Buying advice

Product photography for your online store: sharpness and consistent colors

Product shots need consistency, accurate colors and front-to-back sharpness. Which lens and body to choose, and why a fast aperture isn't the priority.

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In product photography, we often try to make up for a lack of time or gear with a fast lens and a wide-open aperture. But the key is consistency, accurate colors and sharpness across the product's full depth.

Speed isn't a priority here. The product should look exactly as it does in real life – without distortion and with true colors. That's why choosing the right lens and body matters.

Choosing the right tool

For products, a longer focal length is ideal because it minimizes perspective distortion. 35 mm and 50 mm lenses can be too wide for close-ups if you don't have room to step back.

From my stock, the best fit is the Sony FE 100 mm f/2.8 STF GM OSS. It's primarily a portrait lens, but thanks to its macro mode (0.25× magnification) it can handle product details too.

As a versatile body, the Canon EOS R6 Mark II or Sony A7 IV will do the job – both offer excellent dynamic range and accurate colors. With used units, always check the shutter count and sensor condition – with bodies at 25,000 CZK and up, it's an investment that has to pay off.

What to watch out for

Many photographers put most of their trust in autofocus specs. But with products we often focus manually and work stopped down, so the quality of the glass matters more than focusing speed.

Fast primes like the Sony 50 mm GM are great, but with static products what matters is the right aperture, not the widest one.
Choose a body with good colors “straight out of the box,” which is often true of the Nikon Z6 II or Canon R6.
The right light is 80% of the job – the camera only records what you give it.

If you don't have a true macro lens, look for other 80–100 mm lenses on the used market and pair them with a low-noise body.

Tell me what you shoot (jewelry, clothing, food) – I'll help with the lighting too.