Ultimate Lens Showdown For Food Photographers Part 1 (Let the Photography lens comparison begin!)

In the flavorful world of food photography, your choice of lens can dramatically alter the taste of your image. Cupcakes, cakes, and stacked food—oh my! They all demand a lens that can capture their indulgent details and make the viewer's mouth water.

In this blog post, we're putting the spotlight on four popular lenses. The 24mm, 50mm, 70mm, and 100mm—shooting straight on to see how they stack up (pun intended) against each other.

Lens: The Wide-Angle Wonder

Pros:

• The 24mm lens is a wide-angle maestro, allowing you to include more of the scene and capture the environment.

• Ideal for shooting in tight spaces, you can be close to the table and still get the whole spread.

• It gives a sense of presence, immersing viewers as if they're sitting at the table.

Cons:

• With a wide-angle lens like the 24mm, distortion can creep in, especially at the edges, making food look unnatural.

• It can exaggerate the size of items closer to the lens, which could skew composition balance.

Best Suited For:

• Capturing the full context of the meal setting.

• Showcasing large tables of food or where space is limited.

50mm Lens: The Standard

Pros:

• Known as the "nifty fifty," this lens provides a perspective close to that of the human eye, making images appear natural.

• It has a wide aperture that creates a shallow depth of field, perfect for blurring the background and making the subject pop.

• Lightweight and versatile, it's a staple for many photographers.

Cons:

• Its standard focal length means you may need to move around to compose your shot perfectly.

• It doesn't offer the intimacy of a macro lens or the context capture of a wide angle.

Best Suited For:

• Single servings of food like a plate of cupcakes or an individual cake.

• When you want to isolate the subject and blur out distractions.

70mm Lens: The Close-up competitor

Pros:

• The 70mm lens brings you closer to your subject without the need to physically move as much.

• It offers a more flattering compression for your food shots, emphasizing layers and height.

• Creates a beautiful background blur, highlighting the subject delicately.

Cons:

• You might find it tricky to use in small spaces due to its longer focal length.

• It can have a narrower field of view which may cut off parts of the scene you wanted to include.

Best Suited For:

• Making tall, stacked food like a burger look even more mouthwatering.

• Great for capturing the textures and layers of cakes.

Jack of all trades: 24-70mm Zoom Lens

100mm Lens: The Close up go to

Pros:

• The 100mm lens is typically a macro lens, perfect for capturing the most intimate details of food.

• Superb for close-up shots, it can reveal textures and qualities that other lenses may miss.

• Minimal distortion gives a true-to-life representation of your subject.

Cons:

• Its close focus may exclude the surrounding context of the dish or table.

• Requires a steady hand or tripod to minimize the camera shake due to its longer focal length.

Best Suited For:

• Detailed shots where textures, such as icing on cupcakes or sugar dust on cakes, are the heroes.

• Capturing the intricate layers of complex stacked dishes.

 After this photography lens comparison, equip yourself with the knowledge of each lens's strengths and weaknesses and their best uses to ensure your food photography satisfies the eyes just as much as the dishes aim to titillate the tastebuds. Remember, the best lens is the one that not only captures the shot but also tells the most delicious story.

3 Quick Tips

1. Always consider the working space you have around your food setup—tighter spaces may necessitate a wider lens.

2. Pay attention to dish height when selecting your lens—stacked foods can truly benefit from a lens with good compression.

3. Never overlook the power of details—the right lens can turn ordinary frosting into an expanse of sugary landscape.

Still wanting more?

Visit Part 2 or download our FREE Camera and Lens Guide