Top Lenses for Food Photography | Part 2

Want to get started with Artificial Lighting? Check out my FREE mini course, to help you Pick Your Perfect Light at thebiteshot.com/pick-your-per...
Find more food photography resources at thebiteshot.com
Sign up for food photography tips and to stay up to date with new videos at thebiteshot.com/subscribe/
For a full listing of all my gear see thebiteshot.com/food-photogra...
Rather be reading? My book Picture Perfect Food is at thebiteshot.com/picture-perfe...

[@puneetbhola5104]

It's been a while since I got your notification and it's always good to see you explaining photography stuff in your way .....have a great day and looking forward to see you a lot more on KZbin

[@isamj11]

I was asking myself questions about this exact subject this morning, much appreciated thank you 😊

[@REKlaus]

Long before digital cameras existed, my go to lenses where a 28-70 and a 80-200. There wasn't much I couldn't use one or the other for. The 28-70 had macro so could get close with it. thanks for the time and effort you put into these videos for us.

[@niyaivanova1193]

Hi Joannie, Thank you for all the wonderful videos! I've learned so much from you! I would love it if you could make a video on manual focus lenses.

[@LebaneserScrooge]

Hi! I'm so glad I've found your channel! I'm in the process of "binge watching" all of your videos, but wanted to come to your most recent one to leave a comment. I'm a chef with 30 years of cooking experience, but have zero experience with being a camera operator or editor. I've taken a year off to give a go at youtube and I'm currently shooting everything with my phone. I would love if you have a few minutes to "audit" me, any advice you have would be great!

[@Narsuitus]

I have tilt/shift lenses for my small format cameras. However, when I really need tilt/shift features, I use my 4x5 inch monorail view camera with complete front and back shift/tilt/swing features.

[@MrPhilbautista]

If you shoot a lot of food videos, you might want to consider a probe lens. It's a long, narrow barreled lens with a wide aperture and a high max aperture and you can create a lot of interesting images due to its unique perspective but it's a definite "rent first" lens since it's quite niche. 2 of the more popular makers for this type of lens are Laowa and AstrHori and you might be able to hit them up for a loaner to review and they might even give it to you once they see your channel. Two more things, it will definitely be easier to use if you have a motorized slider and you'll definitely need a lot of light because of the small max aperture. While these lenses usually come with a set of LEDs surrounding the front lens, they're not very flattering and you may have to deal with some color corrections.

[@Ramadoctor09]

Mam your so awesome ,I am from india the way u teaching really impressive mam

[@jaimeduncan6167]

Thanks for sharing your experience. Your results talk by themselves, but just to add a grain of salt, I love my primes for portrait sessions, including the fact that force me to work and help me keep a look for the full session, another thread in the coherency game. On the other hand, for something like food or constrained spaces, zooms are simply better. The days when primes' image quality where far superior to zooms are long gone.

[@TheBiteShot]

That's a great point about portraits! I recently started dabbling in film and that had a similiar impact on me which was so valuable!

[@rogeriogamaarquiteturaefoto]

a Tilt-N-Shift é uma excelente lente, para food, e arquitetura! Uma pena o preço para o BR, pois me seria de grande valia... uso só a 10-18mm para minhas obras de arquitetura e decoração, mas o sonho é a TS! Parabéns! Lhe acompanho a bom tempo por aqui ;)

[@DarqChildNYC]

As always, great information! You are truly an educator at heart! I love tilt-shift lenses but they are super expensive. My solution was to get a medium format Mamiya Sekor C 55mm f2.8 lens and a Fotodiox TLT ROKR adapter to indulge in the tilt-shift lens experience without committing to the tilt-shift lens price. It works great and the adapters for most modern camera mounts is about $219. You can then adapt a plethora of medium format Mamiya, Pentax, and even some full frame lenses from Canon, Nikon, etc. I paid $200 for the Mamiya lens on Ebay. All in $419 NOT $2K-$4k:) Win-win:)

[@TheBiteShot]

That's fantastic! Love a creative solution like that.

[@MrJohanswa]

tilt-shift is the best!!! 85 and 45 mm for me.

[@TheBiteShot]

The 85 opened up so many fun possibilities for me!

[@kcdigital65]

I so much want a pc lens due to my experience with studio view cameras with tilt /shift ability. It gives crazy control.

[@DayOneVoiceover]

Thanks for touching on the T/S lens. You teased last week that you would review it. I’ll venture into that lens some day. What focal length did you short with the 70-200 (sorry if I missed it)? Most spaces I’ve ever shot food photography in has felt too constrained for the longer length, especially at 45°.

[@TheBiteShot]

Great question! When I'm in the 70 - 200 I am usually in the 80 to 90 range for stills, but for video work when I'm working at my kitchen island, I go 140, 180+ to get tight shots of food action in moments when I can't get the camera physically close.

[@galleyofgail6772]

You had me at focus peaking! Do you know if the Z5 has that feature?

[@TheBiteShot]

I know it's on the Z6, 7, 8 and 9. Not sure on the 5. Touch base with Nikon support and they should be able to confirm.

[@randompsualumni]

Joannie I come from a Real estate photography world where we do alot of layer masking and regarding your second example of the 85mm TS could you do 2 shots for example one at tack sharp focus throughout and one intentionally misfocused and do a layer mask to apply blur where intended?

[@elcywang6516]

Another fantastic video that helped me understand the function and purpose of specialty lenses! Thanks for demystifying how a tilt shift lens works. Side note: in a future video, could you explain the purpose of using a lens hood? By the way - your kids are so adorable, especially when they are trying to imitate you. :-)

[@TheBiteShot]

So glad! Here's a short explainer on why lens hoods are helpful www.tiktok.com/t/ZT8g7B21D/

[@elcywang6516]

@@TheBiteShotThank you!

[@eerofi]

Good conten, thanks! But anyone else feeling claustrophobic while looking at the cereal spoon slightly touching the edge of the photo? 🤔

[@nethbt]

I still believe that the 60mm 2.8 macro is the most versatile for food photography

[@TheBiteShot]

I can definitely see that being a great one!

[@Yourbint]

What lenses would you recommend for overhead food video that doesn’t keep focusing out of the focus when for example mixing a bowl?

[@MrPhilbautista]

If you're shooting overhead, there's no real need for auto focus. Get the focus, then shift the lens to manual so the lens stops finding focus. This would apply to any AF lens. MF lenses don't have auto focus so you won't have this problem with them.

[@Yourbint]

wold this is apply to food videography?

[@taridonohue]

My 75-300mm lens is so much smaller than this baby. What is the difference, you think?

[@MrPhilbautista]

Max aperture. The 70-200 has a max aperture of f/2.8 throughout the range, whether you're at 70mm or 200mm. Your 70-300 probably has a variable max aperture, I'm guessing f/4 at the wide end (75mm) and f/5.6 or f/6.3 on the long end (300mm). The glass needed to achieve these optical shenanigans are massively different which is why the 70-200/2.8 is so much more expensive. That's the primary reason. Other reasons would be AF speed and build quality, but these are just minor. The AF motors used on the 70-200 are much more powerful because they move so much glass and they're also faster and more silent (because you're paying for it). The barrel is fixed. It doesn't extend unlike the 75-300, which extends the longer you go. The 70-200 is more robust because it's made of metal and has better waterproofing gaskets in it. In the end, it's superior in every way physically and optically except for the weight factor, which the 75-300 handily wins. And the price. 75-300 is way less expensive. You could probably buy 2 75-300 lenses for a used 70-200/2.8.

[@AlexSiminitzki]

On a crop sensor, can I go with 40mm f2.8 micro? Or it will be better if I'll o with 60mm f2.8 macro for food photography?

[@robertdimartino5794]

Check out the Venus Laowa 60mm (96mm) for crop sensor cameras for a real up close and personal experience with its 2x macro!.

[@TheBiteShot]

I started on a crop sensor camera and loved my 100mm f2.8 macro for that and then continued to use that same lense when I went to my full frame. A longer focal length for macro work is my personal preference. Of course, like I said, it's hard for me to specifically advise since everyone's individual preferences will be unique. Definitely rent before you buy.

[@KelvinsKitchen]

Top Lenses for Food Photography: Enhancing Image Quality and Creativity with Unique Angles and Depth of Field Options for Practical and Flexible Lens Control 0:32: 📸 Specialized lenses for food photography allow control of focus plane and depth of field, enhancing image quality and creativity. 0:32: Tilt shift lenses control orientation of lens elements 1:20: Tilt shift alters depth of field for unique angles 2:22: Allows for capturing entire subject in focus without high aperture 2:37: 📸 Lens options for enhancing food photography with unique angles and depth of field. 2:37: Tilt shift lens allows for creative angles and selective focus 3:12: Manual focus and aperture settings may require adjustment for tilt shift lenses 4:21: Telephoto lens offers extended reach for capturing food from a distance 4:53: Longer focal length of 70-200mm lens provides flexibility in capturing food from various angles 5:19: 📷 Food photography lens flexibility and practicality. 5:19: Zoom lens offers framing flexibility 5:32: 105mm lens provides subject pop and scene expansion 6:26: Renting specialty lenses for occasional use 6:48: Requesting input on other favorite lenses 7:00: Encouragement for lens exploration and fun

[@MistrBlistr]

Ann Reardon brought me here.

[@Amatureb]

Same

[@user-zw4iy1rt8k]

Why waste your hard earned money on purchasing or worse yet, renting lenses when you can make your own lenses at home.

[@MrPhilbautista]

When you're doing this for a living, your clients will have expectations based on how much they're paying. If she's buying lenses that cost this much, that means she's getting paid pretty well and her clients will be more demanding the more they pay. If you can get away with charging an arm and a leg while showing up at professional shoots with home made equipment, then more power to you 😀