Please Recommend Lens For Product Shoot

agentmonkey · 9th May 2005

Hey guys..need to do some product shoots and also would like to invest in a good lens for future use..currently using a d70...is there a decently priced lens i can get for doing product shoots?

please recommend...need it urgently

thanks!

mpenza · 9th May 2005

erm.... guess it depends on what sort of product. A plane and a diamond will require very different lenses.

agentmonkey · 9th May 2005

that's true..food? that's the product i'll be doing....but definitely will be doing other products in future (quite new to product shoots and don't have much time to do research at the moment due to work..apologise for my ignorance)

Reflection · 9th May 2005

Perhaps a better way to look at this, would be to decide what type of shots you're going for.

Rather than buy lenses based in the type of products you're going to shoot, buy them based on what you're going for.
I can take pictures of an aeroplane with a 180mm Macro lens if i'm going to do a closeup shot of the control panel (for example).

artfakeme · 9th May 2005

bEST u do research on web. U need to set very small aperture for shooting jewelry to get overall sharpness, so lighting is very important. For food, it depends on how u wanna shoot. Either u go for overall sharpness or play with yur depth of field which looks much better. Still lighting is very important.

agentmonkey · 9th May 2005

hmm..at the moment i only have the d70 kit lens and the 70mm-300mm one...

nemesis32 · 9th May 2005

For product shoot, macro lens will be useful..If you shoot large format, then shift lens will be even better as more precise.

agentmonkey · 9th May 2005

okay...found an example..want to take shots like this guy...

http://www.foodportfolio.com/frames/base_frame.html

thanks for the help guys..but still need more! lol

agentmonkey · 9th May 2005

oh..and where can i find the price guide for the lenses?

agentmonkey · 9th May 2005

in fact..are there any food photographers here?

simon80 · 9th May 2005

i think a 90mm macro will do ..

agentmonkey · 9th May 2005

they aren't cheap are they? lol... how much is the 90mm macro ?

Gymrat76 · 9th May 2005

Tamron 90mm macro DI should be in the $550 region

agentmonkey · 9th May 2005

hmm..called up alan photos...fellas said they are selling it for $530... not to sound cheap or anything...any place I can go to bargain somemore?

nemesis32 · 9th May 2005

530 is reasonable price.

For food photography i guess you may need about 90mm to 180mm. If still life and close ups then prob 50-60mm range better.

You also need to see if you are shooting in studio or natural light. It will make a difference in choosing the gear you buy

agentmonkey · 9th May 2005

lol..so many factors to consider....photography isn't cheap..haha...

artificial lighting for sure..

uh...might sound a bit dumb ah this next question...
the tamron 90 mm isn't a fixed lens right? i mean..it is 90 - 180 mm for example...

glennyong · 9th May 2005

Originally Posted by agentmonkey

lol..so many factors to consider....photography isn't cheap..haha...

artificial lighting for sure..

uh...might sound a bit dumb ah this next question...
the tamron 90 mm isn't a fixed lens right? i mean..it is 90 - 180 mm for example...

Tamron 90mm DI Macro is a prime lens, fixed focal length. should u require zoom types, may i suggest the AF Zoom Micro Nikkor 70-180mm f/4.5-5.6D ED

up to ur preference, a Nikkor 105mm f/2.8 will be enough for ur needs.

agentmonkey · 9th May 2005

thanks glenn..seems like i can only afford the tamron..the others are way out of my range...

catchlights · 9th May 2005

For product shots, a mid tele is good, if you have no budget, why don't use your kit lens, shoot at the long end? Maybe you just need a set of extension ring.

agentmonkey · 9th May 2005

not being much of a science student..can someone explain what the different lengths of a lens are for? like 10mm versus 300 mm and so on...

9th May 2005	#1
agentmonkey Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 494	Please Recommend Lens For Product Shoot Hey guys..need to do some product shoots and also would like to invest in a good lens for future use..currently using a d70...is there a decently priced lens i can get for doing product shoots? please recommend...need it urgently thanks!

9th May 2005	#2
mpenza Moderator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: New York City Posts: 13,397	erm.... guess it depends on what sort of product. A plane and a diamond will require very different lenses.

9th May 2005	#4
Reflection Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Cowtown Posts: 1,129	Perhaps a better way to look at this, would be to decide what type of shots you're going for. Rather than buy lenses based in the type of products you're going to shoot, buy them based on what you're going for. I can take pictures of an aeroplane with a 180mm Macro lens if i'm going to do a closeup shot of the control panel (for example).

9th May 2005	#5
artfakeme Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 191	bEST u do research on web. U need to set very small aperture for shooting jewelry to get overall sharpness, so lighting is very important. For food, it depends on how u wanna shoot. Either u go for overall sharpness or play with yur depth of field which looks much better. Still lighting is very important.

9th May 2005	#7
nemesis32 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Singapore Posts: 3,476	For product shoot, macro lens will be useful..If you shoot large format, then shift lens will be even better as more precise.

9th May 2005	#11
simon80 Deregistered Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 1,501	i think a 90mm macro will do ..

9th May 2005	#13
Gymrat76 Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 1,591	Tamron 90mm macro DI should be in the $550 region

9th May 2005	#19
catchlights Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Punggol Posts: 10,768	For product shots, a mid tele is good, if you have no budget, why don't use your kit lens, shoot at the long end? Maybe you just need a set of extension ring.