No matter what type of digital SLR camera you shoot with, there are a variety of lenses on the market for you to choose from when you want to buy a new one. Each of them is a tool tailored for particular types of tasks, some general and others specific. In this we will walk you through the important aspects to consider when selecting a new lens for your digital SLR.
Instructions
1. First determine the type of lens you are looking for. This will be based upon what you would like to photograph. Wide angle lenses will serve you well if landscape photography is your aim, while a telephoto lens would better suit you if you are looking to photograph your children's sports activities from the sidelines. Or perhaps you have a desire to explore very small subjects such as your stamp collection or the bugs inhabiting your garden, a macro lens is the gateway to a fascinating world of photography with your digital SLR.
2. Select between a zoom lens or a prime lens. Zoom lenses allow you to zoom the lens between a range of focal lengths. Which means to frame a subject you do not have to move, just twist the barrel of the lens and zoom in or out until you are happy with the composition. Prime lenses have a fixed focal length, which means you will have to walk backwards or forward to frame your subject how you would like. Zoom lenses have the advantage of less footwork, but they tend to be more expensive due to being more difficult to manufacture. Prime lenses tend to be less expensive and often have the added benefit of better optics, producing better images because of their internal design. However these are not hard and fast rules. Actual testing of a lens will determine whether a lens is right for you or not.
3. Decide on what maximum aperture you need in a lens. This is an aspect of lenses often overlooked when buying lenses, especially when people buy their first digital SLR body and lens. Here is where we have to decipher to alphabet soup of lens nomenclature. A common lens is the 50 mm f 1.8, a popular portrait lens. The "f 1.8" label is the maximum aperture, or how wide the aperture can open, how much light it can let in for a given time period. Why is this important? If you take images where the light is less than bright, and don't want to use flash all the time, large large maximum aperture becomes important. The smaller the number the better the lens is at grabbing the available light. An f 1.4 is better at gathering the available light than an f 5.6 lens and the price will vary accordingly. Note that most kit lenses have larger maximum aperture numbers, this is part of the reason for their low cost.
4. Select what extra features you would like in a lens. Beyond the basic aspects of all lenses there are a few extras that you might consider looking for in a lens. One feature that is popular with many people is image stabilization. Some lenses have a system built in that helps to reduce the movements of your hand while taking a picture, giving you images that are less blurry. Another aspect that can affect image quality is the grade of glass used in the lens. Each lens manufacturer uses varying grades of glass in their lenses. Consider purchasing a lens with better glass if you like the results produced with the higher grade material.
5. Read reviews for the lens you are considering purchasing. There are numerous websites where amateur and professional photographers have compiled reviews for every manufacturer's lenses. Many times you can also find images that people have made with the lens you are researching. This user feedback is invaluable in helping to make your decision on which lens to purchase.
6. After selecting a lens and purchasing it be sure to test the copy you get. This can either be done in the store when you purchase it or at home, just be sure if ordering the lens online ,to purchase from a retailer who allows for a trial period. Test the lens by taking pictures with it through the full range of aperture settings and under a variety of lighting conditions. Looks for problems such as soft focus, as well as build issues like loose components and abnormal focus motor sounds.
Tags: lenses have, maximum aperture, would like, available light, images that, Prime lenses, selecting lens
