Best Camera Lens for Close Up Shots

Curious to transform ordinary subjects into extraordinary close-up shots?

As an enthusiast photographer, I’ve explored close-up photography extensively. I’ve discovered the best camera lens for close-up shots through research. I’ll reveal these lenses in this guide, perfect for capturing stunning close-up pictures.

If you’re a beginner, I recommend reading my previous article, “Beginner’s Guide for Buying Camera Lenses.”It will give you a good overview of the different types of lenses available and how to choose the right one for your needs.

List Of Best Camera Lens for Close-Up Shots [Quick review]

Here is a quick list of some of the best camera lens for close-up shots.

1. Canon EF-S 35mm f/2.8 Macro IS STM
2. Nikon AF-S 40mm f/2.8G Micro
3. Canon RF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM
4. Nikon Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S
5. Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS
6. Sigma 105mm f/2.8 DG DN Macro Art
7. Fujifilm XF 80mm f/2.8 R LM OIS WR
8. Tokina ATX-i 100mm f/2.8 Macro
9. Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 60mm f/2.8 Macro

 

List Of Best Camera Lens for Close-Up Shots [Detailed analysis] 

Let’s now move towards the detailed analysis of the best camera lens for close-up shots.

1. Canon EF-S 35mm f/2.8 Macro IS STM

• The Canon EF-S 35mm f/2.8 Macro IS STM lens features a 35mm focal length
• It offers a maximum aperture of f/2.8 for excellent low-light performance and a minimum aperture of f/32 for precise control over exposure.
•  The lens also features autofocus with full-time manual focus override and a smooth movie servo AF with lead screw-type STM.

Brand	Canon.
Type	Macro lens.
Lens format coverage	APS-C Canon cameras.
Compatible Mounting	Canon EF-S.
Maximum magnification	1.0 x.
Image Stabilization	Yes, hybrid image stabilization.
No.of diaphragm blades	Nine blades.
Lens construction	Ten elements in 6 groups.
Minimum focus distance	0.3 m.
Weight	625 g.
Filter thread	67 mm.
Dimension	78 x 123 mm.
Adjustment	Manual focus & Autofocus, ultanosic ring type.
Durability	Not weather-sealed. Therefore, be aware when wet or dusty conditions exist.
Chromatic Aberration	Some chromatic aberration was found.

Reasons to buy:

• Hybrid image stabilization.
• Built-in ring light.
• Inexpensive.

Reasons to avoid:

• Optical performance is not as good as other lenses.
• No weather sealing.
• Plastic structure instead of metal.

2. Nikon AF-S 40mm f/2.8G Micro

• The Nikon AF-S 40mm f/2.8G Micro lens features a 40mm focal length.
• It has a maximum aperture of f/2.8, and the minimum aperture varies depending on the camera, typically around f/22.
• The lens offers both autofocus (AF) and manual focus (MF) capabilities for versatile shooting options.

Brand	Nikon.
Type	Standard.
Lens format coverage	Nikon DX-format DSLR cameras.
Compatible Mounting	Nikon F (DX).
Maximum magnification	1x.
Image Stabilization	No image stabilization.
No.of diaphragm blades	Seven blades.
Lens construction	Nine elements in 7 groups.
Minimum focus distance	16.3 cm.
Weight	235 g.
Filter thread	52 mm.
Dimension	68.5mm x 64.5 mm.
Adjustment	Both autofocus and manaul focus.
Durability	Weather sealing is not available.
Chromatic Aberration	As the lens is stopped down, the prevalence of chromatic abberation increases, reaching an apex at /11 or smaller.

Reasons to buy:

• One of the most affordable autofocus macro lenses available.
• Excellent optical performance.
• Compact and lightweight.

Reasons to avoid:

• Designed for crop-sensor cameras.
• Autofocus can be a little slow.
• No weather sealing.

 

3. Canon RF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM

• The Canon RF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM lens has a 100mm focal length.
• It features a maximum aperture of f/2.8, and the minimum aperture can vary but often goes down to f/32 or smaller for precise exposure control.
• The lens offers autofocus (AF) and manual focus (MF) options to suit various shooting preferences and scenarios.

Brand	Canon.
Type	Macro.
Lens format coverage	Full frame.
Compatible Mounting	Canon RF.
Maximum magnification	1.4x.
Image Stabilization	5 stops (2 stops at 1.0x) and 8 stops on Canon EOS R5 & R6
No.of diaphragm blades	Nine blades.
Lens construction	17 elements in 13 groups.
Minimum focus distance	0.26m.
Weight	730 g.
Filter thread	67mm.
Dimension	81.5x148mm.
Adjustment	Offers both AF and MF.
Durability	The lens is weather-sealed, making it ideal for outdoor photography.
Chromatic Aberration	The lens has reasonable control over chromatic aberration.

Reasons to buy:

• The reproduction ratio is 1.4:1.
• Control over bokeh is ridiculously sharp.
• Near-zero focus breathing.
• IS has a total of eight possible stops.

Reasons to avoid:

• Only for Canon RF cameras.
• Expensive.

4. Nikon Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S

• The Nikon Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S lens boasts a 105mm focal length.
• It features a wide maximum aperture of f/2.8, and the minimum aperture can vary, typically reaching f/32.
• Moreover, the lens offers autofocus (AF) and manual focus (MF) options to suit different shooting scenarios and preferences.

Brand	Nikon.
Type	Macro lens.
Lens format coverage	Full frame.
Compatible Mounting	Nikon Z FX.
Maximum magnification	1.0 x.
Image Stabilization	4.5 stops of Vibration Reduction (VR).
No.of diaphragm blades	Nine blades.
Lens construction	16 elements in 11 groups.
Minimum focus distance	0.29 m.
Weight	630 g.
Filter thread	62 mm.
Dimension	85x140mm.
Adjustment	Offers both AF and MF.
Durability	Everything is wrapped in a strong, weather-sealed construction.
Chromatic Aberration	Almost eliminates chromatic aberrations, resulting in crisper, sharper images with no color fringing.

Reasons to buy:

• Exceptional all-around performance.
• Pro-level construction and handling.
• 4.5 stops of optical VR.

Reasons to avoid:

• The focus limiter switch has only two positions.
• Still relatively expensive.

5. Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS

• The Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS lens offers a 90mm focal length, making it perfect for close-up macro photography.
• It features a maximum aperture of f/2.8, and the minimum aperture can go down to f/22, allowing for precise exposure adjustment.
• The lens provides autofocus (AF) and manual focus (MF) options to suit different shooting preferences and scenarios.

Brand	Sony.
Type	Macro lens.
Lens format coverage	Full frame.
Compatible Mounting	Sony E.
Maximum magnification	1.0 x.
Image Stabilization	Available.
No.of diaphragm blades	9 blades.
Lens construction	15 elements in 11 groups.
Minimum focus distance	0.28 m.
Weight	602 g.
Filter thread	62 mm.
Dimension	79x131mm.
Adjustment	Offers both AF and MF.
Durability	Somewhat weather sealing is available, but not properly weather sealed.
Chromatic Aberration	Reflections that can generate flare and ghosting can be effectively suppressed.

Reasons to buy:

• Autofocus and stability are excellent.
• Excellent image quality.
• Specially coated optical elements help to reduce lens flare.
• Size and weight are both moderate.

Reasons to avoid:

• The aperture blades do not fully retract and reveal the shape of aperture blades.
• Expensive and might be heavy for some photographers.

6. Sigma 105mm f/2.8 DG DN Macro Art

• The Sigma 105mm f/2.8 DG DN Macro Art lens offers a 105mm focal length, ideal for macro and portrait photography.
• It features a maximum aperture of f/2.8 and a minimum aperture of f/22.
• The lens has a fast and accurate autofocus system with a manual focus ring, which gives you full control over your focus.

Brand	Sigma.
Type	Macro lens.
Lens format coverage	Full frame.
Compatible Mounting	Sony FE.
Maximum magnification	1.0 x.
Image Stabilization	No image stabilization.
No.of diaphragm blades	9 blades.
Lens construction	17 elements in 12 groups.
Minimum focus distance	0.295 m.
Weight	715 g.
Filter thread	62 mm.
Dimension	74 x 134 mm.
Adjustment	Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM) has a manual focus system customizable focus limiter switch.
Durability	Dust and moisture-resistant design.
Chromatic Aberration	No such strong chromatic abberation was found.

Reasons to buy:

• Exceptional image quality.
• Excellent handling.
• Good construction quality.
• Good colour rendition.
• Almost no abberation.

Reasons to avoid:

• There is no optical image stabilizer.
• The narrowest aperture is ‘just’ f/22.

 

7. Fujifilm XF 80mm f/2.8 R LM OIS WR

• The Fujifilm XF 80mm f/2.8 R LM OIS WR lens has an 80mm focal length.
• It features a maximum aperture of f/2.8, and the minimum aperture can vary, often reaching f/22.
• On the other hand, the lens offers both autofocus (AF) and manual focus (MF) options.

Brand	Fujifilm.
Type	Macro telephoto.
Lens format coverage	APS-C.
Compatible Mounting	APS-C format cameras.
Maximum magnification	1x.
Image Stabilization	Available.
No.of diaphragm blades	9 blades.
Lens construction	16 elements in 12 groups.
Minimum focus distance	25 cm.
Weight	750 g.
Filter thread	62 mm.
Dimension	80 x 130 mm.
Adjustment	Linear Motor (LM) for autofocus and a customizable focus limiter switch for manual focus.
Durability	The lens is weather-sealed, making it ideal for outdoor photography.
Chromatic Aberration	Purple fringing around high-contrast objects and red and blue fringing around the edges of highlights can be seen.

Reasons to buy:

• Image stabilization is really good.
• Good build quality.
• Good Image Quality.
• Versatile Focal Length.

Reasons to avoid:

• A little pricey, especially for an APS-C lens.
• Surprisingly huge.

8. Tokina ATX-i 100mm f/2.8 Macro

• The Fujifilm XF 80mm f/2.8 R LM OIS WR lens has an 80mm focal length.
• It features a maximum aperture of f/2.8, and minimum aperture can vary but often reaches f/22.
• The lens features a One-Touch Focus Clutch Mechanism that allows you to switch between autofocus and manual focus modes quickly.

Brand	Tokina.
Type	Macro lens.
Lens format coverage	Full frame.
Compatible Mounting	Canon EF.
Maximum magnification	1:1.
Image Stabilization	No image stabilization.
No.of diaphragm blades	9 blades.
Lens construction	9 elements in 8 groups.
Minimum focus distance	3 m.
Weight	490 g.
Filter thread	55 mm.
Dimension	73mm x 98mm.
Adjustment	One-Touch Focus Clutch Mechanism.
Durability	Offers both autofocus and manual focus systems.
Chromatic Aberration	Lens has a good control over chromatic aberration.

Reasons to buy:

• Excellent value; half the price of many of its competitors.
• The clutch mechanism for rapidly switching between manual and autofocus focus.
• When extended, the barrel does not revolve.

Reasons to avoid:

• Plastic construction is good but not as long-lasting as metal.
• Some photographers prefer internal focusing lenses.
• Autofocus is a little slow.

9. Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 60mm f/2.8 Macro

• The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 60mm f/2.8 Macro lens offers a 60mm focal length.
• The lens features a maximum aperture of f/2.8 and a minimum aperture of f/22 for precise exposure adjustment.
• It has a fast and accurate autofocus system and a manual focus ring, giving you full control over your focus.

Brand	Olympus.
Type	Macro telephoto lens.
Lens format coverage	Micro-four thirds.
Compatible Mounting	Micro-four thirds.
Maximum magnification	1.0 x.
Image Stabilization	No image stabilization.
No.of diaphragm blades	7 blades.
Lens construction	13 elements in 10 groups.
Minimum focus distance	0.19 m.
Weight	185 g.
Filter thread	46 mm.
Dimension	56 x 82 mm.
Adjustment	Offers both AF and MF.
Durability	The lens features a metal mount high-grade plastic barrel.
Chromatic Aberration	The lens has good control over chromatic aberration.

Reasons to buy:

• Small and lightweight
• The lens barrel contains helpful built-in indications for focusing on close subjects
• Effective 120mm focal length.
• Works with both Olympus and Panasonic cameras.

Reasons to avoid:

• No built-in picture stabilization.
• Good image quality for an MFT lens but not quite as good as its full-frame counterparts.

 

10. Irix 150mm f/2.8 Macro

• The Irix 150mm f/2.8 Macro lens boasts a 150mm focal length.
• It features a maximum aperture of f/2.8, and the minimum aperture can vary but often reaches f/32.
• The lens offers autofocus (AF) and manual focus (MF) options, catering to different shooting preferences and scenarios.

Brand	Irix.
Type	Macro lens.
Lens format coverage	Full frame.
Compatible Mounting	Canon.
Maximum magnification	1:1.
Image Stabilization	No image stabilization.
No.of diaphragm blades	11 blades.
Lens construction	12 elements in 9 groups.
Minimum focus distance	34 cm.
Weight	840 g.
Filter thread	77 mm.
Dimension	80 x 170 mm.
Adjustment	The lens has both AF and MF.
Durability	The lens is weatherproof.
Chromatic Aberration	The lens has good control over chromatic aberration.

Reasons to buy:

• It has a long focus length compared to its competitors.
• Strong weatherproofing.
• Built-in tripod foot for greater convenience.

Reasons to avoid:

• Only manual focus is available.
• Images aren’t as sharp as compared to other macro lenses.
• There is no built-in image stabilization.

11. Laowa 100mm f/2.8 Ultra Macro APO

• The Laowa 100mm f/2.8 Ultra Macro APO lens has a focal length of 100mm.
• It features a maximum aperture of f/2.8, and the minimum aperture can typically go down to f/32 for precise exposure adjustment.
• The lens offers autofocus (AF) and manual focus (MF) options, providing flexibility for various shooting preferences and scenarios.

Brand	Laowa.
Type	Macro telephoto lens.
Lens format coverage	Full frame.
Compatible Mounting	Nikon F & Z / Canon EF & RF / Sony FE
Maximum magnification	2:1.
Image Stabilization	No image stabilization.
No.of diaphragm blades	13 blades.
Lens construction	12 elements in 10 groups.
Minimum focus distance	24.7 cm.
Weight	650g (Canon R, Nikon Z, and Sony FE) 638g (Canon EF & Nikon F)
Filter thread	67 mm.
Dimension	2mm 125mm (Canon EF & Nikon F) 72-155mm (Canon R, Nikon Z, and Sony FE)
Adjustment	The lens has both AF and MF.
Durability	The lens has a full metal construction, which makes it durable and robust.
Chromatic Aberration	The lens features an apochromatic (APO) characteristic that minimizes chromatic aberration at both in-focus and out-of-focus areas.

Reasons to buy:

• Magnification ratio of 2:1 is incredible.
• Outstanding value.
• Large, easily accessible focus ring.
• Good co

Reasons to avoid:

• The learning curve for all-manual control is high.
• In comparison to its competitors, it has a barebones set of features.
• The lack of image stabilization makes it difficult to operate without a tripod.

What to look for in a Best Camera Lens for Close-Up Shots

1- focal length 

To determine the ideal focal length in the best camera lens for close-up shots, consider your subject distance and framing needs. Shorter focal lengths (e.g., 50mm) work well for versatile close-ups, while longer ones (e.g., 100mm) provide greater magnification and maintain a comfortable working distance. Choose based on your intended subjects and style.

2- Aperture 

When selecting the best camera lens for close-up shots, pay attention to aperture. A wide aperture (e.g., f/2.8) lets in more light, ideal for low-light conditions and background blur. Smaller apertures (e.g., f/8) offer greater depth of field, ensuring more of the subject is in focus. Choose based on your lighting and creative preferences.

3- Magnification 

To assess magnification in the best camera lens for close-up shots, consider the lens’s macro capabilities. Look for lenses with a high magnification ratio, often expressed as 1:1 or higher. This indicates the lens can reproduce subjects at life-size or larger, making it suitable for detailed close-up photography.

4- Autofocus 

When evaluating autofocus in the best camera lens for close-up shots, prioritize speed and accuracy. Look for lenses with fast and precise autofocus systems, which is especially important when capturing small and moving subjects in macro photography. Consider lenses with quiet autofocus mechanisms for unobtrusive shooting, which is advantageous in close-up scenarios.

5- Image stabilization 

When considering image stabilization in the best camera lens for close-up shots, assess whether the lens offers this feature. Image stabilization helps reduce the effects of camera shake, which is crucial for sharp close-up photos. Look for lenses with built-in optical or sensor-shift stabilization, enhancing your ability to capture clear, handheld close-up images.

Best Camera Lens for Close-Up Shots FAQs

What lens is best for close-up shots?

In portrait photography, favored prime lenses for close-ups typically include 50mm and 85mm, while for full-length portraits, 24mm and 35mm are popular choices. A widely used zoom lens for portraits is the 70-200mm.

What camera lens is used to capture close-up shots from far away subjects?

A telephoto lens enables photographers to capture distant subjects up close. Telephoto lenses are divided into two subcategories: short telephotos, ranging from 85 to 135mm in focal length, and standard telephoto lenses, with focal lengths spanning from 135 to 300mm.

Is a telephoto lens good for close-ups?

Telephoto lenses are also excellent for capturing close-up shots and emphasizing size disparities. Photographer Adam Ruggieri explains, “They allow you to zoom in and concentrate on a specific subject, creating a more selective focus.”

Do I need a macro lens for close-up photography?

Without a macro lens, DSLRs and mirrorless cameras struggle to focus on objects near the lens, preventing the capture of genuine macro images. To photograph close-up subjects effectively, investing in a dedicated macro lens is necessary.

Conclusion 

In a nutshell, I have compiled this guide on the best camera lens for close-up shots. It’s time to tailor your camera equipment to your specific requirements. Carefully consider your photographic needs, subjects, and style when selecting the perfect lens.

Your choice will enable you to capture stunning and intricate close-up shots.