Recommended Lens for Food Photography

[hotdrive]

Hi guys,

Need all your opinion on the best lens to use for food product shoot. Will a 17-55 be sufficient?

:)

[zique]

hi HotDrive,

To me, even a Kit lens is good enough to take pictures of food, I guess the most important is the settings you use and the composition of the food you are shooting.

Of course that's just my opinion, I'll let the seniors in here answer you.

[N.Keong]

Just look at zique's food photos... That should be clear your doubts on the 17-55mm lens

[zique]

eh? buta buta got my name keluar plak...

[hotdrive]

Hmmm....makes me hungry at the same time. Thanks zique and keong. I shall try. :)

[chuah406]

I previously use the Nikon 50mm/1.8 for the bokeh & sharpness but lately switched to the 35mm/2 as it has a shorter minimum focusing distance of 10 inches... tighter shots looks better and also to reduce the clutter... ;)

[ShaolinTiger]

Depends what level you are talking about.

If proper shots for menu etc usually use macro lens, lighting is more important.

If just casual I use 17-50mm f/2.8 or 50mm f/1.4 usually.

[o_buy]

Use 50mm f1.8 already good enough:) ,+ tripod with simple nature light...

[hotdrive]

so it's the correct lens and lighting. i have a 90mm macro, suppose can try it out.

[ykgen]

i think 50 or 60mm macro is the best... which offer u close range n nice bokeh.. 90mm, imho, a bit too tele for food photography.. a non macro lens.. would not get u close enough...

[ShaolinTiger]

i think 50 or 60mm macro is the best... which offer u close range n nice bokeh.. 90mm, imho, a bit too tele for food photography.. a non macro lens.. would not get u close enough...

90-105mm is ideal for food photography it gives you good perspective.

50-60mm is ok for some situations.

The best is Nikkor 85mm PC lens :D

Lighting is most important though.

[orionmystery]

Sorry...a bit OOT here...

What's you guys' opinion on the DOF though? Some like it deep some like it shallow...

Should the food be entirely within focus? :?

[ykgen]

i agree that the food should be seen clearly as a whole.. but the bokeh is to single out other stuff from the background..

[ShaolinTiger]

Depends on the purpose and feel of the shot.

If it's for spread or cover usually would more clear, even up to shooting at f/32 (that's a lot of flash power!).

But sometimes shallow DoF will be used to make some part of it 'pop' out.

It's a good idea to have a reasonable DoF though, not too shallow.

Somewhere between f/5.6-f/8 should be ok.

[hotdrive]

speaking about bokeh, i suppose can take the whole thing in focus and adjust for background 'blur' selectively using photoshop. what's your opinion on this?

:)

[ShaolinTiger]

speaking about bokeh, i suppose can take the whole thing in focus and adjust for background 'blur' selectively using photoshop. what's your opinion on this?

:)

Not a good idea at all!

Get it right in camera.

[zique]

Yah.. agree with ST... what you can capture with the camera is hard for you to recreate using PP... and even if you do, the 'feel' of it would be lost. IMHO...

[na7ure]

Just look at zique's food photos... That should be clear your doubts on the 17-55mm lens


18-55 la. If 17-55, that would be SUPER lens already :)

[zique]

Na7ure: oops.. solly...

So I'm sure if he's using the 17-55, would be way better and sharper right? (i dunno what lens he's talking bout ler... so ... based on what he describe)

[hotdrive]

i was referring to the nikkor 17-55 . i don't have it yet but planning to get one lo...

:)

[hotdrive]

Not a good idea at all!

Get it right in camera.

i guess this is the challenge ya....

[o_buy]

:?:?:?:? ?why so complicated ?

Food not a mobile object ,any lens also able to shoot it ,but lighting ,aperture and speed control are more important(can capture the steam) ,so no need to buy new lenses for that ,if possible ,buy a lighting softbox more better:)

[hotdrive]

thank you all....arigato.. :)

[hotdrive]

I went to the shop and tried out a 50/1.8 . i've never tried this lens before and am quite surprised at how close it can focus to.....

[1ishooter]

I went to the shop and tried out a 50/1.8 . i've never tried this lens before and am quite surprised at how close it can focus to.....

You're talking about the Nikkor 50mm f1.8D; right? I have one too ... but don't really think it's close enough for food photography. I believe mine focusses closest to about maybe; 1.5 feet - anything closer and my camera cannot lock focus :?. I don't think too much of this lens for food or "macro" ... to me it's best for perhaps half body photographs.

But don't mind me if it works for you ... just my humble opinion ... Jason :cool:

[hotdrive]

Yes, i was referring to the Nikon 50mm/1.8D . Thanks for input. :)

[tools4fools]

Depends on image.

- if more 'top down' image 35mm f2 (great little lens, very sharp, more DoF as it is a wide) and TRIPOD if possible to close down aperture to about f8.

- for 'side shots' with less DoF 60mm macro would be perfect, but don't have any of these so would use my 24-85mm which has decent macro (set at 50-70mm range I guess). Plus tripod again if needed.


I personally don't like food shots where food is only 'half in focus'. 'Uno's Dream Cake' in Michael's gallery is a good sample of a side shot: foreground & background blurred but cake in good focus.
Some of the more 'top down' shots however like the 'porridge' or the second last donut shot where the 'front part' of the bowl or donut is out of focus could have done with a bit more DoF in my opinion. Often tripod is needed for that as most food shots are done indoors with less than ideal lighting if speedlight not used (which can cause drop shadows and voila there is a whole other can of worms opened...now where's that slave speedlight...?)

If it comes down to it the 28-85mm with decent macro and tripod would do both jobs in easiest way.

****

[cyphang]

There's no "best" lens for food photography. I'm a commercial food photographer and I shoot using a variety of lenses, depending on the situations. I shoot using a canon 50mm f1.4, 100mm macro, and tilt shift lens 90mm, and once a while 17-70mm (sigma) if i need wide angle on canon 350D. My camera is just entry level but i think the photos are not bad, more important is if you know how to control the lighting, composition and styling and angle. Tripod is a must in professional food photography.

[hotdrive]

There's no "best" lens for food photography. I'm a commercial food photographer and I shoot using a variety of lenses, depending on the situations. I shoot using a canon 50mm f1.4, 100mm macro, and tilt shift lens 90mm, and once a while 17-70mm (sigma) if i need wide angle on canon 350D. My camera is just entry level but i think the photos are not bad, more important is if you know how to control the lighting, composition and styling and angle. Tripod is a must in professional food photography.

Thanks cyphang. Do you also use a lot of reflectors? Silver or gold, etc? How bout lighting? What do you use? Any natural light?

[hotdrive]

There's no "best" lens for food photography. I'm a commercial food photographer and I shoot using a variety of lenses, depending on the situations. I shoot using a canon 50mm f1.4, 100mm macro, and tilt shift lens 90mm, and once a while 17-70mm (sigma) if i need wide angle on canon 350D. My camera is just entry level but i think the photos are not bad, more important is if you know how to control the lighting, composition and styling and angle. Tripod is a must in professional food photography.

Thanks cyphang. Do you also use a lot of reflectors? Silver or gold, etc? How bout lighting? What do you use? Any natural light?

:)

[cyphang]

Yes I use everything you asked, it really depends on the situation and what results required. I use 2 tungsten 800 W lights with softbox, and also another 250 W tungsten light with softbox, a lowel tota pak, natural lighting, depending on situation and what effects required as well.

[hotdrive]

Yes I use everything you asked, it really depends on the situation and what results required. I use 2 tungsten 800 W lights with softbox, and also another 250 W tungsten light with softbox, a lowel tota pak, natural lighting, depending on situation and what effects required as well.

Thanks again cyphang. Do you have a website where I can view your food photos for inspiration? :)