For boudoir photos, you need lenses that can fit your camera, bringing amazing images to you or the person you are taking a picture of!
This article lists the top 5 best lenses for boudoir photography so that your boudoir photographs will be shown in the best way possible!
A Quick Look At My Favorite Boudoir Lenses
| Image | Product | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Best For Low-Light  | 10 | Check Price On Amazon | |
Best Light-Weight  | 9 | Check Price On Amazon | |
Best Wide-Angle  | 8.6 | Check Price On Amazon | |
Most Versatile  | 8.5 | Check Price On Amazon | |
Best Overall  | 8.6 | Check Price On Amazon |
Key Takeaways
- In my opinion, the greatest option among all of these lenses would be the Sony – FE 50mm F1.8
- If you enjoy taking these kinds of pictures, get a lens that will catch the angles just so.
- Make sure you have excellent focus before snapping the picture.
- Low Light Performance is important in this field
The 5 Best Lenses For Boudoir Photography
5. Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens – Best For Low-Light
What I Like
- Lightweight
- Silent and smooth video focus
- Affordable
What I Don’t Like
- Omits stabilization
- Hood not included
This lens from Canon is a standard type of lens, and is considered a great one when it comes to everyday use for pictures, especially is mentioned that it is amazing if you use it to shoot portraits! Since portrait is an important part of Boudoir photography this lens will work more than great!
Design-wise, this lens has a well-rugged metal mount that when put on the camera it will stay steady and won’t move on anyway! The measurements of the lens are 1.54 x 2.72 x 2.72 inches and it weighs 5.6 ounces. As per its compatibility, this lens just by its name tells us that it works with every Canon camera that was ever launched by this company! Its construction on the other hand is six elements divided into five groups.
The maximum focal length of this lens is 50mm on full-frame cameras and 80mm on APS-C cameras, while its maximum aperture is f/1.8. With this aperture, this type of lens works amazingly in low light and captures very sharp images and also amazing videos!
The angle of view with this lens depends on how you want to use it. While horizontal, it captures 40 degrees, on vertical 27 degrees, and on diagonal at 46 degrees.
In this lens, we deal with the STM (stepping motor) technology that gives to you an extremely great focus, and it works very fast. The focus is automatic but it also can work in manual mode in which you can adjust it from the closest distance which is 1.15ft and to the maximum magnification of 0.21x. The filter size on this lens is 9mm.
All in all, this lens is one of the best ones when it comes to portraits, and since boudoir photography stands on the list of portraits then this lens is an amazing one! It also captures great images in low light.
Why should you buy it?
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens If you are taking boudoir pictures in a low-light environment, this lens is just the one you are looking for.
4. NIKON NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 S – Best Light-Weight
What I Like
- Dust protection
- Quick autofocus
- Extraordinary optics
What I Don’t Like
- A very sensitive control ring system
From Canon, let’s move along to the Nikon lens which is also one of the most used when it comes to boudoir photography, and it is used by professionals specifically, even though it is a new launch.
When having this lens on your hand you will definitely notice that it’s lightweight, it weighs only 1.04lbs, and its measurements are 3.89 x 2.95 x 2.95 inches. The compatibility of this lens is already told in its name! It is a lens that is perfectly compatible with many different Nikon mirrorless cameras, and it stays very sturdy and strong on any camera that you put it on. It is also drip and dust resistant.
The focal length that this camera works at is 85mm and there’s no minimum focal length, only 85mm. It is a great one when it comes to boudoir photography because it brings amazing clarity. When it comes to the aperture of this lens, its minimum aperture works at 22mm, and the maximum goes to f/1.8, just as the one mentioned above.
Since this lens is a telephoto one, it gives to you a narrow view and also brings a great long focus capability. With a multi-focus technology built-in, you have two synchronized AF drives that work with their amazing speed and amazing accuracy at the same time. When it comes to the filter size is 67mm.
Based on its focal length, aperture, and its zoom capabilities is a great one for portraits, boudoir photos, and any other thing that you might use it for.
Why should you buy it?
If weight is a specification you consider when purchasing a lens, then this lens will satisfy your needs.
3. Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM Art Lens – Best Wide-Angle
What I Like
- Solid Build
- Optical Stabilization
- Dust Protection
- Great performance through the zoom range
What I Don’t Like
- Some distortion
This lens is considered as high-level for any performance! It is a great one for any type of photography, especially for boudoir photography. It takes place on the wide-angle group of lenses. It fits well in the camera body. Let’s take a closer look at the lens!
On a first look, this lens looks quite large but still, it measures 3.5 x 4.2 x 4.2 inches and weighs 2 pounds. It is made of rubber and metal for stability, and it is a dust-proof and splash-proof product! When it comes to the lens compatibility, all I can say is that you can choose in between this lens for Canon, or Nikon, which have a slight difference when it comes to the price. On its construction are included 19 elements in 14 groups.
The minimum focal length of this lens is 24mm while the maximum one is 70mm. The aperture is also divided into minimum and maximum, the minimum is 22 and the maximum is f/2.8. Since it is a wide-angle lens then it is easily understood that you can shoot your boudoir photography on the widest angle possible!
Working with the hypersonic motor (HSM) the focus on this lens works at its highest speed and it also takes amazing clear pictures. On the lens is also included the OS (optical stabilizer), and with it, the pictures won’t be blurry. The filter that is added to this lens is an 82.0mm one.
Overall, this product is a great one when it comes to the stabilization of pictures. Because of the OS even if you shake your hand, or have shaky hands in general, the boudoir photo that you are about to take will be shown in the most perfect way!
Why should you buy it?
A perfect wide angle can be captured with this lens since this lens is created precisely for that purpose.
2. Panasonic LUMIX G 45-150mm Lens – Most Versatile
What I Like
- Aperture blade construction
- Super accurate focus
- Great performance in low light
- Optical Stabilization
What I Don’t Like
- No power zoom for video
This lens is a very versatile one when it has to do with Panasonic cameras of any type. It is a lens that is made by the Panasonic company. They have many types of lenses that are used by boudoir photographers.
This lens is very well-built, it is strong enough to resist anywhere and to resist anything! Its measurements are 4.02 x 4.02 x 4.82 and its weight is 1.19pounds. Based on its design, it is listed as the most compact lens that you may ever find. The construction of it includes 12 elements in 9 groups.
There are some types of lenses, but this article has reviewed the one which has a minimum focal length of 45mm, and the maximum focal length of this one is 150mm. This lens has a seven aperture blade construction that brings to you smooth quality boudoir pictures and works amazingly on any angle. It has also a great inner focusing system that makes the focus super accurate and it is very fast. It has also a spectacular performance in low light, and when shooting boudoir photography there is sometimes a darker environment so it seems like this lens stands as the best one.
While using this lens, you won’t see any type of blur in your pictures because on it is included the Panasonic Mega Image Stabilization! The filter that this lens owns is at the size of 52mm.
Why should you buy it?
This lens is meant to be used not only for boudoir pictures but also for other sets of photography, so it is worth to be purchased.
1. Sony – FE 50mm F1.8 Standard Lens – Best Overall
What I Like
- Light and compact
- Solid construction
- Minimal distortion
- Amazing focus
What I Don’t Like
- Noticeable Chromatic aberration
Here is the last product on this article and is listed the lens from Sony, this lens is also a number one pick when it comes to boudoir photographers in general because of the great features, and also the price that it comes in.
When it comes to its design, it is very solid. The metal mounts that it has besides the strength give the lens also an advanced style. The measurements of this lens are 2.7 x 2.34 x 2.7 inches, and it has a weight of 6.56 ounces. It, unfortunately, isn’t weather-sealed, but since we are talking about boudoir photography it isn’t very much needed!
The focal length of this lens is 50mm because it is a standard lens. The aperture on the other hand comes in minimum at 22 and the large maximum aperture of F/1.8. With the amazing DC motor focus system, it has an amazing ability to focus on any subject that you are taking a picture of. The angle of view with this lens is 32 degrees, and the filter size on this one is 49mm. It also owns an amazing capability of using it in low light!
Having always in mind that this lens is listed for boudoir photography, it is more than understandable why! You will be able to take amazing pictures with an amazing focus!
Why should you buy it?
Come on, it’s Sony, and it is the best overall; I don’t see why you shouldn’t buy it.
What should you know before buying lenses for boudoir photography?
Types of Lenses
It is important to know what type of lenses you need. Here is explained for what photos the types of lenses already mentioned are used.
- Fisheye (4mm to 14mm) – abstract shots and any other creative photos
- Macro Lens (35mm to 85mm) – extremely small subjects
- Short Telephoto (85mm to 135mm) – street pictures and portraits
- Medium Telephoto (135mm +) – sports, wildlife, action photos
- Standard (35mm to 85mm) – travel pictures, street pictures, and portraits
- Wide-angle (14mm to 35mm) – landscape, portraits, and architecture
If you plan on shooting full-body portraits, I recommend you check out our article on the best lenses for full-body portraits.
Low Light Performance
Low Light Performance is a very important feature and it should be considered the main thing when purchasing a lens or a camera in general! Since Boudoir photography is shot in a room, you might want to consider that not all rooms have good lighting!
Focus
When taking boudoir photos, the person that is the subject, or the photographer himself/herself, would want lots of details to be captured during the boudoir session! That’s why the focus on the lenses that you use for these types of photos is important. The details are what make the picture great!
Aperture
An aperture is basically a place or a space on the lens in which the light passes and enters the camera. A higher aperture means that less light is entering the camera! On these cameras mentioned in this article, the aperture is somehow the same, keeping in mind that they are lenses that are used for boudoir photography.
Focal Length
In simple words, Focal Leng is the distance of a focus from the surface of the lens. It tells us the angle of view, how will the scene be captured, or how much of the scene will be captured, in the picture that you are about to take. Keep in mind that when the focal length is shorter, then the angle of view will always be wider!
Price
Not all lenses come with the same price tag, but still, the price is depended on what types of lenses you want to buy! It is always known that when the price is higher, the higher is the quality, but anyways you should always consider first what your budget is in order to find the best ones that come on that budget.
Compatibility
Another important thing that you should always look out for when buying lenses, besides the price, is the compatibility of the lenses with any camera. Not every lens will work perfectly with the model of any camera that you may already own. Be careful when purchasing lenses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a specific lens to use for boudoir photography?
You will find many lenses around the market, and no! There is no specification on what lens you can use as all of them have their specialties in boudoir photography.
Can’t I just use a standard lens?
Of course, you can! Sony – FE 50mm F1.8 is a standard lens, and it is the best overall. That concludes the fact that you can use standard lenses without any problem.
Are lenses for boudoir photography expensive?
Now, you know that lenses all have high prices, which is also worth mentioning in boudoir photography. Still, you have third-party lenses to use, which are more affordable than the ones that are native to professional brands of cameras.
VERDICT
All the lenses mentioned in this article come from different types of companies, and are compatible with different cameras, of the same brand! It is always important to know what suits better your camera, to purchase any lens, that you require. It doesn’t matter if you are a professional boudoir photographer or just a beginner.
Photographer & Writer
I specialize in landscape, street and portrait photography and I have been featured in various galleries and publications. I believe that photography is a way to tell stories!
