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I met my husband in Thailand when we were 2 ex-pats working as scuba diver instructors. We lived there for 7 years. When we decided to leave, we had no savings and left with 8 boxes, 2 suitcases, 2 dive bags, and 2 cats {yes, you read that right}. A couple of years later, we had settled down in Virginia. I was working part-time and my husband was working for a startup, with all that it entails {and by that, I mean there were months where my salary was our sole income}.

 

So when I started my photography business, I didn’t have a lot of cash to spend and I had to be really clever about my spending. I did a lot of research about cameras and lenses, and while I was dreaming of getting my hands on a Canon 5D mark iii, I had to settle for a Canon T4i. But the one thing I knew, was that if I was going to work with that camera, then the kit lens was not going to cut it. So I invested $125, which was a lot of money for us back then, and bought a Canon 50mm f1.8 to use as my food photography lens. To this day, this is still one of my favorite lenses and here are 3 reasons why you should consider buying this workhorse as your first lens.

 

 

You just can’t beat the price.

 

Even though I thought $125 was a lot of money for a food photography lens back then, it actually is peanuts when it comes to photography equipment. Photography is an expensive hobby, and when you get into the professional realm, it easily gets into the thousands of dollars. I have had this lens for 7 years now and it has been to every single one of my shoots on location as well as all my trips. It fell a few times, got glued back together once, and it still works beautifully. Best $125 I ever spent. If you are a Nikon user, don’t fret, Nikon has a similar lens, albeit slightly more expensive at $215.

 

 

Wide aperture, fast lens

 

With an aperture of f/1.8, you can get a really nice shallow depth of field and beautiful bokeh. Before I bought it, I really wanted to wait and save money to buy a Canon 50mm f1.4 (which was an additional $225) but the truth is, if you are just getting started with photography, you are not going to nail your focus every time. You really shouldn’t use such a shallow depth of field anyway. The f/1.8 is a great aperture that allows you to get a very soft focus and makes for a fast lens. It’s easy to use in most situations, even in low light like at a restaurant.

 

Perfect for overhead shots

 

Overhead shots are definitely a trend in food photography right now and for good reason: they make for beautiful tablescapes and process shots. But if you don’t want to have to climb on a 10-step ladder to get the perfect shot, then a 50mm is your best friend. Its focal length is wide enough that you will be able to set up on the floor and shoot from a 3-step ladder or an overhead tripod without any issue, and it won’t create as much distortion as a wide-angle would.

 

 

Overall, the 50mm, or ‘nifty fifty’ is a great lens with a nice, medium focal length that you can use for a variety of different subjects. Even though it is not a wide-angle, you can still capture some nice landscapes, and if you move in closer you can get some great portraits or candids as well as, obviously, some stunning food shots. It is also a remarkably light and compact lens that will easily follow you on your foodie adventures. So if you are just starting in food photography and want a good quality lens for an affordable price, that is the lens for you.

 

I hope this post will help you choose your first lens. If you want to learn more about food photography, sign up for my newsletter! I share unique and special content with my email list subscribers that I don’t post anywhere else. In the meantime, check out my 30+ food styling tips, and my favorite online resources for food photography.