topic Lens recommendations for restaurant videos and food photography in Gear Guide

Lens recommendations for restaurant videos and food photography

Damiano — Thu, 17 Apr 2025 19:33:45 GMT

Hey everyone, so I recently purchased the R8. The main use for the camera will be food photographs, and documenting restaurants. I wanted to know which lens I should use. I would mainly be doing videos of the restaurants showing food and possibly doing interviews with chefs or owners..I see that STM lenses are Way cheaper so my question is, which lens would you recommend? Will the STM be sufficient enough for what I need? I currently have the RF24–50mm F4.5-6.3 STM Thanks

Re: Video Lens Question

kvbarkley — Thu, 17 Apr 2025 18:50:47 GMT

Start with what you have. If you feel yourself bumping up against any limits (eg, more/less focal length) , we can discuss options.

Re: Lens recommendations for restaurant videos and food photography

Damiano — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 12:07:05 GMT

Ok. It’s just that many reviews of the Lens I currently have have been on the negative side. I was thinking of the 24-105, 16 2.8, and 50 1.8?

Re: Lens recommendations for restaurant videos and food photography

kvbarkley — Thu, 01 May 2025 12:14:49 GMT

Ken Rockwell likes it:

but comments that the 24-105 is a little more versatile.

Re: Lens recommendations for restaurant videos and food photography

shadowsports — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 14:09:36 GMT

Greetings ,

I think the RF 35 f1.8 should also be considered.

It's extremely popular, and will do a very nice job for video and food photography. It's wide aperture will allow you to maintain ambiance when filming dimly lit venues. It's also budget friendly.

The RF 24-105 f4-7.1 is another good option as my colleague kvbarkley mentioned. As long as you have good lighting it's another )budget friendly) great lens.

For food and video, I don't think a 16mm Is nearly as good a choice over the others.

Re: Lens recommendations for restaurant videos and food photography

justadude — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 14:41:46 GMT

I agree with Rick on the RF 35mm f/1.8 since you said you will be photographing food and doing restaurant videos. It's a nice focal length for inside restaurants, the f/1.8 will allow more light in dimly lit places, and it is a nice close up lens for food photography. I think you will feel limited with your current f/4.5-6.3 aperture for what you plan on using it for.

As for your comments on the 50mm f/1.8 or the 16mm f/2.8, while either might be fine for the video work, the 35mm will allow you to get closer for food photography, and the 16mm will be too wide and distort how the plate of food looks.

Re: Lens recommendations for restaurant videos and food photography

justadude — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 14:50:26 GMT

Might just be me... but I think Ken Rockwell likes just about everything. I started reading Dustin Abbott reviews a while back and I think he is more likely to state the cons as well as the pros, where Ken seems pretty biased in a "It's all good" way in many of his reviews. Is it just me?

Re: Lens recommendations for restaurant videos and food photography

Damiano — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 17:17:23 GMT

Amazing! Thank you all so much! I’ll go with the 35mm