10 Best Lenses for Jewelry Photography in 2023

If you’ve finally decided to invest in the best macro lens for jewelry, the first thing you’ll do is search for it on Google. However, that may lead you nowhere due to having too many options. So, how to know which lens is the best jewelry photography lens?

This list gives you the 10 best lenses for jewelry photography with prices and features to help you make an informed decision.

Things to Consider When Choosing a Jewelry Photography Lens

The web is an abundant source of jewelry photography equipment and isn’t too helpful in guiding you through all the options. Finding the best lens to shoot jewelry leaves you with many factors to consider.

The lens should cater to your specific business niche and photography needs, which is why you might find yourself roaming in the dark. Here are the top six considerations when looking for top-class optics for jewelry photography.

• Pricing

Since the camera model plays a critical role in your decision-making, include the budget you can afford to spend on a camera lens in your calculations. The camera model also helps you make the most out of the lens potential.

If your budget isn’t limited, go for a crop-sensor camera. These camera models typically come with a range of dedicated lenses. Remember that your jewelry photography efforts depend on the quality of your photos.

You need a top-grade camera with high-end lenses to ensure you use the lens to the maximum of its potential. Today, you can find top-class macro lenses on Amazon ranging between $200-$800.

• Image Stabilization Capabilities

Jewelry photography requires you to shoot handheld photos. However, hand-holding the camera exposes your visuals to camera shakes and vibrations. While you can reduce this to a minimum with a tripod, you’ll probably work in conditions where using a tripod isn’t practical or possible.

So, your best option is to opt for a good DSLR camera with a macro lens with built-in image stabilization capabilities to ensure you capture the most impressive jewelry shots. Image stabilization can significantly improve your image sharpness and quality.

• Zoom Ratio

The zoom ratio is an essential factor most first-time buyers miss when looking for a macro lens for jewelry photographs. Always check out the technical specifications of the lens model to see the zoom ratio because it determines the quality of your jewelry photos.

The better the zoom ratio, the more sophisticated your product photos will be. More importantly, a top-grade zoom ratio helps you capture high-quality close-up shots without losing fine detail, so look for a higher zoom ratio to get the best results.

• Focal Length

In jewelry photography, you should stick with a focal length of between 50mm-105mm for crisp and engaging photos. Anything wider than this won’t give you enough perspective and cropping options to frame the pieces properly.

In addition, if you go above 50mm-105mm, you’ll have too much zoom and won’t be able to capture any background in your jewelry photos.

• Macro Photo Mode

Macro photo mode is vital because it helps you focus on the object and capture sharp close-ups of your jewelry products. A macro lens sharpens your focus and helps you magnify the subject while shooting from a close distance to highlight fine detail like the intricate design, engravings, or the cut of a stone on your jewel piece.

• Camera Compatibility

There are different types of cameras on the market, like mirrorless, micro four-thirds, full frame, and crop sensor cameras. Matching your camera with the correct lens is crucial to get the best results and avoid additional expenses. A lens for a full-frame camera won’t work so well on a crop sensor camera and vice versa.

Read more: best cameras for jewelry photography

10 Best Lenses for Jewelry Photography

Here’s a list of the top 10 jewelry photography lenses to consider buying in 2023.

1. Nikon AF-S DX Micro-NIKKOR 40mm f/2.8G - Best macro lens for jewelry product photography

Nikon AF-S 40mm is an excellent macro lens for jewelry photography. Since the lens gives you a 1:1 zoom ratio and a 40mm focal length, you can use it to blur the background entirely and make your jewelry pieces stand out.

The biggest advantages of using this macro lens include exceptional image sharpness and colorization. It’s stunningly sharp from wide open to f/2.8.

This lens allows you to capture the details of your jewelry in outstanding quality. In addition, it also provides a decent focal length for product photography. Since AF-S is a DX lens, you should only pair it with full-frame Nikon cameras.

Key features:

• Manual focus;
• Autofocus (64 inches);
• 1x sharpness (from infinity to life-size);
• Close-range correction system (CRC);
• Silent wave motor (SWM);
• Focus distance indicator;
• 1.0x maximum reproduction ratio;
• 38 degree-50 feet angle of view;
• 0.53 feet minimum focus distance.

Pros & cons

2. Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS – Good overall quality and magnification ratio

If you’re looking for exceptional image quality and visual consistency, Sony FE 90 mm is the right macro lens. Thanks to its brilliant optics, you can capture outstandingly sharp photos consistently. In addition, the lens offers a wide range of advanced macro features for shooting jewelry products.

For example, you can use the 90mm telephoto focal length for multipurpose jewelry photo shoots, including close-crop portraits and close-ups. Sony FE 90mm gives you a 1:1 zoom ratio to capture the fine detail of your jewelry pieces, regardless of the angle or the frame.

Key features:

• Optical steady-shot image stabilization;
• F/2.8 large maximum aperture;
• Background separation;
• Low-light adjustment;
• Bokeh effect;
• Maximum distortion;
• ED glass;
• Nano AR reflection suppressor;
• Manual/autofocus;
• Advanced spherical elements;
• Ghosting and flare reduction;
• Direct Drive SSM.

Pros & Cons

3. Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS – Best for image stabilization and focal length

Sony 18-135mm lens is an ideal choice for product and jewelry photography due to its incredibly high level of versatility. Since it uses a 135mm focal length, this lens is the best option for shooting jewelry of any size and shape. Sony 18-135mm will give you crisp, sharp, and clear jewelry images across various settings.

Whether you shoot indoors in a small space or carry out outdoor jewelry photography, this lens perfectly captures advertising, studio, and lifestyle photos without requiring you to switch lenses. The switch for seamlessly switching between auto and manual focus is a nice touch.

Key features:

• Manual and autofocus;
• High magnification zoom;
• 1x aspherical sharpness;
• 2x ED glass elements;
• Circular bokeh;
• Optical steady-shot image stabilization;
• Ultra-fast AF.

Pros & Cons

4. Nikon’s 105mm f2.8/2.8 VR S – Best for macro and close-up photography

If you’re searching for a versatile, lightweight, compact, and cost-effective lens for jewelry photography, Nikon 105mm VR is an excellent choice. Thanks to its advanced features, you can capture both video and still images in top quality.

The 105mm focal length is an ideal setting for shooting all sorts of photos, from wildlife and landscape to lifestyle and jewelry. Since the VR S 105mm is a VR lens, it allows you to create crisp photos at any focal length.

Key features:

• FX angle of view;
• VR II vibration reduction;
• Nano-crystal coat;
• ED glass elements;
• Image quality enhancement;
• Flare reduction;
• Internal focus;
• 1.0x reproduction ratio.

Pros & Cons

5. Nikon AF-S DX Micro NIKKOR 85mm f/3.5G ED VR – Best for close-up and general photography

If you prefer taking jewelry shots with a Nikon DSLR camera, the brand’s VR-powered 85mm zoom lens is the perfect addition to your photography kit. The lens comes with high-end, advanced features that ensure the highest levels of image accuracy and stabilization when shooting stills or video.

The vibration reduction and 3D tracking features allow you to capture the subject in motion while staying in focus at all times. Thanks to an immensely capable image stabilization system, this zoom lens successfully eliminates camera shakes. It also empowers you to create clear, sharp, immersive videos and photos, even in low-light conditions.

Key features:

• Close focusing;
• VR II image stabilization;
• Extra-low dispersion;
• Nikon super-integrated coating;
• Nikon Silent Wave Motor (SWM);
• 1:1 reproduction ratio.

Pros & Cons

6. Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro – Best prime lens for low distortion, sharp focus, and magnification ratio

Coming from the world’s largest, most renowned camera brand, the EF 100mm Macro lens is a fully optimized optic for close-up jewelry shots. The lens combines a short snapping distance with a convenient short telephoto focal length to give you exceptional photo quality.

The EF 100mm lens works perfectly for close-up photos due to its immense color accuracy, enhanced image clarity, advanced macro shooting, and minimal ghosting.

Key features:

• EF mount lens
• Super Spectra coating
• Ultra-low dispersion
• Ultrasonic motor AF system
• Focus range limiter
• Internal focusing
• 1:1 magnification ratio

Pros & Cons

7. Canon EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro USM – Best for Close-Up Wildlife and Jewelry Photography

If you prefer sticking Canon photography equipment, the Canon 180 macro is the best macro lens you can get your hands on. Aside from being an impressively well-built macro lens, the 180 macro is ideal for close-ups on small jewelry items like rings and earrings.

Thanks to a great focal length, you can capture multiple close-up shots of various jewelry items almost seamlessly. Though it may be a bit pricier, this lens gives you undisputed optical quality with on-level sharpness and ultra-fast focusing.

Key features:

• 3 UD glass elements;
• Internal floating system;
• Advanced USM;
• Ultra-fast autofocusing;
• EF Extender (1.4x-2x);
• Enhanced focusing distance range.

Pros & Cons

8. Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 – Best for high-quality image stabilization performance

The Sony FE 70-200mm lens is an ideal choice if you’re looking for a cutting-edge, lightweight, and fast zoom lens for product photos, portraits, wildlife, events, and sports. Though it comes with a high price, this lens provides exceptional results, especially for close-up jewelry shots.

If you want a top-of-the-class zoom lens with exceptional autofocus performance and image quality, the FE 70-200 mm provides all the sharpness, clarity, colors, and contrast your money can buy.

Key features:

• Dual focus floating system;
• G Master-supported sharpness and exposure;
• ED/Super ED elements;
• Nano AR coating;
• Direct coupled mechanical focus system;
• Steady-shot image stabilization;
• XA element;
• Exceptional surface precision;
• Aspherical elements;
• Par focal design.

Pros & Cons

9. Sony FE 50mm f/2.8 Macro Lens – Best for affordable macro photography

The Sony FE 50mm macro lens is an excellent optic solution for jewelry photography. Aside from being lightweight and highly portable, this lens comes with every jewelry photography feature you can imagine.

It includes a large f/2.8 maximum aperture, a 1:1 magnification ratio, flexible lighting options, and a small minimum focusing distance (6.3”/0.52 ft.). You can capture photorealistic images and create a more genuine and natural focal view to highlight essential details of your jewelry pieces.

Key features:

• Macro design;
• Extra-low dispersion;
• E-mount lens;
• Full-frame format;
• F/2.8-f/16 aperture range;
• ED element;
• Aspherical element;
• Rounded 7-blade diaphragm;
• Focus hold button;
• Focus range limiter.

Pros & Cons

10. Sigma’s 105mm f/2.8 – Good magnification ratio and sharpness

If sharpness, magnification, focal length, and super aperture play a critical role in your jewelry photography efforts, Sigma 105mm f/2.8 is the perfect macro lens for you. The lens packs quite a punch for its price and provides an impressive depth of field.

It allows you to keep the object in focus at all times, with fantastic attention to detail, impressive contrast, and an outstandingly responsive autofocus system. The lens also supports advanced optical image stabilization with an ultra-fast f/2.8 aperture.

Key features:

• Full frame digital SLR;
• 1:1 magnification ratio;
• Fast aperture;
• Top focal length;
• 1:1 macro reproduction ratio;
• Optical image stabilization;
• Autofocus system;
• OIS support;
• Versatile colorization.

Pros & Cons

Final Words

Though buying the best lens for jewelry photography can be tedious, time-consuming, and confusing, it can also be a lucrative investment in taking your jewelry business to the next level.

This guide should help you weigh your options and choose the best macro lens for shooting jewelry.

Regardless of your photography style or the type of jewelry you sell, any of the lenses from the list will help you improve your visual appeal and attract more customers to your website.