Finding a lens for product photography has never been easy. But – we are going to review the best canon lens for product photography in this article. Besides, our guide will also contain some other terrific lenses for you to easily purchase a lens that suits your requirements.
Product or commercial photography is a great way to market a product or service? It is a very rewarding photography niche because you can work with some of the top brands in their respective industries. But – you need a good lens besides your camera and skills to tell the product’s story. Similarly, it should produce extremely sharp focus as well as a beautiful background blur. Not to mention, the lens should work in all kinds of conditions because you don’t always take product photographs in a studio.
Prime Vs Zoom Lens for Product Photography
Zoom lenses are more versatile than prime lenses because of their variable focal lengths. However, prime lenses are a better option for product photography because of their larger maximum apertures. They offer a shallow depth of field and brilliant low-light performance. These features ensure sharp and beautiful product images matching the international quality of commercial photography.
Prime lenses are also compact and lighter than zoom lenses because they have fewer moving parts. They are also easier to carry around, especially if you are shooting in the fields.
The most commonly used fixed focal lengths for commercial photography are 35mm, 50mm, and 85mm. However, photographers do use some zoom lenses for shooting products as well. Therefore, we will discuss the top options from both categories in our article.
Best Canon Lenses for Product Photography
The following Canon lenses should always be in your kit if you want to become a successful and famous product photographer. They would help you exceed the expectations of the brands when it comes to image quality.
So, let us start our guide without wasting any more time.
| Image | Lens Name | Features | Check Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Canon EF 50mm F/1.2L |
| Check Price |
 | Canon EF 24-70mm F/2.8L |
| Check Price |
 | Canon EF 100mm F/2.8L |
| Check Price |
 | Canon RF 35mm F/1.8 |
| Check Price |
 | Canon EF 50mm F/1.8 |
| Check Price |
 | Canon RF 50mm F/1.2L |
| Check Price |
 | Canon EF 85mm F/1.2L |
| Check Price |
 | Canon EF 70-200mm F/2.8L |
| Check Price |
 | Canon EF-S 10-18mm F/4.5-5.6 |
| Check Price |
 | Canon EF 35mm F/1.4L |
| Check Price |
1. Canon EF 50mm F/1.2L USM: Best Canon Prime Lens for DSLR Cameras
Canon EF 50mm F/1.2L is an incredibly popular lens among professional photographers. The 50mm focal length allows you to take sharp and beautiful images both indoors and outdoors. Similarly, the F/1.2L aperture is extremely wide, offering beautiful background blurs for highlighting details and the shallowest depth of field.
The L-series lens can also withstand the harshest of conditions because of its sturdy construction and excellent weather sealing. It also minimizes lens flares and ghosting because it comes with Air Sphere Coating (ASC).
The autofocus of the lens is lightning fast with full manual focus capabilities. It accurately tracks and focuses on the objects, resulting in crisp and sharp images. However, it is not as fast as other L-series lenses.
Canon EF 50mm F/1.2L USM is the best prime lens for product photography if you are using Canon EOS DSLR cameras.
Product Test Results
Here are the results of tests carried out on the lens.
“Beautiful images come from this lens, it’s now my favorite which is saying a lot since I love the Canon 85mm 1.2. Full disclosure, the Sigma 1.4 Art is sharper. But not better. This lens allows for an almost medium format quality with its beautiful bokeh! If you use a 50 for products, the Sigma should be a consideration. But for people, the Canon is my choice!”
Sample images taken with Canon EF 50mm F/1.2L.
2. Canon EF 24-70mm F/2.8L II USM: Best Canon General Purpose Lens
Canon EF 24-70mm F/2.8L II USM is perhaps the most popular Canon lens on our list. It is has a versatile focal length and you can use it for practically anything including product photography.
You can use the minimum focal length for excellent landscapes and the maximum focal length for beautiful product portraits. It can help you take incredible product photographs every time.
The lens is known for super low and ultra-low depression. Similarly, you have full control over lighting thanks to the super spectra coating. As a result, your products look extremely professional in the photographs.
The lens has a hyper-fast autofocus system. Furthermore, images have uniform sharpness throughout the focal range even at wide apertures. It also has an 82mm filter with a minimum focusing distance of 0.38 meters.
Canon EF 24-70mm F/2.8L is a wonderful lens for product photography. However, it is not ideal for creating bokeh or background blur because of its relatively narrow aperture. This is the only reason why it could not the best Canon lens for product photography.
Product Test Results
Here are the results of tests carried out on the lens.
“The f/4 version of this lens is what tends to come with the Mark5d Camera Bundle. I knew there was a F/2.8 and really wanted to start my new collection off right so I took the plunge and bought the body of the Mark 5D Mark IV and this lens. It’s truly an amazing lens and the focusing is lightning fast. I did notice that super straight objects have a sharper curve that I was expecting (I’ll show upload a picture) but I’m so new at this that I am willing to wager it’s my error. You can judge for yourself. The clarity has been stunning and it looks pretty darn great on the body of this cam.
I keep this on all the time and am always glad when I have something I have to shoot — It’s been a great boon to my Photography.”
3. Canon EF 100mm F/2.8L USM: Best Macro Lens for Product Photography
Canon EF 100mm F/2.8L is one of the best macro lenses you can use for product photography. It has a magnification ratio of 1:1 which means the objects appear the same size on the camera sensor as it is in the real life.
The focal length is quite versatile, enabling you to capture images beautifully both in the outdoors and in the studio. Similarly, it can also create a little bit of flattering expression. The 100mm focal length combines with superfast autofocus to give you the best results as well. You can even limit the focus within a specific distance using the built-in focus limiter.
However, the USM autofocus is a bit noisy, causing a lot of irritation for the users. Similarly, it is not suitable for videos.
The best feature of the lens is the image quality. It is one of the sharpest lenses by Canon with negligible chromatic aberration. It is particularly great for creating product portraits with excellent quality and extreme sharpness, emphasizing special details. Another nice thing about the lens is in-body image stabilization.
Finally, it is an L-series lens offering sturdy construction and weather sealing. You can use it in all kinds of conditions
Canon EF 100mm F/2.8L IS USM is an excellent lens for professionals because of its brilliant image quality, fast focal length, and sturdy construction.
Product Test Results
Here are the results of tests carried out on the lens.
“This lens is probably the best of several wonderful Canon L-Series lenses I have. Great for portraits, macro, street, landscape, and many, many more applications. See, for example, my attached “bee” photo and “frog” photo with this lens — both hand-held! Also, the “crayon” macro photo — on tripod with a friend’s studio lighting. Every “photog” friend to whom I’ve shown this lens is amazed. Even better buy now, at a price approximately $250 less than I paid two years ago.”
4. Canon RF 35mm F/1.8 IS Macro STM: Best Photography Lens for Products
Canon RF 35mm F/1.8 is a fantastic macro lens for product photography. Offering 5-stops of shake correction, it is wonderful if you want to use a wide-angle macro lens for creating marketing campaigns.
The closest focusing distance of 0.71 meters and magnification of 0.5x are the other two reasons to use the lens for macro photography.
The lens delivers remarkable sharpness from edge to edge using its 54mm diameter mount. The autofocus is quite fast and quiet and 12 pin communication system further accelerates both the IS and autofocus. Similarly, you can easily adjust numerous settings using the control ring on the lens barrel.
It is also a very lightweight lens and you can easily carry it around wherever you go. The wide F/1.8 aperture enables you to create beautiful background blur. Furthermore, it helps the lens to deliver superb performance in low light conditions.
Keep in mind that the RF series of lenses are compatible only with Canon EOS R mirrorless cameras and they are quite expensive as well.
Canon RF 35mm F/1.8 is a lightweight and ideal option for shooting minute details in your products. It offers creative and high-quality results every time you use it.
Product Test Results
Here are the results of tests carried out on the lens.
“This lens surpassed my expectations in build quality, image quality, and versatility. I wanted an all-rounder prime lens for the EOS R when I didn’t need my 5DIV and L-Series lenses. The 35mm f1.8 IS STM RF lens, IMO, is the unsung hero of the EOS R release. It’s IS, macro, f/1.8 aperture, and 35mm angle of view make this a great all-rounder lenses. It’s also much lighter than my L-series lenses saving my back. I do wish it was weather-sealed though.”
Sample images taken with Canon RF 35mm F/1.8
5. Canon EF 50mm F/1.8: Cheap Canon Lens for Product Photography
Canon’s nifty fifty lenses are some of the most popular lenses for product photography on the market. Despite having some really cool features, the EF 50mm F/1.8 is available for less than $100. Therefore, aspiring photographers with low income can easily afford it as well.
The larger aperture means the lens excels in low light. Similarly, it creates a beautiful background blur or bokeh, one of the most common features of product photographs. The image quality is simply superb, highlighting every aspect and part of the product beautifully.
However, the larger aperture can also create some spherical aberration in the images as well.
The lens has an effective focal length of 80mm when used on APS-C cameras.
The lens features a stepping motor that delivers superfast but silent autofocus for stills. Moreover, it also offers progressive Movie services for videos. The minimum and maximum magnification distances of 0.35 meters and 0.21x respectively are also impressive.
Canon EF 50mm F/1.8 is a lightweight and extremely portable lens. The construction quality is also reasonable but not at par with Canon L series lenses.
All in all, Canon EF 50mm F/1.8 is an excellent choice for new photographers and those on a budget. It delivers superior image quality for fraction of the price of more expensive lenses.
Product Test Results
Here are the results of tests carried out on the lens.
“This is my first fixed/prime lens and I love it. Portraits are fantastic, as are close-ups of people. I used it to shoot a friend’s dimly lit indoor wedding reception and I captured some gorgeous shots. It is a more narrow field than that of which I am used, but group pictures looked cozy with everything needing to press in together. I feel this is an excellent tool to step up your photography from the standard kit. I now leave this lens on my camera all the time.”
6. Canon RF 50mm F/1.2L USM: Best Canon Prime Lens for Mirrorless Cameras
Canon RF series of lenses are a favorite among professional photographers and Canon RF 50mm F/1.2L is no exception. It is an ideal lens for product photography if you are using any of Canon EOS full-frame cameras.
The lens captures extremely sharp images just like its EF 50mm f/1.2 counterpart. Similarly, the autofocus is blazing fast and therefore tracks even fast-moving objects in a jiffy. The shallow depth of field ensures gorgeous images in a variety of conditions.
The main highlight of the lens is its extremely wide f/1.2 aperture. Such a wide aperture enables you to create spectacular bokeh, and mesmerizingly highlight all the details of the product. You can even capture the smallest features or details of the products.
The lens delivers superb performance in low light thanks to the fast aperture. Built-in image stabilization further improves the quality of images taken in low light. The water and dust resistant construction means uniform and uninterrupted performance even in difficult weather.
Canon RF 50mm F/1.2L has more optimized and improved communication between the lens and the camera courtesy of a 12-pin communication system. You can quickly adjust exposure settings using the customizable control ring on the barrel as well.
Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L is a fantastic lens for professional photographers. Although it is a bit expensive yet it is the best prime lens available right now and will help you revolutionize your product photographs. It could easily become the best Canon lens for product photography if not for its price.
Product Test Results
Here are the results of tests carried out on the lens.
“This is my new favorite lens. I feel like leaving it on my EOS R all the time. It is very sharp wide open, and causes the AF to perform better than my other lenses on this camera body. My only complaint would be the price is pretty crazy.”
7. Canon EF 85mm F/1.2L II USM: Best 85mm Lens for Product Photography
Canon EF 85mm F/1.2L II USM is one of the must-have Canon lenses for creating product portraits. The F/1.2L is the largest aperture any 85mm lens has ever had. Therefore, it offers spectacularly sharp images besides creating stunning bokeh. It also delivers an extremely shallow depth of field.
The main highlight of the lens is smooth and superfast autofocus. Therefore, you can capture all the actions without missing anything. The lens also integrates with the E-TTL II flash system with the utmost ease. The super spectra coating ensures consistent color accuracy while eliminating lens flares and ghosting.
Just like all other L-series lenses, Canon EF 85mm boasts excellent build quality and weather sealing. You can easily use it anywhere you want, even in wet conditions.
Canon EF 85mm F/1.2L is considered one of the best prime lenses for Canon EOS DSLR cameras. It has everything you need for product photography and therefore, you should add it to your camera kit.
Product Test Results
Here are the results of tests carried out on the lens.
“This is the best lens for portrait. Excellent image quality and perfect bokeh. The auto focus speed is faster than the first generation one. I use it shoot playing kitten with room lights. It is solid and heavy which I like.”
Sampe images taken with Canon EF 85mm F/1.2L II USM.
8. Canon EF 70-200mm F/2.8L III USM: Among the Best Lenses for Product Photography
Canon EF 70-200mm F/2.8L is the best Canon lens for product photography for many reasons. It is a versatile lens with excellent sharpness and details. Therefore, you can use it to highlight the minutest of details of your products with ease.
The lens comes with built-in image stabilization besides a very fast ultrasonic autofocus. The maximum aperture of F/2.8 is also good enough to take excellent photos in all light conditions. Similarly, it maintains the image’s sharpness throughout the focal length.
The focal length is also quite versatile. For example, you can use the minimum focal length to create beautiful product portraits and the maximum focal length for taking some brilliant telephoto shots.
The L-series lens does not only have sturdy construction but it is also weather-sealed to withstand harsh conditions.
The main complaint regarding the lens is that it is quite heavy as well as a bit pricy.
All in all, Canon EF 85mm F/1.2L II USM is the lens for you if you are looking for a versatile lens for your product photography needs.
Product Test Results
Here are the results of tests carried out on the lens.
“This is a great deal. Excellent lens. Great quality. Quite heavy so i recommend getting a wrist support if using for longer periods of time, as it does start to put strain on the arm for to the weight. I wouldn’t trade this for anything though. Well worth the $$”
9. Canon EF-S 10-18mm F/4.5-5.6 IS STM: Affordable Lens for Product Photography
Canon EF-S 10-18mm F/4.5-5.6 IS STM is another very cheap lens for product photography. It has a perfect focal range for creating amazing landscapes photos, giving a new perspective to your products.
The lens also has optical image stabilization, resulting in sharp and crisp images. The stepping motor autofocus is silent and fast, tracking the objects within seconds. It is also a nice option for recording noise-free videos.
The closest focusing distance of only 0.22m means you can get incredibly close to your subjects to take some great close-ups as well.
The lightweight lens will cost you less than $200. However, it struggles in low light due to a narrow aperture range.
Product Test Results
Here are the results of tests carried out on the lens.
“This lens is amazing. It was easily the best decision for an inexpensive wide angle. I’m a photographer that is pretty hard on my equipment. Don’t let the plastic fool you. It’s durable, sturdy and I couldn’t be happier with it. Amazing.”
10. Canon EF 35mm F/1.4L II USM: Good Lens for Product Photograhy
Canon EF 35mm F/1.4L allows you to take spectacular photographs outdoors due to its wider focal length. Similarly, the F/1.4 aperture ensures outstanding performance in low light besides creating beautiful background blurs to highlight all the details of your products.
Fluorine coating on the front and rear surfaces also ensure sharps and crisp images. You can use the weather-sealed lens in anywhere you want. The L-series lens is also robust enough to survive bumps and falls. The lens also has all the features to reduce chromatic aberration, lens flaring, and ghosting.
The autofocus is also quite fast but not as silent as in the case of a stepping motor. The closest focusing distance of 0.28 meters also results in beautiful close-ups of your products.
The only problem with the lens is its high price. Otherwise, it is one of the best prime lenses for product photography on the market.
Product Test Results
Here are the results of tests carried out on the lens.
“Why I first went with the Sigma 35 i have no clue! Ended up getting this one after my sigma took a fall and was getting repaired. I know am selling my Sigma 35m because it can’t compete with the canon version. Its worth every penny.”
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Which focal length is perfect for product photography?
You need a lens that can focus sharply at any focal length. Similarly, different products and shooting at different times of the day also influence the decision when it comes to choosing the focal length. However, the best focal length for product photography is 35-60mm for APS-C sensors and 5-100mm for full-frame sensors.
2. Is a 50mm lens good for product photography?
50mm lenses are ideal for product photography because of their relatively wide field of view. They can capture most products without having any distortion in the images.
3. Is a macro lens good for product photography?
Macro lenses enable you to take beautiful close-ups as well as portraits of your products. They are versatile lenses offering you a lot of choices when it comes to photographing products.
Final Thoughts
With this, we conclude our guide to the best Canon lens for product photography. I hope you can find the lens according to your requirements and budgets after reading our guide. We also encourage you to suggest a lens that you think deserves a place on our list.