Choosing the right lens as a beginner in photography can feel a bit like picking the perfect flavor at an ice cream shop – there’s a variety to choose from, each offering a unique taste of the world through your camera.
Let’s simplify this process!
- Understanding Focal Lengths: The focal length of a lens, measured in millimeters (mm), essentially determines its angle of view and magnification.
- Wide-angle lenses (<35mm) offer a broader view, ideal for landscapes or architectural photography.
- Standard lenses (around 50mm) closely mimic the human eye’s perspective, great for general purpose photography.
- Telephoto lenses (>70mm) are excellent for isolating subjects and bringing distant scenes closer, commonly used in wildlife and sports photography. The lenses are also great for portraits, candid photography, weddings, etc.
- Prime vs. Zoom Lenses:
- Prime lenses have a single focal length (e.g., 35mm, 50mm, 85mm) and usually offer superior sharpness and wider maximum apertures (e.g., f/1.4). Some of these, like the 100mm macro are ideal for close-up shots of products as well as creative images.
- Zoom lenses, like an 18-55mm or 70-200mm, provide a range of focal lengths, adding versatility but often at the expense of maximum aperture and sometimes image quality.
- Aperture Explained: Aperture refers to the size of the lens opening that allows light to hit the sensor. It’s denoted as f-numbers (e.g., f/2.8, f/5.6)
- A wider aperture (smaller f-number) lets in more light, which is beneficial in low light conditions and allows for a shallower depth of field (blurring the background, also known as ‘bokeh’).
- A narrower aperture (larger f-number) provides a greater depth of field, keeping more of the scene in focus.
- Lens Mount and Compatibility: It’s crucial to choose a lens compatible with your camera’s mount. DSLRs and mirrorless cameras have specific mounts (like Canon’s EF/EF-S, Nikon’s F, or Sony’s E-mount). Using an incompatible lens requires an adapter, which can sometimes limit functionality. However, Canon cameras that support EF-S lenses can also support EF lenses. Keep in mind, though, that the reverse is not true. EF-S lenses can NOT be used on EF-mount cameras.
- Lens for Your Photography Style:
- Landscape Photography: Consider wide-angle lenses (14-24mm) for their expansive field of view.
- Portrait Photography: Medium telephoto lenses (50-85mm) are favored for flattering perspectives and ability to isolate the subject from the background.
- Sports and Wildlife: Telephoto and super-telephoto lenses (100-600mm) are ideal for capturing distant action.
- Product: Tilt-shift and 100mm macro lenses.
- Investment and Quality: Higher-end lenses typically offer better optics, build quality, and features like image stabilization and weather sealing. While more expensive, they can be a worthwhile investment for image quality and durability.
- Research and Experience: Always read reviews and test lenses when possible. Real-world usage and hands-on experience can be invaluable in finding the right lens for your needs. Talk to other photographers. Talk to instructors.
Remember, the ‘right’ lens is subjective and depends on your photographic needs and style. It’s often a balance between budget, quality, and versatility. As you gain experience, you’ll better understand which lenses best suit your photography.
More often than not you will be replacing/upgrading your camera body before lenses. So while lenses can be quite costly, consider the length of time you may be using the lenses and for what purpose.
This is by no means a comprehensive list of lenses, gear, cameras, etc. This article is not a buying guide or a recommendation on the lenses you should buy or use for any particular type of photography. Everyone has their own style and preference. These are just my thoughts on various lenses and what they might be used for.