If you’re shooting food, then a macro lens will give you the best results. Here are our top favorites to help you decide which one is right for you:
If you want to capture tasty food in all its glory, a good lens may be just the thing. It’s true that some standard EF and EF-S lenses can work well for food photography—especially if you shoot from an angle like side shots or overhead shots. Macro zoom lenses can also work well too.
If you want to take high quality food photos the best lens for that is a 50mm 1.4 I have used this and it works like a charm in all situations, it is affordable and you can practice your technique with cheap no frill food.
lens for food photography
My recommendation: The best lens for food photography is a zoom lens with a wide angle. This will allow you to capture more of the setting, making the food appear larger than life. A wide angle lens also lets you get closer to your subject, bringing it right into your frame (and our eyes) without distracting backgrounds or unnecessary elements.
A macro lens is one of the most versatile lenses that you can use for food photography. It is a great lens to have if you want to capture more detail, but it will not only provide you with a bit more versatility than your traditional lens but also allow you to take better photographs in general. There are plenty of benefits when it comes to shooting with this type of lens; let’s take a look at some of them here!
When we talk about the Nikon zoom lens, many of us will probably think of the well-known 35 mm F/1.4G version that is more than reasonable for photography. However, it is important to note that the Focal Plane Length and maximum aperture in the zoom lens are not directly related to you as a photographer.
best fuji lens for food photography
FUJIFILM X-T2 APS-C CAMERA
While the flagship APS-C sensor Fujifilm camera is the Fujifilm X-Pro2, the SLR form factor of the Fujifilm X-T2 will be more familiar than the X-Pro2’s design. Fujifilm call this an ‘enthusiast’s’ camera, but the specs would indicate otherwise: a 24MP X-Trans CMOS III sensor (for me 24 megapixels is the sweet spot these days), a fully sealed body made from magnesium alloy, an articulating LCD screen (handy for overhead food photos), and a much faster autofocus than its predecessor, the X-T1. It’s the best all-round Fujifilm camera they have produced so far.
If this is out of your budget, its smaller sibling, the Fujifilm X-T20, is also a great camera
Our series of camera designs includes the best fuji lens for food photography as one of the largest manufacturers. As a website focused on giving you the best cameras, solaroidenergy aims to provide the most stylish and extravagant cameras for you. Our experts analyze the globe to find the most beautiful and unique cameras and feature them on solaroidenergy . There are many unique cameras in our collection, including fuji x t4 food photography, fuji lens for food video, andbest phone camera lens for food photography.
We have the 35mm food photography anywhere in the world, with great designs, values, and styles.The designs of cameras vary widely. The solaroidenergy official website is the best place to shop for the . Our cameras are among the most popular on the market. You can find the fujifilm x t100 food photography on our site. Choose from a variety of camera designs available now for 50mm for food photography. Choose now!
Choosing the best lens for food photography will help you create drool-worthy Instagram shots of delicious dishes.
A good camera, adequate lighting, and artistic styling are essential for great food photography, but having the right focal length and lens type is also an important consideration.
Typically, a 50mm lens on a full-frame camera (or 35mm if you use a crop sensor body) is a good place to start – anything wider than this can distort the food at close distances.
Tilt-shift and macro lenses are also popular, and certain zoom lenses can help when framing, so you don’t need to keep moving your tripod for multiple perspectives.
(We don’t discuss using a tilt-shift lens in this guide since high prices and lack of versatility make them unsuitable for many food photographers.)
A wide aperture lens is also advisable for food photography, helping blur the background to achieve that dreamy look. It’ll also help if you’re shooting in a restaurant with low light.
In this guide, we’ve uncovered the best bang for your buck lenses for food photography to cover all budgets.
So get your fork out – it’s time to dive in!
Table of Contents
What are the Best Lenses for Food Photography?
IMAGE PRODUCT FEATURES
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Canon 35mm f/2.8
BEST CANON APS-C
Compact, Lightweight Design
Built-in Macro Lite
Smooth Movie Servo AF
GMo Aspheric Lens
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Tamron 90mm f/2.8
BEST CANON FULL FRAME
Outstanding Depictive Capabilities
Attractive Bokeh
Affordable
Moisture & Dustproof
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Nikon 40mm f/2.8
BEST NIKON APS-C
Impeccably Sharp
Beautiful Bokeh
Compact, Lightweight Design
Fast Aperture
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Nikon 50mm f/1.8G
BEST NIKON FULL FRAME
Fast Autofocus
Lightweight & Compact
Budget-friendly
Silent Wave Motor
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Fujifilm 60mm f/2.4
BEST FUJIFILM
Robust
Sharp Macro
Ultra-compact & Lightweight
Fast Aperture
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Sony 30mm f/3.5
BEST SONY APS-C
Affordable
Lightweight
Perfect for Beginners
Simple Design
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Sony 90mm f/2.8
BEST SONY FULL FRAME
Built-in Image Stabilization
Exceptionally Smooth Bokeh
Up to 1:1 Magnification
Fast Max Aperture
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Panasonic 30mm f/2.8
BEST MICRO FOUR THIRDS
Super-compact
Lightweight
Fast Autofocus
Image Stabilized Lens
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Canon Lenses
- Canon EF-S 35mm f/2.8 Macro IS STM
Canon EF-S 35mm f/2.8 Macro IS STM
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Pros
1:1 closeup macro lens
Lightweight, compact and portable
Fast aperture and 5,12″ (13cm) minimum focusing distance
Image stabilized
Budget-friendly yet excellent outcomes
Cons
Not weather sealed
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The Canon EF-S 35mm f/2.8 Macro IS STM is a brilliant lens that delivers optical sharpness and stunning results for food photography.
Designed for Canon EF-S range of APS-C DSLR camera bodies (cropped sensor), the 35mm f/2.8 lens features a true 1:1 macro ratio capturing exceptional detail at a minimum distance to focus of just 5.12″ (13cm).
The f/2.8 maximum aperture allows for beautiful subject separation and background bokeh to help make your food photography pop.
In combination with image stabilization, this fast aperture also allows the lens to perform well in low-light shooting conditions. As a result, you can confidently capture mouth-watering food photos even in the darkest laneway bar.
What’s most impressive about the Canon EF-S 35mm f/2.8 Macro IS STM is its pocketable size. It weighs just 6.7oz (190g) and is a tiny 2.2″ x 2.7″ (56mm x 68mm), making it one of the most compact 1:1 macros on offer.
Best props for food photography
- Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro VC USD
Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro VC USD
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Pros
True 1:1 macro function
VC image stabilization for low light performance
Moistureproof and dustproof
Excellent edge-to-edge image sharpness
11″ (28cm) minimum focusing distance
Cons
Older generation lens
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The Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro VC USD is a 1:1 macro lens built for Canon EF-mount DSLRs.
As a robust prime lens for your full-frame camera, it features extensive dust and moisture sealing for use in any condition.
The Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 captures amazing food shots thanks to its edge-to-edge image sharpness and f/2.8 fast max aperture.
A 90mm focal range and 11″ (28cm) minimal focal distance results in compressed compositions where the plate of food is highlighted without unnecessary background distraction.
Aside from the fast aperture, low light performance is assured thanks to Tamron’s VC image stabilization. This means you can shoot at slower shutter speeds without camera shake.
The Tamron weighs in at 1.34lb (610gm) and measures just 4.61 x 2.87 (11.7cm x 7.3cm), making it a perfect pairing with a Canon full-frame sensor camera.
- Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM
Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM
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Pros
Lightweight, compact and portable
Faster aperture for ultra-fine depth of field
Image stabilisation for low light performance
Budget-friendly RF lens
6.7″ (17cm) minimum focusing distance
Cons
Not weather or dust sealed
2:1 macro ratio only provides 50% magnification
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The lens range for Canon’s full-frame sensor mirrorless cameras continues to grow and includes the Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM lens. Finally, a 35mm food photography lens for the Canon R series.
It’s tiny at 2.9 x 2.5 inches (7.3cm x 6.35cm) and weighs only 10.4oz ( 290gm). What makes this pocketable macro lens a winner is its fast f/1.8 aperture and image stabilization.
Not only is low-light performance assured, but you’ll also achieve exceptional food photography shots with a shallow depth of field – if you get close enough, you can even mimic the look of a tilt-shift lens.
With a 6.7″ (17cm) minimum distance to focus, every scene will be captured in stark detail.
The flip side is that the Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM lens delivers only 50% magnification due to its 2:1 macro ratio.
Regardless, those looking for the best lens for food photography that’s also budget-friendly need to look no further than this Canon RF mount macro.
- Canon EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM
Canon EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM
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Pros
Versatile full-frame zoom
Image stabilization for low light
Weather sealed
High 0.7x magnification ratio
14.9″ (38cm) minimum focusing distance
Cons
Constant f/4 less ideal in low light
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Primes often make the best lenses for food photography as they deliver stronger optical performance than cheaper zoom lenses – especially some kit lenses.
Food photographers shooting with a Canon full-frame DSLR should pick up the Canon EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM lens. While it’s not a macro lens, the weather-sealed L series zoom has a minimum shooting distance of 14.9″ (38cm).
A 24-70mm zoom lens range is effective in any photography genr, providing greater control and versatility for compositions and framing.
The f/4 constant max aperture is suitable for the 70mm end. At the wider 24mm end, it’s not ideal for low light conditions – though it excels in natural light.
However, the Canon EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM features Canon’s proven image stabilization to optimize low-light performance.
Not many people consider using a wide-angle lens for food photography, but shooting at 24mm helps include more of the scene, especially if you compose with the subject in the dead centre to avoid distortion.
Built for Canon’s DSLR camera range, the 24-70mm is 3.66″ x 3.27″ (93mm x 83mm) and balanced at 1.32lb (598gm). If you can only afford one lens, it’s a great lens to choose.
Nikon Lenses
- Nikon AF-S DX 40mm f/2.8G Micro
Nikon AF-S DX 40mm f/2.8G Micro
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Pros
High-precision 1:1 macro lens
Ultra-lightweight and compact
Fast aperture for superb depth of field
Budget macro ideal for DX mount Nikon
6.3″ (16cm) minimum focusing distance
Cons
No image stabilisation for low light
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The most captivating close-up food photography captures mouth-watering details of the texture, contrast, and placement of ingredients. The best way to achieve this effect is with a macro lens.
Nikon APS-C (cropped sensor) photographers are fortunate to have the Nikon AF-S DX 40mm f/2.8G Micro delivering a true 1:1 magnification ratio and high image quality.
The budget-friendly 40mm f/2.8 lens captures ultra-close-up shots at a minimum distance of just 6.3″ (16cm).
The fast f/2.8 aperture compensates for the lack of image stabilization while delivering subject separation and unforgettable background bokeh.
Robust and compact, the Nikon AF-S DX 40mm f/2.8G Micro measures 2.56″ x 2.72″ (65mm x 69) and weighs in at a comfortable 8.3oz (235gm).
- Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro VC USD
Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro VC USD
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Pros
True 1:1 macro magnification
VC image stabilization for low light performance
Moisture and dustproof
Excellent edge-to-edge image sharpness
28cm minimum focusing distance
Cons
Older generation lens
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The same lens as the Canon EF-mount version, the Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro VC USD is a full-frame 1:1 lens built for Nikon’s F-mount DSLRs.
The Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 for Nikon renders true-to-life color and high image quality in every food photography composition.
The fast f/2.8 maximum aperture and longer 90mm focal length allows tighter compression and exquisite subject separation. Get in super close for absolute detail clarity with the 11″ (28cm) minimal focus distance.
Another benefit of the Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro VC USD is the VC image stabilization system that pairs with the fast aperture to achieve optical clarity even in low-light situations.
The lens is built tough thanks to features such as a weather and dust-sealed body. It weighs 1.34lb (610gm) and has a relatively compact size of 4.61″ x 2.87″ (11.7cm x 7.3cm), pairing well with any of the best Nikon cameras.
