Serious car photographers need the right equipment to get the job done.  In addition to having the right camera, you also need the right car photography lens.  This guide was created to help you choose the best lens for car photography so that you can get the best results for your work, whether you are a serious car photographer or an amateur car photographer.  

1. How to choose the best lens for car photography  

(1) Wide Angle and ultra-wide Angle lens  

It’s best to use these lenses when you’re close to your subject, as they stretch and distort the subject, making it look even more curved.  

They’re also great for photographing the inside of a car because they can hold everything and give the illusion of space.  

They can be used like normal lenses (standing at a normal height, a few meters away), but they can put everything in the picture, so they are best used in open areas – see the third photo above, it looks like my car is parked in the middle of a field.  Out of alignment with the ground/horizon usually results in a fisheye effect, which is not always desired.  

They are very good at shooting from low angles, but if they point upwards, they tend to distort the horizon again.  Perfect for night shots where you want to see cars and stars above.  

(2) Required – 24-70mm  

If you’re just starting in car photography and you can only have one lens, 24-70 is fine.  It is suitable for all situations and covers the areas where you work most often.  

(3) Image stability  

Since you may need to take car photos from different angles and positions, image stabilization corrects the blurring effect caused by handshaking.  This feature ensures sharp images even in low light and long focal lengths.  

(4) Lens format  

Most affordable SLRs and mirrorless cameras are designed to use APS-C sensors.  High-end cameras use so-called “full-frame” sensors.  Most manufacturers produce a range of lenses for use with APS-C sensors.  

Lenses designed for full-frame cameras also work with APS-C cameras, but lenses designed for APS-C cameras do not work with full-frame cameras.  So, before buying a lens, remember to check if the lens is right for you.  

(5) Picture quality  

As with any lens, image quality is important.  Does the lens have any special optical coatings or components that can significantly improve sharpness?  Does it have any special optics to reduce glint, glare, and chromatic aberration?  

If it’s a zoom lens, are the sharpness and quality consistent across the focal length?  These are important questions to ask.  Ideally, you want a lens that provides consistent sharpness regardless of conditions.  It should also have minimal distortion that must be corrected during post-processing.  

2. Car photography skills  

(1) Composition  

The composition needs to be perfect, but even the basic vision of photographic composition.  Therefore, it will be of great help when taking pictures of cars.  Of course, much has been said about good composition, but here are some key points to consider when taking car photos.  

(2) The position of the car  

The rule of thirds also applies to car photography, so if there are other objects in the image, try to place your car in the center or off-center.  You’ll have an easier time getting your attention.  Please note that you cannot move around the theme as usual.  But you can zoom in and out using a telephoto lens, which is a way to zoom in or out of the main subject.  

(3) Background  

Try not to place the car against busy backgrounds such as trees, buildings, or lamp posts, as they will distract the audience from what you are trying to show them about the car.  Choose a simple background for your car photos, such as a regular wall or sky.  

Remember to get close enough to detail your topic, not too close.  Most modern cameras have telescopic lenses that zoom in to help you get closer.  Also, note the context that complements and works with, not against, your main topic.