Best Lens for a Nikon D90 for Real Estate Photography

Hey everyone, welcome to the blog! My name’s Saqib, and today we’re going to dive into my two favorite lenses for the Nikon D90, specifically for real estate photography. Whether you’re just getting started or already have a few lenses in your kit, these picks are budget-friendly and perfect for capturing stunning property shots.

So, let’s get into it!

Nikon DX 35mm f/1.8 – The Prime Choice

First up, we’ve got the Nikon DX 35mm f/1.8. Now, this little prime lens is an absolute gem for real estate photography, especially when you’re shooting interiors. The 35mm focal length on a crop sensor (like the D90) works out to around 50mm, making it super versatile. It’s lightweight, compact, and won’t break the bank—I picked mine up for about $150.

Why is this a solid choice for real estate? Well, the f/1.8 aperture gives you a great depth of field, which is crucial for those shots where you want a bit of blur in the background to highlight certain areas of a room. The sharpness you get from this lens is outstanding, and the images just have this nostalgic, rich quality to them. Plus, it’s a great way to improve your composition skills since you’ll need to move around to frame your shots.

Another thing worth mentioning—this lens has a metal mount, which adds a bit of durability compared to other cheaper DX lenses that have plastic mounts. This makes it perfect for frequent use in real estate work where you might be switching lenses a lot.

If you’re on a budget and need a reliable, sharp lens for indoor shots, I can’t recommend the 35mm f/1.8 enough.

Nikon 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6 – The Everyday Zoom

Next up is the Nikon 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6, which is my go-to zoom lens. This one gives you a lot more flexibility, especially when you’re shooting exteriors or wide-open spaces in real estate. The focal length range from 18mm to 105mm covers pretty much everything you’d need—wide shots for capturing entire rooms or closer details when you want to zoom in on specific property features.

However, with a variable aperture of f/3.5-5.6, it’s not the best in low light, so you’ll want to stick to well-lit spaces or daytime shoots. That said, for an everyday walk-around lens, this one is fantastic. It’s versatile, and if you know how to position your shots well, you can still achieve some nice background blur.

Would I use this lens for professional real estate photography? Absolutely. It’s the perfect workhorse when you’re moving quickly from room to room or switching between indoor and outdoor shots.

Other Lens Options

While the 35mm f/1.8 and 18-105mm are my top picks, there are a couple of other lenses you might want to consider for your real estate photography kit:

• Nikon 50mm f/1.8: This full-frame prime lens will give you a tighter field of view on the D90, around 75mm on a crop sensor, making it a great option for highlighting specific details like kitchen fixtures or architectural features.
• Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6: Another budget-friendly zoom lens that gives you decent versatility for indoor shots, though it won’t give you the same reach as the 18-105mm.
• Nikon 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6: If you want even more flexibility, this zoom lens has a bit more reach than the 18-105mm, making it perfect for exterior shots or larger properties.

Conclusion

The Nikon D90 might be a bit dated compared to mirrorless cameras, but paired with the right lenses, it can still hold its own in real estate photography. The 35mm f/1.8 is perfect for interiors, while the 18-105mm covers your wider shots and exterior work. Both lenses are affordable, durable, and give you fantastic image quality.

So, if you’re looking to up your real estate photography game without spending a fortune, these lenses for the Nikon D90 are a great starting point. Let me know in the comments what your favorite lenses are for real estate photography!