Best Lens for Car Photography

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Car photography has a lot of emphasis on the details. Whether you are photographing a still car or one speeding through a track. You need to have a lens that can be versatile, just like car photography.

What is the Best Lens for Car Photography?

When it comes to car photography, the best lens depends on the photography style you're looking to achieve. If you're going for dramatic, wide-angle shots, a lens with a focal length of around 16-35mm is ideal. On the other hand, a zoom lens with a range of 70-200mm can be a great choice if you're after more detail-oriented photos.

The 24-70mm lens is also popular for car photography, especially for those who want to capture a range of shots without switching lenses frequently. This lens offers a versatile focal length range that can be used for both wide-angle and portrait-style shots. It's also known for its fast aperture, which allows for outstanding low-light performance and the ability to create shallow depth-of-field effects. However, the 24-70mm lens might not provide as wide of an angle of view as some photographers may desire for certain types of car photography.

Here are some of my favorite lenses from various brands to help you achieve the best photographs.

Nikon NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.8 S Lens

A 50mm prime lens is always a safe and reliable choice when taking most types of photos. Almost all subjects come out crisp and clear. The Nikon Z 50mm f/1.8 S lens has a wide aperture of f/1.8 to get the entire car in the frame. The silky smooth bokeh will also help your subject stand out in the photo.

Specs:

For Nikon Z Cameras
Superior S-Line performance and resolution
Stepping Motor provides fast smooth and accurate autofocus
Aspherical lenses minimize coma and other types of lens aberrations
Internal Focusing mechanism keeps lens compact
Extra-Low Dispersion Glass for optimum correction of chromatic aberrations
Nano Crystal Coat virtually eliminates internal lens element reflections

Pros:

You'll get vibrant colors.
Wide aperture
Smooth bokeh

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

If you're hitting the race track, the best lens to use is the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens. You can get excellent photographs even from a far distance. This Canon lens is nice and compact, and you can easily haul it around the track until you find your perfect spot. The best part about this lens is the rotation-type zoom ring. Getting those fast and furious cars will be easy with the zoom ring that helps you move around quickly. Its good construction makes this lens a definite front-runner.

Specs:

Compact high performance L-series super-telephoto zoom
Great for sports and wildlife photography
One fluorite and one super UD element
Air Sphere Coating (ASC) significantly reduces backlit flaring and ghosting
Fluorine coatings on lens surfaces help lessen smears and fingerprints
9-blade circular aperture renders soft and beautiful backgrounds
Optical Image Stabilizer provides up to 4 stops of image correction
Advanced dust and water sealing

Pros:

Constructed to last long
Great zoom clarity

Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II Lens

Another top contender is the Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II lens. One of the remarkable features of this lens is its powerful clarity from the GM glass elements. This is a great lens when you need to switch up the type of photo you are taking.

Specs:

Superb image quality throughout the entire zoom range at all focusing distances
Smallest and lightest F2.8 24-70mm zoom in its class 2 - 24.6 oz (695 g)
Beautiful F2.8 bokeh throughout the zoom range from advanced optics & 11-blade aperture
Four XD Linear Motors and floating focus achieve fast/precise/quiet AF and excellent response
Minimum focusing distance is just 8.3” at 24mm and 11.8” at 70 mm 0.32 max magnification
Nano AR coating II effectively suppresses reflections and ghosting
Advanced design reduces focus breathing
Aperture ring click/de-click switch and iris lock for professional aperture control
Two customizable focus hold buttons
Dust and moisture resistant
ED aspherical lens elements correct spherical and chromatic aberrations
Linear Response MF for repeatable manual focus control
Instant auto/manual focus selection via AF/MF switch
Front fluorine coating
Petal shaped bayonet mount lens hood with filter control window

Pros:

Crispy and clear images
Wide aperture
Heavy-duty

NIKKOR 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G ED

If you aren't in the best position to splurge on a lens - this is your guy. The Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 18-140mm has a decent range of focal lengths, so you can zoom in or have the whole car in the frame. Another great perk to this lens is the noise reduction feature to help eliminate shakes.

Specs:

For crop-sensor Nikon Cameras
Silent Wave Motor (SWM) enables extremely quiet high-speed autofocusing
Vibration Reduction (VR) helps keep your photos sharp and your videos steady
Extra-Low Dispersion Glass for optimum correction of chromatic aberrations
Aspherical lens elements eliminate certain types of lens aberration

Pros:

Extraordinarily sharp
Affordable

Nikon NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S Lens

The vibrant colors this lens produces make it a top choice for many photographers. The Nikon NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S lens can capture from a distance and even take great videos. Its ability to be used in low-light conditions makes it super versatile! It is equipped with ARNEO anti-reflective coat elements that reduces ghosting and flare.

Specs:

For Nikon Z Cameras
Superior S-Line performance and resolution
Short-Wavelength Refractive Lens achieves precise chromatic aberration correction
Stepping Motor provides fast smooth and accurate autofocus
Nano Crystal Coat virtually eliminates internal lens element reflections
Extra-Low Dispersion Glass for optimum correction of chromatic aberrations
Internal Focusing mechanism keeps lens compact
ARNEO anti-reflective coat further reduces ghosting and flare
Vibration Reduction (VR) helps keep your photos sharp and your videos steady

Pros:

Dynamic images
AF lock
Works well in low-light conditions

Fujifilm Fujinon XF 55-200mm f/3.5-4.8 R LM OIS Lens

This is another excellent lens option for those wanting to also take videos. The Fujifilm Fujinon XF 55-200mm f/3.5-4.8 R LM OIS lens has an image stabilization feature that makes taking videos a breeze. You can also get a super steady shot from a distance. It has a versatility that just can't be beaten. You can really use this lens for all types of car photography. It produces extremely clear photos - just be wary of using it indoors.

Specs:

Highly Portable Telephoto Zoom
1.1m minimum focusing distance
62mm Filter Diameter
14 elements in 10 Groups
1 Aspherical Element
2 Extra Low Dispersion Elements

Pros:

On-point AF
Clear photographs
A broad range of focal lengths

Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM Lens

Although some of the lenses on this list perform poorly in low light, this one doesn't! The Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM medium telephoto lens is almost too good to be true. Its dreamy bokeh allows you to keep small details as focal points but can still capture a photo from about 15 feet in the distance. Its only downside is the fixed lens which doesn't offer much versatility.

Specs:

High Image Quality and Bright f/1.2 Aperture L Lens for EOS R System Cameras.
Blue Spectrum Refractive Optics (BR) Reduces Chromatic Aberration.
Minimum Focusing Distance of 2.79 ft./0.85m.
Control Ring for Direct Setting Changes.
One Aspherical Element and One UD Lens.
12 pin Communication System allows High-speed Communication with the Camera

Pros:

Smooth bokeh
Rich images
Works extremely well in low-light conditions with its wide aperture

Panasonic Lumix G Vario 100-300mm f/4-5.6 II POWER O.I.S. Lens

For the micro four-thirds camera users, look no further! The quality is undeniable on this Panasonic Lumix G Vario 100-300mm f/4-5.6 II POWER O.I.S. lens. This lens can match up to a 600mm lens on a typical full-frame and is ideal for shooting from a distance. Its lightweight build makes it easy to carry around on the race track without weighing you down.

Specs:

Updated Panasonic LUMIX 100-300mm zoom lens replaces H-FS100300.
100-300mm F4.0-5.6 (1 ED)
Upgraded support for harsh weather conditions (Splashproof / Dustproof).
Panasonic POWER O.I.S. compatible with LUMIX Dual I.S. 2.0 LUMIX Mirrorless cameras.
Extra-Low Dispersion (ED) lenses correct chromatic aberration

Pros:

Wide range
Lightweight
Sturdy
Dynamic colors

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art Lens

The Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art lens is perfect if you're looking for a cost-friendly option. This lens can still work well indoors and give you outstanding results. Even for the price, you will get warm colors with life-like photographs. One of the biggest perks is its ridiculously fast AF that helps you snap pictures in a pinch!

Specs:

Flagship of the ART line
Exceptional optical performance ideal for ultra-high megapixel cameras
Handcrafted in Japan
Constant f/2.8 Aperture throughout zoom range
19 elements in 15 groups
Filter Size 82mm
11-blade rounded diaphragm
High-precision rugged brass bayonet mount

Pros:

Well-built
Warm colors
AF capable
Works well indoors

Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2 Lens

This lens has a great range and is super easy for beginner photographers. The Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2 lens is almost untouchable. Shoot in the daylight or at night, and you will have great results. It is also lightweight and shoots excellent videos!

Specs:

High resolution meets beautiful bokeh
USD (Ultrasonic Silent Drive) ring-type motor ensures excellent focusing speed and accuracy
Keep it steady with VC equal to 5 stops
Moisture-proof and dust-resistant construction
Constant f/2.8 Maximum Aperture
Filter Diameter 82mm
17 Elements in 12 Groups

Pros:

Wide focal length range
Silent focus
Rich colors

Canon EF 28mm f/2.8 IS USM

This lens is perfect if you want to capture the whole car and the background in the frame. The Canon EF 28mm f/2.8 IS USM wide angle lens will give you a comprehensive perspective that some of the other lenses can't. You will also achieve rich and crisp photos with minimal blur. The downside to this lens is the noisy motor when autofocusing.

Specs:

Fixed focal length wide-angle 28mm lens
Lens Construction: 9 elements in 7 groups
Focus Adjustment: Rear focusing system with USM
7-Bladed Circular Aperture diaphragm for soft backgrounds

Pros:

Crisp and rich images
Built-in image stabilizer

All of these lenses will do the trick and produce impeccable results. Just remember, each lens works differently, and you will want to pick the lens that matches your photography style and goal. For more of my product recommendations, check out these other articles: