My 3rd Favorite Food Photography Lens – 60mm Macro

My 3rd Favorite Food Photography Lens – 60mm Macro lens. This lens is an awesome macro lens that will deliver crystal-clear shots and is lightweight to handle. Get up {{close}} to your food with this lens, because it really likes that!

I * almost * feel like I’m cheating you by suggesting a 60mm Macro Lens, when I already chose the 105mm macro as the most favorite lens in my food photography bag. But, stay with me, because this little number has a ton of uses all on it’s own that makes it stand apart from the 105mm macro that will likely make you CHOOSE THIS ONE over that one!

What is so great about this lens is, it’s lightweight and way more forgiving than the 105mm. Some days that forgiveness will save your bacon – you’ve got to love a forgiving lens!

What I use:

60mm Macro lens. This exact lens is the Nikon AF-S FX Micro-NIKKOR 60mm f/2.8G ED Fixed Zoom Lens with Auto Focus.

The cost of this lens is roughly $600, and you can get it at Amazon, B&H Photo and Adorama, and possibly your local camera store. I’ve owned this lens since May 2010. You can also purchase it by clicking the Amazon affiliate link I’ve provided above.

When I use it:

I love this lens when I want to get up close and personal with the food. I can stand {{thisclose}} to the food and get a great shot. Which means, if you are tight on space where you are doing your food photography shoot – this is the lens for you.

In comparison to the 105mm (my fav), I have to stand anywhere from 2 feet to 4 feet AWAY from my subject to get the exact same shot I get with the 60mm. So, if space is an issue (and you love macro photography and up close photos), this is your new lens BFF. Which is why it is a staple in my food photography bag.

I will never get rid of this lens!

So, although it didn’t make it as #1, it *would* have replaced the 105mm as my favorite, IF I didn’t have a big enough photography studio to stand FAR away from my food.

This lens also takes razor sharp photos that are crystal clear and captures every element of a dish.

How I use it:

Sometimes the 105mm lens just doesn’t cut it. Either it’s cropping the food WAY to narrow and I can’t get enough in the scene (overhead shots are a GREAT example of where the 105mm fails miserably, because I can’t get a ladder high enough to capture more elements in the scene! It shoots that close!). The 60mm, on the other hand, is the perfect remedy for that. I can climb a two-step step stool and capture everything I need in one single shot. In that scenario, the 60mm is a much, much better choice.

Why I use it:

Although I’ve shared many of the reasons I use the 60mm lens, another big reason I use it is because it is extremely lightweight. Compared to the 105mm, which weighs in at 1 pound 12 ounces, the 60mm is nearly ½ that weight, weighing in at skinny 1 pound.

PROs:

• relatively inexpensive, coming in at a price point of roughly $600
• lightweight, easy to handle in long photo shoots
• crystal clear, sharp, captures minute details

CONS:

• limited versatility and usage due to macro focal length

SUGGESTION: This is a reasonably priced lens that produces high quality, sharp photos, so if you’re in the market for a macro lens, this is a great one to add to your camera bag! If you can BUY IT!!! IMO, you can’t help but not love nearly everything about this lens. Here’s the link if you choose to purchase.

My 3rd Favorite Food Photography Lens – 60mm Macro