Take the guesswork out of finding the right lens by learning the basics.
Hundreds of lenses are available on the market for digital SLRs. Professional photographers usually have little trouble finding the right lens, but the task is more challenging for amateurs. All the nonsensical numbers, varying prices and scores of retailers make the process of learning about different camera lenses intimidating. Follow several basic guidelines to make this quest for insight much easier.
Instructions
1. Research the types of lenses available and their purposes. The main categories for camera lenses are wide-angle, telephoto and macro. Wide-angle lenses have focal lengths of 8 millimeters to 70 millimeters and are designed to capture scenes taking place close to the photographer. They are common in photojournalism and artistic portraiture. Telephoto lenses have focal lengths of 70 millimeters to 400 millimeters and are meant to capture scenes far away. They also are referred to as zoom lenses and are common in sports and wildlife photography. Macro lenses, also known as close-up lenses, are meant to intimately capture small subjects and detail. They are commonly used to photograph insects, small animals and plant life.
2. Become familiar with how the different characteristics of lenses affect their price and image quality. The most important pricing determinant for photo lenses is maximum aperture. The wider the maximum aperture is (indicated by an increasingly smaller f-stop number, such as f1.8), the better it will perform in low light. The wide opening in the camera lens will allow more light to enter at one time, letting the camera capture images at shorter shutter speeds. A lens with a maximum f-stop of f2.8, f1.8 or f1.2 will be more expensive than one with a maximum aperture of f3.5. or f5.6. Other features that will determine lens price are the filter thread size, number of elements and groups and whether the lens has an image-stabilization feature.
3. Visit camera stores to see your prospective lens in person. Ask a sales person if you can attach the lens you are looking at to try out. Use this opportunity to find out as much about the lens as possible. Examine how the focal length affects each image. Take pictures at both the lens' widest and closest angles. Take note of the weight of the lens and whether it is something you wish to haul around. Try taking pictures in both auto focus and manual focus modes. Find out how much accessories for the lens cost, such as cleaning kits, lens caps and filters. Evaluate whether all of the implications of owning that lens make it right for you.
Tags: maximum aperture, camera lenses, capture scenes, finding right, finding right lens, focal lengths
