Lens for Food Photography on Canon Full Frame Body

[alex_bruce]

<p>Hi Everyone,</p>

<p>The short version of my question is, "What is a good lens for food photography on a full frame body?" I used to shoot with a Rebel and using the Rebel, getting tight shots was simple because of the magnification I was getting from the crop sensor. I recently upgraded to a 6D (wonderful camera by the way) and realized I’m not able to fill the frame as much as I would like as my minimum focus distances are too great, and I lost the magnification I was getting from the crop sensor. The lenses I have now are the 70 – 200mm f/4 and the 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5.</p>

<p>Should I consider getting a macro lens, or are there other lenses with very short minimum focus distances that would work? To give you a rough idea of the type of food photography I’m aiming for, I attached an example of a shot I got with my Rebel before I lost the magnification of the crop sensor. I should mention I'm renting Canon's 100mm f/2.8 macro lens this weekend from Calumet to see how that does.</p>

<p><img src="http://image12.photobiz.com/6048/36_20121119203528_462822_medium.jpg" alt="" width="679" height="490" /></p>

<p>Thanks Everyone!</p>

[dhbebb]

<p>Macro is good to help fill the frame - good front-to-back sharpness can also be important, and this <br>

<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Canon-TS-E-90mm-Shift-Cameras/dp/B00009XVDP/ref=cm_lmf_tit_3">http://www.amazon.com/Canon-TS-E-90mm-Shift-Cameras/dp/B00009XVDP/ref=cm_lmf_tit_3</a><br>

gives it to you, possibly in combination with an extension tube<br>

<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Canon-Extension-Tube-Digital-Cameras/dp/B0000U1N38">http://www.amazon.com/Canon-Extension-Tube-Digital-Cameras/dp/B0000U1N38</a><br>

depending on how close you want to focus. Food photography is one of those special areas which are as easy as falling off a log with a view camera but can call for a lot of expensive gear with 35 mm film or digital cameras!</p>

[joseph_wisniewski]

<p>Second vote for the 90 TS-E, that is "the" food lens.</p>

<p>High end food photography generally goes for sharp front-to-back, with carefully controlled blur. I feel that the shallow DOF example is a bit over the top.</p>

[JamesFarabaugh]

<p>Hopefully your plated food isn't a fast mover. Assuming the food is still, you can use a macro and stop down to get deep DOF. You'll just need a tripod for the long exposure times. Focus stacking would be another method, but it sounds too labor-intensive for my liking.</p>

[William Michael]

<p>If the shot of the plate of food is “typical” of what you’ll b doing, then the TS-E 90 is the ant’s pants IMO, also: but if you are doing some full table shots (as well) then the TS-E 45 is probably a better option for you, because you can use the 45 for full-plate shots and (usually) crop them tighter in Post Production (UNLESS) you have a big studio area then you can use the 9 for a small table, for example four place settings.</p>

<p>I bought the 90 and I am very happy with it and I use it for products shots of Subjects up to about 10 inches about 260 mm largest dimension, including a few dinner plates full of food – 90mm FL provides a good working distance (and easy lighting distance) for that size Subject.</p>

<p>However (because of what I am now shooting more of) I’ll likely get the 45 shortly because it is quite a bit easier for the larger size shoot.</p>

<p>The 90 is a cracker lens for Portraiture, too.</p>

<p>BTW - Lighting is the key to it. (to Food Photography)</p>

<p>WW</p>

[dhbebb]

<p><em>Lighting is the key to ... food photography.</em><br>

Amen to that! A softbox directly overhead is a good start, a light anywhere near the lens will make any shiny food look really greasy and yukky!</p>

[William Michael]

<p>. . . yes I agree: for “simple” or “as a starting point” - a soft box at 90° to the lens’s axis (as per the suggestion "overhead"), is also likely to best catch the nuance of steam - which can be very important.<br /> More drama can often be created placing the one soft box at other 90° positions.<br /> Obviously lighting is integral to all genres of Photography: my point was that Lighting is “more” important for Food Photography as poor lighting can stuff it up completely, with not much else to save it: and good lighting can make other technical errors less significant.</p>

<p>I think that Jewellery Photography is akin to Food Photography in this same manner of HOW significant is, the understanding and the application of good lighting techniques.</p>

<p>WW</p>

[rob_h5]

<blockquote>

<p>I should mention I'm renting Canon's 100mm f/2.8 macro lens...</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Rent the Canon 100mm f2.8 IS L macro. Here is an example photo:</p>

<p><a href="http://nicolesyblog.com/2013/03/07/beautiful-food-in-the-barossa-valley/">http://nicolesyblog.com/2013/03/07/beautiful-food-in-the-barossa-valley/</a><br /> <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/647011-USA/Canon_3554B002_EF_100mm_f_2_8L_Macro.html">http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/647011-USA/Canon_3554B002_EF_100mm_f_2_8L_Macro.html</a></p>

[model mayhem gallery]

<p>I really like my Canon 85 1.2L but the 85 1.8 is also very good option. They are very sharp and provide great bokeh if thats what you are looking for. However, when it comes to static shots like this a good tripod and studio lighting will most likely make the biggest improvement in image sharpness and color.</p>