best Camera Lens for automotive photography

As someone who loves Automotive Photography and has done a lot of research, I am thrilled to present this captivating article that explores the best camera lens for automotive photography, specifically focusing on the best camera lens. Whether you’re just starting or a pro, these lenses can really make your car photos stand out. Taking great car photos needs special lenses that can capture all the cool details and make the cars pop, whether you’re at a car show or on a racetrack. In this article, I’ve picked out lenses that are known to work really well for car photos. I looked at things like how clear the pictures were, how the background looked, and how detailed the cars came out. If you’re a beginner and want to start from scratch, I recommend you check out my blog on the beginner’s guide for buying a camera lens.

List of best Camera Lens for automotive photography in 2023 [Quick Overview]

Here, I have compiled a short list of what I believe to be the best camera lens for automotive photography.

1. Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM – My Choice (full frame)

2. Nikon AF FX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.4G (full frame)

3. Sony SEL85F18 85mm F/1.8-22 (full frame)

4. Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 (full frame)

5. Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 (full frame)

6. Fujifilm XF55-200mm F3.5-4.8 R LM OIS

7. Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II (full frame)

8. Samyang F1.4 (full frame)

9. NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G (full frame)

10. Sony FE 24-70 mm F2.8 G (full frame)

11. Panasonic LUMIX G II 100-300MM (Micro Four Third)

12. Olympus M.Zuiko ED 40-150mm F4.0 (Micro Four Third)

 

1. Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM – My Choice

• The Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM, a camera lens close to my heart, stands out as an exceptional choice for automotive photography.
• This camera lens has been my constant companion in the world of automotive photography, consistently delivering results that exceed expectations.
• The lens has a 82mm filter thread size, which is relatively large and allows for the use of various filters like UV, polarizers, and ND filters.
• Excellent performance with both APSC crop sensor cameras (I have an EOS 7D as well as a full frame EOS 6D) and full frame cameras.

 

Brand	Canon EF
Type	Wide angle
Lens format coverage	Full frame
Compatible Mounting	Canon EF
Angle of view	84 – 34 degrees
Image Stabilization	No image stabilization
No.of diaphragm blades	9 rounded aperture blades.
Lens construction	18 elements in 13 groups.
Minimum focus distance	0.38 meter/1.25 feet
Weight	805 g.
Adjustment	Inner focusing with USM. The Zoom lock lever locks the zoom position at the wide end for safe transporting
Durability	Solid build quality and very professional. You get what you pay for.
Chromatic Aberration	Provide high-quality images with minimal chromatic aberration.

 

Reasons to buy:

• Incredibly sharp
• Versatile zoom range.
• Fast and accurate autofocus.
• Durable build quality.

 

Reasons to avoid:

• No image stabilization.
• Weight and bulk may not suit all photographers.

 

2. Nikon AF FX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.4G

• Nikon DSLRs use the Nikon AF FX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.4G prime camera lens with wide f/1.4 aperture for low-light shots and lovely background blur.
• The camera lens features a silent autofocus motor for quick and quiet focusing, making it suitable for photography and videography.
• Its optical design includes aspherical and ED elements, ensuring sharp and distortion-free images.
• The Nikon AF FX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.4G lens has 67mm filter threads. This is the diameter of the front lens for UV, polarizer, and neutral density filters.

 

Brand	Nikon
Type	Wide angle
Lens format coverage	Full frame
Compatible Mounting	Nikon F(FX)
Angle of view	64° with an FX-format camera and 44° with a DX-format camera
Image Stabilization	No image stabilization
No.of diaphragm blades	9 rounded blades
Lens construction	10 elements in 7 groups
Minimum focus distance	35mm
Weight	600 g
Adjustment
Durability
Chromatic Aberration

 

Reasons to buy:

• Incredible center sharpness
• Receives a lot of light with a wide aperture
• Strong build quality
• Impressive close-focus possibilities

 

Reasons to avoid:

•  Soft barrel distortion
• Expensive

 

3. Sony SEL85F18 85mm F/1.8-22

• The Sony SEL85F18 is an 85mm prime camera lens for Sony E-mount cameras.
• With its fast and accurate autofocus, it’s great for portrait photography, delivering stunning subject isolation with creamy background bokeh.
• The camera lens features a compact and lightweight design, making it portable and suitable for various shooting situations.
• The Sony SEL85F18 85mm F/1.8-22 lens has 67mm filter threads. This filter thread size lets you attach UV, polarizer, and ND filters to the lens front.

 

Brand	Sony
Type	Telephoto lens
Lens format coverage	Full frame
Compatible Mounting	E mount
Angle of view	29 degrees
Image Stabilization	No image stabilization
No.of diaphragm blades	9 blades
Lens construction	9 elements in 8 groups
Minimum focus distance	80cm
Weight	371 g
Adjustment
Durability
Chromatic Aberration

 

Reasons to buy:

• Protects against dust and moisture.
• Accurate & silent autofocus, manual focus.
• Not too heavy.
• Nice bokeh.
• Good low light performance & shadow recovery.

 

Reasons to avoid:

• Lack of image stabilization and optical SteadyShot.
• No coating is present.

 

4. Sigma 70-200mm f2.8

• It offers a zoom range from 70mm to 200mm, making it a telephoto lens. This range suits various applications, including sports, wildlife, portrait, and event photography.
• Depending on the specific Sigma model and version, it may feature various autofocus technologies, including Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM) for fast and quiet focusing.
• These camera lens typically have a filter thread size of around 77mm, a common size for filters like UV, polarizers, and ND filters.
• The filter thread size for the Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 lens is typically 82mm.

 

Brand	Sigma
Type	Telephoto
Lens format coverage	Full frame
Compatible Mounting	Canon EF
Angle of view	34.3-12.5 degrees
Image Stabilization	Between 2 and 2.5
No.of diaphragm blades	11 blades
Lens construction	22 elements in 17 groups 3 SLD, 2 FLD elements
Minimum focus distance	1.20m
Weight	1805 g
Adjustment
Durability
Chromatic Aberration

 

Reasons to buy:

• Excellent image quality
• Attractive bokeh
• Autofocus quickly

 

Reasons to avoid:

• Not good for shooting videos.
• Expensive

5. Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2

• This camera lens covers a focal length range from 28mm at the wide end to 75mm at the telephoto end. It’s considered a standard zoom lens.
• It is equipped with VXD (Voice-coil eXtreme-torque Drive) autofocus system, which is fast, precise, and silent. This helps in photography and videography.
• These camera lens use LD (Low Dispersion) and XLD (eXtra Low Dispersion) glass elements to decrease chromatic aberrations and improve image quality.
• The camera lens usually has a 67mm filter thread (front), a common size for attaching filters such as UV, polarizers, and ND filters.

 

Brand	Tamron
Type	Standard zoom lens
Lens format coverage	Full frame
Compatible Mounting	Sony E
Angle of view
Image Stabilization	No Image Stabilization
No.of diaphragm blades	9 rounded blades
Lens construction	17 elements in 15 groups
Minimum focus distance	18 cm
Weight	540 g
Adjustment
Durability
Chromatic Aberration

 

Reasons to buy:

• Outstanding image quality
• Weather sealed
• Good continuous autofocus performance
• Comfortable in the hands

Reasons to avoid:

• For older camera bodies, this is not a good choice.

 

6. Fujifilm XF55-200mm F3.5-4.8 R LM OIS

• This telephoto lens has a 55mm wide angle and 200mm focal length.
• It incorporates a Linear Motor (LM) for fast and quiet autofocus, making it suitable for capturing fast-moving subjects and video recording.
• The “OIS” stands for Optical Image Stabilization. This option reduces camera shake, especially with longer lens lengths or slower shutter rates.
• It usually has a 62mm filter thread, which is the size for attaching filters like UV, polarizers, and ND filters.

 

Brand	Fujifilm
Type	Telephoto lens
Lens format coverage
Compatible Mounting	Fujifilm X
Angle of view	29 degrees
Image Stabilization	3.5 stops at 55mm, 4 stops at 200mm.
No.of diaphragm blades	7 rounded blades
Lens construction	14 elements in 10 groups (1 aspherical, 2 extra-low dispersion elements )
Minimum focus distance	1.1 m
Weight	580 g
Adjustment
Durability
Chromatic Aberration

 

Reasons to buy:

 

• Perfect construction
• Ultra-clear pictures
• Portable
• Wider aperture compared to its rivals.

 

Reasons to avoid:

 

• No weather protection.

 

7. Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II

• Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II is a telephoto zoom lens with a 100mm wide-angle and 400mm telephoto focal length.
• Its variable aperture ranges from f/4.5 at 100mm to f/5.6 at 400mm. Despite being narrower than a constant aperture lens, it performs well in well-lit conditions.
• The lens has Canon’s Image Stabilization (IS) to reduce camera shake at greater focal lengths. Especially excellent for handling telephoto photography.
• The lens typically has a 77mm filter thread size, which is the diameter of the front of the lens where you can attach filters such as UV, polarizers, and ND filters.

 

Brand	Canon EF
Type	Telephoto zoom lens
Lens format coverage	Full frame
Compatible Mounting	Canon EF
Angle of view
Image Stabilization	4 stops
No.of diaphragm blades	9 circular blades
Lens construction	21 elements in 16 groups 1 fluorite, 1 Super UD; Air Sphere Coating (ASC)
Minimum focus distance
Weight	1550 g
Adjustment
Durability
Chromatic Aberration

 

Reasons to buy:

 

• Image stabilization.
• Magnification of 1:3
• Captivating shots of track cars.
• Extremely sharp across the zoom range

 

Reasons to avoid:

• Heavy
• Pricy

 

8. Samyang F1.4

• The focal length of “Samyang F1.4” lenses varies as they offer a range of prime lenses, including 35mm, 50mm, and 85mm.
• “F1.4” signifies a maximum aperture of f/1.4, making these camera lens ideal for low-light circumstances and selective focus.
• Many lenses in this series are manual focus only. This can be advantageous for precise control over focus.

 

Brand	Samyang
Type	Telephoto
Lens format coverage	Full frame
Compatible Mounting	Sony FE
Angle of view	84 degrees with full-frame canon cameras. It can be used with APS-C cameras at 57.6 degrees.
Image Stabilization	No Image Stabilization
No.of diaphragm blades	9 blades
Lens construction	9 elements in 7 groups
Minimum focus distance
Weight	509 g
Adjustment
Durability
Chromatic Aberration

 

9. NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G

• This lens has a fixed focal length of 50mm, making it a standard prime lens. On a full-frame camera, it provides a natural field of view, and on an APS-C camera, it offers an equivalent focal length of around 75mm.
• The lens features a wide maximum aperture of f/1.8, which allows for excellent low-light performance and the ability to create a shallow depth of field with background blur (bokeh). This makes it versatile for various photography styles.
• It uses Nikon’s Silent Wave Motor (SWM) for fast and quiet autofocus. It offers both autofocus (AF) and manual focus (MF) modes, allowing for precise control over focusing.
• It has a 58mm filter thread size, a common size for attaching filters like UV, polarizers, and ND filters.

 

Brand	Nikkor
Type	Standard
Lens format coverage	Full frame
Compatible Mounting	Nikon F (FX)
Angle of view
Image Stabilization	No image stabilization.
No.of diaphragm blades	7 rounded blades.
Lens construction	7 elements in 6 groups (1 aspherical lens)
Minimum focus distance
Weight	185 g
Adjustment
Durability
Chromatic Aberration

 

Reasons to buy:

 

• Bright and sharp colors.
• Wide aperture.
• Beautiful bokeh.
• Versatile.

 

Reasons to avoid:

 

• Soft when the aperture is fully open.

 

10. Sony FE 24-70 mm F2.8 G

• This lens covers a versatile focal length range from 24mm at the wide end to 70mm at the telephoto end.
• It utilizes Sony’s advanced Direct Drive SSM (DDSSM) focus drive system for fast, precise, and near-silent autofocus which is beneficial for capturing fast-moving subjects and video recording.
• It has a filter thread size of 82mm, which is relatively large and allows for various filters like UV, polarizers, and ND filters.

 

Brand	Sony
Type	Standard
Lens format coverage	Full frame
Compatible Mounting	Sony FE
Angle of view
Image Stabilization	No image stabilization.
No.of diaphragm blades	9 circular blades
Lens construction	18 elements in 13 groups.
Minimum focus distance
Weight	890 g
Adjustment
Durability
Chromatic Aberration

 

Reasons to buy:

• Good range.
• Wide aperture.
• Sharp images.

 

Reasons to avoid:

• Heavy.

 

11. Panasonic LUMIX G II 100-300MM

• This lens covers a focal length range from 100mm at the wide end to 300mm at the telephoto end.
• In full-frame equivalent terms, this is approximately 200-600mm due to the 2x crop factor of Micro Four Thirds sensors.
• The maximum aperture ranges from f/4.0 at 100mm to f/5.6 at 300mm. While not a constant aperture lens, it works in various lighting conditions.
• It usually has a filter thread size of 67mm, a common size for attaching filters like UV, polarizers, and ND filters.

 

Brand	Panasonic
Type	Telephoto zoom lens.
Lens format coverage
Compatible Mounting	Micro Four Thirds.
Angle of view
Image Stabilization	Yes (mega OIS)
No.of diaphragm blades	7 blades.
Lens construction	17 elements in 12 groups 1 ED element
Minimum focus distance
Weight	520 g
Adjustment
Durability
Chromatic Aberration

 

Reasons to buy:

 

• Vibrant color.
• Lightweight and durable design.
• A good option for videography.
• Excellent range.

 

Reasons to avoid:

 

• Not a good option for indoors.

 

12. Olympus M.Zuiko ED 40-150mm F4.0

• This lens covers a focal length range from 40mm at the wide end to 150mm at the telephoto end.
• The 2x crop factor of Micro Four Thirds sensors makes this 80-300mm in full-frame equivalent terms suitable for telephoto and close-up shooting.
• The lens constantly opens to f/4.0 throughout its zoom range & performs well in diverse lighting settings despite being narrower than other lenses.
• It usually has a filter thread size of 58mm, a common size for attaching filters like UV, polarizers, and ND filters.

 

Brand	Olympus
Type	Telephoto
Lens format coverage	Micro Four Thirds.
Compatible Mounting	Micro Four Thirds.
Angle of view
Image Stabilization
No.of diaphragm blades	7 circular blades.
Lens construction	15 elements in 9 groups
Minimum focus distance
Weight	382 g
Adjustment
Durability
Chromatic Aberration

 

Reasons to buy:

• Vibrant color.
• Silent focusing capability.
• Good range.
• Lightweight.

Reasons to avoid:

• Not a good option for indoors.

What to look in best camera lens for Automotive Photography Dimensions A flexible 24-70mm lens is great for car photography. Fast apertures (f/1.8-f/2.8) blur backgrounds and work well in low light. Look for picture stabilization to eliminate shaking and high build quality for outdoor durability. Taking photos of moving objects requires rapid auto-focus.

Autofocus

Choose a quick, precise autofocus lens for automotive photography. Find lenses with powerful autofocus technologies that can rapidly and accurately track and lock onto automobiles. This assures crisp, well-focused photos, particularly of fast cars on the road or track.

Focal Length

For versatility, use a 24-70mm lens. This range lets you take wide-angle scenery photos and zoom in on autos. It’s perfect for car photography since it’s flexible in framing.

Maximum Aperture

Select a lens with a wide maximum aperture, typically between f/1.8 to f/2.8. A larger aperture lets you photograph in low light and get gorgeous bokeh. With a crisp automobile subject and a blurred, cinematic backdrop, automotive photography looks professional.

Full frame or APS-C

Choose full-frame or APS-C based on your budget and image quality needs in automotive photography. Full frame for top-notch quality, APS-C for affordability.

Image Quality

Choose a full-frame or APS-C camera for car photography to improve picture quality. Larger sensors capture more information and perform better in low light. Use excellent lenses and suitable shooting methods to improve picture clarity and sharpness.

Best camera lens for automotive photography FAQs

What lens is best for automotive photography?

There is no better lens than the 35mm f/1.4 if the car is still. 24-70mm f/2.8 — The 24-70mm is a superb all-purpose lens for taking pictures of automobiles.

What are the best camera settings for vehicle photography?

In general, the best camera settings for amazing automobile photos are f/2.8 aperture, 1/80 second shutter speed, and ISO 100.

What is the best photo angle for cars?

Photograph the vehicle straight on at eye level, from the sides, and from 45-degree angles to show each corner of the vehicle. Knowing the angles of cars is one of the most important pieces of advice Petty offers new drivers. “At a three-quarters angle, every car appears its finest. That may be considered the standard shot.

What is the best angle for car slope?

The majority of national rules across the globe state that the maximum slope for a garage ramp should be within 20%. However, a 20% slope that is poorly connected will prevent damage to the car’s bottom. So it is advised to choose a slope of 16% with a maximum gradient of 6%.

What things can damage my lens?

The two biggest threats to a lens are moisture and dust. Ensure that your equipment is adequately shielded from all weather situations. Keep in mind that rain, tiny water splashes, and even nearly invisible dust can seriously harm your lens.

Is there any specific lens that is recommended for car photography?

35mm f/1.4 is a great all-around lens for car photography, especially if the car is sitting still. It is a prime lens that offers a wide aperture, allowing for faster shutter speeds and better low-light performance.

Are prime lenses suitable for car photography?

Yes, prime lenses are suitable for car photography, especially for close-up shots on cars like badges and for blowing out the background so the car pops. However, it is important to note that shooting a car at anything lower than an aperture of 2.8 really makes the back half fall out of focus. Prime lenses are also good for portraits of cars. It is recommended to have a mix of prime and zoom lenses for automotive photography to cover different focal lengths and shooting situations.

Why do lenses matter when taking car pictures?

Lenses matter in car photography because they profoundly influence image quality, composition, and creativity. The choice of lens determines factors like depth of field, sharpness, and perspective. A well-suited lens can emphasize car details, create pleasing backgrounds, and enhance overall image aesthetics, significantly impacting the final result.

What are the key features to keep in mind when choosing a lens for car photography?

When choosing a lens for car photography, prioritize versatile focal length (e.g., 24-70mm), wide aperture (e.g., f/2.8), image stabilization, fast autofocus, quality optics, budget, and compatibility with your camera. Decide between prime and zoom based on your style and purpose while considering reputable brands and reviews.

Conclusion

Finally, after researching the best camera lens for automotive photography, match your demands with your camera. Focus on variable focal length, wide aperture, and good optics. If you need to capture automobiles from afar or create a narrow depth of focus, use a different lens. Make an informed decision to create great automobile photographs that meet your needs.