to its wider maximum aperture, which allows for better control over depth of field and produces sharper images. Zoom lenses, on the other hand, are versatile and offer the advantage of variable focal lengths, allowing you to quickly adjust the framing without changing lenses.