What lens do Estate Agents generally use for their interior shots

I inherited a house and the agent put it on Right Move.com thus weekend.
I think I could do better. But I Wondered what focal length did he use. My difficulty is its a 3 hour round trip, and more specifically I dont use or have any decent wide lenses.
So I dont want tomdrive over and find my 40mm pancake on the 5D3 is too long to do the place justice.
I do have 3x 600ex rts and 2 other speedlight slave flashes so with 5 speedlights illumination should be no problem - plus 5 x studio lights as well if needed ( which I doubt ).

So is 40 mm wide enough?

Sorry not prepared to buy a lens.

Re the house size its a typical reasonably spacious 5 bedroom house with a decent garden, but its not a massive mansion - guessing the lounge is 7meters by 7 meters as a size guide.

No, it ain't.

Your starting point should be 24mm and go shorter from there.

And your stopping point should be ~17mm: interior spaces just look unreal and deceitfully larger with shorter focal lengths.

Mind, from the rubbishy photos I constantly see of properties, I'm positive most agents just use a kit lens at its widest, stand on a chair and aim low.

Thanks - saved me a wasted journey as 24 mm is a lot wider than a 40 mm pancake!

Real estate agents usually use an I-phone.

gonzogolf wrote in post #17570555
Real estate agents usually use an I-phone.

Yes! I am shocked at the horrible photos for million dollar plus houses.

Your 40mm lens might be okay for exterior photos if the realtor's are bad. The "cover" photos are extremely important in getting attention of possible buyers. A three hour trip might be worth the trouble if the exterior photos are really bad. Don't discount your skills using any lens or even a smartphone camera if the entire set is poor.

You can rent the tokina 16-28 for 37 bucks for three days.

Cheap option in the for sale section right now. Tamron 17-35 for 175 bucks. Shooting that lens wide open leaves much to be desired in the corners however for real estate stuff shooting at F8 w/ a tripod that lens would be very good performer.

EF16-35 f4. That is what I would use.

Patrick H wrote in post #17570854
EF16-35 f4. That is what I would use.

+1. It is a superb lens!
Is the OP moving up or down the housing ladder? This may have a bearing on spending out on lenses.
I would say get the 16-35 F4 L IS anyway, but I am biased because I have one

For one-time projects you don't buy, you rent. A EF 16-35 f4 and a tripod should do the trick. I would avoid OCF, as it can be tricky. Bracket exposures and you might consider luminosity HDR (not the alien space type).

MakisM1 wrote in post #17570946
For one-time projects you don't buy, you rent. A EF 16-35 f4 and a tripod should do the trick. I would avoid OCF, as it can be tricky. Bracket exposures and you might consider luminosity HDR (not the alien space type).

But if the OP rents a 16-35 F4 they will end up buying one - so it's cheaper to buy it in the first place!


Sorry just spending other people's money again!

johnf3f wrote in post #17570952
But if the OP rents a 16-35 F4 they will end up buying one - so it's cheaper to buy it in the first place!


Sorry just spending other people's money again!

I always buy used vs. rent. Rent is throwing money away. I buy used lenses and sell them months later for zero loss or maybe losing 50 bucks and heck sometimes a profit. I've had a lens for a year and lost zero from buying used and selling.

So the investment is more but if you can swing it your chances of losing money on my route is little. Renting is uber expensive.

Submariner wrote in post #17570553
Thanks - saved me a wasted journey as 24 mm is a lot wider than a 40 mm pancake!

I have a TSE 24mm MK 1 for sale. if interested please pm me

johnf3f wrote in post #17570952
But if the OP rents a 16-35 F4 they will end up buying one - so it's cheaper to buy it in the first place!


Sorry just spending other people's money again!

BADADUMP! Pshhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.....​......

My realtor used a point and shoot. The online photos brought no traffic. I used my 12-24 Tokina on crop and the photos really made a difference. We had lots of people come to see the house after that....and a few more things, like paint, flooring, etc.
I would get a 17-40L or the 16-35F4IS. You need the wide view for smaller spaces, like the bathrooms. Your photos of larger spaces will benefit from short focal lengths.
A 40 won't do it.