Best Product Photography Lenses
The best product photography lenses depends on which camera brand you shoot since you’ll need to buy a lens from the brand, unless you plan to purchase a 3rd party lens which isn’t always the best idea. The best product photography lens for each brand is:
Nikon: NIKKOR 24-70mm F2.8G ED VR
Canon: Canon 24-70mm F2.8L II USM
Sony: Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM
The lenses above are based on the idea that you’re looking for an all-in-one product photography lens. If you are looking to learn more about the other available lenses that can be considered one of the best product photography lenses, then read on!
Table of Contents
Best Product Photography Lenses
No matter what brand of camera you have, if you plan to only purchase one lens, then the best product photography lens is going to be a highly capable, yet adaptable lens. You need the photos to come out extremely sharp, but also need enough flexibility to be able to shoot a wide range of products.
Prime lenses often offer the sharpest images and can be excellent for product photography. If you don’t have a large studio space or you don’t want to purchase multiple lenses, then it might be best to go with the sharpest zoom lens available.
Whether you choose a prime or zoom lens is up to you, however, the most important factor will be the image quality. You’re going to want a lens that can open the aperture to at least f2.8, and you might even want to push it further.
Now that you know what you’re looking for, read the reviews below featuring lenses for Nikon, Canon, and Sony cameras. Then read our recommendations at the end.
Nikon: Best Product Photography Lenses
NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G
The best affordable option from Nikon. This Nikon 50mm f1.8 will produce some sharp images, some really beautiful bokeh, and come in at a price that doesn’t break the bank.
However, it can be considered an intro level lens and ideally will be paired with another lens of a different focal length.
Pros:
- Inexpensive
- Sharp images
- Nice bokeh
Cons:
- Cheap build quality
- Limited to one focal length
NIKKOR 24-70mm F2.8G ED VR
Easily one of Nikon’s best lenses available today. This lens is excellent for a lot of different types of photography, including product photography.
It produces very high quality images across the board and is one of those lenses that you can purchase once and use for the next decade, regardless of what genre you photograph.
Pros:
- Premier Nikon lens
- Excellent build quality
- Ideal focal lengths
- Superb image quality
Cons:
- Slightly expensive
NIKKOR 58mm f/1.4G
One of Nikon’s best prime lenses and a top lens for product photography. It’s more expensive that the 50mm prime listed above, but you’ll be able to see a large difference in the build and image quality.
Pros:
- Excellent image quality
- Very sharp
- Great bokeh
- Top build quality
Cons:
- Only one focal length
NIKKOR 85mm f/1.4G
Basically, a tighter focal length version of the 58mm f1.4 lens above. The 85mm version is a favorite amongst product photographers and is one of Nikon’s best.
Pros:
- Excellent image quality
- Very sharp
- Great bokeh
- Top build quality
Cons:
- Only one focal length
Canon: Best Product Photography Lenses
Canon 50mm F1.8 STM
Likely the best affordable option from Canon. This Canon 50mm f1.8 produces solid image quality, especially for the price.
It’s not the best build quality and there are definitely better Canon lenses, but if you’re on a really tight budget, this can get the job done.
Pros:
- Very affordable
- Sharp images
- Solid bokeh
Cons:
- Cheap build quality
- Only one focal length
Canon 24-70mm F2.8L II USM
One of the best Canon lenses on the market regardless of what genre you photograph, although it’s especially great for product photography.
It produces very high quality images across the board and is one of those lenses that you can purchase once and use for the next decade, regardless of what genre you photograph.
Pros:
- Premier Canon lens
- Extremely sharp photos
- Very versatile across genres
- Ideal focal lengths
Cons:
- Somewhat expensive
Canon 85mm F1.2 II USM
A favorite amongst Canon shooters, especially those working in product photography. This 85mm f1.2 is possibly the sharpest lens that Canon produces, although it is quite expensive.
If cost is no factor and you don’t mind working with a prime lens, this is possibly the best product photography lens period, regardless of camera brand.
Pros:
- One of best lenses made
- Exceptional quality across the board image-wise
- Excellent build quality
Cons:
- Somewhat expensive
Sony: Best Product Photography Lenses
Sony FE 50mm f/1.8
One of the top affordable options from Sony. It’s a good option for those on a very tight budget.
Just like the Nikon and Canon 50mm lenses listed above, this lens will get the job done and produce some nice images, but it lacks in overall quality.
Pros:
- Very affordable
- Solid image quality
Cons:
- Cheap build quality
- Only one focal length
- Better options available
Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM
One of the best Sony lenses on the market. This 24-70mm f2.8 is extremely versatile and exceptionally sharp.
It produces very high quality images across the board and is one of those lenses that you can purchase once and use for the next decade, regardless of what genre you photograph.
Pros:
- Premier Sony lens
- Great for multiple genres of photography
- Excellent value for quality provided
- Ideal focal lengths
Cons:
- Slightly expensive
Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM
A top product photography lens from Sony, this 85mm f1.4 produces truly amazing images.
If you like the idea of using a prime lens, then this is the best choice for anyone that shoots with a Sony.
Pros:
- High quality images
- Great build quality
- Very sharp
Cons:
- Only one focal length
Recommendations on the Best Product Photography Lens
Although it may be tempting to choose one of the 50mm choices above due to their extremely affordable prices, they should be viewed as an entry level type product photography lens. It’s a good option, but none of them can be considered the best product photography lenses.
If you can expand your budget, then you should opt for one of the other options. If you just want to purchase one lens for all your product photography, then one of the 24mm-70mm f2.8 lenses is the best product photography lens for you.
If you are comfortable using a prime lens and don’t mind needing to possibly purchase 2 or more lenses, then the 85mm f1.4 lenses above are some of the best product photography lenses on the market.
Finally, check out our Gear page to read more articles just like this with up-to-date product reviews for gear across all photography genres.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which lens is best for product photography?
If you had to choose only one lens, then a 24mm-70mm f2.8 lens is probably the best way to go. If you are comfortable using a prime lens and purchasing a few of them, then an 85mm f1.4 is a great choice.
Is a 50mm good for product photography?
Yes, 50mm can be a good focal length for product photography. Although, wider or tighter focal lengths may be needed at times.
Is 24mm lens good for product photography?
A 24mm lens can be good for product photography, but it is on the wide end of the spectrum. Ideally, you want a lens between about 24mm and 85mm.