Lens Choice for Product Photography on White Seamless

HOOT · Jan 27, 2013

I need some kind advice regarding the lens choice for my Nikon D90, I am planning on shooting a variety of products (4"x4" up to 40"x40" inches in size) on a white seamless background. The photos will be strictly utilized on auctions for my eBay store. Please keep in mind that I will be shooting indoor without a huge amount of studio space available.

EDIT:

I just thought I would add some more information which might help give you guys a better idea of what lens I should be looking into purchasing. As mentioned above I will be taking my photos in a "studio" space I have available, unfortunately I have around 12ft in length I can work with so I am especially concerned as to what kind of focal I should be going with given the different sizes of the products I have to shoot on the white seamless.

Any input is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

HOOT · Jan 30, 2013

Is there anyone that can give me a tip or two ? I'm completely new to this world.

At the moment I was thinking of either going with the Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G or the 35mm f/1.8G.

What are your thoughts on these two lenses for the specific purpose I will be utilizing them for ?

JaronRH · Feb 4, 2013

I have a D90 and experimented with some product photography a while back (moved more towards portraits since then since I could make money doing that!). I mainly used a Tamron 90mm macro lens but I also used the Sigma 17-50 OS and Nikon 50mm 1.8D. I would recommend getting a 60-105mm macro lens as it will let you focus close and will be extremely sharp. If you haven't already, I would highly recommend investing in good lighting gear. At least 2 flashes and some umbrellas/softboxes (I used 2xSB-600's).

50mm (1.8D):

50mm (Sigma 17-50 OS)

Tamron 90mm

davisphotos · Feb 4, 2013

Lighting is going to be more important than lens choice, for sure. I too think a zoom would be a good fit, you'll want the long end for the smaller stuff, but you will need something a bit wider for the bigger items. I do a lot of product work with a full frame Canon, and my 2 most used lenses are a 50mm and a 100mm macro.

Solarflare · Feb 4, 2013

Well 4x4" is about 10x10cm so thats something like 1:4 macro and that you basically can manage with the standard kit zoom AF-S DX 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 G VR (up to 1:3.2 macro) or even the 18-105mm kit zoom (offers 1:5 macro). This wont allow too nice perspective, though, since the maximum macro magnification is at the wide end (near 18mm).

If you want your shots to be from some distance for nicer perspective you might prefer getting the AF-S micro 60mm f/2.8 G (Ming Thein basically praises this one into the sky for its low distortions and its relatively cheap for a full featured macro lens, but the short working distance might get in the way of an on camera flash) or even the AF-S micro 105mm f/2.8 G VR (and many more alternatives like the luxury version AF 70-180mm f/4.5-5.6 micro that Ken Rockwell uses for product shots, the tilt/shift 85mm, or the expensive AF-S 200mm f/4 micro, or the Sigma, Tamron etc cheaper alternatives, or those expensive 1:2 macro lenses from Zeiss). All these "real" macro lenses offer 1:1 macro (well except, as mentioned, Zeiss) so much smaller objects down to something like 2x2cm are still possible. As you can also see, spending a ton of money on macro lenses is really trivial.

greybeard · Feb 4, 2013

Lighting is really more important that the lens at this point. A pedestrian 18-55 f/3.5-5.6 will more than cover it.

HOOT · Feb 5, 2013

I appreciate the help from each one of you. I am conscious that lightning plays a huge part but I wasn't sure whether the lens was going to be critical as well.

So from what I understand it is recommended to go with a zoom lens rather than a prime (in my specific situation) ?

If that is the case what are your opinions on the Nikon 24-85mm ?

Thanks.