If you’re in search of the best lenses for real estate photography for your specific camera brand, we have articles featuring the best lenses for Nikon, Canon, and Sony already written. If you’re looking for the best lens for real estate photography overall, regardless of brand, then we’d recommend the Sony FE 16-35mm f2.8 GM.
If you’d like to learn more about the best lenses on the market, find out why they’re the best, and read some professional reviews and recommendations, then read on!
Table of Contents
Best Lenses for Real Estate Photography
What Type of Lens Is Used for Real Estate Photography?
The 2 most important features that you want to consider when figuring out which are the best lenses for real estate photography are:
- Focal Length
- Sharpness
What focal length is best for real estate photography?
Focal length is the first priority since you’re going to need a lens that’s wide enough to capture the whole room, but also narrow enough to highlight the smaller details.
The ideal lengths will be from around 16mm to around 35mm. Depending on your shooting and editing style, the focal lengths could go as wide as 12mm or 14mm and as narrow as 50mm, but generally, you’re looking for a 16mm-35mm lens.
Sharpness
Sharpness is the next priority. When shooting at wide focal lengths (12mm – 18mm) some lenses will sacrifice sharpness around the edges. Images that aren’t sharp enough are not tolerated in Real Estate Photography since the entire photo from edge to edge will be a selling point.
Luckily there are some truly exceptional lenses on the market today for real estate photography. Below, you’ll find our choices for the best lenses for real estate photography.
Best Lenses for Real Estate Photography
Best Nikon Lenses
Nikon AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8G ED
Nikons sharpest wide angle lens, the 14-24mm f2.8 is one of the best lenses for real estate photography out there.
The only downside is that it probably needs to be paired with a lens like the Nikon 24-70 f2.8 for the tighter shots needed.
Pros:
- Very sharp
- Great contrast
- Strong build
- Excellent focal lengths
Cons:
- Expensive
- Works best when paired with a tighter focal length lens like the 24-70mm f2.8
Nikon AF-S 16-35mm f/4 ED VR
This 16-35mm f4 beauty is the lens that I personally use. I love this lens and have used it for over 4 years now without any problems.
I highly recommend it to anyone looking for one of the best lenses for real estate photography.
Pros:
- Very sharp
- Great focal lengths
- Affordable
- Lens that I personally use
Cons
- Somewhat heavy
Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4 S (Mirrorless)
The top choice for anyone that wants a Nikon mirrorless lens, this Z 14-30mm f4 is nearly perfect for real estate.
Recently, I upgraded my camera to the Nikon Z7ii and currently still use the Nikon 16-35mm f4 listed above with a FTZ adaptor. Eventually I do plan to switch to mirrorless lenses and this will be the first lens I’ll purchase.
Pros:
- Very sharp
- Best wide-angle mirrorless option from Nikon
- Compact and lightweight
Cons:
- For mirrorless Nikon cameras only
Best Canon Lenses
Canon RF 15-35 f/2.8L IS USM (Mirrorless only)
Canon’s RF 15-35mm f2.8 is perfect for anyone that shoots with a mirrorless Canon camera, or for those that don’t mind using an adaptor on a DSLR.
One of the sharpest lenses on this list, this lens is easily one of the best lenses for real estate photography. If I was a Canon photographer, I’d buy this lens in a second.
Pros:
- Minimal distortion
- Great focal lengths
- Extremely sharp
- Great contrast
- Canons best mirrorless lens option
Cons
- Most expensive on list
Canon EF 16-35 f/4L IS USM
Canon’s best lens for real estate photography for their DSLR models, this 16-35mm f4 is loved by all Canon shooting real estate photographers.
Very similar to the Nikon 16-35mm listed above, it’s one of those famous lenses that’s a true workhorse. An excellent lens overall that will last you for years and years.
Pros:
- Very sharp
- Great focal lengths
- Excellent overall image quality
- Very strong build quality
Cons
- Expensive
Canon EF 17-40 f/4L USM
A good lens for real estate photography at an affordable price. This 17-40mm f4 has pretty much the ideal focal lengths for real estate photography.
40mm will allow you to capture some detail shots and 17mm will be wide enough for most situations you encounter. There are better options from Canon, but this offers a great mix of affordability and image quality.
Pros:
- Very affordable
- Great focal lengths
- Good build quality
Cons
- Rough edge sharpness at 17mm
- Somewhat heavy distortion
Best Sony Lenses
Sony E 16-55 f/2.8 G
The best part about this lens is the focal lengths. Unlike some of the other best lenses for real estate photography, you won’t need to pair this one with another lens since it goes as tight as 55mm.
That’s a massive upside and a money saver at the end of the day. You will sacrifice some image quality and there are better options from Sony, but this is a very solid “all-in-one” type lens.
Pros:
- Great sharpness
- Lightweight design
- Excellent focal lengths
Cons
- Some distortion
Sony FE 16-35 f/2.8 GM
Our choice for best lens for real estate photography and easily one of the best Sony lenses produced. This 16-35mm is extremely sharp and offers amazing quality.
It’s a little expensive, but it offers superior image quality and will last you a lifetime.
Pros:
- Best wide-angle Sony lens on market
- Excellent sharpness
- Excellent contrast
- Superb build quality
- Top-tier image quality
Cons
- Expensive
Sony FE 12-24 f/4 G
Much like the Nikon 14-24mm, the only issue with this lens is that you will likely need to pair it with another lens for the tighter detail shots.
If you don’t mind that, then this lens is really an amazing piece of glass especially for those that like shooting extremely wide.
Pros:
- Very sharp
- Very lightweight
Cons:
- Not ideal focal lengths
- Somewhat expensive
Best Third Party Lenses
Tamron 17-35 f/2.8-4 Di OSD (DSLRs)
Regarding third party lenses, this is one of the best lenses for real estate photography available. It’s also one of the most affordable out there.
This 17-35mm f2.8 is a great option for someone that isn’t married to a brand yet or who has a tighter budget. However, we do recommend choosing a brand specific lens.
Pros:
- Lightweight design
- Can work with mirrorless adaptor
- Good sharpness
- Most affordable on list
Cons
- Strong vignetting
- No stabilization
Tamron 17-28 f/2.8 Di III RXD (Mirrorless)
A very affordable option that for those that want an affordable mirrorless lens for real estate photography.
Just like with the Tamron lens listed above though, we always recommend choosing a brand specific lens.
Pros:
- Very affordable
- Good contrast
- Strong build
Cons
- Rough sharpness at edges
- Heavy distortion
Recommendations
The best lenses for real estate photography will be based on what type of camera you own. I personally like to keep my purchases within the same brand (that brand being Nikon) but 3rd party lenses can offer a smaller price tag.
If you have a Nikon, then we recommend the Nikon AF-S 16-35mm f/4 ED VR. It’s affordable, dependable, and the best lens for Real Estate Photography from Nikon. I’ve used this lens professionally for years and have no complaints.
If you have a Canon, then the Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM is going to be the best overall option. Although it’s the most expensive on this list, you’ll only need to purchase this lens once and you’ll have a high quality wide angle lens that will last you a lifetime.
If you shoot Sony, just go ahead and buy the Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.6 GM, we’ve named it our best lens for real estate photography for good reason. It’s more affordable than some other top quality wide angle lenses lenses, but offers top-tier image quality.
In general, we always recommend sticking to your specific camera brand (i.e. pairing a Canon lens with a Canon camera) rather than going with a 3rd party. However, 3rd party lenses can be quite a bit less expensive, so if your budget is very tight, either of the Tamron lenses above are a decent choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you do real estate photography with a 35mm lens?
Simply put, no. Using only a 35mm lens won’t work for real estate photography. You will need a wide angle lens to show off the house properly.
What is the best aperture for real estate photography?
In general, the best aperture for real estate photography is going to be right around f8. F8 is open enough to allow a good amount of light to enter the camera while also being closed enough to keep everything in good focus.
Can you do real estate photography with a 24mm lens?
Ideally, you will have a lens that is wider than 24mm since you want a lens wide enough to show off the whole room. A lens that is around 16mm is a good focal length for real estate photography.