Slider

HELLO AGAIN

The Bloggers Guide To Camera Lenses - Part One.

Friday 23 January 2015


One aspect of blogging I get asked about the most, by email or twitter is Photography. I love taking blog photos, it's something I enjoy the most about blogging. Although at times it can be frustrating, and take forever to arrange items in a composition you're happy with - when you get it 'right' and can look back at a photo with pride and admiration it's one of the most rewarding feelings. 

You can read The introduction to this series here. 
So i've found myself staring at the screen for the past hour or so, wondering where to begin in this series, when I hit a brain wave. This photography series is specifically tailored towards blogging, and to help you figure out which lens is best for you. I can talk about the pro's and con's of each lens all day long - but it's not very good if you can't see how they all compare to each other. Can you picture the difference between a 10mm lens and a 200mm lens? Or how about a the difference between a 50mm prime lens and 55mm on your camera kit lens?  

If you can anwer yes to all of the above questions, then likely you're a better photographer than me... because I found that I learnt a hell of a lot more than I thought, just by writing this post!

Disclaimer

This post or series is in no way meant to be a brag about my camera kit, or how much any of it costs. I just want to say that I am in no means a photography expert, or tutor, and I'm sure that there are many more qualified people in the blogging world who could write these posts, I wanted to give back and share what I've learnt over the past year. Only half of these lenses belong to me, some of them belong to my work and as a perk of my job I'm able to use them outside of work for my own use
.  

Okay, So in order to facilitate a fair test... we have to set up the environment. The image below details my set up for every photograph in this post. I'm using two different lights to control the light in the room and a tripod to ensure the camera doesn't move from it's spot. Just FYI, I'm using a Canon 600d for the photos. For the background, I'm using the bloggers favourite - fairy lights, and my product is stuck down in postition. I will say that the only exception to this rule is that I couldn't use the tripod for the images with the last lens, as the Ring light would not fit over the lens on the tripod, so I had to hold it instead.



Now that we know what we're getting ourseleves into... let's get started! I will say that I'm not going to explain exactly how your camera works inside out - as there are so many amazing blogs out there that understand that stuff more than me! But to clarify before we begin, the basic premise of the focal length of your lens, is that it determines how 'zoomed in' or 'far away' your photos appear.

  • For the purpose of this post, If a lens is a zoom lens, I'll show you the two opposite extremes of the lens. 
  •  I will be shooting on the lowest f Stop possible to get the 'blurriest' backgound I can. 
  • This post will also be tailored towards blog product photography shots.


Got that? Good! Now here are some examples.

Sigma 10-20mm lens



The 10-20mm Lens is the widest lens of the lot. At 10mm it's verging on Fish Eye, and you can certainly see the majority of the room, which may be useful if you're an estate agent.... but as we're trying to take a picture of a moisturiser, it's certainly less than ideal. You can certainly see the difference between the 10mm and 20mm focal length. 
We have barely any 'blur' from the background, and the majority of the photo is taken up by table.

Marks out of ten as a lens to use for Product photography = 0. 

Canon 18-55mm LENS



The Canon 18-55mm lens is one which comes with the camera. It's the kit lens, and with that, you can't expect miracles or too much greatness. 
At 18mm, It's far too wide to photograph our little tub of cream, but when zoomed into 55mm we're getting closer to the action. With a little brightness and contrast, I'd say we have ourselves a useable image for product photography.
The downside with this lens, is that your limited on the f Stop which means your background won't be totally blurred, and that may become frustrating.

Marks out of ten as a lens to use for Product photography = 6.

Tamron 24-70mm Lens




Where do I begin, this Tamron 24-70mm lens is a dream to use. At 24mm the shot is too wide for our single shot of cream, but would be great if you have lots of products to photograph in one image. Also check out the blur on the fairy lights! You can see a massive difference between the 18-55mm and the 24-70mm on that one aspect alone.
Let's just take a moment to appreciate how beautifully easy the 70mm setting on the Tamron 24-70mm lens makes it to take photographs. Everything about this image is just working perfectly for me. The background is blurry, the product is the right size in frame, leaving just enough space around it, and the edges of the moisturiser are just starting to soften.

Marks out of ten as a lens to use for Product photography = 10. (OH YES!)

Canon 40mm lens (pancake)


The Canon 40mm Lens is one which I previously used almost every time I took photographs,until I received my 24-70mm Lens for Christmas. Although slightly too wide for our product shot from our tripod set up, the background has a good level of blur. I do have to mention though that this lens is Macro, which means you can get super close up (0.3m away!) and get the small print on the product in focus. If you're looking for a cheaper alterntive to the 24-70mm lens, and don't mind moving around to get the shot - get this. 

Marks out of ten as a lens to use for Product photography = 8.

Canon 50mm f/1.4 Lens


The f/1.4 50mm Lens is the mid-range 50mm Lens - There is a cheaper f/1.8 version available, and a more expensive f/1.2
This lens in particular, has an f/stop of 1.4 meaning that it offers 'the blurriest background' of all the lenses I'm talking about today. 
At 50mm, it's the perfect focal length mounted from our tripod, but be warned, you can't get much closer to the products, or else it won't focus at all. 

Also, dare I say it... at f/1.4 - the background is, gulp, possibly too blurry! The majority of the moisturiser is out of focus, which in this case may not be a good thing.

Marks out of ten as a lens to use for Product photography = 8.

Canon 70-200mm Lens f/2.8 L



I don't even know where to begin.... let's just say, you don't ever want to use the Canon 70-200mm lens to try and take product shots, whilst mounted to a tripod, in your bedroom... This is not the lens for you.

Marks out of ten as a lens to use for Product photography = 0. 


Conclusion


So that's it for part one. So what did we learn today? We learnt that you certainly don't want to use a 10mm lens or a 200mm lens to photograph a moisturiser, and the ideal focal length falls between 40mm-70mm. In particular, the  three lenses which performed the best were:


I really hope this post was useful. If i've missed anything out, or I haven't explained something well enough, please do let me know! As I said, I'm not a photography expert, so If there are any mistakes, i'm only human! I'd love to hear your thoughts on this post! Let me know in the comments.

Em xxx

64 comments:

  1. Oh,Em! Such a great and useful post for photgraphy begginers like me! Please please please, blog more about this! xoxo


    www.curvyliciousme.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks for this - I usually find things like this a real mine-field because it's so easy to chose the wrong kind of equipment for what you're looking for! Really helpful :)

    daniellebevan.co.uk

    ReplyDelete
  3. This is an amazing post! The only thing is, I have a Nikon instead of a Canon so my lens choices are a bit different, but this does give me a good idea of where I want to go with my next purchase :)

    COOCOO FOR COCO

    ReplyDelete
  4. Omg I love this post! It's so useful as I've been really confused about which lens to buy & now I feel I understand a bit more!

    L x

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thank you for this post! I have a DSLR camera but never thought about getting a new lens bc I don't know anything about them. So glad I stumbled upon this blog :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. So grateful for this post, especially as I've been looking at lenses but never understood any of it!

    Jenny - jnylng.blogspot.co.uk

    ReplyDelete
  7. I really want to invest in a new lens... Also, a ring light would be great to get my hands on too! Thanks for the tips!

    Claire // Technicolour Dreamer // Bloglovin'

    ReplyDelete
  8. My arm made it on to your blog! I'M FAMOUS!

    Stop making me want to buy expensive lenses :(

    April xxx

    ReplyDelete
  9. This post is incredible. Thank you so much for taking the time to share it and explain which each lens is useful for. I’m looking to add the 50mm f/1.4 and 40mm lens to my growing collection this year and want to start taking photography a little more seriously! Cant wait for the next instalment!

    xx

    ReplyDelete
  10. Is is such an amazing guide! If only I could afford a camera thag you can put different lenses in as well as the lenses aha! Maybe when I am no longer a poor student..,

    The Velvet Black // UK Style, Beauty Blog

    ReplyDelete
  11. I studied film at Uni and learnt a lot about lenses and cameras so the inner geek in me got SO excited about reading this! Amazing post!
    Alice xo
    www.shesthunderstorms.co.uk

    ReplyDelete
  12. Such a useful post! its nice to actually see the difference in the lenses than read about them! well done :)

    www.lifeinthefashionlanee.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  13. its great to see how they actually work and look like!!

    Great post
    Lx
    Http://workingmumy.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  14. This post was very helpful! Thank you. It was really awesome seeing actual photos for each lens. =]

    ReplyDelete
  15. This post and series are honestly so helpful! I'm not sure I'll be splashing out any time soon but it's a good introduction to things when I'm just getting interested in photography and may want to upgrade sometime :) xx

    Magpie Jasmine || Palette Giveaway: Urban Decay, Nars, Charlotte Tilbury, Too Faced

    ReplyDelete
  16. Really loved this post - your demos only reconfirmed what I was planning to do - buy a 1.8 50mm lens. Not ready to splurge £200+yet haha. No off to read the rest of your series - new Bloglovin follower xx

    Jo
    www.Jaeydarobin.blogspot.co.uk

    ReplyDelete
  17. Really helpful post, love how the photos spoke for themselves as examples :) Really want to save for that Tamron lens, it's gorgeous, or at least the 40mm!

    The Makeup Directory

    ReplyDelete
  18. Loved this post. It was so helpful! I cannot wait to invest in some more lenses x

    pintsizedbeauty.blogspot.co.uk

    ReplyDelete
  19. This was so incredibly helpful and easy to understand! Thank you so much Em, and I love forward to the rest of your series :)

    ReplyDelete
  20. Thank you for this, this was so helpful. I would love to purchase the Tamron lens... once I have the money

    www.bubbasdoll.blogspot.co.uk

    ReplyDelete
  21. Brilliant post - just bought the pancake lens as a result lol

    ReplyDelete
  22. Em,Thanks for this post. I have been looking for a guide on this topic. great post

    ReplyDelete
  23. Em this post os incredible! So so useful, I'll be showing my bf to improve our photography!

    Katie <3

    ReplyDelete
  24. This post was so helpful! Thank you! I studied photography at A Level, almost 5 years ago and not done anything with it since, so this is a great re-fresher!

    emmatheakerx.blogspot.co.uk

    ReplyDelete
  25. Hey Guys !
    Do you anxious about your beauty and health ?
    Get Some tips from here

    Beauty Tips

    Face Care

    Skin Care

    Hair Care

    Fashion Tips

    Fitness & Diet Tips

    Health & Wellness Tips

    Lifestyle & Life Care Tips

    Thats all Guys .... Have a nice day !

    ReplyDelete
  26. That's an excellent primer, Em; came across this via BBC3 / Trolls ... all good work, thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  27. It is essential that you get enough rest to keep up with your skin. Also, using any products read the labels and the ingredients that came with the package for safe and effective results. 

    ReplyDelete
  28. I wanted to thank you for this great read!! I definitely enjoying every little bit of it I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you post.
    Best Mirrorless Camera Lenses

    ReplyDelete
  29. Thanks so much for this post! Could you do one on fashion photography as well??

    ReplyDelete
  30. This is such an amazing site! I really enjoyed reading the content. Thanks!
    WaterProof LED Light For Gopro

    ReplyDelete
  31. This is an amazing post please keep up regularly
    Clipping Path Service

    ReplyDelete
  32. Aside from having a healthy lifestyle, diet and nutrition, it is also important that you get regular exercise to keep up with good hgh production. defining vigrx plus website

    ReplyDelete
  33. The diet that you eat has a huge impact on your libido and fertility. There’s no need to make major changes and turn your nutritional habits around. Still, getting rid of a few bad foods and adding certain healthy meals can make a difference. full prosolution review here

    ReplyDelete
  34. Loving the info of your website. Thanks a lot for sharing with us
    clipping path/Raster To vector/clipping path service

    ReplyDelete
  35. Extremely fast neutral will probably the most impressive sparkle result in being well-known among the nearly all blog all those, for those aware content articles and also comments. endzone camera

    ReplyDelete
  36. Nice post. CamArt Camera Rental is a popular supplier of digital cinema, film and broadcast equipment on rental. We provides you camera on rent in dubai that you will be needing for your shoot with affordable price.

    ReplyDelete
  37. I'm shakshi.I am working in India top most Escort serviceEscorts in Puri.If u

    want to join the all facility of escortsEscorts in Cuttack.pls call me &

    whatssapEscorts in Bhubaneswar
    visit the sites.Escorts in Mumbai

    ReplyDelete
  38. So amazing post.Thanks for share this post.
    clipping path

    ReplyDelete

  39. Thanks for sharing such a informative and useful article.
    https://clippingpathexpress...

    ReplyDelete
  40. Very beautiful post thanks for share!
    If anyone is looking for best hair loss treatment in Dubai visit us now @
    Best Hair Transplant in Dubai

    ReplyDelete
  41. It's an awesome post . I read this article . Just nice
    clipping path

    ReplyDelete
  42. I am thankful to you for sharing this plethora of useful information. I found this resource utmost beneficial for me. Thanks a lot for hard work.
    endzone camera

    ReplyDelete
  43. Really brilliant work for product photography. we also need this kind of work as the best clipping path service company.

    ReplyDelete
  44. It is a wonderful place to know about the camera lenses. This post has told me what I needed to know about the camera lenses. I am very satisfied with the post that has told me about the camera lenses. The specification of the camera lenses and the description of the product is amazing. Every product’s review is just amazing. The specified product description and the pros and cons are really fantastic. I cannot imagine how helpful was that. Thank you for your post.

    Best regards
    Annie
    Photographer at clipping path service

    ReplyDelete
  45. Really brilliant work for product photography. we also need this kind of work as designercountry.com

    ReplyDelete
  46. I’m designing a stripper studio in the back of my house. I’ll use it for live cam shows and private parties. Inside of the house will be a web and photography studio. My house may not be a Tiny Home, but it will be more eco friendly with sun catchers to generate electricity. https://toto-flix.com

    ReplyDelete
  47. Thanks for any other informative web site. Where else may just I get that type of information written in such a perfect manner? I’ve a project that I’m just now working on, and I’ve been at the look out for such information. https://tobles.com

    ReplyDelete
  48. Howdy! This article couldn’t be written much better! Going through this post reminds me of my previous roommate! He continually kept talking about this. I am going to send this article to him. Fairly certain he will have a very good read. Many thanks for sharing! https://ecahot.com

    ReplyDelete
  49. This design is wicked! You certainly know how to keep a reader amused. Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to start my own blog (well, almost…HaHa!) Wonderful job. I really enjoyed what you had to say, and more than that, how you presented it. Too cool! https://tobigco.com

    ReplyDelete
  50. Aw, this was an extremely nice post. Spending some time and actual effort to generate a really good article… but what can I say… I put things off a whole lot and don’t manage to get anything done. https://toto-mania.com

    ReplyDelete
  51. Can I simply say what a comfort to discover someone who truly understands what they are talking about on the net. You certainly know how to bring an issue to light and make it important. More and more people ought to read this and understand this side of the story. I was surprised that you aren’t more popular given that you most certainly possess the gift. https://toto-flix.com

    ReplyDelete
  52. Wow, that’s what I was exploring for, what a stuff! existing here at this weblog, thanks admin of this web page.

    토토사이트
    온라인카지노
    파워볼사이트

    ReplyDelete
  53. I think every one is getting more from this web page, and your views are fastidious in favor of new people. Excellent blog!

    사설토토
    온라인바카라
    파워볼
    바카라사이트

    ReplyDelete
  54. Do you have any suggestions for aspiring writers?
    I’m planning to start my own blog soon but I’m a little lost on everything. You have done a extraordinary job!

    토토
    스포츠토토
    토토사이트
    먹튀검증

    ReplyDelete
  55. Such an amazing and helpful post this is. I really really love it. It’s so good and so awesome. I am just amazed. I hope that you continue to do your work like this in the future also. 블랙잭사이트

    ReplyDelete
  56. pg slot cc โหมดทดสอบเล่นฟรีเปิดให้บริการแล้วปัจจุบันนี้ถ้าได้ทดลองแล้วถูกใจเกมไหนก็สามารถลงทะเบียนเข้ามาเพื่อเริ่มเล่นได้เลย pg เชิญชวนอยากให้ท่านได้เล่นก่อนใครไม่เสียหาย

    ReplyDelete