Need professional advise for product photography lens for Canon 7D

[Amscot56]

I am a graphic designer with a lot of experience in the studio but I now find myself needing to do my own product shots in my home studio space of 12' x 12.' I am looking hard at the Canon 7D moving up from 40D and I need to know the best lens or lenses to shoot items such as rifles, glassware, china, and small housewares, etc. I will also need to purchase either soft boxes or umbrellas and am looking for advise on this issue as well. Photos will be used for e-commerce and possibly for catalogs. All comments appreciated!

[Skirball]

Yes, the 100mm can come within 6", but obviously you're only going to get small objects in the frame at that focal length.  I’ve never measured it, but off the top of my head, if I was photographing an apple with the 100mm on a cropped sensor the lens would probably be around 18” from it?  Obviously if you’re shooting bigger objects you’d need a long room, but for most table top photography I’ve never had an issue fitting it in.  Hence my suggestion for a wide angle backup for those products. The 100 and 40 would be a nice combination of focal lengths. I can't speak to the 40mm out of personal experience, but it's been getting great reviews.  Looks like it can get within a few inches of the subject as well.

If speed is the name of the game you may be better off with a light tent(s).  I made one and used it for a bit, but found I have a lot more control just setting my subject on whatever surface I want, set up my backdrop, then set up my lights and modifiers accordingly.  That said, I don’t do catalog shots, so if you just want a white background a tent is probably the quickest and easiest. Don’t worry about ‘peeking the lens through the curtains’ though, that shouldn’t be an issue for most subjects.

[HDCamTeam]

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@Amscot56 wrote:

This is really good stuff. I am grateful for all of your responses. "A decent wide angle prime lens" could you give me a suggestion here. Also I've been looking a lighting tents, some come with lighting combos left right and top. What is a good brand? I would need to add in some real surfaces for some or most products like weathered boards. Last question: about how far away would a 100mm (160mm) put me from subject focal point? Also I would need a good deal of flexiblility in focal length which I assume could be adjusted by stopping the lens down or opening it up.

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Hi Amscot56,

The items by Impact that I posted in the 1st page are really cheap and great for the price, take a look at them. I didn't want to go cheaper at the risk of decreasing build quality, nor more expensive since it wouldn't be necesssary if you treat them well.

"about how far away would a 100mm (160mm) put me from subject focal point?"

I own the EF 100mm 2.8 Macro (no-L version) and it's an amazing lens. For products photography you won't miss the Image Stabilization at all, assuming you won't do it hand-held 🙂

If you want to shoot portraits or macro without tripod/support, then you might wnat the I.S., but the price is almost twice more expensive.

I think 160mm is too long for your studio (UNLESS you want to shoot details or small objects), that's why I suggested shorter focal lenses in the 1st page. I took into account the studio dimensions you mentioned.

- TIP: there are some apps for smart cellphones that will allow you to simulate a Viewfinder, mostly used for filmmaking, but you can also use them to get an idea of what focal length would be best for your shot without in fact using any DSLR camera nor buying any lens. So you can take a better decision for your purchase later. Be sure to calibrate it before using (in case you install it). It's a very handy and cheap help.

"Also I would need a good deal of flexiblility in focal length which I assume could be adjusted by stopping the lens down or opening it up."

To get flexibility in focal length, you should get more than one lens, or a zoom lens (as the one I mentioned in 1st page, although it's expensive, but AMAZING lens).

Stopping down a lens will only give you more depth of field (meaning more in-focus areas), but not different field of view (the area of the scene you can "see" through the viewfinder or LCD screen).

I mostly suggest Canon lenses due to the great performance in almost all cases. The EF 24-70 2.8L II USM is expensive, you can also take a look at the Canon EF 24-70mm f/4.0L IS USM which is not so expensive (but not cheap either) and not so "fast" since it starts at f/4 (not big deal if you shoot products since you will need to stop down anyway in most situations). As mentioned above studio lightning is essential.

In a crop-sensor body as 40D or 7D, a 24-70mm zoom lens would work as 38.4-112mm (35mm film equivalent), a nice focal length range for products photography in my opinion, in the conditions you mentioned.

Hope this helps and clarifies a bit!

Regards

[ebiggs1]

"Photoshop is not an issue since I subscribe to Creative Cloud and have LR and PS CS6 installed."

Since you have the Creative Cloud you already know LR is not PS. You also have InDesign.

[Amscot56]

The 160mm comment was a crop camera conversion of the 100mm that was suggested.

[ebiggs1]

HDCamTeam

There is no denying the versatility of zoom lens'. And than throw the 27-70mm f2.8 II and/or the 70-200mm f2.8 II into the mix, you are not going to give up anything.

I have the 100mm non”L” macro but if I found myself in the same situation, the 27-70mm or 70-200mm would be on the camera. But that again I am using a 5D.

[HDCamTeam]

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@Amscot56 wrote:

The 160mm comment was a crop camera conversion of the 100mm that was suggested.

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Yes, I know.

[HDCamTeam]

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@ebiggs1 wrote:

@HDCamTeam

There is no denying the versatility of zoom lens'. And than throw the 27-70mm f2.8 II and/or the 70-200mm f2.8 II into the mix, you are not going to give up anything.

I have the 100mm non”L” macro but if I found myself in the same situation, the 27-70mm or 70-200mm would be on the camera. But that again I am using a 5D.

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Sorry, didn't understand what you mean.

I suggested 24-70 as a "flexible" high quality option instead of multiple prime lenses, for the 40D or 7D. I personally use it on a 5D3, but of course with different field of view.

Regards

[ebiggs1]

"Sorry, didn't understand what you mean."

OK, if it were me I would use the 24-70mm and 70-200mm duo and fore go the 100mm macro.

I would use them on a 5D Mk III and use Photo Shop for post.

Of course good light and lots of it.

"Buy the best and cry once." as the old Chinese proverb goes.

[Skirball]

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@ebiggs1 wrote:

OK, if it were me I would use the 24-70mm and 70-200mm duo and fore go the 100mm macro.

I would use them on a 5D Mk III and use Photo Shop for post.

Of course good light and lots of it.

"Buy the best and cry once." as the old Chinese proverb goes.

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So now you’re advising $5000 worth of lenses and a $3500 camera for a guy who wants to shoot “mostly e-commerce and maybe some catalog”?  I get it, you’re a gear head, obsessed with owning the best, but at least support your suggestions rather than just saying “it’s the best!”  The guy can do everything your setup can do (given the intended use) with $600.  Yup, to the same quality.  With his 40D.

Please tell me what a 70-200 can do that a 100mm can’t, for product photography.  The flexibility of zoom buys very little in product photography, especially at the longer focal lengths.  Sure, it’s nice, but is it really an extra $2000 nice? 

And lots of light?  I thought you were telling me flash is a dead art with these new modern high-ISO sensors?

[Amscot56]

Okay, I have been rolling through the entire EF Lens lineup and price checking with Amazon. So far here are some picks:

(A) EF 100mm (160mm) f/2.8 Macro USM $515 at Amazon.

(B) EF 100mm (160mm) f/2.8L Macro II USM $1049.

(C) TS-E 45mm (72mm) f/2.8 $1269.

I am leaning into B and C but I am not sure, maybe the TS-E would be a good investment but I can't use it for anything else. I was thinking I could use B also for portrature.