If you’re looking for the best lens for dog photography, you’ve come to the right place. Our article looks at some of the best lenses for shooting photos of your furry friends.
We’ll also discuss some factors you should consider when choosing a lens for pet photography. So, whether you’re just getting started in pet photography or looking to upgrade, read on for our recommendations!
The Canon RF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS USM is our best dog photography lens choice. It’s versatile, with a broad zoom range, fast AF, and image stabilization. Nikon users can buy the Nikon NIKKOR Z 28-75mm f/2.8. We have dog photography lenses for all the top camera brands.
What Is the Best Lens for Dog Photography?
Here’s an overview of our choice of best lenses for dog photography and pets. This table gives you a quick glimpse at our choices so you can find the best pet photography lens for you.
The section after looks at each lens in more detail. If you still need more information, go to our guide on choosing the best lens for pet photography at the end. It gives you all the necessary information to find the perfect pet photography lens.
- Sharp optical quality throughout zoom range
- Fixed f/4.0 max aperture
- Built-in image stabilization
- Superior USM AF drive for fast focusng
- Sharp optics with minimal distortion
- Fast f/2.8 maximum aperture throughout zoom range
- 7.5 inch / 19 cm minimum focus distance
- Rounded 9-blade aperture for smooth background bokeh
- Excellent-value prime lens with beautiful optics
- Fast f/1.8 aperture is helpful in all conditions
- Compact and lightweight design
- Edge-to-edge sharpness with no distortion
- Fast f/1.8 aperture gives you excellent exposure control
- Good value for money and compact
- Fantastic optical lens quality
- OSS stabilizer keeps your images sharp even in low light
- Excellent shot variety for pet photos with zoom
- Great optical quality throughout the zoom range
- Fast and reliable autofocus system
- Built-in image stabilization gives you sharper images
- Extra-low Dispersion glass for minimal lens distortion
- Vibration Reduction (VR) system minimizes camera shake
- Excellent zoom range for a variety of pet shots
- Lovely optical quality throughout the zoom range
- Image stabilizer gives 5 stops of shake compensation
- Weather-sealed for outdoor photography
- Robust and durable for outdoor photography
- Lovely 14mm wide angle for group shots
- Compatible with all Olympus MFT cameras
- The 85mm focal length is perfect for pet portraits
- Sharp AF system with fast focusing
- 9-blade circular aperture gives beautiful bokeh
10 Best Dog and Pet Photography Lenses
This section examines each pet photography lens individually. We show you the main specs and features to help you find the lens that suits pet photography. We cover all the main lens brands, including prime and zoom lenses. We have all the lenses a dog photographer needs!
1. Canon RF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS USM
| Brand |
Brand
Canon
|
| Maximum Aperture |
Maximum Aperture
f/ 4.0
|
| Focal Length Range |
Focal Length Range
24-105 mm
|
| Image Stabilization |
Image Stabilization
 |
| Best |
Best
RF lens for Canon mirrorless cameras
|
If you’re a Canon mirrorless user looking for the best lens for pet photography, the RF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS USM is your best option. With a broad zoom range and sharp optics, it’s versatile enough for the hustle and bustle of pet photography.
The wide 24mm end lets you shoot broader shots, like group shots of the owners and their pets. And you can shoot more traditional-style pet portraits at the 70-105mm end.
Distortion can be a problem with lenses with a wide focal range, but this lens isn’t affected by distortion. Its Aspherical and Ultra-low Dispersion (UD) glass elements reduce distortion and aberrations. They give sharp images throughout.
It doesn’t give you the fastest max aperture at f/4.0. But that is constant throughout the zoom range. That means you don’t lose any low-light performance as you zoom in. A nine-blade rounded aperture also lets you achieve a soft background blur when shooting with a shallow depth of field.
Built-in image stabilization also helps compensate for the limited max aperture. It lets you shoot with a slower shutter speed with less risk of blurred images. This Canon RF lens offers five stops of exposure compensation.
The Canon RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM is a versatile zoom that pet photographers will love to use. The super-fast USM AF drive is also worth mentioning. A 12-pin connection system helps speed up camera and lens communication. You won’t regret buying this one.
2. Nikon NIKKOR Z 28-75mm f/2.8
| Brand |
Brand
Nikon
|
| Maximum Aperture |
Maximum Aperture
f/ 2.8
|
| Focal Length Range |
Focal Length Range
28-75 mm
|
| Image Stabilization |
Image Stabilization
 |
| Best |
Best
Zoom lens for Nikon mirrorless cameras
|
If you have a Nikon mirrorless camera, the NIKKOR Z 28-75mm f/2.8 is the best lens for pet photography. It’s a versatile option capable of wide group shots and tighter portraits. It’s an all-in-one lens for pet photographers.
This Z lens‘s constant f/2.8 maximum aperture gives you excellent low-light performance. And you don’t lose any stops when zooming in or out.
The wider apertures also let you create a lovely bokeh background in your pet portraits. A rounded aperture diaphragm also makes the bokeh effect even smoother.
A minimum focus distance of 7.5 inches (19 cm) allows for detailed close-ups. This ability to get close is great for intimate pet portraits or snapping smaller pets from close range.
It’s a lightweight lens, which is surprising considering the large zoom range. It’s also dust- and splash-resistant, making it a robust lens you can use outside. It’s best to have all the protection you can get working with some animals.
The Nikon NIKKOR Z 28-75mm f/2.8 is also a great video option. With reduced focus breathing and a smooth and silent control ring, it’s ideal for making pet video content for social media or commercials. Pet photographers of all kinds will love this lens.
3. Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM
| Brand |
Brand
Canon
|
| Maximum Aperture |
Maximum Aperture
f/ 1.8
|
| Focal Length Range |
Focal Length Range
50 mm
|
| Image Stabilization |
Image Stabilization
|
| Best |
Best
Prime lens for Canon DSLR cameras
|
The Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM is the perfect lens for pet photography. The 50mm focal length is great for dog portraits. It gives you a tight-to-medium portrait composition. And you also get fab results for cats, birds, and tortoises.
This Canon portrait lens has a minimum focus distance of 1.15 ft (35 cm) to get close to intimate animal portraits. It also helps if you’re snapping smaller animals, like rabbits or ferrets.
Pet photographers will appreciate the f/1.8 max aperture. It gives you plenty of natural light to work with. And the fast aperture lets you work with a shallow depth of field for a beautiful bokeh effect.
The autofocus (AF) uses Canon’s older STM system (Stepper Motor technology). It’s less quick than the Ultrasonic Motor (USM) AF systems. But it’s more than capable for pet photography— if the pets aren’t too hyperactive!
The EF 50mm f/1.8 is the best lens for new pet photographers. It’s simple but highly effective. And you can’t argue with the price of this pet photography lens.
4. Nikon AF-S FX 50mm f/1.8
| Brand |
Brand
Nikon
|
| Maximum Aperture |
Maximum Aperture
f/ 1.8
|
| Focal Length Range |
Focal Length Range
50 mm
|
| Image Stabilization |
Image Stabilization
|
| Best |
Best
Prime lens for Nikon DSLR cameras
|
The Nikon AF-S FX 50mm f/1.8 is the best Nikon lens for pet photography. The 50mm focal length gives you a lovely viewing angle for pet portraits. You can also shoot wider environmental shots when you step further back.
The lens uses Nikon’s Silent Wave Motor (SWM) for the autofocus. It’s quick and responsive. And its silent operation means the animals are never spooked or distracted.
As an FX lens, it’s compatible with full-frame DSLR Nikon cameras. You can also use it for their APS-C cameras, but you will experience cropping. This means you’ll have a tighter composition, but that can work well with cat and dog photography.
This Nikon prime lens is a bargain for pet photographers. The AF-S FX 50mm f/1.8 is one of their most affordable lenses. And there’s no compromise on quality.
5. Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 ED OSS
| Brand |
Brand
Sony
|
| Maximum Aperture |
Maximum Aperture
f/ 5.6
|
| Focal Length Range |
Focal Length Range
18-135 mm
|
| Image Stabilization |
Image Stabilization
|
| Best |
Best
Zoom lens for Sony cameras
|
The Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 ED OSS is a versatile standard zoom lens. And the optical quality and shot range make it an excellent lens for pet photography.
The 135mm end gives you a lovely, tight composition for pet portraits. And the 18mm focal length gives you a wide viewing angle. This wide-angle is great for group shots of pets playing or photos of the family with their pet.
The f/5.6 max aperture at the larger end of the focal length isn’t the widest. But the lens does have Sony’s Optical SteadyShot stabilizer.
The image stabilization reduces the effects of camera shake. And it lets you use slower shutter speeds without the risk of blurry images. It also gives you sharp images even in low light.
The E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 is compatible with Sony’s APS-C mirrorless cameras.
6. Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM
| Brand |
Brand
Canon
|
| Maximum Aperture |
Maximum Aperture
f/ 5.6
|
| Focal Length Range |
Focal Length Range
18-135 mm
|
| Image Stabilization |
Image Stabilization
|
| Best |
Best
Zoom lens for Canon DSLR cameras
|
The EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM is an ideal Canon lens for pet photography. The zoom range gives you plenty of shot options. You can shoot tightly composed dog portraits or wider shots of animals in action or groups.
The lens uses Canon’s superior USM AF system, which is quick and responsive. It locks focus in a flash, even when your furry friends won’t sit still.
The built-in image stabilization gives you sharper pet photos. It reduces camera shake and motion blur. It improves low-light performance. And it helps when shooting from hand. You don’t need a tripod every time.
The Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 is an affordable zoom lens for APS-C DSLR cameras. It’s exactly what a pet photographer needs.
7. Nikon NIKKOR AF-S DX 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6 ED VR
| Brand |
Brand
Nikon
|
| Maximum Aperture |
Maximum Aperture
f/ 5.6
|
| Focal Length Range |
Focal Length Range
18-140 mm
|
| Image Stabilization |
Image Stabilization
|
| Best |
Best
Zoom lens for Nikon DSLR cameras
|
The AF-S DX 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6 ED VR is another fantastic Nikon lens for pet photography. The 140mm focal length gives you a good amount of reach, so you can take animal shots from further away. It also gives you a nice, tighter composition with a lovely bokeh.
Pet photographers at any level will appreciate the vibration reduction system. It helps you get crisp images even in low-light situations. You have more options with your shutter speed. And you can shoot without a tripod more often.
Chromatic aberration can be a problem with zoom lenses. But Nikon uses Extra-low Dispersion (ED) glass to reduce aberration to a minimum. The NIKKOR AF-S DX 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6 offers excellent optical quality throughout the zoom range.
8. Fujifilm XF 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 LM OIS
| Brand |
Brand
Fujifilm
|
| Maximum Aperture |
Maximum Aperture
f/ 5.6
|
| Focal Length Range |
Focal Length Range
18-135 mm
|
| Image Stabilization |
Image Stabilization
|
| Best |
Best
Fujifilm lens for pet photography
|
The XF 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 LM OIS is the best Fujifilm lens for pet photography. Its zoom range gives you plenty of shooting options. The optical quality is excellent, and the reliable stabilization system ensures crisp and clear images.
The built-in image stabilization provides five stops of compensation. This means you can shoot with a slower shutter speed without signs of camera shake, which is ideal in low light and helps you shoot handheld.
The Fujifilm XF 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 has a durable construction and is weather-sealed. You can shoot outdoors with peace of mind. And it gives you more options when shooting wet or aquatic pets.
9. Olympus ED 14-150mm f/4-5.6 II
| Brand |
Brand
Olympus
|
| Maximum Aperture |
Maximum Aperture
f/ 4-5.6
|
| Focal Length Range |
Focal Length Range
14-150 mm
|
| Image Stabilization |
Image Stabilization
|
| Best |
Best
Olympus OM System lens for pet photography
|
Olympus users need the ED 14-150mm f/4-5.6 II lens for pet photography. The focal length range gives you plenty of shot options for capturing your dogs and cats. Olympus’s precision engineering gives you stunning image quality, and the body is protected against dust and rain.
The 14mm focal length gives you a beautiful wide-angle shot. That’s perfect for family portraits with your pets or group shots if you have a whole pack of dogs. The 150mm end gives you excellent magnification. So, you don’t need to get too close to capture an intimate portrait.
The autofocus system is another highlight. It locks onto subjects quickly, even when they’re moving, which is handy for restless animals. The silent motor also means the animals won’t be startled when you snap their portrait.
The OM System Olympus 14-150mm f/4-5.6 II is a versatile lens. The ED mount means the lens is compatible with all OM System Micro Four Thirds cameras. It’s the perfect solution to your pet photography problems.
10. Sony FE 85mm f/1.8-22
| Brand |
Brand
Sony
|
| Maximum Aperture |
Maximum Aperture
f/ 1.8
|
| Focal Length Range |
Focal Length Range
85 mm
|
| Image Stabilization |
Image Stabilization
|
| Best |
Best
Sony prime lens for pet photography
|
The FE 85mm f/1.8-22 is a beautiful portrait lens for Sony cameras. It’s the best lens for stunning animal portraits. The 85mm focal length gives you the perfect composition for cat and dog portraits. And it’s still wide enough for portraits of dog duos or shots of children and animals.
The optical quality provides crystal-clear sharpness. There’s no distortion, even at the very edges of the frame. And it has a nine-blade diaphragm that produces a lovely bokeh effect.
The f/1.8 max aperture is fast for an 85mm lens. That gives you excellent low-light performance. It helps you achieve the shallow depth of field for the bokeh effect.
The FE 85mm f/1.8-22 uses double linear motors for the autofocus system. It gives you fast, quiet, and accurate focus. That’s a real benefit when working with animals. It’s also weatherproof for outdoor shooting.
Best Lens for Pet Photography Buying Guide
Let’s review eight lens features and options when buying a lens for pet photography.
1. Depth of Field
All lenses have different focal lengths and f-stop numbers. And they determine the lens’s depth of field.
- Focal Length: The distance between the lens and its focus. It affects the perspective. For example, a focal length of 16mm shows a much wider frame than a 200mm lens.
- F-stop Number: This is also known as the aperture. It tells you how wide the diaphragm can open. A wider aperture (a smaller number) lets in more light and creates a shallower depth of field.
- Depth of field: This is a combination of a few important aspects. The focal length and aperture combine with the camera’s distance from the subject. It also includes the subject’s distance from the background. In simple terms, the depth of field defines how much of the image is in focus. A shallow depth of field means a blurred background. This technique helps separate the subject from the backdrop. In most cases, this is the desired look for pet portraits.
2. Manual or Automatic Focus
Focusing is also an important feature. Manual focus (MF) lenses, as the name implies, need you to rotate the focus ring and often manipulate the aperture ring by hand. In contrast, automatic lenses find the focus for you.
For pet photography, I recommend an autofocus (AF) lens. Animals are fast movers with sometimes spontaneous and erratic behavior. Capturing action with the manual focus can be difficult. So, having fast autofocus is crucial if you’re aiming for dog action photos.
It’s also possible to switch between the MF and AF modes. The faster the lens lets you switch, the more flexibility you have during the photoshoot. Some lenses don’t have a switch button. When you start adjusting the manual focus, they switch to manual focus by themselves.
3. Image Stabilization
Some lenses also offer image stabilization, which is a stabilization system inside the lens. It helps you shoot in darker environments or at slower shutter speeds, reduces motion blur, and helps if your hands shake and you’re not using a tripod.
4. Lens Elements and Image Quality
The glass in a lens influences the final look of an image. There are different types of glass revolving around quality.
Lower-end glass isn’t as sharp and has a dull appearance. High-end glass (prime, luxury lenses) makes images sharp, vibrant, and rich. Higher-end glass is more expensive but can save you a lot of time in the editing room.
Aspherical lenses are examples of high-end glass. These lenses prevent spherical aberration, thus creating a more natural look. Yet, the more glasses a lens contains, the more expensive it is.
5. Lens Accessories
There are a few accessories you can buy for lenses. Some of the best are different types of filters. Filters are extra panes of glass that you put on the front of your lens.
The most common use of a filter is to protect the glass of the lens. You’d much rather have a $10 filter crack than a $1,000 lens! Camera filters are especially good for pet photography, where dog noses and cat claws might find the front of your lens.
As a bonus, filters make it easy to clean lenses after a rambunctious puppy photo shoot. But some filters, like polarizing and neutral density filters, serve a purpose.
6. Best Lens Focal Lengths for Pet Photography
As we said above, pet photography is a unique niche. It also needs specific lenses, depending on what you’re trying to capture. Pet portraits, for example, need a different lens than an action shot. So, let’s explore the best focal lengths and lenses for pet photography.
Standard Lenses (35-70mm)
Also known as normal lenses, standard lenses produce an image closest to what the human eye sees. The image looks natural to the viewer. Standard lenses have an angle of view of around 50 to 55 degrees (diagonally).
These lenses are the easiest to use because you don’t have to factor in distortion. Many pet photographers choose standard lenses because they are easy to use. Standard lenses also tend to have wide-open apertures, which makes them great for low light and a shallow depth of field.
Wide Angle Lenses (16-35mm)
As the name implies, wide-angle lenses have a much wider view than normal lenses. You can get super creative with pet photos and play with angles and changes in perspective.
They distort perspective, which makes for a cool effect. You can see wide-angle lenses often used on large dog breeds such as Great Danes or horses. You can focus on a larger-sized pet or show off long legs.
But wide-angle lenses can be more difficult to use because of varying amounts of distortion. Curved or rounded glass is what captures such a wide view. It creates an unusual look when the subject is not at the correct angle.
This look doesn’t fit every type of photo. But you can somewhat correct this distortion during post-processing.
Remember, wide-angle lenses have a short focal length. So, they don’t provide as much background blur as standard and telephoto lenses. So, they’re not the best choice for a smooth, dreamy pet photo.
Telephoto Lenses (70-300mm)
Telephoto lenses have a long focal length, so it’s easier to photograph distant subjects. These have become an absolute go-to for pet photographers!
The photographer can sit far back and not disturb the pet while taking pictures. Telephoto lenses are also useful for pets in action. At events, such as dog shows or agility competitions, you can better fill the frame with a distant subject.
Telephoto lenses come with a zoom or fixed focal length. The fixed focal length is often sharper than the zoom.
7. Prime vs Zoom Lenses for Pet Photography
Pet photographers should look for versatility when choosing a lens. There isn’t much time to switch lenses during a shoot, especially when capturing candids and important moments.
If you buy only one lens, choose a telephoto that covers a bigger range of focal lengths. A great example of a budget telephoto lens is the Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6. I suggest a lens like the Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM if you want something more advanced.
Prime lenses have many advantages over zooms for pet photography. They have better optical quality, a wider aperture, and faster autofocus.
Prime lenses are also less expensive than wide-aperture telephoto lenses. But one prime lens doesn’t cover every situation. It’s best to have a range of focal lengths instead of one telephoto lens.
8. Specialty Lenses for Pet Photography
Alongside your day-to-day lenses are the specialty lenses. These can create unique and remarkable effects for animal photography:
- Lensbaby: This brand is famous for adding creative effects to your images. The Lensbaby Burnside 35, for example, swirls the background. (There are versions for Canon EF, Nikon F, Sony E, and Micro Four Thirds lens mounts.) Fisheye lenses have a super-curved pane of glass, which warps everything.
- Tilt Shift Lenses: A tilt-shift lens is another specialty lens. Its optics can be tilted or shifted in relation to the image sensor, up and down, or side to side individually.
- Macro Lenses: Try a Canon macro lens or a Nikon one to boost creativity. A macro lens works well for photographing small subjects at very close distances. As a pet photographer, you can capture great detail with ultra-sharp focus. A big benefit of macro lenses is that their focusing limit is close to the glass. You can capture those fun shots of the dog or cat coming right up to the glass of your lens!
- Analog (Film) Lenses: Try classic analog lenses for vintage looks. They will add a unique character to your images, which can help you create a personal style. Lens adapters that attach analog lenses to your digital camera are available.
What’s Your Style of Pet Photography?
The focal length and the aperture contribute to your style and your technique. These settings also help you adjust to your photoshoot conditions. Thus, your chosen lens helps you develop and mold your photography style.
Think of these questions when determining your style of pet photography:
- Are you a pet photographer who prefers using a large aperture for a shallow depth of field?
- Do you like tight portraits of a dog’s head?
- Do you prefer a cat shot in a wide frame with a deep depth of field?
Conclusion: Best Lens for Dog and Pet Photography
Any animal lover should be able to create fabulous images of their pets. And having the best lens for pet photography lets you do just that. It doesn’t matter if you have a Nikon, Canon, or Sony camera. There are plenty of pet photography lenses you can try.
The Canon RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM is our favorite lens for pet photography. It produces beautiful images. The versatile zoom lens gives you plenty of shot versatility, letting you adapt to changing situations. It also has a constant max aperture and image stabilization.
We have showcased pet photography lenses for many camera brands. There are prime lenses with pristine optical quality and zoom lenses for a wider variety of shots. There’s a pet photography lens for everyone!
