Top Lenses for Food Photography 

The 24-70 mm is my go to! I shoot for a lot of food bloggers and not having to switch lenses for the process shots is amazing!

I have all three lenses you described, with the 24-70 being my latest addition, and all I know is that they wouldn't be worth anything if I hadn't taken your Artificial Lighting course some years ago. What I understood was that it doesn't matter what expensive lens I have, if I cannot master the lighting. So yes to everything you mentioned, but taking the Artificial Lighting course is worth a million, especially for making videos!

Thanks for the video. For food photography, I usually use the following on a full-frame camera: 55mm f/3.5 macro 105mm f/2.8 macro 28-70mm f/2.8

Thank you so much, Joanie! I love my 50 mm and 100 macro lenses. I would love to get the 24-70 at some point, but I would say that having the first two lenses works very well for the majority of my shoots. I would love the 24-70 so that I don't have to keep switching lenses in the middle of a shoot, but I'll have to save for that one! Your videos are always informative and engaging. Love the cameo with your kids!

Hi Joanie, first, loved the cameo appearance by your son. I hope we see more of him! The videos are such a breathe of fresh air because you make learning fun and less intimidating which is especially helpful for beginning food photographers. I love my Canon RF 50mm Nifty Fifty a lot. It also has that F1/8 Aperture for creating that Bokeh. I love the 100 RF Macro lens too. It was a sticker shock purchase last year and haven't used it much. In the absence of that 24 - 70 mm lens for overhead shots, what can I use. I do have a C stand and an old 18-55 kit lens that won't work with my canon eos R camera unless I get an adapter. Thank you!

I made the mistake of getting a nifty fifty lens and putting it on a aps-c body 😅it gave me more of a 75mm focal distance, so I swapped the 50mm for a 35mm and it worked wonders for giving me that human eye focal length :) Thank you for the great video Joanie, & your son is too cute!

Great video! I use a APS-C camera with a 18-50mm f2.8, a 30mm f1.4 and a 70mm macro. These obtain the same approximate focal lengths as your full frame equivalent lens. For the folks I perform photographic services for and how they use the images you would be hard-pressed to tell the deference from their full frame counter parts. Its far more the skill of the photographer behind the camera and how good they are at storytelling and lighting. Love your work! Thanks for sharing your thoughts! best regards, Earl J.

First off, your son is a natural and I'm pretty sure he'll be a content creator soon, if he's not one yet, specially given the access to equipment and knowledge he has right at home. Second, great advice on how to approach gear. I have GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) which has led to more equipment that I don't really need and I can't dispose of them because I need clutter in my life, and that's a warning to everyone to follow Joan's advice or end up like me.

Thank you for the info, Joanie! Your son did a great job! 😊

Thank you so much for your informative video and your time and expertise which I am sure all us budding photographers really appreciate and value. Looking forward to the next instalment 🤝🙏

Went from the NIKKOR 24-70 to the 24-120 and it’s ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!

Great video Joanie! I've always wondered what focal length really means, so thanks for the simple and practical explanation!

Ms. Joanie:excellent video. I still shoot the majority of my plated food shots on the fly, as they are served, in public. My favorite lens is the Nikon Z 28-70 f2.8s for my Z7II. For my static shots, I enjoy the Nikon 105 f2.8s macro. Your tutorials are very helpful. Thanks

I work as a food photographer and I use a lens that sadly Canon don't produce anymore so I bought it second hand in Amazon. it's a Canon lens- 50mm but it's a macro lens. It is so convenient to have a 50mm lens that is also a macro lens and I use that lens most of the time

That's the cuteset intro I've ever heard😃

I've been shopping around for lenses for the last few months and this was incredibly helpful, thanks so much Joanie!

Great video. I sometimes use a wide angle, large aperture, close focusing prime for dramatic perspective, shooting from a low angle. As for the 24-70 (or similar) I agree. It's indespensable.

thank you so much! This video helped me choose my lens

Hey Joanie, could you also do a video on other accessories like the tripod? I’d like to learn which would be the best for a beginner..

Just got a macro for Christmas and I'm still getting used to it for food photos. I loveeeeee the 85mm for portraits.

I really enjoyed your lens falling into the cake story. It reminded me of the time when my lens hood fell off into a punch bowl when I was shooting the table setting at an event.

Great and informative video. Thanks for your perspective. I'm just getting into product/food/brand photography and find that I use a trio of lenses Canon RF glass: 100mm f/2.8 Macro, 85mm f/2 Macro, and the 24-70 f/2.8. Of the three, the zoom is the most versatile (duh) and the most often used for this purpose. Everyone serious about photography should own one along with the "Nifty 50"! I am a fan of the 85mm and the 100mm for smaller objects especially jewelry.

Awesome video 👏 could you please share the details of the table surface u used here?

Awesome vid!

Too funny you are using Lensrentals as well. I really like their customer service, never had an issue with them. I agree with you that the macro lens if fabulous for food photography, and also the 24-70mm. However, my top lens I use most often for food and product photography is the Lensbaby Velvet 56; I would say I use that 50% of the time for food photography. Yes, it is a manual lens, but with the mirror-less technology, it gives me the option to have to focus lined out. Great video, as always.

Great Video, thank you JOanie, helped me a lot

The thing people need to check with a zoom lens before buying it is whether or not the focal length changes (zooms out) when the camera is pointed downwards. If it does, the lens is not suitable for overhead images. (I own a quality zoom lens that does this and had to use the kit lens because it did not change focal lengths when gravity acted upon it.)

Good training for the young man 🎉. Well-done. Good video

Thanks for the video, it made it so much clearer. I am following the Picture Perfect Food book challenge and am just about to do challenge #2 - Aperture and Bokeh. Now that I know my 18 - 55mm kit lens will be a bit restricted I will work around it following your other tips. I think a 50mm f/1.8 lens will be on my shopping list but just not yet.

This was so incredibly helpful.

GREAT video. Thank you !

Cutest intro ever on The Bite Shot!

Shooting with sony so basically using the 90mm macro right now..Will be getting a good zoom soon as well

The video keep pauses for some reason. Maybe the high resolution. Good refresher course. I see if I can look at your videos again to practice. Thanks.

I love my Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 and use it for a lot of different applications. Heavy, yes, but the images are worth it.

I love my Nikkor 60mm macro lens. It’s my first macro lens and it’s served me well. I also love My 35mm z lens. It’s my grab and go lens.

Sorry you dropped your camera into the cookie cake! I'm not embarrassed to use the neck strap, hand strap, harness, or stand. Me looking amateurish aside, bodies with L series are too expensive not to. But I've got a question about the macros. I have a 2x. Do you use a 1x macro? My 2x non-AF has such a small focal area-I guess as they should-where anything outside center focus is super bokeh. Also, what do you do about specular highlights?

Blaise with the what’s shaking bacon! THE NEXT GENERATION!!!!

Thank you very helpful 😊

A combo of 60mm Macro + 24 or 28mm 1.4 would be my choice....yes you need a macro lens if your camera doesn't have enough megapixels (24mp or below) for cropping, but once you get into those 45 Mp territory I don't think it's necessary

I'm a Sony A7 user, I'm planning to get the 85mm 1.8 soon. What do you think?

@1:28 When you start talking about focal length and angle-of-view, you never mention the camera's image size. A 50mm lens on an APS-C camera or a micro 4/3 camera performs like a telephoto lens; a 50mm lens on a full-frame camera performs like a normal lens; a 50mm lens on a medium format camera or a large format camera performs like a wide-angle lens.

Like you, my 100 Macro is my go-to for food and cocktail work. But I was wondering if you were going to touch on Tilt/Shift lenses. I’ve always wanted one but never but the bullet. Have you ever produced any work with that type of lens?

The last time I was here you were using a nikon system..are you using canon now? or just for this video?

Thanks for sharing.💐🥰💐

My 24-70 is my favorite. I have an 85mm that I need to use more often.

Best review 🙏🏻 thank you! I am a beginner and have currently problem with my 50mm lens.. and was wondering is there something better😂 Looks like for now I’ll go and buy the same one. Next on the wishlist is 100mm

Hi Joanie I'm looking to purchase the canon EOS R8 for food photography and for video content of me cooking. Im not sure which lens would work best for both food and video content. Thank you for your suggestion!

I love my 24-70mm lens for the flat lay shots and I regularly use my 105mm macro and 60mm macro... well it also depends on my mood hehehe

the 105 is soo beautiful...

I'm exactly like you for food and product. Sigma 24 70 f2.8 and my handy Sony 90mm macro. Can't wait to hear about your two other lenses though. Can I have a spoiler? 😎

I’ve loved my Sigma Art 105 Macro. But the more I’ve tried to lighten my bag and streamline my workflow, the more my Nikon 60 macro in my workhorse on location. That, plus a wide angle for interior and exterior (I often grab my old Nikon 18mm), and a 35 (for full table shots), and I can shoot anything needed for a restaurant while bringing only a small kit.

What would be comparable lenses for a Fuji XT30? Compared to the 24-70mm, I mean.

Your kid is adorable.

24 - 70mm f2.8 is a great lens. But I never missed it when I own a cheaper 24 - 70mm f4 kit lens. For beginners, the kit lens that comes with Nikon Z camera is an amazing choice.

Priceless Tips, the myths of better photos by upgrading gear are birth at the arrival of the 16-55. And they must be addressed asap!.

8:05 I have that 50 mm lens and I can vouch for it. It's great.

Can I buy your non-working camera(s)? I’d like to try food photography

I think he can easily take over...❤

I would use the Nikon 24-120 F4 on my Z8

Omg you are so funny. Thank you for being amazing!!

Blaise's cameo! ❤

I do not like the Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 because it is a G lens with no aperture. I need an aperture for my Nikon F2 SLR camera.

Yes, those overhead shots are usually shot at F5.6-F11 but I'm not a fan of the 35-70/2.8L. My style is more in line with my Sigma 35/1.4 ART, 50L and 85/1.4LIS so I subscribe to the philosophy of "one size doesn't fit all". Early in my career, I rented the original 35-70/2.8 from the largest rental house and it was very soft on the edges of the images. Needless to say, it burned me on the lens and I preferred primes with exception of the 16-35/4LIS and 70-200/2.8LII.

OMG that intro! ❤❤❤❤ amazing! Such a cute start to the video

Fisheye is my weapon for food, before my stomach ends it 💪📸

I am sure no one uses these lenses . The Olympus 60mm macro F 2.8 and the Panasonic 30 to 90 F 2.8. I find the 30 to 90 the most useful:)

hello from Romania, Cluj-Napoca. I'm using 24-70 f2.8 nikkor lens and 60 mm f2.8 G Micro lens Nikkor. They serve me well. All the best in the new 2024 year.

Is he still your job already...this intro is so everything and the content of course...

Have you been told you look like Jane Wiedlin of The Go-Go’s?

$.43 a photo? + camera, + extra batteries, + memory cards, +computer, + software, +new computer because the irreplacable graphics card won't work with the new software, + the Labtop stand & tether cable, + the lighting kit, + ...??? = $$$$$ / 4800 photos. The bright side is every year, the cost gets cut in half assuming your gear is still working &, (the important part) you're doing what you love! = pric......

Just so you know I came back to your c stand video over 2 days later just to comment how useless your video was. I was still thinking about how bad your education on your products actually was. You didn’t mention exactly what your using and I find it infuriating

Tilt and Shift lenses are my top for food. And for that Canon has the best options. Only Manual Focus and DSLR Full Frame lenses so will require a Full Frame Camera for best results and will require an adapter if shooting Mirrorless. Canon has 5 different focal lengths of Tilt/Shift Lenses but the 17mm and the 24mm are mostly for other types of photography like landscape and architecture. The 50mm, the 90mm and the 135mm are great for Food photography allowing other good image quality, selective focus and perspective control. The Combo adapter is not a camera or a lens and will additionally need one of each of those to work, but will give even more control than a Tilt/Shift lens. Both the adapter and the cameras with Tilt/Shift lenses will require using a tripod for best control. Mi favorite of this is my 90mm 2.8 TSE Canon Lens.

There is a singular lens that is the bestest of the best in the whole world, namely my homemade zoom lens composed of card paper, aluminum foil, and cellophane paper. It is a fast zoom lens (12mm to 900mm, f1.4 constant) that produces laser sharp images and renders beautiful color, aesthetically pleasing images.