Product Photography Camera Settings You Should Use
Camera settings are guidelines for using the camera. Most digital cameras can be set to different modes for varying shooting conditions, such as landscape photos versus close-ups or an action shot versus an image of a still object.
This article is a list of product photography camera settings that can help photographers make the best possible photographs.
This article will teach photographers about some product photography camera settings, including, DOF, white balance, shutter speed, etc. to give them additional artistic elements that they could use to help improve their photographs. Keep reading to take sharp and crisp product photos.
Contents
Best Camera Settings for product photography
Below are a few tips on product photography camera settings that will help improve your results.
1. Use manual mode
Use manual mode to get the best shots and control over shutter speed, ISO, and aperture. The shutter speed controls the amount of light that reaches the camera’s sensor. Besides adjusting it to make a brighter or dark picture, you can set it manually with different values that depend on your shooting conditions.
The aperture controls how much light goes through the lens in a given amount of time. It is better to use manual mode for product photography since it gives you greater control over the depth of field and allows you to achieve selective focus.
2. Use a low ISO setting
The ISO setting controls the camera’s sensor output. Higher ISO settings produce a noisy image and are best used for indoor activities and at night.
For product photography, you should sometimes use a low ISO of 100 or 200 for more quality. If your product appears underlit, start with the lowest ISO possible and gradually increase it.
3. Set Aperture as high as possible
Aperture is a factor that controls the depth of field. Depth of field (DOF) is given the distance between the nearest and farthest objects in a photo that is in focus.
In addition, it determines how much light passes through the lens to the camera. A system of measuring aperture called F-stops ranges from F1 to F22.
A lower number generally means more light gets in and a faster shutter speed. When you use low F-stops, you can focus on specific details, whereas your product is captured entirely focused when you use high F-stops.
4. Adjust shutter speed to lower settings
The shutter speed determines the length of time light hits the camera’s sensor before being captured. Unfortunately, it is a controlling factor that can affect your hands and subject movement while you are working. Try to expose your product at the slowest shutter speed possible without the risk of blurring or washing it out.
5. Choose RAW image format
It’s essential to shoot in raw because RAW formats are great for post-processing (editing) photos on a computer. If you retouch the photograph, you won’t lose any data, and the images will have a much broader color range, which is critical for printing purposes.
6. Auto White balance
Using auto white balance is a great way to control the color of your product photos in post-processing. The camera will adjust the color temperature automatically depending on whether it is daylight or indoor lighting and its F-stop settings. To set white balance up, open the camera’s menu. Then choose “Camera Settings” from the menu and you’ll see “Custom White Balance” and “White Balance.” Choose “Auto” and then tap on OK to close out of that menu.
7. Turn off flash
Using flash can cause problems when shooting product photos. The extra light causes your subject to be overly illuminated, often producing an unnatural effect as your viewers see something that is not real or not how they expect it to be.
How do you take crisp product photos?
1. Use single-point focus mode
You should use a single-point focus mode to allow you to set your product in focus at the center of your frame. This helps your subject stand out from the background by eliminating all other distractions. You will still be able to see the edges and sides of your product which are also in focus.
2. Use a tripod
Don’t hand-hold your photos because you will get blurred in some items that you want to be sharp. A tripod is the best way to keep your shots steady and balanced without moving any parts. It is simple and easy to use, but there are different types of tripods depending on their price range, size, and materials used for that purpose.
3. Set your ISO low
ISO controls the sensitivity of the camera sensor. It is beneficial to use a low ISO when photographing products. This is because, to reduce noise in your product photos, use ISO 100 or 200 as they are more suitable for product photography than other high ISO values.
4. Use the 1/focal length rule
According to the general rule, shutter speeds should be at least 1/focal length. You want a shutter speed that is no slower than 1/50 second for a 50mm lens. This will help to get sharp images with little or no blur. A fast shutter speed will reduce movement effects on your photo, so try to have it as fast as possible without affecting your other settings.
5. Buy a high-quality lens
Buying a high-quality lens is essential for product photography. You will be able to achieve the best results when it comes to sharpness, which leads to edge-to-edge clarity. Use prime lenses set at a fixed focal length to focus on your product and nothing else.
How do you take product photos outside?
When taking product photos outside, you must keep a few essential things in mind. Here’s what you need to do.
1. Make sure the sunlight is diffused
If possible, make sure that the sun’s light is diffused so that it won’t get too harsh on your camera’s sensor and lens.
This can be done using large softboxes to soften the sunlight before it hits the camera’s sensor. This will also help with any shadows that may appear cast on your product, as well as ensure no glare will be produced on the surfaces of your product when shooting outdoors.
2. Use a tripod
Make sure you use a sturdy tripod to prevent any camera shake. If you notice your photos are blurry or unstable, set the ISO at lower values and use a slower shutter speed to keep the motion from blurring your images.
You will also want to ensure that your tripod is placed in an area with no wind or movement. If it is windy, try shooting with a wider aperture, making it possible to get a faster shutter speed.
3. The best time of day
You should go outside when the light is at its brightest and most even during the middle of the day (approximately 12-2 PM). This will give you the best chance of getting the best exposure, and if your exposure is off, you’ll get shadows on your product.
FAQs
What is the best shutter speed for product photography?
The good news is that this mainly depends on what you’re trying to take a photo of. You should consider a slower shutter speed if your main goal is minimizing blur and getting the object in focus. When photographing products, use a lower setting, such as 1/13, and adjust the exposure settings accordingly.
What is the best aperture for product photography?
You will want to use a larger aperture when taking photos outdoors and using neutral or gray objects. This is because the smaller the aperture, the more light will be transmitted (thus creating a sharper image).
If you are shooting indoors, where little to no light is falling on your product, and you have plenty of background behind it, then you can use an aperture of f/8 or f/16.
How do you shoot products with natural light?
When shooting products with natural light, you want to make sure that you are using a reflector in front of the product so that it can be illuminated by natural light. You may also need to use a custom white balance setting, diffused filter, or soften the sun’s light.
Do you need a macro lens for product photography?
The majority of product photography does not require a macro lens. However, if you have a really extremely small or complex product, you need a macro lens for your product photography. Optimized for photographing microscopic subjects, these cameras are capable of precise close-ups.
What focal length is best for product photography?
When choosing the best focal length for product photography camera settings, the answer is ‘it depends. The longer the focal length of your lens, the more comprehensive your photos will be.
This can be useful when shooting wide products. It would be best to go for a lens with a focal length of at least 50mm.
