Last Updated on July 10, 2024 by Adams
The critical point for furniture managers to understand is that you are not selling just wardrobes and sofas! You give the dream of comfort, helping people to organize it correctly. That is why the success of your trade directly depends on the visual perception of sofas and wardrobes. We have compiled some of the best lens for furniture photography in the article. We suggest you keep on exploring your search and have a look at them.
The secret of successful photography of furniture and décor is effortless – trust those who know how to photograph furniture and learn how to do it. There are many nuances in this process, including:
- Purpose and quality of furniture;
- Compliance with the correct interior;
- Lighting features;
- Photographic angle;
- Focal length between the subject and the eye, between the background and the subject;
- The storyline of the interior;
The presence and proper arrangement of other items help create a picture of well-being and comfort.
First, you need to choose the right camera, special optics and organize good, correct lighting. For indoor photography, wide-angle optics are used; they allow you to capture as much space as possible.
However, it would be best if you never forgot that it is with wide-angle lenses that there are significant linear distortions. It is necessary to consider this and correctly construct the space in the frame.
It often makes sense to take several structures and then glue the panorama, for example, in Photoshop. Most experts agree that an optic from 16mm to 24mm will give the widest image. However, too wide will distort the perspective. Therefore, make sure you have a suitable optic for the size of the room you intend to photograph.
Even if you have the perfect stability of the hands-on camera, the chances are still there to get blurry images as a result. Therefore, if you want your interior photos to be of stunning quality and tinkling sharpness, the use of a tripod is necessary. Further, use the camera’s shutter timer as an additional measure for stabilization.
In terms of a camera, furniture photography is one of the most undemanding genres. The furniture is still and will not run away anywhere – it means the camera does not need cool autofocus (mostly, even autofocus is not so critical in general); we shoot in good conditions.
By and large, you can take good pictures of furniture with any camera. However, it isn’t easy to get a stable result. Moreover, cameras with non-removable optics will not be very convenient either, you can also shoot with them, but again there will be no flexibility in the results.
Therefore, the availability of interchangeable optics is almost the only requirement for a camera for furniture photography. In addition, it will be a DSLR or a mirrorless – it does not matter absolutely.
In addition, lighting equipment plays a significant role in photographing furniture and interiors; most often, natural light is not enough. The built-in flash will also not allow you to take high-quality pictures. Therefore, it is necessary to provide for the presence of additional lightings, such as unique luminaires, external flashlights, reflectors, and other lighting equipment.
When choosing to light, you must consider its type. Depending on the type of lighting, the camera sets the correct white balance on the gray card. For good detail, high sharpness, the aperture value should be low; the iso sensitivity is high enough. Shutter speeds at these apertures and artificial lighting are usually long, so a tripod is necessary.
Technically, you can shoot furniture with any optic; however, unlike cameras, it makes sense to choose the best results because the images’ quality depends on the optics. For our prestigious readers, we have reviewed a few lenses in detail.
Best Lens for Furniture Photography (Comparison)
| Name | Dimensions | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN | 9.1 x 9.1 x 9.1 inches | 4.25 Pounds | |
| Samyang 85mm F1.4 | 3.5 x 2.8 x 3.5 inches | 1.1 Pounds | Check Price |
| Samyang SYXP85-C XP 85mm f/1.2 | 4.6 x 3.7 x 3.7 inches | 2.3 Pounds | Check Price |
Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN
Sigma introduced the 24-70 mm 2.8 DG DN Art back in November 2019 and thus meets the high-intensity standard zoom requirements of owners of mirrorless full-frame system cameras with Sony E-Mount and Leica-L-Mount.
Further, it gives intense competition to similar bright all-round zooms from other manufacturers, but some of them cost more than twice the cost.
It is one of five Sigma optics of the Art series, which are equipped with the designation DG DN (as of January 2021). While the “DG” designates optics suitable for 36x24mm sensors, the DN indicates that it has design for mirrorless system cameras.
There are two wide rubber rings, with which you can adjust the focal length and focus, attached to the robust housing of the optic, which is sealed against environmental influences. The non-slip rubber coating is around two centimeters wide for the zoom ring and around 2.5 centimeters for the focus ring.
You can zoom from 24 to 70 mm; the tube extends by 3.5 centimeters and noticeably pumps air. The zoom ring runs smoothly, and markings at 24, 35, 50, and 70 mm make it easier to set a desired focal length.
Further, at the front end, there is a plastic thread for 82-millimeter filters and a bayonet for the tulip-shaped hood, which is part of the standard equipment. The front optic does not move during the focus setting. Thus, it is Ideal for polarizing filters and other rotating filter systems.
The focus switch on the lens must be at “MF” to set the internal focus manually. The focus ring has no mechanical coupling to the focus system but transmits its data precisely in the electronic form to the focus motor.
The transfer of the focus is not linear, i.e., if the focus ring is rotated faster, then the focus distance increases compared to the same rotation at a slower speed. Nevertheless, it is very convenient for furniture photographers.
There are 19 lenses arranged in 15 groups to meet the requirements of mirrorless full-frame cameras. These include six optics made of FLD glass and two made of SLD glass.
Both the FLD and the SLD glass have a low refractive index. The FLD glass also impresses with its high transmission and the reduction of secondary chromatic aberration, which provide the best results for furniture photography. The SLD glass has the same task and reduces chromatic aberrations in the image.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Excellent light intensity | Missing stabilizer |
| Reasonable price | |
| Incredible sharpness |
Conclusion:
The Sigma 24-70 2.8 DG DN Art is very elegant, functional, and easy to grip. Thanks to the high light intensity, you can use it for various shooting situations like furniture photography, and it is equipped with extensive seals to be prepared for any weather.
Samyang 85mm F1.4
The new 85mm lens from Samyang fits perfectly on Canon cameras. Samyang built this optic to be weatherproof: like the AF 14mm 2.8 EF, it also has a water-repellent rubber coating on the bayonet. Additionally, the front and rear elements are fixed and do not move when focusing. Ingress of dust that settles between the elements will therefore not be a problem.
It comes with a nice case, a front and back cover, and an easy-to-attach hood. It allows you to screw on filters with a diameter of 77mm.
The camera sets the aperture electronically. The available apertures range from f / 1.4 to f / 16 and can be set in three steps. It stores all EXIF information and is correctly identified as an 85mm 1.4 optic in Adobe Lightroom.
This 85mm f / 1.4 EF AF comprises nine elements divided into seven groups, including a hybrid aspherical lens. Each optical element has received an Ultra Multi-Coating treatment to reduce flare and stray reflections.
An LSM linear motor associated with a single optical assembly ensures focusing. Its diaphragm contains nine blades for a circular opening favoring bokeh. There is 90 cm of minimum focusing distance with this lens.
The autofocus is quiet so that you can use it without problems during furniture photography or even in outdoor shooting. However, the minimally audible focusing noise reminded me a bit of the writing noise of a hard drive.
Moreover, a selector placed on the lens barrel allows you to switch from autofocus to manual focusing quickly. It is firm and stays in place in the desired position. Above all, the optic enables manual retouching of the point in autofocus, which is very appreciable given its substantial aperture and shallow depth of field at f / 1.4.
With the autofocus, motorization there is a total absence of noise and the fast operation while remaining soft and progressive. The movement of the optical unit does not cause any imbalance when handling.
It offers impressive depths while shooting from any angle. You can compare it to the “feeling of sharpness” or the “precision” that one observes in an image. You will get a fantastic furniture photography experience that is independent of focal length and aperture.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Lightness and compactness | Chromatic aberration in outdoor shooting |
| Manual stitch retouching | |
| Perfectly silent autofocus |
Conclusion:
The Samyang 85mm 1.4 is a lightweight and tiny lens with good sharpness that you can use in furniture photography and many other scenarios. The weather resistance makes it a perfect travel companion. Its size, weight, and feel are excellent.
Samyang SYXP85-C XP 85mm f/1.2 EF
Samyang Premium MF 85mm is a short telephoto lens for a full DSLR and a mirrorless. The manual focus is a 10-element optic, divided into seven groups, including one aspherical and two high refractive lenses.
Further, it contains a multi-layer UMC anti-reflective coating to avoid ghosting and glare. It has a minimum focal length of 80 cm and a maximum zoom ratio of 0.13x.
It features a soft drawstring case and a large round plastic hood. Adopt a 93 mm large filter. Chromatic aberration, which often appears as purple or blue edges on opposite ends, is well controlled and provides excellent furniture photography.
However, with this optic, you can see the light hitting the corners. The pause helps, but using an aperture of f/1.4 or less is necessary to eliminate this phenomenon.
Moreover, as it is a lens with manual focus, it has a distance scale ranging from 0.8 meters to infinity (although not a depth of field scale).
The focus ring is well moisturized, making it easy to focus on the subject quickly and accurately, and it rotates 180 degrees. The focus is on the inside, so the length of the Samyang Premium MF 85mm f / 1.2 does not change, and the Filter does not spin, which is good news for filter users.
The high-resolution optics are specially designed for the exceptional professional capabilities of Canon cameras. It also features a high-speed maximum f/1.2 aperture that provides:
- Improved low light performance.
- Faster shutter speeds.
- A very shallow depth of field for selective focus effects.
In addition, the manual focus control provides narrow focus up to 31 inches away. One of the reasons to buy this lens is its ability to separate the subject from the background that helps to make your furniture photographs exceptional.
Samyang seems to understand this very well, as they use a circular 9-blade iris diaphragm to achieve blurred markings. Based on this, we can say that they are successful.
It is a vast and heavy optic, considering the average focal length of a telephoto lens. However, the quality of construction is excellent. It has a metal body and a frame. The focal length is simple and heavily sanded for easy grip, but this surface quickly gets dirt and fingerprints.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| The focal length of 80 cm | Heavy for novice users |
| Multi-layer UMC anti-reflective coating | |
| Premium quality |
Conclusion:
It provides 50MP image quality and 8K video output with excellent selective focus, bokeh, and low light capabilities. Besides, a high-quality telephoto lens offers exceptional optical performance even in large apertures.
Final Verdict:
Digital photography has provided us with a unique opportunity not to think about how many frames are left on the film. Instead, play with the camera – change lenses and settings. To have an idea of how to shoot furniture and interiors, familiarize yourself with the works of recognized masters of shooting furniture and interiors, look at the websites of agencies and studios engaged in professional photography of interiors, photos on photo stocks.
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