topic Re: Best Lens for Photographing cars in EF & RF Lenses

Best Lens for Photographing cars

DAWNVANAUKEN — Thu, 17 Oct 2013 17:53:47 GMT

I have the Canon Rebel 4ti.

I generally photograph kids.... just for fun.

My favorite lens is the 1.8 - 50 mm maybe someday I'll get the 1.4 but this works for me right now.

However, I have been asked by my husbands Camaro Club to photograph Camaro's at an event.

Each car will be driving in front of a backdrop - and I will photograph it.

I'm not great with this, because not sure what would be the best lens to photograph a vehicle outside.

Any suggestions would be great.

Again, I'm very new at this....I'm doing it for free.... but like the creativity.

Re: Best Lens for Photographing cars

TCampbell — Thu, 17 Oct 2013 18:25:56 GMT

A slight wide-angle lens works well on cars because it exagerates the size. When shooting from the front or back, the car appears longer. When shooting the interior, the interior seems roomier, etc. You can use a wide angle not just to be "wide" but because of it's property of extending "depth" it makes long objects seem longer as it stretches the depth of the scene.

You could do this with the kit 18-55mm lens (assuming you have this lens). You could go really wide by getting something like the EF-S 10-22mm but I'm not sure you'd really need the extra wide angles below 18mm that the kit lens would already provide. I'm thinking you'll probably like the look at around 24mm range -- but that's a guess on my part.

I probably would _not_ use the 50mm lens for a car (but it's not like there are "rules" for this stuff.) It's just that a car is large and you'll have to walk back farther to get the whole car in frame when using the 50mm.

I think moderately wide (but not extremely wide) is a nice look for most car photos.

I probably would not actually "buy" a new lens until you're certain you like the look. If you're thinking of experiementing with a different focal length then you own, I'd suggest renting the lens for a few days to try out the look before buying.

You might also go browse through car photos on a well known site such as Flickr and then check the EXIF data to look at the focal length of the images you like.

Re: Best Lens for Photographing cars

Skirball — Thu, 17 Oct 2013 18:34:29 GMT

I don’t think this is a heavy lens situation. And as always, it depends: on the setup, lighting, crowds, etc.

With the exception of macros I don’t think ultrafine detail is really crucial for cars. If anything, the really nice car shots you see are softened and touched up to make the car look like it’s in mint condition. The focal length you use will depend on the look you want and the setting – are you going to have free reign as a ‘pro photog’ and pick your spot without anyone in front of you, or will you have to squeeze up next to a barrier and fight with every other enthusiast trying to get a shot? Assuming the later, I’d take a couple zooms for flexibility. Ultrawide angle can look really good on cars, presuming you get to get up close. Whereas standard zoom (18 – 70-ish on crop) will cover most situations. And a telephoto – 100mm+ is great because the perspective can get rid of all the other distractions in the background – but if you can’t get far enough away without people getting in front of you then it’s worthless.

If you’re not forced into one spot a fast prime like your 50mm is great for a couple reasons:

They’re sharper than cheap zooms

They’re fast, and the narrow depth of field can help reduce background distractions

They’re fast, and the lighting may not be great so you may need the speed

And for the bad news. The really nice car shots that you see in the magazine, the thing that makes them isn’t the lens, it’s the lighting. Cars, especially nice ones, are very reflective, so you don’t light the car, you light (or don’t light, see ‘subtractive lighting’) the surrounding which creates the perfect highlights and contrast areas on the cars. This takes a lot of time, space, huge reflectors, and practice, and is impossible at a car show.

Re: Best Lens for Photographing cars

Italian4215 — Thu, 17 Oct 2013 19:14:53 GMT

I don't think it matters all that much. This picture was taken using my 18-55mm lens at 29mm no flash. In my opinion, photographing cars is more or less about the angle of the photo, good lighting (natural), and an eye for shapness. But that is just my opinion. This photo was compressed to fit on the fourms, so it may not be very shap if blown up.

Re: Best Lens for Photographing cars

cicopo — Thu, 17 Oct 2013 19:38:34 GMT

There's some information here

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=1315358

and here that might help too

http://www.carphototutorials.com/do_i_need_a_fistful_of_dollars.html

Re: Best Lens for Photographing cars

DAWNVANAUKEN — Thu, 17 Oct 2013 20:45:36 GMT

Thank you all..... I appreciate your advice and suggestions.

I have taken some pictures of my husbands Camaro....but didn't know if there was a better lens or suggestion.

I am currently using my kit lens. But I worry my pictures can appear amateur

If I help out the club with this photoshoot, I obviously will not have the freedom to find the ideal location.

But if there are suggestions a better lens, or ideas on how to accomplish this - I'm all ears

I did go to Flickr and look up the pictures pf cars with EXIF data and was wicked impressed.

I do like the idea of renting lenses and have been looking into this prior to investing in a lens where I'm just not sure I would have a lot of use out of it.

Re: Best Lens for Photographing cars

DAWNVANAUKEN — Thu, 17 Oct 2013 20:49:10 GMT

Thank you.....this is very helpful

Re: Best Lens for Photographing cars

cicopo — Thu, 17 Oct 2013 21:26:41 GMT

Your photos have way too much reflected "glare" which is a by product of the time of day, lighting, and angles you used. Although I'm not expecting you to get deep into this whole car photo shoot thing here's a thread about post processing car photos which should at least show you what people in general like to see. I don't think you'll have much control at that club event but it's going to be important that you understand what isn't desirable.

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=1007907

Re: Best Lens for Photographing cars

TCampbell — Thu, 17 Oct 2013 21:35:48 GMT

You can knock back the strong reflections by getting a "circular polarizer". This is a round screw-on filter and they come in sizes... you need the size which matches the threads on your lens. For example... the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II has a 58mm thread diameter.

The polarizer rotates and if you look through the camera at something with a reflective surface (like a car windshield) while rotating the filter, you will notice the reflections getting stronger or weaker (depending on much you rotate it). You want the car to have *some* reflections of course... but not so much that it's not possible to see through the glass.

Polarizers don't work well on ultra-wide lenses because the amount of light blocked also depends on the angle. This means you end up with a "sweet spot" where the polarization works well... but at other angles it doesn't cut as much. It will look fine on moderately wide angle lenses or anything narrower.

Re: Best Lens for Photographing cars

ebiggs1 — Fri, 18 Oct 2013 14:06:52 GMT

Photography is all about light and angles. From your photos above you are well on your way.

If you have the means, I would get a Canon 24-105mm f4 L. Use the lens hood. The correct lens makes your work easier.

The T4i and that lens will make a outstanding package.

Re: Best Lens for Photographing cars

DAWNVANAUKEN — Fri, 18 Oct 2013 14:20:04 GMT

Thank you..... I'm going to check the lens out. Your comment makes me feel a little bit better about my pictures.... LOL I thought perhaps I was hopeless last night. Started reading all the links and suggestions and was a bit overwhelmed.

Re: Best Lens for Photographing cars

Italian4215 — Fri, 18 Oct 2013 14:23:41 GMT

Your photos look good, I think thr biggest if not one of the more important things to do would be using a lens hood.

Re: Best Lens for Photographing cars

ebiggs1 — Fri, 18 Oct 2013 14:37:58 GMT

There are a couple things I would have done differently in the photos you shared. As you take more pictures you will notice some little things that make good photos, great.

For example if you permit me, I would have put the railroad tracks in the center of the photograph . Kinda like the diminishing returns of the parallel lines. And the rail in the other photo adds nothing but obstruction. Still your photos are very nice and there will always be "critics"!

Besides your equipment, the Canon T4i and a 24-105mm f4 L, the addition of some post processing software would be a fine idea. Photos are not solely made in the camera!

Re: Best Lens for Photographing cars

DAWNVANAUKEN — Fri, 18 Oct 2013 17:45:33 GMT

I sincerely appreciate your suggestions. Tips such as yours are only going to help me improve.

I am a Grandma who started out taking pictures of her Grandson. Too cheap to pay for newborn shots. Had a Rebel XS and researched pintrist and took a couple of classes.

I have upgraded to the Rebel 4ti because I truly love taking pictures. I never want to be a professional photographer, because I don't want to lose the love for photography.

But I want to take really good pictures. I have a great camera, and I am looking to purchase better lenses. I love your suggestion. Also been looking at a telephoto 75-300 f4.

My flickr: www.flickr.com/people/dawnmvanauken

I truly appreciate your suggestions. The are very constructive.

Re: Best Lens for Photographing cars

ebiggs1 — Sat, 19 Oct 2013 15:26:18 GMT

Hi "grandma"! I am a grandpa and I worked for Hallmark Cards for 40 years. I am still taking pictures so don't worry too much about 'burning out'.

I looked at you flickr page and it looks like you don't need too much help. The only thing I would still recommend is watching the background.

Secondly, the Canon 75-300mm f4-5.6 is not in the same class as the 24-105mm f4 L. If you get the "L", look further for a bigger zoom. Unfortunately as the zoom ratio gets bigger the lens gets worse in picture quality, if that is important to you.

You know you can always get "two feet" zooms? Yes, you can get some very nice prime focal length lenses and walk to zoom them!

Some "better" choices would be the Canon 70-300mm f4-5.6 IS USM or even better the 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 L IS USM.

They are going to cost you more but from your flickr page and what you have said, I believe you would get your good use out of lenses of this quality. Because it sounds like you really enjoy photography.

Sigma, a series of lenses I have come to like lately, has some zooms in this same price range that go up to 500mm. Their

50-500mm f4.5-6.3 APO DG OS HSM is a really nice lens and is on sale right now. Keep in mind, however, it is not a Canon "L" but it doesn't cost like 'L' either. (Pun intended!)

Al the best,

Re: Best Lens for Photographing cars

cicopo — Sat, 19 Oct 2013 20:55:17 GMT

Right now the Tamron 70-300 VC seems to be the best lens in it's class, and although I haven't owned or used one I've read a lot of praise about it. Hese's a good siscussion on it and they are comparing it to the much more expensive (and highly respected) Canon 70-300 L IS.

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=1308139

Re: Best Lens for Photographing cars

Temma — Mon, 18 Nov 2013 16:32:00 GMT

You could do this with the kit 18-55mm lens (assuming you have this lens).

I have to agree. I haven't done a lot of automotive photography, but my one excursion into it came not long after I got my Digital Rebel Xt. The only lens I had was the kit lens, so that's what I used. I was surprised by the quality of the results I achieved shooting a local car show that was held on a local city street.

Re: Best Lens for Photographing cars

SacCarScene — Wed, 15 Feb 2017 21:47:07 GMT

These were taken with the Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM Lens

Re: Best Lens for Photographing cars

Waddizzle — Sun, 18 Nov 2018 12:59:55 GMT

@AliceBell wrote:
I am also interested in this. I would like to take such photos!

I have photographed a few car shows, just to give myself a reason to use my cameras. Using a full frame camera, I have photographed cars over a range of 14mm to 100mm. I like the results at 35mm the best.

As noted above, a slightly wide angle lens works well on cars. A Canon APS-C sensor body with a 22mm lens is equivalent to a 35mm on a full frame body. [The standard 18-55mm lens would be almost ideal on an APS-C body, which is roughly equivalent to a 24-70mm lens on a full frame body.]

Getting good exposures on super shiny cars in bright sunlight can be tricky sometimes. You will frequently get blown highlights, because the camera’s metering can easily be fooled. So, I dial in a bit negative exposure compensation when i take the shots, and just accept the fact that there will almost always be small reflections of blown highlights. After all, that is pretty much what you eyes see when you look at the shiny cars, anyway.

Re: Best Lens for Photographing cars

cicopo — Sun, 18 Nov 2018 15:36:24 GMT

These links may be of help.

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=1483274

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=70290

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=1497040