Photo by Matthias Oberholzer on Unsplash
If you’re in the real estate business, chances are you’ve had to take photos of a wide variety of different houses! You undoubtedly know that when it comes to selling houses, it’s all about appearances. If you want people to show up to your open house, you better have some amazing photographs of the home in real estate magazines or online listings. And to get the best photos, you need the best lens for real estate photography!
Even more important than the tripod, the camera itself, or even your photography abilities is the lens that you use. With the right lens, you can make rooms appear much larger than they really are, you can bring vivid colors into an otherwise drab space, and you can give any home a huge burst of light and life to capture the imagination of potential buyers.
The only issue is finding the best lens for real estate photography. There are dozens of lenses on the market, and each one offers something a little different. If you don’t do the research and end up with a poor-quality lens, you’re really going to pay for it in the quality of your photos.
But don’t worry, we have put together an outstanding list of the five best lenses available right now for real estate photography. Any one of the lenses on our list is going to do wonders for your real estate business. And if you need a little bit more information, skip ahead to the end to find out more about what exactly you need and what the big differences are between lenses.
1. Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM Wide-Angle Lens
First off on the list is a fantastic wide-angle lens from Canon with an ultra-sonic motor. This lens is a bit on the pricier side, but it delivers an unparalleled combination of L-series optics, low-light capabilities, and durable construction to give you a piece of hardware that is going to last for years while improving the photographs you take of real estate. Not only is the lens fantastic for indoor photography, but it can take remarkable pictures of the outside of the building as well. Plus, if you have basements or cellars without much lighting, this lens can bring them to life! It uses an optimized coating to help get rid of ghosting, it has three aspherical lens elements, and it has greatly reduced the aberrations throughout the full zoom range when compared to previous models from Canon.
The lens has even been constructed to work with your favorite weather-resistant camera, as it’s able to function properly regardless of the temperature or even if you’re standing in a dust storm! It incorporates an optic image stabilizer to dramatically reduce the blur, and all your images are going to turn out beautiful and sharp. Not just that, but the pictures will be sharp from corner to corner. Whether you’re trying to make a room feel bigger or trying to capture an entire stadium at a baseball game, this is a great lens to do it with.
Pros
- Sharp Images Corner to Corner
- Fast Autofocus
- Image Stabilization for Reduced Blur
- Works Well for Videos
- Superior Build Quality
Cons
- Quite Expensive
- Nothing Else – Nearly Perfect Rating!
2. Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 16-35mm f/4G ED Wide-Angle DSLR Lens
What really separates this Nikon lens from those other manufacturers is its glass. It has exceptional lens technology and a nanocrystal coating that works together to reduce flare and ghosting while boosting performance in a wide range of different situations. Plus, it uses a unique silent wave motor that is fast and silent, and it even has vibration reduction built into the lens so that you always get the best resolution when taking photos, regardless of which zoom range you’re using.
And talk about sharpness! Whether it’s bright or dark inside of the house you’re shooting, you’re always going to have remarkably clear photographs in the end. It might be a little heavy for some, but that’s a fair price to pay for such an exquisite piece of equipment. If you already have a full-frame Nikon camera, this is the ultimate tool to pair it with for real estate photography.
Pros
- Vibration Reduction + Image Stabilization
- Fantastic Focal Lengths
- Rich Color Rendition
- Versatile for Many Situations
- Very Effective Silent Wave Motor
Cons
- Soft at the Edges When Shooting Close
- May Be Heavy For Some
3. Tokina 12-28mm f/4 Wide-Angle Crop Sensor Lens for Nikon
The Tokina wide-angle lens is a fabulous third-party lens designed for use with Nikon cameras. It’s also highly recommended for those with a budget constraint. Coming at under $300, you really can’t get a better deal. Plus, it’s widely reviewed as one of the best affordable lenses. It’s compact, has automatic and manual operation, offers fast and accurate autofocusing, and uses a silent drive-module to work flawlessly while taking videos. It even employs ultra-low dispersion glass to assist in the elimination of chromatic aberrations! In plain English, this lens takes beautiful pictures.
The image quality here is fantastic. You get great sharpness, there are no inaccurate colors, and you won’t even notice any significant vignetting. The build quality is great, allowing you to take the lens on any adventures you might be having in the countryside. And of course, for real estate, it really can bring any room to life with smooth and pleasant colors.
Pros
- Zoom and Focus Rings Work Great
- Durable for Adventures
- Excellent Glass & Superb Image Quality
- Minimal Distortion
- Extremely Low Price
Cons
- Clunky Manual/Automatic Switch
- Sometimes Lens Feels Slow
4. Sony FE 20mm F1.8 G Full-Frame Ultra-Wide G Lens
Sony has a habit of making the best lenses on the market, and this very new G lens is no exception. Yes, it’s a bit expensive, but it’s still cheaper than a lot of lenses from other manufacturers. And when it comes to technology, you simply can’t do better than Sony. This lens uses a new method of focusing that is superior to anything else on the market. It is unbeatable with speed, volume, and accuracy. The lens is almost completely silent, which is critical depending on what type of photography you’re doing. When it comes to real estate, you can expect to take striking photos of any room or any building that will rival the competition. Not only that, but the lens is great for landscape photography, shooting the stars, and anything else you’re inclined to shoot.
This lens actually incorporates some of the newest and most advanced designs to give it the best in optical performance. It uses 2 advanced aspherical elements, 3 extra-low dispersion glass elements, and it’s enhanced with a 9-blade circular aperture mechanism. All these features add up to one of the best, most affordable, and most powerful lenses on the market for real estate photography.
Pros
- Extraordinary Depth of Field + Exposure
- Highly Advanced Glass for Lifelike Photos
- State-of-the-Art Design for Clearer Images
- Smooth Bokeh Effect
- Impressive XD Linear Motor
Cons
- Physically Large Lens
- Not Ideal for Traveling
5. Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM Ultra-Wide Zoom Lens
Last on the list is another fantastic lens from Canon. Here we have an extremely affordable ultra-wide zoom lens that is a few years old but still worth every penny. Overall, you’re going to get some spectacular photographs of real estate when using this lens. It’s perfect for a DSLR with a full-sized sensor, you can use it not only for interiors but also for dramatic landscapes and wilderness photography. Plus, if you have intentions of taking photographs outside of real estate, this is definitely a great all-purpose lens.
This lens comes equipped with three aspherical lens elements, a super UD glass element, and you can focus at up to 11 inches. The lens works using a powerful ultra-sonic motor, making your autofocusing quick and almost completely silent. There’s even a holder in the rear of the lens that is able to hold up to three gel filters. Combined with the weather-resistant construction, the high-grade materials, and the significant warranty, this is an impressive piece of equipment. If you’re not looking to spend a huge chunk of change but still want the best, Canon is really the way to go.
Pros
- Surprisingly Affordable
- Great for Real Estate + Wedding & Portrait
- Powerful USM Motor
- Weather-Resistant Construction
- Works Well w/ Tripod for Night Photography
Cons
- Fairly Old Product
- No Image Stabilization
Final Thoughts
When it comes to choosing the best lens for real estate photography, there are a few things you need to keep in mind while doing your shopping. You’re probably not a full-time photographer, and so there’s no shame in not understanding all the differences associated with the different lenses. The best type of lens for real estate photography is wide-angle, with a good zoom that provides the least bit of distortion.
Having a wide-angle lens is hugely important. These types of lenses are going to allow you to show the entire property without having to take a million different pictures. A proper wide-angle lens will make any small space feel warm and welcoming. Even if in real life the space is tight and suffocating, a wide-angle lens will turn it into a palace.
But keep in mind to avoid fisheye lenses. These are an absolute nightmare! You also don’t want rectilinear wide-angle lenses that have strong barrel distortion, as these will ruin your images. Plus, the reason you need a proper zoom ability with your lens is to show off the different spaces of the property. A quality zoom will allow you to work with whichever focal length is best for the space, showing off different rooms at different depths to make the house seem more alluring.
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