5 Best Cameras for Product Photography

If you’re in a business that sells directly to consumers, good product photos can be a huge factor in getting someone to buy your product. The moment someone sees a good picture, they instantly want to know more about the product in question. And to get an eye-catching photo, you’ll need a good camera. Well, we’ve made your job easier with a list of the best cameras for product photography.

Best_Cameras_for_Product_Photography

Be it smartphones, accessories, or even jewelry, a good product photography camera can help you click sharp photos that show off the product in the best possible manner. Having professional photographs of the real product instead of a render can certainly boost your sales. Even if you’re not a business, a camera to click product shots can be a good investment if you’re planning to take up photography as a career. But, before we get to the products –

1. Canon EOS M50 Mark II

  • Resolution: 24.1MP
  • Included lens: 15-45mm
Canon M50 mark ii

The Canon M50 is one of Cannon’s entry-level mirrorless cameras with an APS-C lens system. Despite being relatively affordable, the quality of pictures clicked by the camera is stunning making it a good option for product photography on a budget.

If you’re a beginner or looking to take up product photography gigs on a part-time basis, the Canon M50 Mark II is the best place to start. Not only is it affordable but it’s also extremely simple to use even if you haven’t used a camera before. Additionally, the body is lightweight making it easy to carry around on shoots.

Along with crisp photos, the M50 Mark II is also a good video camera for YouTube videos. So, if you ever plan on venturing into that, you won’t have to invest in a different camera for the foreseeable future. Canon does bundle in a 15-45mm kit lens with the body. While it’s decent to start with, it’s not the best lens for product photography so you may want to invest in a lens that has a narrower aperture.

What We Like

  • Compact and lightweight
  • Affordable yet clicks good photos

What We Don’t Like

  • Kit lens is average

2. Sony Alpha ZV-E10

  • Resolution: 24.2MP
  • Included lens: 16-50mm
Sony ZV-E10

Sony launched the Alpha ZV-E10 as a camera catered towards content creators and vloggers. But, the reason why we’re recommending it for product photography is its AI background blur feature that can make your product stand out.

Our initial recommendation was going to be the Sony A6400. But, the ZV-E10 retails for a lower price while including a kit lens and some software features that can be helpful. Additionally, the ZV-E10 can come in handy if you ever venture into filmmaking or content creation so it’s a camera that can serve multiple purposes.

The interchangeable lens system ensures you can get multiple lenses for different types of product photography. Sony does include a 16-50mm kit lens which is just fine for clicking wide-angle shots but the closer you move towards that 50mm focal length, the softer the image gets. Other than this, the Sony ZV-E10 offers excellent value for money, especially if you want to learn photography and videography.

What We Like

  • Great for both photos and videos
  • Software blur introduces bokeh even without a narrow aperture

What We Don’t Like

  • Kit lens produces soft images at longer focal lengths

3. Panasonic Lumix GH5 Mark II

  • Resolution: 20.3MP
  • Included lens: Body only
Panasonic GH5 ii

If you’re looking for a high-end camera that offers top-of-the-line features but doesn’t break the bank, the GH5 Mark II from Panasonic is a fantastic deal. You get 10-bit video, 5-axis image stabilization, and excellent autofocus capabilities.

When clicking photos of products, photographers generally prefer using manual focus to highlight a specific portion of an item. However, the Panasonic Lumix GH5 Mark II’s autofocus is so reliable that you can rely on it to focus on the exact portion of the image you tap on. This can save you a lot of time and effort during long photoshoots.

Along with fast autofocus, the in-body stabilization helps when you’re shooting handheld. The original GH5 had a legacy of being an excellent video camera and the Mark II builds on it with higher frame rates and LOG profiles.

What might be a bummer for a few users is that the GH5 Mark II uses a micro four-thirds lens system which introduces a crop factor. It’s also worth noting that Panasonic doesn’t bundle a lens so you’ll have to spend a bit more money.

What We Like

  • Excellent autofocus
  • In-body image stabilization

What We Don’t Like

  • Doesn’t come with a lens in the box

4. Nikon Z50

  • Resolution: 20.9MP
  • Included lens: 16-50mm and 50-250mm
Nikon Z50

In stark contrast to the Lumix GH5 II which doesn’t come with a lens at all, Nikon bundles two of them with the Z50. Both the included lenses are great value additions for product photography when combined with the shooting prowess of the Nikon Z50.

The Nikon Z50 is a compact mirrorless camera that’s one of the lightest options on this list. It’s almost like a point-and-shoot with an interchangeable lens system making it very handy for run-and-gun photography. Even if you have to travel to different places for shoots, you can simply fit the camera in your fanny pack as per reviews.

Apart from this, Nikon has to be appreciated for bundling two kit lenses at a decent price. The 16-50mm is more suited for landscape photography, but the 50-250mm lens shines when it comes to clicking pictures of products. The longer focal length comes in handy for clicking close-up shots and with the entire focal range on offer, you won’t even have to invest in new lenses for a while.

What We Like

  • Compact form factor
  • Includes two lenses in the kit

What We Don’t Like

  • The SD card slot is hard to access

5. Sony Alpha 7 IV

  • Resolution: 33MP
  • Included lens: 28-70mm
Sony Alpha 7 IV

If you want to go all out and buy the best camera there is for product photography, the Sony Alpha 7 IV is the way to go. It’s the only full-frame camera on this list and when coupled with the 33MP Exmor R CMOS sensor, it produces beautiful images that will leave you or your clients thoroughly impressed!

As per several users, the details, colors, and dynamic range produced by the Sony Alpha 7 IV are stellar. Whether you shoot in broad daylight or at night, the camera produces results that are among the best in the business. Even when shooting at ISO levels below 100, the camera produces crisp images which is a rarity.

Autofocus is also excellent, and so are the video recording capabilities of the camera. Additionally, users mention the included 28-70mm lens is among the better ones included as a kit lens with Sony cameras. The focal length range is ideal for product shots and also for portrait images if you plan on using the camera for that as well. It is pricey, but the camera is one of the best in the business.

What We Like

  • Full frame sensor
  • Crisp shots with excellent dynamic range

What We Don’t Like

  • Pricey

Show Off Your Products

Whether you’re pursuing photography as a side gig or you’re a marketing agency that helps businesses promote their products, any of the best cameras for product photography from the list above will help you snap pictures that are sure to make your clients go “Wow!’

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Last updated on 05 March, 2024

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