| When it comes to choosing photographic lenses | | | | to what lens to buy. So let's look at what lens |
| there is no secret. In fact it's simply a matter of | | | | does what. |
| thinking about what you want to photograph, how | | | | Portrait lenses -- 105 mm to 200 mm |
| often you photograph it, and what lens you need | | | | Landscape or nature scenes - (wide angle lens) 24 |
| to do it. You can get quite confused about | | | | mm to 35mm |
| different manufacturer's lenses when trying to | | | | Astrophotography (wide angle lens) 10 mm to 24 |
| pick the right one. | | | | mm |
| Let's think about someone who takes portrait | | | | Wildlife photography - (telephoto lens) 100 mm to |
| photographs for a living. This kind of photographer | | | | 600 mm. |
| is probably not interested in macro lenses, fisheye | | | | So you can see that each lens does a different |
| lenses or any other very short lens simply | | | | job. |
| because it won't cut it in the portrait world. It's no | | | | This is just a rough guide as to what type of |
| different for you. If you are shooting mainly | | | | lenses does what. If you want 'expansiveness' |
| landscapes, or nature scenes such as waterfalls or | | | | then a wide-angle lens is what you need. If you |
| even the night sky at dusk, then think about | | | | want to shoot wildlife such as a bird in a tree, |
| what lens will give you the best clarity. | | | | then a telephoto lens may just be what you are |
| When I am teaching people photography I often | | | | after. A wide angle lens gives you more peripheral |
| used this analogy; you'll lens is like your camera's | | | | view and a telephoto transports you closer. |
| eye. For example if you are shooting portraits | | | | You might also want to invest in UV filter for the |
| you don't want a lens that is too close because | | | | front of your lens. A UV filter is not a specialized |
| you don't want the nose to be too big. On the | | | | color filter, nor does it give you special effects. It |
| other hand if you are shooting birds in a tree then | | | | is a clear glass filter that screws onto the front of |
| you certainly want to be as close as you can. | | | | your lens to give protection from dust, sand etc. |
| Also if you are shooting general scenes such as | | | | It protects your lens from the environment |
| your favorite beach or a pretty garden then a | | | | around you. |
| 'standard' lens will suit you best. Any lens must be | | | | Don't be too overwhelmed by the photography |
| able to transport you into the scene as clearly as | | | | brochures or catalogs all salespeople. Do your |
| possible. | | | | research before buying anything. I do recommend |
| It's true what they say that the more money | | | | that you buy your lenses new when you are just |
| you spend on a lens the better clarity and | | | | starting out photography simply because you may |
| sharpness you will get in your photography. Your | | | | not know what you are buying if you buy second |
| lens is the thing that gives your photography | | | | hand. Once you become skilled in photography and |
| clarity and sharpness. This does not mean you | | | | buying photographic equipment then you can buy |
| need the absolute top of the range lens. You can | | | | secondhand lenses confidently. |
| get great results with standard lenses such as an | | | | Good luck in choosing your lens and you feel free |
| 80 mm to 105 mm. | | | | to e-mail me if you need help. Happy shooting! |
| Here is a simple way of illuminating confusion as | | | | |