Mastering Product Photography: Lens Selection Made Easy

In the world of product photography, choosing the right lens can make all the difference in capturing the perfect shot. When it comes to capturing those difficult to shoot, highly reflective products the use of a Light Cone modifier can make life a lot easier in many scenarios.

In this video you'll discover which lenses and appropriate focal lengths work for different product sizes when using various Light Cone lighting modifiers.

Understanding Focal Length: Focal length plays a crucial role in determining the lens's perspective and how much of the subject can be captured within the frame. Here are some focal length recommendations for different size products when using Light Cone lighting modifiers:

1. Larger Size Products: For larger products, a focal length of around 35mm is suitable. This can be achieved with a 35mm fixed lens on a full-frame camera. It provides the right amount of zoom and captures the product in its entirety within the larger light cone.

2. Midsize Products: A 50mm standard lens is ideal for most midsize products. It offers a balanced perspective and is compatible with the larger light cone. This lens enables clear and well-framed shots.

3. Smaller Size Products: When it comes to smaller size products, a macro lens is recommended. A 90mm macro lens, or any macro lens ranging from 60mm to 150mm, can capture intricate details and produce stunning close-up shots. Some telephoto lenses with a macro setting can also work well for smaller products.

Smartphone Lens Options: Many smartphones now feature multiple lenses, including a wide-angle lens and a close-up lens. The close-up lens, found within the smartphone-sized light cone, is perfect for capturing small items like jewelry. Additionally, smartphones with zoom lenses offer flexibility in capturing products of various sizes.

Considerations for Framing: When using a wider angle lens, there is a possibility of capturing the outer edge of the Light Cone modifier in the shot. To avoid this, zoom in slightly to remove the outer edge and ensure a clean frame. If a small portion of the light cone perimeter is visible, it can easily be removed during post-production without affecting the product's presentation.

Choosing the right lens for product photography using a Light Cone modifier is essential for creating visually appealing and professional-looking results. By considering the size of the product, focal length, and understanding the different light cone options, you can capture stunning shots that showcase your products in the best possible way.

Light Cone modifiers:

==============================================
💥Unleash Your Creativity with FREE Photography Classes!
Dive into our FREE Photography Course today. No sign-up needed! Learn fast with 10 easy-to-follow classes, download a free 90-page eBook, and put your knowledge to the test with a fun photography quiz.

==============================================
📸 Ready to power up your photography skills?
Access 900+ step-by-step online classes designed to help you unleash your creative potential. Covering all types of photography, lighting, post-production, filmmaking, 3D CGI, makeup artistry, and more, Visual Education tutorials are taught by experienced professionals eager to share their secrets and help you reach your creative goals.

[gordonthomson]

I used this for a product tutorial video that I made in Blender. I appreciate the information.

[josephchan]

Good refresher course. Hope to see more videos in the Spring 2024.

[РадославАтанасов-бт]

Hello Karl. I have been following your work for years and am impressed. I want to express my gratitude to you for the information you give us regarding your creative approach and amazing work. You created not just pictures, but real art.
And now to the question:
If I photograph large products such as chairs, sofas, strollers, beds, etc. a lens on the order of a 35mm f/1.4 or 1.8 at an aperture of f/8-16 would do a good job or would another focal length of the 24-70mm variety be needed.

I wish you happy holidays.

[babubhaiyaaa]

I have nikon d5300, my products are baby tri cycle, bicycle, swing etc. Can you suggest the best lens for me for website and e commerce, need for video recording too.

[tanweercaa]

Thanks a lot Karl, it's always a considerable knowledge boost after watching your videos.

[photorekastudio]

Wouldn't shooting a product at 35mm focal length distort the image?

[HelenaOfDetroit]

Thanks for the info, and well presented as always.
Question, if I may ...
Do you stop the lens down just enough to have a deep enough focul plane to capture the entirety of the product in focus, or do you prefer letting part of the product drift out of focus? Is there a usual rule of thumb for what fstop to use? (Like, say a 35mm lens on a 35mm size sensor would only need an f4 but perhaps a 90mm macro on the same camera might need as much as an f11). So, is there a typical ratio between fstop and lens length to use as a starting point? Or is it just memorization?
I'm aware that most lenses are sharpest when not fully open or closed, and I typically start with about two stops closed. So, if it's an f2.8 lens then I'll start at f5.6 and adjust from there. But, am I wasting time with this method?

(Ok, that ended up being a bit of a ramble. Thank you for reading, teaching, and sharing your knowledge and expertise for so many years, Karl. Great job as always)

[AsectOwnsYou]

Hi, I’ve always wondered, if Sony has the knowledge and ability to create larger censors like a medium format censor for hasselblad then why don’t Sony create their own larger censor for its own cameras instead?

[freshandsaltyjohnny]

I am new to photography and want to get into product photography. I own a online tackle shop retail business and i have to be up close to the soft plastic baits and hard baits to capture every bit of detail from the glitter and colorants. I was looking at the Sony a6400 and was going to get a 50mm lens for now the one that can be included in a kit and eventually get myself a sigma 100m macro lens. Do you think that is a good starter setup or should i look at alternative options. Budget is around $1000 maybe a little less if i can get away with it. I will be using a tripod and natural sun lighting in an outdoor setting for some context. Any advice is super highly appreciated since i cannot get a single response from anybody.

[vasiapupkin]

...the only one question is that - why didi you moved to Sony system?.. thanks

[RRH]

Can you stop advertising the light cones every few videos and get back to your standard videos.. it's all getting a bit repetitive for your subscribers!