Best Lens for Pet Photography

[AnimalFreak]

Hey all. I got a camera last year and I'm in love with it and photography. I'm pretty sure it's a fairly basic camera being a Canon Rebel SL1, but it's been fantastic. I already have three lenses for it, but none so far are really professional lenses. I do have one that I love and am now using constantly. However, it does not zoom and so I have to get closer and further from the subject(Usually my animals), and I would, eventually, like to make a small business. That being said, I'm here to ask for opinions as far as what lens I should be looking for next. I figure I don't really want to be in an animals face for close ups when I'm unfamiliar with them. I also find that with my small animals, I have to sit a few feet away just to fit their whole bodies in as well. I can only imagine how far I'd have to be for, say, a large dog. Which might be okay unless the room is too small or someone needs to walk by or whatever else it may be.

I have to admit, I don't have much money to spend. I'll be keeping an eye out on the used lenses from where I got my camera. I probably won't be able to afford a lens right away, but I'd like to know about what I need to aim for. You also never know when they're going to have a used one or when it's going to sell. Opinions would be greatly appreciated!

 

[reaper7534]

What is the current lens you have right now ? That will give everyone more of a idea as to what to recommend ?

 

[AnimalFreak]

Ah, well the one I use the most is a 50mm. I also have one that's 18-55mm and my telephoto that's 55-250mm.

 

[reaper7534]

Other will chime in but the the zooms I assume are mostly entry level and you can produce nice photos with them, but they will struggle in low light. The 50 is a great lens. The few options I can think of and which can work really well for you application depending on lighting is the 85mm 1.8, 100mm 2.8 Macro and 70-200 f4, f2.8 if you can fit it in the budget.

 

[AnimalFreak]

Yes, the 18-55 was what came with the camera and I got the telephoto for half off when I bought it with the camera. The 50 my dad got me for Christmas and, once I got used to it, became my favorite. The other two are terrible for indoor pictures except for when I'm right next to a window with lots of natural light, but my telephoto provides nice pictures at the zoo. I'll look into the ones you suggested and, hopefully, be able to get at least one. It'll probably take a year or two before I'm able to get them all. Thanks for the suggestions!

 

[goodguy]

Tamron 24-70mm 2.8
or
Sigma 17-50mm 2.8

 

[AnimalFreak]

Thanks! I might have to work up to affording those, but I'll keep an eye out.

 

[Designer]

I'm here to ask for opinions as far as what lens I should be looking for next.

If you are expecting to use window light exclusively, then you should be looking for a 24-70mm f/2.8, if you can afford it. Good luck!

 

[benhasajeep]

Your current lenses will do just fine if you can take the pictures in decent light. You may want the larger aperture lenses for background bokeh and more natural light though. As for what length, it is similar to people photography. A short / wide lens will give you fatter / bulbus effects on things closer to the lens, and the longer lenses will have thinning effects. Of course this all depends on how close you are to the subjects too. This isn't the rule, as sometimes you want that giant dog snout picture for fun maybe. Basically around 50mm in an APSC-C camera or 85mm in full frame cameras are about the min for length. Many in the 35mm days (and now in FX world) would use up to a 135mm lens for portraits (does give a thinning look).

Angle also play a large role as well.

 

[AnimalFreak]

I'm here to ask for opinions as far as what lens I should be looking for next.

If you are expecting to use window light exclusively, then you should be looking for a 24-70mm f/2.8, if you can afford it. Good luck!

Thanks! Right now, window light is the best I have, especially with cat photography since it isn't so easy to take them outside. I love natural lighting, plus it's easier than dealing with the yellow/orange color of lightbulbs. I'll look for one of those though.

Your current lenses will do just fine if you can take the pictures in decent light. You may want the larger aperture lenses for background bokeh and more natural light though. As for what length, it is similar to people photography. A short / wide lens will give you fatter / bulbus effects on things closer to the lens, and the longer lenses will have thinning effects. Of course this all depends on how close you are to the subjects too. This isn't the rule, as sometimes you want that giant dog snout picture for fun maybe. Basically around 50mm in an APSC-C camera or 85mm in full frame cameras are about the min for length. Many in the 35mm days (and now in FX world) would use up to a 135mm lens for portraits (does give a thinning look).

Angle also play a large role as well.

Thank you. I'll try to keep these things in mind while searching for a lens.

 

[waday]

I'm here to ask for opinions as far as what lens I should be looking for next.

If you are expecting to use window light exclusively, then you should be looking for a 24-70mm f/2.8, if you can afford it. Good luck!

Thanks! Right now, window light is the best I have, especially with cat photography since it isn't so easy to take them outside. I love natural lighting, plus it's easier than dealing with the yellow/orange color of lightbulbs. I'll look for one of those though.

I agree with @Designer... Why not take the money you plan on spending for a lens and put it towards a flash, a flash trigger/receiver set, and maybe a cheap umbrella kit? And a good book on lighting (Light Science and Magic). You could likely buy all of them for less than half, or even a third, of what you're planning on spending for a lens.

Then, once you get the hang of lighting, you can think about getting a new lens?

 

[AnimalFreak]

I'm here to ask for opinions as far as what lens I should be looking for next.

If you are expecting to use window light exclusively, then you should be looking for a 24-70mm f/2.8, if you can afford it. Good luck!

Thanks! Right now, window light is the best I have, especially with cat photography since it isn't so easy to take them outside. I love natural lighting, plus it's easier than dealing with the yellow/orange color of lightbulbs. I'll look for one of those though.

I agree with @Designer... Why not take the money you plan on spending for a lens and put it towards a flash, a flash trigger/receiver set, and maybe a cheap umbrella kit? And a good book on lighting (Light Science and Magic). You could likely buy all of them for less than half, or even a third, of what you're planning on spending for a lens.

Then, once you get the hang of lighting, you can think about getting a new lens?

Well, I will probably be getting lighting equipment sooner or later, but I honestly don't even know where to start with that and I have enjoyed not having to deal with it. Natural lighting seems like the best to me so I prefer to use it whenever possible. It also allows me to move around and squeeze around the cat stand without having extra equipment to worry about. I find myself chasing cats around frequently, too, and taking the time to put things in place could cause me to lose the chance to take a great photo or chase them off and lose the chance entirely.

Either way, I really just wanted to know what I should look for next. I'm not really able to buy anything at the moment. However, I will start looking more into lighting. I think my dad was talking about getting something. I like letting him try things out when possible and deciding whether or not it's worth it.

 

[snowbear]

For pet snakes - 400mm with a 2x extender, minimum.

I've had success with my cats using a 50mm/1.8 as well as an 18-135 kit zoom; when they decide to sit still.

 

[beagle100]

For pet snakes - 400mm with a 2x extender, minimum.

.

I'm thinking for pet snakes you could use less than 400mm .... much less
www.flickr.com/photos/mmirrorless

 

[snowbear]

For pet snakes - 400mm with a 2x extender, minimum.

.

I'm thinking for pet snakes you could use less than 400mm .... much less
www.flickr.com/photos/mmirrorless

Not for me.