Best Lens for Interior/Home Photography?

[kaylee]

Hi everyone! I'd consider myself an amateur photographer. I know how to shoot in manual, but I still have a Canon Rebel T3i (I'd love to upgrade, but really can't afford to spend a few thousand dollars at the moment). I am a designer and would love to be able to photograph the rooms I design instead of paying someone else, but right now I only have my kit lenses (which are horrible) and a 50mm lens (which allows me to get approximately 1/3 of a couch in each picture unless it's a GIGANTIC room, haha). Does anyone have a suggestion of a good wide-angle lens that won't completely distort everything and can also be used without a full-frame camera? These photos wouldn't be for real estate listings so I don't necessarily need to be able to fit an entire room in the frame (and I don't like the fish-eye type distortion anyway)... just need something that would allow me to photograph more than just a little vignette in the corner of a room. I'd really appreciate any help. Thanks in advance!

 

[Klaus dk]

For APS-C, there are few rectilinear wide-angle primes, so your best bet is an Ultra Wide Angle zoom. Canon makes two, which could be interesting to you. If you are on a tight budget, the EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM would be a good choice. It's not very fast, but since you are shooting static subjects, that should not be a problem, especially if you use a tripod. There are alternatives from Canon, Sigma, Tamron and Tokina. Check DPR's lens finder and see reviews on photozone.de.

In DPP you can correct barrel distortion and CA, so you can get very good results with your Rebel. For the kind of photography you want to do, a newer camera will not offer any significant advantage.

Good luck.

 

[kaylee]

Thank you! I really appreciate the advice.

 

[beagle1]

Hi everyone! I'd consider myself an amateur photographer. I know how to shoot in manual, but I still have a Canon Rebel T3i (I'd love to upgrade, but really can't afford to spend a few thousand dollars at the moment). I am a designer and would love to be able to photograph the rooms I design instead of paying someone else, but right now I only have my kit lenses (which are horrible) and a 50mm lens (which allows me to get approximately 1/3 of a couch in each picture unless it's a GIGANTIC room, haha). Does anyone have a suggestion of a good wide-angle lens that won't completely distort everything and can also be used without a full-frame camera? These photos wouldn't be for real estate listings so I don't necessarily need to be able to fit an entire room in the frame (and I don't like the fish-eye type distortion anyway)... just need something that would allow me to photograph more than just a little vignette in the corner of a room. I'd really appreciate any help. Thanks in advance!

get a wide angle lens like the 10-18 STM and a tripod or shoot a couple of pano shots and stitch together

(and get some yongnuo manual flashes and off-camera trigger)

Canon M with 22mm natural light

 

[OzarkAggie]

You can also stitch photos together both linearly and in a matrix. Microsoft has some free software: Image Composite Editor. I use ArcSoft Panorama Maker because it's better for what I do, and will automatically select the images from a series if in the same folder.

While Canon has software I gave up on it years ago, but you might try it.

Use a tripod, make sure it is leveled, and lock your exposure. Even that 50mm will work, and have less distortion than a wide angle. Jpegs will be corrected in camera so initially you'll want to avoid RAW.

 

[Dave McLelland]

There are two kinds of distortion when it comes to ultra wide lenses: the fisheye type where lines near the edges of the frame are curved, and then there is perspective distortion, where things closer to the camera appear much larger (closer) and things farther from the camera look much smaller (farther away). The Canon 10-18 is a great bargain and does a pretty good job with controlling the fisheye type of distortion, but unfortunately no ultra wide lens does well with the second type, which is not the fault of the lens, but is pure physics.

using an ultawide angle lens for interior shots can be a challenge, but the best advice is no matter which lens you get, invest in a bubble level that mounts In your hot shoe and a decent tripod. Keeping the camera level will go a long ways towards keeping your interior shots from looking too distorted. Shoot just a little below eye level (around mid chest) in rooms with 8 foot ceilings and that will also help to make the room appear larger. Rooms with higher ceilings will be fine shot at eye level. Try to avoid shooting with things too close to the camera as well.

hope this helps and good luck!

 

[D Cox]

You can also stitch photos together both linearly and in a matrix. Microsoft has some free software: Image Composite Editor. I use ArcSoft Panorama Maker because it's better for what I do, and will automatically select the images from a series if in the same folder.

While Canon has software I gave up on it years ago, but you might try it.

Use a tripod, make sure it is leveled, and lock your exposure. Even that 50mm will work, and have less distortion than a wide angle. Jpegs will be corrected in camera so initially you'll want to avoid RAW.

Make sure the sensor is exactly vertical to avoid perspective distortion. It can be corrected in computer software but it is better not to have to. A small spirit level is useful.

 

[kaylee]

Thank you everyone! I'll be keeping my eye out for a good deal on a 10-18mm lens.

 

[Krusty79]

I got one for $300 on eBay, now they have dropped to $265 - I would jump on that, especially with no S&H.

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www.ebay.com

 

[S Stanmore]

Your best options (by far) will be the Canon 17mm TSE and 24mm TSE.

 

[Klaus dk]

Your best options (by far) will be the Canon 17mm TSE and 24mm TSE.

On APS-C even the 17mm is not very wide, and the price difference from 300$ to 2150$ is prohibitive, IMHO. (USD prices from B&H)

 

[S Stanmore]

Professional interior photographers (the good ones) rarely use extreme wide angle lenses due the distortion of distance scaling. Using a FF scale, the 17mm TSE is 27mm which is still too wide for many compositions. The 24mm would be 38mm, a good natural(ish) rendering of distance scaling. On FF the 24mm TSE and 45mm TSE are the most used by good interior specialists using Canon, not the 17mm.

 

[Klaus dk]

Professional interior photographers (the good ones) rarely use extreme wide angle lenses due the distortion of distance scaling. Using a FF scale, the 17mm TSE is 27mm which is still too wide for many compositions. The 24mm would be 38mm, a good natural(ish) rendering of distance scaling. On FF the 24mm TSE and 45mm TSE are the most used by good interior specialists using Canon, not the 17mm.

That is probably true, but irrelevant. The OP did not ask what the best professionals use, but how he can get along with his APS-C camera without investing thousands.

 

[mahidoes]

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www.bhphotovideo.com

 

[S Stanmore]

Yes, you're correct - to a point.

He does not want to spend thousands, but I was offering a perspective where he might purchase a SH mk1 24mm TSE, or a third party TSE (Samyang), either of which would be far better than any other option under $1000. The shift function is essential for most compositions in this type of work.

Many on this thread have recommended cheap, super wide zooms. The OP stated that he doesn't seek to recreate the real estate look that fictitiously exaggerates perspective and distance scaling. In that respect, and also with their lack of shift, a super wide zoom would be very poor choice.

I'm not speculating when offering this advice, I have a lot of first hand experience in shooting interiors. 24mm (FF equivalent) is an extreme for good interiors work. 28mm- 45mm are used far more. On my most recent 12 image interiors brief using FF, 10 were 45mm, 2 were 24mm. All as far as I recall, were shifted.

 

[kaylee]

Thank you Simon! I appreciate the suggestion. Money definitely is an object for me unfortunately (am in the process of purchasing a home) but I can see how spending a little more might be worth it. In the end it might all come down to how long it takes me to save. Thanks again!

 

[kaylee]

That looks like a great price since I've seen used 10-18mm lenses for only $50 cheaper. Thanks!