Best lens for product photography
It is very hard to choose the best lens for product photography in 2020. Many companies have launched thousands of lenses with different features. In this blog I will give you all the details about many different lenses which will help you to choose which one is best for product photography like apparel, jewelry, food, shoes.
20 Best Lenses for Product Photography
Product Photography we know as a commercial photography as well. There are many types of lenses available in the market so it depends on what kind of product that you are shooting and how you are shooting. Normally it is used for any products that you want to sell online or make it a brand like Jewelry, Food, Clothes, Shoes, Electronic goods etc. I have also written that how to photograph jewelry which is one of the product that you can sell online as well.
As I have mentioned above, there are many types of product photography lenses available in the market and everybody uses according to needs. So I have chosen 20 best lenses for product photography here and let you know how and why you need to choose the best one for your product photography.
Best canon lens for product photography
1. Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
50mm lenses are more popular for product photography. The users of Canon are using the maximum 50mm f/1.4 USM lens. 50mm Canon lenses are providing the best sharpness, color enhancement and bokeh quality. So it can be easily used by a beginner or a professional photographer.

Other benefits of Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM is that while you are not shooting products at that time you can also use it for other photography. As I have seen that many photographers choose the simple Canon lens for the high quality product photography. Other benefits of it are that it is very light in weight, easy to use and worth its price.
Key Features:-
- EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
- Two High Refractive Index Elements
- Aperture Range: f/1.4 to f/22
- Super Spectra Coating
- Micro Ultrasonic Motor AF System
- Rounded 8-Blade Diaphragm
- 58mm Filter Thread Size
2. Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM Macro
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM Macro lenses are made for shooting impressive close-up shots. It will give you the best experience for product photography. From the long-time stable telephoto focal length can be challenging to use. So once you are used to taking shots from a distance, it will help you to get high quality and creative outcomes.

This kind of macro lens will get you sharp and detailed product photography. Macro lenses are the ideal one for jewelry photography mainly. As you need to more zoom in and shoot the very shallow depth of the jewelry or any other products. With Canon L-series lens technology you can easily shoot the sharp and high quality product images.
Key Features:-
- EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
- Aperture Range: f/2.8 to f/32
- One Ultra-Low Dispersion Element
- Super Spectra Coating
- 67mm Filter Thread Size
- 9 Rounded Diaphragm Blades
3. Canon TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II Tilt-Shift Lens
Nowadays many photographers are using tilt-shift lenses to shoot product photography to take awesome photography. Canon tilt-shift is favoured for photographers to change the focal plane and turn to shape of their detail of field. It also helps you to take creative shots with manual control on surface area that you want to focus with a wide-angle field view.

Key Features:-
- EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
- Aperture Range: f/3.5 to f/22
- Four UD Elements, One Aspherical Element
- Subwavelength Coating
- Manual Focusing Enabled
- 8 Rounded Diaphragm Blades
4. Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens come with a metallic build including five groups of lens elements with optimized coating to make up the lens design. It has also included features of rounded aperture with seven blades. This lens also allows to take a broad aperture of f/1.8 clear photographs without using a camera flash.
Key Features:-
- EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
- Aperture Range: f/1.8 to f/22
- Super Spectra Coating
- STM Stepping AF Motor
- 49mm Filter Thread Size
- 7 Rounded Diaphragm Blades
5. Canon EF-S 55-250mm F4-5.6 IS STM Lens
One best challenger Canon EF-S 55-250mm F4-5.6 IS STM Lens is compatible, lightweight and economical cost with telephoto zoom. It can be mounted onto canon APS-C/1.6x FOVCF bodies since it is an EF-S optical lens. It is the first optical lens longer than 85mm with a nice zoom ring and small manual focus ring.

This is also an ideal lens for jewelry photography as it will allow you to take shots from very close and generate high quality smooth photographs. With features of image Stabilization helps to decrease the blur photo shoot from any achievable camera shakes and help you for shutter speeds of up to 3.5 stops slower than normal.
It comes with a seven bladed aperture diaphragm to help improve the quality of the lens. While you are shooting from a very close distance like 0.80m help you to take important details of the products.
Key Features:-
- 7 Diaphragm Blades
- 0.85 Close Focus Distance
- Image Stabilization
- Silent STM Motor
- 88-400mm (35mm Equivalent)
- EF-S Mount Lens/APS-C Format
Best lens for product photography Nikon
6. Nikon 50mm f/1.8G AF-S NIKKOR
You can shoot or start your product photography with a normal lens that gives you the same view as your eyes where 50mm lenses fit best. If you are using a Nikon DSLR for product photography, the Nikon 50mm f/1.8G AF-S NIKKOR lens is simply best and perfect for any kind of product shooting.

Nikon 50mm f/1.8G AF-S NIKKOR lens is the perfect ideal for product photography for all skill levels of photographers. If you are beginners, this is the best choice for you as you can start with NIKKOR glass to shoot outstanding shots of products including bokeh effects with use of maximum aperture of f/1.8.
Key Features:-
- F-Mount Lens/FX Format
- Aperture Range: f/1.8 to f/16
- One Aspherical Element
- Super Integrated Coating
- 58mm Filter Thread Size
- 7 Diaphragm Blades
7. Nikon 85mm f/1.8G AF-S NIKKOR Lens
NIKKOR lens for FX-format Nikon DSLRs that you can use for many different photography including product photography, food photography etc. This one of the ideal Nikon lenses for food and product photography because it has medium telephoto focal length. This NIKKOR lens will give you clear cut shots with silent AF due to Nikon’s Internal Focus system.

You will be able to get high quality shots of the product with even low light as f/1.8 maximum aperture is fast for the category. Comes with IF technology it allows you to take quality photoshoots. Incorporates Silent Wave Motor technology this lens is working without any noise.
This 85mm AF-S lens allows you to view 127mm files with the Nikon DX-format camera. It will help you to generate colorful detailed images of products and food photography.
Key Features:-
- F-Mount Lens/FX Format
- Aperture Range: f/1.8 to f/16
- Super Integrated Lens Coating
- Silent Wave Motor AF System
- 67mm Filter Thread Size
- 7 Rounded Diaphragm Blades
8. Nikon 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED AF-S VR Micro NIKKOR Lens
Best Nikon lens for the product photography in my list that offers outstanding features for closer photography. It comes with 105mm focal length, f/2.8 maximum aperture to allow you to shoot product photos from very close distances. Including NIKKOR lenses help you to get nice portraits with medium telephoto view.

Nikon lenses are helping to reduce blurry photographs. Because it has Vibration Reduction (VR) which helps image stabilization with 105mm focal length will allow you to shoot smooth closer pictures. The VR features play a major role to generate the clear and HD images and help to improve auto focus. It all goes with Nikon’s Silent Wave Motor (SWM) technology.
Key Features:-
- F-Mount Lens/FX Format
- Aperture Range: f/2.8 to f/32
- One Extra-Low Dispersion Element
- Nano Crystal & Super Integrated Coatings
- 62mm Filter Thread Size
- 9 Rounded Diaphragm Blades
9. Nikon AF-P NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6E ED VR f/34-8 Fixed lens
The Nikon AF-P NIKKOR 70-300mm comes with a fixed lens which provides telephoto to amazing telephoto range while anyhow you need to manage relatively lightweight. It allows you to capture shots from far or close distance, whether you are shooting for food photography or any other product that you are selling online.

This optical lens generates soft and blurred background which complement to its telephoto features including Vibration Reduction technology allows for smooth handheld use without shaking the camera during the zoom. This large zoom ring provides an optimal armband for smooth zooming photoshoot. Another feature is that it comes sealed to protect against dust and water drop which allows you to take a snap in any weather condition as well.
Key Features:-
- Mount Type: Nikon F-Bayonet
- Focal Length Range: 70-300mm
- Zoom Ratio: 4.3x
- Dust and water resistant
- Vibration Reduction Technology
- Stepping Motor
10. Nikon AF-S DX 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II
The Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S ED VR II zoom is one of the optical lenses to cover life’s different photography opportunities. It comes with a mighty 11x zoom which helps you to wide angle to telephoto and is one of the best options for food photography. Nikon vibration reduction technology also works here to stabilize clear snaps.

This is the best or ideal lens for professional photographers who are undoubtedly shooting photos. The build quality of the glasses is robust and superior to other kit lenses available on the market. The barrel is made from metal and top level black plastics while the mount is covered by protective rubber gasket.
Key Features:-
- F-Mount Lens/DX Format
- 27-300mm (35mm Equivalent)
- Aperture Range: f/3.5 to f/22
- Three Aspherical and Two ED Elements
- Vibration Reduction Technology
- Stepping Motor
11. Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM ART Lens for Canon EOS Cameras
This 35mm lens launched by Sigma worked well with full frame and ASP-C cameras as well. You can use it as a versatile lens for product photography like furniture photo shooting. This is the first lens to come under the brand’s ART line. So that means you can shoot more creative and outstanding product images with this lens.

This EOS mount lens shoots photographs with fast and silent autofocus. It’s come with a Hypersonic Motor (HSM) and floating internal focusing. With special glass elements for less distance and vividness in your photographs. Moreover if you are capturing photographs with low light this lens offers a maximum aperture at f/1.4. It even gives you beautiful highlights through its depth of field range.
Key Features:-
- EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
- Aperture Range: f/1.4 to f/16
- One FLD Element, Four SLD Elements
- Two Aspherical Elements
- 67mm Filter Thread Size
- 9 Rounded Diaphragm Blades
12. Sigma 180mm F2.8 EX APO DG HSM OS Macro
One more high-speed macro optical lens is Sigma 180mm with enlargement ratio of 1:1 and 180mm focal length. You can compare with the Canon EF mount used on full frame and APS-C DSLRs. It comes with a total 3 FLD glass elements which shoots the correct color of the products. So all the features are very accurate with rendition from 1:1 magnification to infinity.

It comes with multi-layer coating to produce sharp and perfect quality with colour enhanced images. Its included optical stabilizer allows you to shoot products without even a tripod with shutter speed of 4 stops slower than normally possible. It’s very handy while you need to shoot your products, jewelry, furniture etc. from any angle as it does not require more tripod setup.
It has not just optical lens but comes with a robust build while it is in your hands. Its auto focus is really fast and very perfect.
Key Features:-
- EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
- Aperture Range: f/2.8 to f/22
- Three FLD Elements
- Super Multi-Layer Coating
- 9 blade diaphragm
- Multi-Layer Coating
13. Tamron SP 15-30mm F/2.8 Di VC USD G2 for Canon EF Mount
It comes with extra wide angle zoomed features, Tamron SP 15-30mm F/2.8 allows you to cover full image areas with outstanding quality of images of products. Its shooting low contortion and vivid abnormality with outstanding glass and aspherical lens elements. This 15-30mm G@ is also controlling the autofocus and taking the smoother images via dual micro-processing units (MPUs).

This EF- mount will get you outstanding creative images of your products just because it has features of gelatine filters. On the other hand if you notice that SP 15-30mm G2 looks like a professional lens for better functions of the lens.
Key Features:-
- EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
- Aperture Range: f/2.8 to f/22
- Three LD and Three Aspherical Elements
- AX, eBAND, BBAR, and Fluorine Coatings
- Gel Filter Thread Size
- 9 Rounded Diaphragm Blades
14. Tamron AFF017N700 SP 90mm F/2.8 Di VC USD 1:1 Macro
Tamron AFF017N700 macro lens is designed for product photography like short distance. You can use this short telephoto lens with the FX-format Nikon F-mount DSLR. This is an ideal and good choice for close photography. It is built with a floating system to maintain the photographs high quality via 11.8inch to infinity focusing range.

The Tamron AFF017N700 Macro Lens has vibration stabilization help to optical lens to minimize camera shake by up to 3.5 stops. With these features it’s generating sharp images in even low light as well. Included ring type of Ultrasonic silent motor generating accurate and very quick auto focusing.
If you are shooting product photography from very close in that case Tamron short telephoto is the ideal one.
Key Features:-
- Nikon F Mount/FX Format
- Aperture Range: f/2.8 to f/32
- One LD and Two XLD Glass Elements
- eBAND, BBAR, and Fluorine Coatings
- Rounded 9-Blade Diaphragm
- Moisture-Resistant Construction
15. Tokina 100mm f/2.8 AT-X M100 AF Pro D Macro

While professional photographers start to shoot products, Tokina 100mm f/2.8 AT-X M100 AF Pro D Macro is the best option for close-up shooting. It provides almost the same vision as other macro lenses. On the other hand the Tokina lens is very lighter and more hand-come with a very good low price. It is very ideal while you need to focus on your subjects.
Key Features:-
- Full-Frame Macro Prime Lens
- Fixed Focal Length of 100mm
- Aperture Range of f/2.8- f/32
- Autofocusing Enabled
- Minimum Focusing Distance of 12mm
- 9 Diaphragm Blades
16. Fujifilm XF50-140mm f/2.8 R LM OIS WR
A professional photographer who is using full-frame cameras having the best options is a 70-200mm f/2.8 lens. This is also an ideal for product photography in 2020. The Fujifilm XF50-140mm f/2.8 R LM OIS WR has the same X-mount lens with an effective 105-210mm zoom range. Its build quality is robust like 16-55mm optic with fully pro grade and a grade quality glass including five ED elements.

Sonic fast auto focus is operated by its triple liner motor and optical stabilization with class-leading 5-stop performance.
Key Features:-
- Super-fast triple autofocus
- X-Mount Lens/APS-C Format
- 76-213mm (35mm Equivalent)
- Aperture Range: f/2.8 to f/22
- Five ED Elements & One Super ED Element
- Rounded 7-Blade Diaphragm
17. Fujifilm XF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR

The Fujifilm XF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR has all the top grade features and robust build quality. However it is also heavy for the telephoto zoom. The features included twin liner motors for lightning fast photography and virtually silent auto focus. Moreover the lens comes with a tripod mounting ring and Arca-Swiss compatible tripod plate.
Key Features:-
- Massive effective focal length
- Excellent 5-stop stabilizer
- Class-leading 5.0-stop image stabilization
- Compact and lightweight design
- Compatible with the 1.4x Teleconverter
- Rounded 9-Blade Diaphragm
18. Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS
Product photography is all about the game of details and high quality. Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS comes with a fixed focal length of 90mm. This idea and recommended Sony lens by the professional photographers. It will maximum help you to take detail of products by blurring out all the rest.

As the main part of this Sony lens circular hole blade that allows to create rounder bokeh lights and more charming out of focus blur. Moreover it also comes with a hold focus button that helps you lock the focus and save time producing sharp images.
Key Features:-
- E-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
- Aperture Range: f/2.8 to f/22
- 1:1 Magnification Ratio; Internal Focus
- Aspherical, ED and Super ED Elements
- 62mm Filter Thread Size
- 9 Rounded Diaphragm Blades
19. Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master
The Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master is loaded with glass that offers two ultra- high precision XA elements including high quality of zoom. One more feature is the Nano-structure coating. It has 11-blade diaphragm which allows fast and constant f/2.8 aperture and, when stopping down, the aperture remains extremely well-rounded.

Moreover the features included DDSSM auto focus system is generating outstanding and perfect pictures. This only lens it’s ideal for close photography like products photo shoot but you can also use it for landscapes, interiors, travel photography.
Key Features:-
- E-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
- Aperture Range: f/2.8 to f/22
- Two Extra-Low Dispersion Elements
- Three Aspherical and Two XA Elements
- Nano AR Coating and Fluorine Coating
- Eleven-Blade Circular Diaphragm
20. Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art
The Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art is heavy in weight and large in comparison to other 85mm f/1.4 lenses. This lens is quite a handful due to its size and weight. This lens has round elements and two instead of three SLD elements including nine blade diaphragm. Look and build are very attractive and robust with added weather-seals in its ‘dust- and splash-proof’ construction.

It’s producing sharp and attractive product photographs while color fringing and distortion are minimal, and bokeh is beautifully smooth. All over large lenses that produce extra high quality of pictures.
Key Features:-
- EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
- Aperture Range: f/1.4 to 16
- Two Low Dispersion Elements
- One Aspherical Element
- Hyper Sonic AF Motor, Manual Override
- Rounded 9-Blade Diaphragm
How to Choose the Best Lens for Product Photography?
After going through all the world’s best lenses, questions come to mind that which one is the best lens or how to choose the best lens for my product photography. Let’s discuss the same as well.

I have just mentioned above 20 lenses for product photography which I like but there are many different lenses and cameras available in the market for the product photography and you can choose according to your needs, choice and budget.
In this case you can do more research into the market, check the latest and upcoming lens or which one is used by the professionals or your competitors. Based on this detailed research also helps you to choose the right lens for you. Let’s discuss some main parts of the lenses below.
1. Understanding Focal Length
Focal length normally depicted in the millimetres (mm) is the essential explanation of photographic lens. So this is not the exact length measurement of the lens, it is calculating the optical distance from the point where light rays cover to form a perfect photograph of the objects. So the focal length of the lens guides us to see how much of the area will be covered in the photographs.
2. Quality of Lens
While you are choosing a lens, at the same time you need to check the quality of it as it is the most important part for photography. Lens made from a number of individual glass lenses known as features. So before choosing any lens you need to check what kind of Elements, Moulded, Coatings, Construction, Bokeh, Image Stabilization, zooming etc. in detail.
3. Best Budget Lenses
I have mentioned some 20 lenses above but there are also many lenses available in the market that you need to search online or near in your area. According to your need you can select the best budget lenses for your product photography. It’s not necessary that a costly or high price lens model will give you 100% perfect images, it depends on your skill as well. But one thing you need to keep in your mind while you are purchasing the budget lens is to check the build quality first.
At the end the final step is product photo editing services. If you or your client is selling products online so this is the important step before uploading and images.
Ron Jonas
About Author
Hi there, I’m Ronald Jonas – A photography specialist, Blogger. Portland, Oregon Area, USA.