{"id":19617,"date":"2017-01-04T12:22:10","date_gmt":"2017-01-04T20:22:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nicolesy.com\/?p=19617"},"modified":"2018-08-04T11:03:55","modified_gmt":"2018-08-04T18:03:55","slug":"choosing-lens-food-photography","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nicolesy.com\/2017\/01\/04\/choosing-lens-food-photography\/","title":{"rendered":"Choosing a Lens for Food Photography"},"content":{"rendered":"

One of the most common\u00a0questions I receive from new photographers is which lens to use when photographing food. When\u00a0choosing gear there is never a correct choice; it all boils down to the type and size of the food, your workspace and setup, the style you hope to achieve, along with\u00a0how\u00a0you want\u00a0your final image will\u00a0look. Each lens will have advantages, and even disadvantages, depending on your setup. Here is a list\u00a0of\u00a0a variety of lenses, along with why you might choose each type of lens for food photography.<\/p>\n

\n

Macro<\/h2>\n
\"Camera:<\/a>

Camera: Fujifilm X-T2; Lens: Fujinon XF 60mm f\/2.4 Macro; Exposure: 1\/7 sec at f\/4, ISO 200<\/p><\/div>\n

A macro lens is an obvious choice for photographing food. You can get\u00a0really close to the food to highlight certain elements, and also easily photograph\u00a0and fill the frame with small items, like berries or tiny bites of food.\u00a0Depending on the camera you use, macro lenses come in different\u00a0ranges of focal lengths.<\/p>\n

Keep in mind that\u00a0a macro lens is not always necessary to photograph food. With full-frame cameras it is sometimes necessary to use a macro-capable<\/em> lens in order to\u00a0get close enough and\u00a0fill the frame. And, in some cases, getting too close to your dish may not be the best way to photograph it.\u00a0With crop-frame cameras, such as with the Fujifilm X-T2 used for this photo, a macro lens is not always a requirement. Because of the crop factor there is the perception<\/em> that the camera is closer to the subject, and so\u00a0a macro lens is only a real necessity when you want to get really close and fill the frame with\u00a0small items.<\/p>\n

\n

Wide-Angle (12\u201324mm)<\/h2>\n
<\/a>

Camera: Fujifilm X-T2; Lens:\u00a0Fujinon XF 18\u201355mm f\/2.8\u20134 R LM OIS (photographed\u00a0at 21.4mm); Exposure:\u00a01\/4 sec at f\/6.4, ISO 200<\/p><\/div>\n

In most cases a wide lens will be best for overhead setups. The space I use to photograph food in my home is too small\u00a0for a wide-angle lens to be used without including other elements, such as the window or reflectors. Instead I reserve the wider focal lengths for overhead shots.<\/p>\n

\n

Mid-Range (35\u201375mm)<\/h2>\n
\"Camera:<\/a>

Camera: Fujifilm X-T2; Lens:\u00a0Fujinon XF 35mm f\/1.4 R; Exposure:\u00a01\/20 sec at f\/2.8, ISO 200<\/p><\/div>\n

A mid-range lens, especially one that has a close focusing distance, can be a good option for food in any environment. I like to use this type of lens when I know I will want to photograph my dinner while traveling (for example). It is long enough to compress and blur the background, but narrow enough to not include too wide of an angle of view. I can also still sit quite close to the food; with a longer lens I need to move back a few feet, which can be difficult when sitting at a dinner table.<\/p>\n

\n

Medium Telephoto (90\u2013120mm)<\/h2>\n
<\/a>

Camera: Fujifilm X-T2; Lens: Fujinon XF 90mm f\/2 R LM WR; Exposure: 1\/9 sec at f\/4, ISO 200<\/p><\/div>\n

The medium telephoto lens,\u00a0also known as a good range for portraits, is also a great<\/em> focal length range for food photographs. One of my favorites is the Fujinon 90mm; I can get in close to\u00a0the subject, and also compress and blur the background quite well.<\/p>\n

\n

Telephoto (140mm+)<\/h2>\n
\"Camera:<\/a>

Camera: Fujifilm X-T2; Lens:\u00a0Fujinon XF 50\u2013140mm f\/2.8 R LM OIS WR (photographed at 140mm); Exposure:\u00a01\/10 sec at f\/4, ISO 200<\/p><\/div>\n

When you have a lot of space to work in and really want to compress and blur your background, then a telephoto lens might be a good option for you. \u00a0This type of lens will typically work well with crop-frame cameras, which is great news for Fujifilm users!\u00a0On\u00a0full-frame cameras, however, you may find that the focal\u00a0length will not allow you to get close enough to the subject to get it in focus. However even with this setup (a small item of food) I was unable to get a tight shot of the bruschetta with my Fujifilm X-T2 because of the limited focusing distance, but with a larger dish this lens might work well.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

One of the most common\u00a0questions I receive from new photographers is which lens to use when photographing food. 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