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This is the fourth post in a series about focal length for food photography. Check out the other posts in this series, 35mm, 50mm & 85mm.
I distinctly remember a certain point in my food photography journey that I wasn’t capturing the shots that I wanted to at 45-degree angles.
So I sat down with my husband Matt, and we tried to figure out why. Long story short, I was wanting to create images that were likely shot with a 100 – 105mm focal length (also known as a narrow macro lens).
This narrow macro lens is a staple in any food photographer’s kit. Here are why I love it and a few drawbacks.
RELATED: 4 Ultimate Food Photography Lenses For Beautiful Photos
Beautiful Shallow Depth of Field (DoF)
The 100 – 105mm focal length is usually a macro lens. The reason this is important is that it gives a shallow depth of field.
The way that aperture and DoF work has a lot to do with the distance between the lens and the subject. Because a macro lens has a small minimum focusing distance, we can get up close to our subjects.
This creates that beautiful blur that a lot of us get into digital photography for.
Apertures of f/5.6-f/8 are still quite shallow, which means the larger apertures can give us even less DoF if we wish. It’s beautiful for food portraiture shots.
105mm Focal Length is Best for 45-Degree Shots
The lenses of the 105mm focal length really shine at the 45-degree angle (or similar angles). Part of that has to do with the fact that this narrow focal length can remove perspective distortion that we’d see with wide-angle lenses at similar distances.
We also typically see a nice mix of blur and tack-sharp focus with this lens that forces the viewer to focus on the main recipe, hero food or details that tell our food story.
Lens Quiz
Which Lens Matches Your Food Photography Style?
Get Close With Macro Minimum Focusing Distance
The real beauty of narrow focal lengths with a macro lens is that they have small minimum focusing distances. This means we can get up close and personal with our food.
Macro shots get us much closer than other lenses, especially narrow lenses. You won’t be able to get as close as you can with the 85mm as you can with the 105mm focal length (or 100mm equivalent).
At close proximity to subjects, we are really trying to focus on the details of food. It is therefore important that our shots are in focus. DoF is usually very shallow at close up shots, and focus technique is imperative.
Macro Food Shots Are Great For Sharing Food’s Details
Macro shots are a key part of telling a food story. You’ll often see a details shot (macro shot) in a diptych that helps viewers to understand the food they are seeing.
If you think about why you love certain foods, chances are there are certain details that you love. Like the texture of pecan nuts. Toasted merging swirls. The luscious lines of dulce de leche.
Macro shots can give us that instant understanding of what the food would feel like as we devour it! How do you feel when you look at these shots?
Narrow Macros Are Hard to Shoot With in Small Spaces
Many food photographers start their journey with photography by shooting food at home. It’s highly likely that you know exactly how it feels to be shooting in the most random of places in your house. Most of them with your back against the wall, trying to get more space in.
I started food photography in a small one-bedroom apartment. The living area doubled as our lounge and TV area, dining, home office and food photography setups.
If you have little space in which to move your setup or tripod, this lens can be a challenge. If you’re shooting with a cropped sensor camera, then you are even more prohibited by space.
Size And Weight Can Tough to Steady. A Tripod Needed.
Generally, the narrower a focal length, the heavier the associated lens. The 105mm lens is not the heaviest lens I’ve used for photography, but it is a decent weight and size if you’re trying to do macro photography and you don’t have the steadiest of hands!
Yes, you can use VR, but as someone with shaky hands, it’s still a challenge to get in-focus shots. Let along taking the plane of focus into account.
I find the best results with shooting food photography come from using the lens on a tripod. Which can limit your creative exploration when it comes to composition.
Lens Quiz
Which Lens Matches Your Food Photography Style?
Not a Focal Length Most Cropped Sensor Uses Will Shoot At.
If you shoot with a full-frame, I highly recommend the 100 – 105mm focal length. If you shoot with a cropped sensor, then it’s more of a conversation.
To put it simply, 100 – 105mm focal length on a cropped sensor is super tight. Usually too tight to tell a food story and a real challenge for composition.
I do highly recommend having a macro and narrow focal length to photograph food. For cropped sensor uses (who are unlikely to upgrade to a full-frame, now or in the future), then you might want to consider getting the 60mm macro (90mm equivalent).
RELATED: Best Focal Lengths in Food Photography For Cropped Sensor Cameras
Do you enjoy using narrow focal lengths such as the 100 – 105mm focal length?
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Ashley Madden
The picture with the frozen berries/parfait might be my FAVORITE picture of all time 馃檪
xo
Ash
Rachel
It’s so pretty right! That shallowness. I think that’s what gets a lot of us into photography in the first place. It’s always so pretty to look at!
Angie
Do all macro lenses tend to hunt when focusing? I have a 90mm and it is loud and Can hunt a lot if it isn鈥檛 super bright. Wondering if I should try another lens or if this is the norm
Rachel
Hey Angie, I think they do tend to hunt a little more than other lenses do. I have noticed that in poor lighting or where there is also a lack of contrast we can experience this. Where there is poor lighting, I use the flashlight on my phone to help the lens find a point to focus on. You can see me using it here in this post: https://twolovesstudio.com/blog/iphone-features-improve-your-photography/. If you still have issues, using manual focus can help in LiveView as plane of focus can sometimes still be an issue with autofocus and macro lenses.
Amina
Hey Rachel! Thanks for the advice on getting the 60mm for a crop sensor camera (vs the 105mm). Currently I just have a kit lens, the nifty fifty and a crop sensor camera. I’m thinking of going for the 24-70mm zoom lens instead of the 60mm since I feel like when I take overhead shots sometimes I do need to go below 50mm to get a wider view. I don’t typically place my tripod on my table it’s usually on the floor extended as high as it goes, which is why I end up using my kit lens at the lower focal lengths to get the wide shots. Any thoughts on the 24-70mm zoom lens?
Thanks for all your incredible tips as usual!
Rachel
You’re so welcome Amina! Glad you enjoyed it. The reason I suggest the 60mm focal length is because this focal length usually is a macro. That way you are getting shots on a cropped sensor that are similar to a 100mm macro. The zoom 24-70 will get the 60mm focal length but won’t be a macro, so you will be limited by the minimum focusing distance. I do recommend all food photographers have a macro lens as it’s so important to get those close up 45-degree shots. Even if we aren’t at *macro distance*, they will get you closer than other lenses. If you are just after a focal length close to 50mm, I would recommend getting a nifty 50 over the 24-70 due to cost. The 24-70 pro lenses are great, very versatile, they are just very expensive and you could get a couple of primes instead. I am baised to primes as they are sharper at the apertures I shoot for food. Hope that helps! Let me know if you have any questions on my reply!
Amanda
Hi Rachael,
What aperture did you shoot the vanilla pods and meringue swirls at, please? I struggle to get these clean macro shots. Thanks so much for the great article.
Rachel Korinek
Hey Amanda, it was most likely f11-f16. You’re probably facing what is known as ‘plane of focus’ in macro photography. You’ll want to read this post to understand more about how distance and aperture are different with macro photography. Let me know on that post if you have any questions 馃檪
The Secret of Macro Food Photography: Plane of Focus: https://twolovesstudio.com/blog/macro-food-photography-plane-of-focus/
Kathleen
Rachel,
Thank you so much!
I shoot at home in one of those “creative” locations you describe above. I don’t have a lot of flexibility in terms of the working space, but am hoping that I can still make a 100mm work. I have a full frame Canon 6Dii. Is it possible to give a rough idea of distance needed between the tripod/camera and your subject? It looks like closest focus distance is roughly 12 inches/.3 meters. But I’m sure you’re not that close most of the time… On that note, do you recommend a company for lens rentals? I’m in a small town in the US so I don’t have local rental options. I’d like to explore this before I make my decision – if not just to make sure it fits!
With appreciation,
Kathleen
Rachel Korinek
Hi Kathleen, you are correct. The minimum focusing distance is 11.8″ (30cm). I do recommend food photographers having a macro either the 90mm/100mm/105mm. Whilst you might not be up close all the time, it’s nice to have this lens to complement your wider shots. It’s there to take up-close shots of texture. When I say up close, that doesn’t mean you need to take macro shots. You’ll probably be as far away from your subject as a 50mm. The difference is that you’re getting less in the frame. So we aren’t using this lens to capture the same wide scene as a 50mm. We’re using it to hone in on one subject to share with the viewer the gorgeous details of the shot. Something to think about is possible the 90mm Tamron 2.8 macro. That will give you a touch more breathing room in terms of focal length. I haven’t rented in the US, but I wonder if there is a rental service by mail? I am a Nikon NPS (Professional Services) member and I can rent lenses and they will post them to me. I wonder if Canon has something like that?
Amin
i usually shoot with my 90mm macro lens with sony a7riv
sometime shoot with 50mm and 135mm
i want to try 105mm
my instagram @aminmulia35
Rachel Korinek
The 90mm is also a great focal length! I usually love to use the 85mm and 105mm. I hope you feel inspired working with a new lens.
James
Thank you so much for this. Can you achieve the a similar look with a 60mm lens on a full frame camera, but punch in to crop mode (60mm x 1.6 = 96mm). I know it’s not the same, but while saving up, is it worth going this side step (in getting the 60), or is it worth saving up and going straight to the 100-105mm lens?