Best lens for Bonsai Photography: Sony A6000

[cbrshadow23]

I'm trying to up my game with bonsai photography. I bought a black background and a white background, some photography lights, and have a Sony A6000 mirrorless camera. I'm wondering what lens I should look into buying. I've been using a "FE 1.8/50" prime lens, but I'm wondering if there are better optiions.
Any help appreciated!

 

[pandacular]

This is a great video from Bjorn on this topic. I essentially copied his recommendations, which boil down to get as large of an aperture as you can. I shoot with an F/1.4 50mm prime lens, and find I like it, but I would like to get a 28mm or 35mm for closer shots--sometimes I don't have the space for being further out.

A tripod is also a great idea, as it will let you shoot longer exposures if you need to.

 

[leatherback]

I am typically in the 70-100mm range.
I do not see the need for an F2 or so. In the end, you are after depth of focus, rather than shallow focal range. Mostly I shoot in F5.6 for my trees.

I do not think you need anything special for bonsai photography tbh. They are sitting in one place and you can control the complete setup

 

[Lorax7]

I’d be inclined to treat it like fashion photography and go for something like an 80 mm lens, shoot with some distance between you and your subject, and shoot at the widest aperture setting for the lens so you have the tree in focus and the background blurred.

 

[Dabbler]

The best thing I found is to just try a tons of setting after watching a few videos and your camera - I have a Sony mirrorless too and they are great. I found that just messing with the camera over and over, you get a good sense on how and what to take pictures of.

 

[cbrshadow23]

The best thing I found is to just try a tons of setting after watching a few videos and your camera - I have a Sony mirrorless too and they are great. I found that just messing with the camera over and over, you get a good sense on how and what to take pictures of.

Thanks I'll try that. So you don't keep it on "auto" then? What lens did you end up using, and what settings are you playing with?

 

[cbrshadow23]

This is a great video from Bjorn on this topic. I essentially copied his recommendations, which boil down to get as large of an aperture as you can. I shoot with an F/1.4 50mm prime lens, and find I like it, but I would like to get a 28mm or 35mm for closer shots--sometimes I don't have the space for being further out.

A tripod is also a great idea, as it will let you shoot longer exposures if you need to.

I just watched that one thanks!