Are you frequently attending events and wish to capture the beautiful moments in them? All you need is the best lens for event photography to be your companion for the evening and deliver beautiful pictures that stay with you forever!
In this guide, we will dive into the world of the best lens for event photography! We will also investigate several other topics like:
- Features to look for in event photography lenses
- Types of event lenses
- Advancements in lens technology
- Buying guide
- Frequently Asked Questions
Event photography has increased in popularity over the past few years. People like to hire professionals to take photos and pay them large amounts to make their functions memorable. The first and foremost thing is to have a camera with a good lens that can capture amazing photos. If you do not have an event photography lens, then you will not be able to take satisfactory photos. To gain clients and improve your photography skills, you should buy a good lens and then focus on the work. In this article, you will find all the necessary information regarding this.
Why do you need an Event Photography Lens?
It is a common fact that people take the most pictures when they are out at an event. This can be anything like birthdays, weddings, parties, get-togethers, or more. People are well dressed and ready to take pictures because it is the ideal time for them. However, conventional camera lenses and mobile phones do not do justice to every event. Most people want the best possible pictures and for this, you need the best lens for indoor event photography.
For a large number of people, a wide-angle lens is suitable and similarly, portrait lenses are used to capture photos of a single person. Sometimes, you need to take snaps of the food, party decorations, or event halls so then you will need a telephoto lens. In all cases, you will require an event lens otherwise, the results will not be satisfactory.
10 Best Lenses for Event Photography
The following is a brief overview of all the lenses on our list.
| Image | Model Name | Lens Type | Focus Type | Check Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Nikon AF-S FX 85mm f1.4 |
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| Check Price |
 | Sony FE 85mm f1.4 |
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| Check Price |
 | Canon EF 50mm f1.8 |
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| Check Price |
 | Panasonic LUMIX 25mm |
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| Check Price |
 | Sony FE 50mm |
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| Check Price |
 | Olympus Zuiko 40-150mm |
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| Check Price |
 | Nikon AF-S 50mm F1.8 |
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| Check Price |
 | YONGNUO YN 35mm |
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| Check Price |
 | Canon EF 24-70mm |
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| Check Price |
 | Venus Laowa 17mm F1.8 |
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| Check Price |
1. Nikon AF-S FX 85mm f1.4: Best Lens for Indoor Event Photography
This is a telephoto lens by Nikon. It has an 85mm focal length which helps in producing excellent telephoto effects. The aperture size is 1.4 that is suitable for low light photography because it allows more light to enter the lens. You can focus the objects as close as 3 feet so you will not miss any important detail in the photo. The lens is covered with nanocrystals coating that decreases the glare considerably. In bright lighting conditions, the picture remains clear no matter how much the reflection is. Due to its silent wave motor, this device is considered the best lens for indoor event photography.
Nikon has a special technique to manufacture the glass. It is known as Precision Glass Moulding (PGM) and it softens the glass after heating it to produce an aspherical shape. This has several benefits to the conventional round lenses as it reduces the blurriness in pictures, takes less space, and has a slim design. Nature photographers will find this very useful as they can carry the lens anywhere easily. This device is priced at $1030 which is definitely on the higher side but still lower than many competitors.
2. Sony FE 85mm f1.4: Best Event Photography Lens
Sony is a trusted name when it comes to camera lenses. This is a standard lens having a focal length of 85mm and a variable aperture from f1.4 to f16. The filter size is 67mm. This device has an incredible spatial frequency of 50 line pairs/mm which helps in laser-sharp focus on any area. There are 3 aspherical elements in this lens and one of these is the extreme-aspherical (XA) section made from less than 0.01-micron precision. This makes it one of thebest lenses for indoor photography.The photographs produced have the minimum amount of glares and blurriness.
The f1.4 aperture is suitable for night photography as well because it performs well in low light conditions. Moreover, you can create beautiful bokeh effects to produce a mixture of blurred and clear elements. The aperture has 11 blades that enable pinpoint control over the scene. The G Master design by Sony is helpful to create amazing effects for your photos. Another cool part of this event photography lens is its Supersonic Wave Motor (SSM) which produces minimum noise and sharp focus which is ideal in indoor shooting conditions. The price of this product is $1700 which is surely high for a lens!
Apart from this, the nano-coating on the lens helps to reduce the reflections and allows the maximum amount of light to enter it. It also keeps the lens safe in rainy and dusty conditions so outdoor photographers shall have no problem using it. The exciting design of the buttons and controls on the lens is a distinguishing feature of Sony lenses. You can select auto or manual focus with the push of a button which makes your life a lot easier.
3. Canon EF 50mm f1.8: Best Lens for Outdoor Photography
The Canon EF lens is not a product to be missed. It is a standard 50mm lens having a maximum aperture size of f/1.8. This makes it a good choice for outdoor clicks because you can also capture wide-angle views with it. You can focus your object from a minimum distance of 0.35 meters and magnify it up to 0.21x times. It has a stepping motor that allows users to take extremely quick and silent shots even in the most drastic moments. The viewing angle is 46° that helps in providing a large area to be photographed.
The most amazing part of this device is that it costs only $125. This makes it one of the cheapest event photography lenses in the market today. There are 6 elements for the aperture which allow you to adjust the amount of light that comes into the camera. It is also small in size so you can carry it on your hiking or picnic trips. You will never miss a memorable moment when you have this lens with you. So, do check this lens if you want an affordable one!
4. Panasonic LUMIX 25mm: Most Compact Event Lens
The Panasonic LUMIX is a power-packed device that should not be missed by any chance. It is a standard 25 mm lens with an f1.7 aperture setting. This lens is suitable for mirrorless cameras. The highlight of this product is its small size as it is only 2 inches in length and weighs just 125 grams. This is nothing as compared to other event lenses that need several people to handle them. There are 2 aspherical elements and 1 high-resolution section in the lens that delivers unmatched performance.
Priced at only $148 and having such amazing features, it is truly surprising that such a device exists at all. It has other versions with higher focal lengths as well, ranging from 35mm to 200mm. To decrease the glare effect due to reflections, Panasonic has coated it with nanoparticles that improve the picture quality significantly.
The aperture has 8 different elements that you can adjust according to your requirements. In outdoor conditions, you can use the natural light and you would not need to open the aperture a lot but for event photography, you would need more light since indoor conditions are different. This lens will work best in both conditions so you should surely give it a try.
5. Sony FE 50mm: Most Versatile Lens for Events
The Sony FE series devices give outstanding performance when it comes to photography. This is a 50mm standard lens having an f1.8 aperture size. It has a compact size but it is loaded with features. The small aperture is helpful for low light pictures that make this one of the best lens for indoor event photography. Many people find it difficult to carry large cameras at parties but the Sony FE does not cause any problem there. The cost of this lens is $248 which is remarkable for a Sony product because they are generally expensive.
There are 7 aperture blades and you can easily control their operation to adjust the light entering the device. The filter size is 49mm and the overall length is not more than 3 inches. It has the famous E-mount system that helps you to attach it with most of the Sony devices. If you want to add some storage, you can pay $30 extra to get a 128 GB memory card. In this way, you will never run out of memory to capture the amazing party pictures!
6. Olympus Zuiko 40-150mm: Best Lens for Professional Photographers
If you take a first look at this device, you will be shocked to see its massive size. The Olympus Zuiko Digital ED is a telephoto lens having a large focal range of 40-150mm. The aperture varies from f 4.0 to f 5.6. The most famous part of this device is its amazing zoom capabilities. It has a massive 3.75x zoom function which is one of the highest for an event lens. This will help in indoor and outdoor photos because you can focus on your subject easily.
Despite being large, it is lightweight and handy to carry around. Once you attach it to the camera, you will not feel much difference as compared to other lenses. It has a large 80-300 mm field of view and a focus range of 90 cm. Olympus has a special linear drive motor that can record movies and take snaps at the same time. The operation is also soundless which brings an amazing experience for the photographer as well. It also has 5-axis image stabilization that brings amazing stability to the photos you take. The lens costs only $175 that is a great price for such a device.
7. Nikon AF-S 50mm F1.8: Best Lens for Wide Angle
Nikon is a professional brand for cameras and lenses. This one is an f1.8, 50mm lens that is full of amazing features. Having an elegant design and great picture quality, this is one of the best lenses for event photography. You can focus up to 0.45-meter range. The lens has Nikon’s silent wave motor that delivers soundless operation so you can discreetly take photos at any party. It has an aspherical element that is designed for optimum performance in various conditions. The 50 mm focal length is equal to 75mm which is an added benefit of this device.
The Nikon AF-S allows you to capture pictures with small depth so the actual subject can be focused easily. The lens is coated with the super integrated coating from Nikon which has several protective layers to keep the elements safe and secure. The cost of this device is $217 which is a competitive one for this level of performance in a lens. Users can shift from automatic to manual focus within one second by just adjusting the ring on the lens. One downside of this device is that it does not have a zoom function, therefore; it is more suited towards indoor photography.
8. YONGNUO YN 35mm: Most Affordable Event Photography Lens
You may have never heard about this brand before but it is not an ordinary one. This is a wide-angle lens having a focal length of 35mm and apertures from f22 to f2. It has a 63 degrees viewing angle that is pretty high for an event photography lens. There are 2 focus modes, automatic and manual and they can be toggled from the switch on the device. The unique part of this device is its design which resembles a tire.
7 lens elements contribute to crystal clear pictures. The amount of light entering the device can be adjusted easily. This lens can be mounted on Canon devices as well. It is priced at $106 only so it is one of the least expensive lenses that we have ever tested. The picture quality is decent as well because it gives you variables aperture, large focal length, and sufficient viewing angles.
9. Canon EF 24-70mm: Best Canon Lens for Event Photography
The Canon EF 24-70mm is a beastly device. It has a huge focal length range from 24 to 70 mm. The aperture size ranges from f2.8 to f22 which allows you to capture photos with a variety of effects. The filters in the lens are 82mm and the minimum distance for focus is 0.38 meters. Built from highly durable materials and packing impressive features, this is one of the best Canon lenses for event photography. However, its price tag is impressive as well because it costs a whopping $1900. 3 high-performance UD elements in the lens help to reduce the aberrations and glare.
The diaphragm has 9 blades which enable the user to precisely control the amount of light entering the device. The viewing angle ranges from 84° – 34° which is good for event photography lenses. The small focal lengths allow you to take wide-angle photos so that no member of the party remains outside the picture! Canon’s advanced CPU and image stabilization technology allow you to take extremely clear and accurate pictures wherever you go. You will get a lens case, hood, and 1-year warranty if you purchase the product. By paying $40 extra, you can also get a 128 GB memory card and ring for the device as well!
10. Venus Laowa 17mm F1.8: Most Beautiful Lens for Events
The Laowa is not a well-known brand like Sony or Canon but its devices are surely worth checking out. The Venus Laowa is a 17 mm lens and it has an aperture of f1.8 to f22. The striking design of this event lens is noticeable as it has a petal-shaped front side. There is also a blue line running across the device which gives it an elegant look. There are a total of 9 elements in this device and 7 diaphragm blades which help in producing excellent pictures.
It has the shortest focusing distance of 15 cm that allows you to take macro shots. This feature makes it one of the best lenses for event photography because users can capture minute details like flower arrangements, decoration pieces, food items, etc. At many parties, these types of things contribute to excellent pictures so you should consider this device. The price is also reasonable as it costs only $150. The low dispersion glass takes off the glare from the photos so you will always get clear snaps in every lighting condition. Overall, this is an amazing lens that you can buy for events.
Final Words
There is a huge variety of lenses available for various purposes. Event photography is one of the most common applications for lenses and cameras because most of the pictures are taken at some sort of event. People may choose a lens randomly but if you want personalized photos, you should do careful research on event photography lenses because they have several distinguishing features to look for.
In this guide, we have studied the 10 best lenses for event photography. The devices were explored thoroughly and their features like design, focal length, aperture, processing power, glass type, and price were considered. After going through this article, the user can easily decide on the type of lens to buy. They can also compare different devices through the pros and cons which give important information at a glance.
How To Buy The Best Lens for Event Photography?
When you are looking for the best event lens, you should consider the following factors.
Focal length
Focal length is a key factor to consider when buying the event photography lens. In most events, people like a variety of photos like wide-angle group pictures, portraits, macro shots of decoration or food, and other types of snaps. Therefore, the best option is to get a lens that has a variable focal length. The lower focal length will help you in wide-angle pictures and larger focal lengths help in telephotos. Therefore, an ideal range would be 24-70mm focal length. This will allow decent group pictures and standard single portraits or scenic shots as well.
Aperture Size
Aperture size indicates the opening of the lens element. The smaller the number, the larger is the aperture which means that the lens opens more when the f score is small. Since most events are indoors and they usually have good lighting, there is no need for a large aperture in an event lens. You can get any lens with an aperture size smaller than f8 because. In most lenses, the lens opening can be controlled easily so you will not have any problem in that case.
Lens Coating
This has become an essential part these days. Most event photography lenses need to have some sort of protective coating on the lens glass which keeps them safe and also reduces the glare effects. Usually, in the indoor events, lighting causes reflections or aberrations so you should always look for a device that minimizes these effects. Nano coating is very helpful to produce the finest photos and keep the lens secure as well.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What lens is good for events?
There are many great event photography lenses on the market. Some of the best ones are listed below:
- Canon EF 50mm f/1.4
- Nikon AF-S 50mm
- Nikon NIKKOR 85mm f/1.4G.
- Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L
- Nikon 24 -120mm f/4G.
- Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG
- Sony FE 85mm
- Sony 90mm f/2.8 Macro G.
- Nikon NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED
- What cameras do National Geographic Photographers use?
National Geographic photographers use different cameras for nature and wildlife photography. Most of the professionals use Nikon D850 or D810 cameras and the lenses range from 14 mm to 300 mm focal lengths. The apertures are mostly kept small from f1.4 to f2.8 so that good lighting can be captured.
- What is the most important tool in photography?
This is an interesting question because many people would consider their high-end cameras or lenses to be the great tools for photography. However, this is not true because the most critical tool is your mind and creativity. How you capture a moment or scene is the main thing in photography. You can take the simplest of scenes and capture them beautifully due to your creativity.
- What type of photography is in demand?
If you are thinking of making money from your photos, then you can do it in several ways. Stock photography can be done by selling pictures or videos. While many people like nature pictures, they are not likely to pay for seeing such stuff. On the other hand, portrait pictures are in demand and you can earn a lot through freelancing. Also, event photography is always in demand as people like to hire professionals to take photos for their memorable events.