Choosing the Best Lens for Real Estate Photography

Trying to decide if you need more than the standard kit lens that came with your DSLR camera? Wondering if the camera in your phone is good enough for real estate? I can tell you about the wide angle lens that I use as a real estate agent.

Start with a Good DSLR Camera

As a real estate professional, I use a DSLR camera. While some smart phones can take good photographs, most cannot match the performance of a digital camera. There are some older models that you can pick up used that can still take great pictures. Forget the point and shoot models, you’d probably be better off with the camera in your smart phone. I use Nikon products, but others I know love their Cannon cameras.

Invest in a Wide Angle Lens

For some outdoor shots, you can use the kit lens that comes with your camera. My first Nikon camera came with the 18-55mm lens, which is fine for most outdoor photography. Pick a day with good natural lighting, not too many harsh shadows on the porches or back lighting, and most any kit lens will take a nice, crisp photo.

When taking interior photos and some outdoor shots, I use a Sigma 10-20 mm f/4-5.6. I find that I use this wide angle lens for just about every shot, both single exposure and multiple exposures. The key in using a wide angle lens, is knowing how to use it well. The wider the shot, the more likely you are to see distortion in your real estate photos. When walls and door frames aren’t straight, it gives a strange effect. These can be corrected in post processing, but as real estate agents, getting it right in the camera, will save time in the long run.

Best Lens for the Money?

For my Nikon DSLR cameras, I chose the the Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 lens. Nikon makes an excellent wide angle lens, the 12-24mm, however it is nearly twice the price of the Sigma lens. For real estate photography, very good photos are good enough, and I can get very good photos with the Sigma lens.

How Much Is All This Going To Cost? Is it Worth it?

Good camera equipment, and the software to go with it, isn’t cheap. You can easily spend a couple of thousand dollars, then you have to go through the learning curve to see the best results. If you love photography, you will enjoy the challenge. If not, it is easier and cheaper to hire a professional photographer.

In my market, the Texas Hill Country, I need to be able to turn around real estate photos quickly to get listings on the MLS, so my cameras, lenses and equipment have been a good investment.

For those of you who need quality real estate photographs for short term rental property, such as a vacation home or a Bed and Breakfast, I would hire a professional who specializes in photographing real estate.

Great photos sell (and rent) properties! Hope you have fun with whatever camera and lens you choose to buy!

If you are buying or selling real estate in Fredericksburg, TX or the surrounding area, and are are not currently working with a real estate agent, I look forward to hearing from you!