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Tamron Lenses for Tabletop/Still Life

Tabletop and still life photography are unique disciplines. These categories of photography are the combination of lighting, backdrop, background and foreground details, background blur, camera angle, subject, and more. While they don’t require the photographer to capture subjects in motion or pose models, they do require an eye for creative and striking compositions.

Still life and tabletop photography are often shot at wider aperture with higher-quality lenses that produce sharper, more detailed images. Although you might not require the most advanced autofocus systems for this kind of photography because the subject is never moving, you still want to ensure you have a lens with the appropriate focal length that delivers clear, crisp photos.

However, the type of lenses you use will ultimately aid in the quality of your photographs. Below are the top recommended Tamron lenses for tabletop and still life photographers.

Tamron 35mm F/2.8 Di III OSD M1:2 (Model F053)

The Tamron 35mm f/2.8 for Sony full-frame mirrorless cameras is a lens that’s suitable for just about every shooting situation you can think of, and that includes tabletop and still life photography. The 35mm focal length offers a wide-angle view with a natural perspective field-of-view for instinctive capture. It’s also light-weight and compact so you can take it with you wherever you go without worrying about weighing down your equipment bag.

What makes this lens so great for tabletop and still life photography is the incredible amount of detail that can be captured. With this Tamron 35mm lens, you can capture images at half life-size with its 1:2 macro capability. You get outstanding optical performance across the entire frame and an incredibly sharp image even down to the subject’s texture.

With a fluorine coating that protects from oils, water, dirt, dust, fingerprints, and smudging, and moisture resistant construction, this lens is built to last.

If you prefer a wide perspective that still offers the great 1:2 macro capability, take a look at the 24mm F/2.8 Di III OSD M1:2 (Model F051), 20mm F/2.8 Di III OSD M1:2 (Model F050), or Tamron’s newest all-in-one zoom for Sony e-mount cameras, the 18-300mm F/2.8-5.6 Di III VC VXD (Model B061), which provides 1:2 macro at 18mm.

Essential Tips for Superior Tabletop/ Still Life Photography

Plan your composition – The first thing to do is to plan your composition. Inspiration can come from anywhere, but you’ll certainly want to consider why you need the photo and who the target audience is. It may be worth sketching your ideas, so you know how you want to photograph your subject before setting up your shoot.

Experiment with angles – You should also try different shooting angles. Because each subject is unique, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to shooting angles. Photographing your subject from positions other than eye-level can produce more interesting and striking images.

© Woody Lau
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Play with your lighting – Lighting is a critical component of any photographer’s work, and lighting can be invaluable to portraying mood and emotion. Consider utilizing artificial lighting like strobes or flashes to help combat unwanted shadows that may affect the atmosphere of your photograph.

© Shinichi Hanawa
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Keep your setup steady – When it comes to tabletop photography, every millimeter counts. Once you get close enough to your subject the slightest movement of the subject or the camera can significantly affect the outcome, causing blurred or poorly focused images. Weighing down tripods and sets can minimize movement to reduce the risk of motion blur.

© Takashi Namiki
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Shop Tamron Lenses Today for Your Next Still Life Photoshoot Project

With Tamron lenses and these great tips for still life photography, you can achieve the desired quality of your tabletop images. Browse our website to purchase our high-performance lenses now or find an authorized Tamron dealer near you to explore more of our products.


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