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4 Cameras, 4 Lenses: Why an Artful Eye Matters More Than Gear

January 21, 2025

Commercial Photography, Food Photography, For Photographers

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As a San Francisco Bay Area Culinary Photographer and Cookbook Photographer, I’ve spent years crafting compelling images that bring food to life. Now, I’m sharing my expertise by teaching in-person and online food photography workshops. One of my goals is to create a course for portrait photographers transitioning into food photography, providing them with actionable skills and tools to build their confidence.

Food Photography Workshops

A common misconception I often encounter is that professional food photography requires the most expensive camera gear. In reality, great photos come from an artful eye, creative styling, and a strong understanding of light—not just the camera. To illustrate this, I recently conducted an experiment using four different cameras and lenses to photograph seasonal mandarins. The results might surprise you.

Cameras and Lenses Used:

  1. iPhone 13 Pro
  2. Canon R5 with a 50mm f/1.4 EF lens
  3. Fujifilm X100F
  4. Leica SL3 with two lenses:
    • Summilux-SL 50mm f/1.4 ASPH
    • Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-90mm ASPH

Key Findings:

1. Color and Personal Preference

Each camera produced slightly different color profiles, which ultimately comes down to personal preference. For social media use, the iPhone 13 Pro images were surprisingly high-quality, while the Leica SL3 offered unmatched detail and richness that’s advantageous for print applications like cookbooks or advertisements.

Cyntia Apps Culinary Photographer

2. Technique Matters More Than Gear

Regardless of the camera, the styling of the mandarins, diffusion of harsh light, and composition made the biggest impact. For this shoot, I used natural light from a bedroom window, softened with a simple diffusion technique that ensured consistency across all images.

San Francisco Cookbook Photographer

3. Versatility of Lenses

  • The iPhone 13 Pro delivered impressive results for its portability and ease of use, making it perfect for restaurant owners and chefs creating quick social media content.
  • The Canon R5 with the 50mm f/1.4 EF lens provided excellent value and consistency. It’s the lens that facilitated my own transition from portrait to food photography, offering versatility at an accessible price point.
  • The Fujifilm X100F offered fantastic manual control and a satisfying shooting experience. Its final images held up well against the iPhone, proving that technique often trumps equipment.
  • The Leica SL3 with the Summilux-SL 50mm f/1.4 ASPH produced superior image quality, especially in detail and color depth, making it ideal for high-end projects. However, the lens’ weight and price point could be drawbacks. The Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-90mm ASPH lens, on the other hand, provided versatility and excellent image quality, even when used at 50mm.
San Jose Food Photographer

Lessons for Aspiring Food Photographers

Whether you’re shooting with a smartphone or a high-end Leica, the principles of good photography remain the same. Here’s what matters most:

  1. Styling: Thoughtfully arrange your food to create visual interest.
  2. Light: Use natural light and simple diffusion techniques to control shadows and highlights.
  3. Composition: Frame your subject creatively, using angles and perspectives that showcase the food’s texture and color.
  4. Confidence: Don’t let a lack of expensive gear stop you from creating beautiful images.
San Francisco Bay Area Culinary Photographer

Who Can Benefit From This?

This experiment wasn’t just for professional photographers. It’s also for restaurant owners and chefs looking to elevate their social media content on a budget. With the right techniques, even an iPhone can produce high-quality results. If you’re ready to take your food photography to the next level, my workshops can help.

Iphone 13 Pro Image

Iphone 13 Pro

Ready to Learn More?

Sign up for newsletters to know more about my upcoming workshops and discover how to elevate your food photography, whether you’re using a smartphone or a DSLR.

Stay tuned for more experiments and tips on my Instagram and blog.

Links to Gear:

Photography is about creating stories through light, texture, and composition. Let’s build your confidence, one shot at a time.

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