In product photography, the macro lens plays a significant role in exploring the products. You will find it, especially on eCommerce photography.
Since you have to take pictures of your product and want to brand and promote your product, your camera must require a sharp lens like a macro lens.
It is a prominent element to your camera that brings your products very close with a sharp focus. Therefore, one can see a detailed image of the products, and thus your customer will get attracted especially if it’s on online shoppers.
However, if you’re still confused about whether you need a macro lens for product photography, read the article consciously. Here, I have provided all the necessary information to guide you to start your macro product photography.
So, let’s start the article by defining the macro lens first.
What is a macro lens in product photography?
The meaning of the macro term is large, and when you use a macro lens in product photography, it brings your product very close and captures a more detailed picture with a sharp focus.
It doesn’t matter if your products are too small; this macro lens makes those tiny products much more significant than you have ever thought through your camera sensor.
Usually, the macro lens comes with a magnification lens ratio of 1:1; however, some of them feature more than this 1:1 ratio to capture the larger-sized image of a product compared to its real life.
Most of the time, you will find that the macro lens can reach infinite focusing distance, although the minimum distance varies from 12-inches or less according to the lenses of your camera. This infinite focusing distance will help you in not only product photography but also general photography.
Do I need a macro lens for my product photography?
Yes, of course, you need a macro lens for your product photography. It is a great and versatile lens used for product photography, especially if it is eCommerce photography and also if you are capturing pictures of your tiny products. So, its detailed description can be seen clearly.
The macro lens can take pictures of a product beyond human vision as it is capturing a very close-up photograph. Along with product photography, you can also use it as a portrait lens for portraiture purposes.
A macro lens will help you capture an image with amazing detail while also assisting in achieving correct focus with the exact focal length. And, it doesn’t matter if you stand close to your products.
It basically maximizes the frame, DOF (depth of field), and the resolution of your product’s image and then captures and provides a full detailed view of your product perfectly.
With the help of a macro lens, you will be able to take photographs of electrical parts and supplies, small industrial and automotive pieces, jewelry product items, etc.
All in all, using a macro lens will offer you a lot of versatility while you are shooting close-up pictures of your products and also in your life photography. Besides, this lens can also be used for tightly-cropped types of composition along with photography.
What is the best focal length used for a macro lens in product photography?
The focal length is a very significant factor of a macro lens that makes a huge difference in an image you capture. Several focal lengths are used for a macro lens to achieve the best focused and sharp scale photo in your product’s photography.
However, here the thing is, the longer the focal length of your lens, the further you can shoot that you’re trying to capture.
Well, here, I have provided different focal lengths that are used for a macro lens. It will help you to decide to choose the best one for your product photography.
- 40-60mm
The 40-60mm focal length range of macro lenses is considered perfect for capturing product photographs. This focal length is also great for capturing very close to tiny objects such as small creatures and inanimate objects.
- 90-105mm
The 90-105mm is a mid-range and a classic focal length of a macro lens usually used for macro photography.
You should look no further than this macro lens focal length when you have to capture the picture of small animals, insects, plants, and flowers.
It is a versatile focal length and thus ideal for all of the objects. This is because if you’re using this focal length, there is no need to get closure of your products while taking pictures of them.
Besides, while capturing an eye-close-up image, this classic focal length is one of the most popular choices among the photographer.
- 150-200mm
The 150-200mm is an ideal focal length range if you have to capture the pictures of your objects, such as small insects, from a working distance, and you can’t just get too close to them.
This is because getting closure may scare them, and thus, they will get afraid and unfortunately will leave the place, and you can’t capture them.
So, using this longer macro lens focal length will permit you to have a great and perfect working distance and step back while capturing detailed images that seem like you are very close to your subject.
All right, here, have a look at the chart of different focal lengths used for a macro lens in product photography.
| Focal length range | Focal length | Distance (approx.) from your products at the magnification ratio of 1:1 | Recommended uses of products or objects |
| 40-60mm | 50mm | 20 cm | Jewelry, coins, stamps |
| 90-105mm | 100mm | 30 cm | Small animals, insects, plants, flowers, portraits |
| 150-200mm | 160mm | 50 cm | Large insects, reptiles |
What do you need to consider using a macro lens in product photography?
There are so many things you need to consider while using a macro lens in product photography. Well, here, in this section, I have discussed some of them briefly.
- Stabilizing the shot
If you have to capture macro photos in your product photography, the first thing you need to ensure is that you have stabilized the shot. A steady shot of your product with a sharp focus helps to provide a detailed image without experiencing any vibration issues.
However, to stabilize the shot, you can turn on the image stabilization option on your camera built in it and use a tripod.
- Using the right light
In macro photography, you will need a lot of light while capturing a shot. Besides, you have to ensure the correct light settings, and if there is no natural light, you will have to use artificial light.
But the thing is, you must know the kind of lighting and choose the right light. In this case, you can use a ring light as it delivers a continual light source.
- Using the correct apertures
You will require narrow apertures in macro photography to get a more focused picture of your products. Besides, if you want to keep a sharp image of your products, they have to be the same focal length.
To do so, you need to stop down the apertures to f/18 properly, and then you have to angle the image of your products.
- Try to use the focus stacking option.
To combine diverse pictures of your products, you should use the focus stacking option on your camera with several focus length distances.
- Select your product wisely.
As it is macro product photography, therefore, choose your product wisely. If you look over the focal length table, you will find that different focal lengths of macro lenses are used in several products according to the focal length range.
- Ensure a minimum focal length distance
Since you’re using the macro lens, you should ensure a minimum but appropriate focal length distance for the objects while using the option-Autofocus on your camera. This will help you to take a nice steady shot of your products.
Final verdict
So, after reading the whole article, what do you think now- Do you need a macro lens for your product photography?
Well, a macro lens on your camera acts as a magnifying glass. In the case of your product photography, I will highly recommend you use this macro lens.
The reason is it brings a high-resolution photograph of your products at a larger size than the original one. And thus, the customer can easily view a clear description of your products.
Justin Parker is a professional photographer and has been in the industry since 2007. He attended the University of Georgia. Justin combines his passion for photography and his interest in writing to give life to this blog which talks about photography in order to help and inspire young photographers.
