| the most important advantages of DSLR | | | | convenience is not a matter for you, we |
| cameras (i.e. semi-professional and professional) is | | | | recommend you to use more than one lens which |
| the ability to use different lenses. However | | | | have a better performance in a smaller focal |
| deciding on what lens to buy and what lens is | | | | length range. |
| suitable for a specific type of photography is a bit | | | | Wide-angle and Ultra Wide-angle lenses: Lenses |
| difficult. In this article we learn about advantages | | | | with a focal length of 21mm to 35mm are |
| and main purpose of using specific types of | | | | normally called wide-angle lenses. Lenses with a |
| lenses, hoping that we make it easier for you to | | | | focal length of less than 21mm are called ultra |
| decide. | | | | wide-angle lenses. These lenses can be either |
| Let's have a look at different types of lenses and | | | | prime lenses or varying focal length ones (zoom |
| learn when they are used. | | | | lenses). Wide-angle prime lenses have better |
| Prime Lenses and Zoom Lenses: A lens with a | | | | aperture sizes (in the range of f/1.4 to f2.8) than |
| fixed focal length is being called a prime lens. This | | | | wide-angle zoom lenses (aperture sizes of f/3.5-f |
| is opposite to zoom lenses which have varying | | | | 4.5 most of the time). Again the zoom types |
| focal length. As the focal length is fixed, in order | | | | provide flexibility while prime lenses provide |
| to compose a photo you will need to adjust your | | | | sharper photos, cheaper price and bigger aperture |
| distance to the scene to have specific objects or | | | | size (i.e. better photos in low light conditions). |
| people in the photo. In zoom lenses, you will use | | | | There are also zoom lenses which just cover |
| the zoom level to compose the photo instead of | | | | wide and super wide ranges. These include |
| changing the distance of camera to the scene. | | | | 21-35mm, 18-28mm lenses. |
| Prime lenses have a more simple build than zoom | | | | The large coverage angle is also one of the |
| lenses and they can be designed to have very | | | | benefits of wide and super wide lenses. An ultra |
| much better performance, sharpness and quality | | | | wide lens can sometimes capture up to a 90 |
| than zoom lenses. Zoom lenses normally show | | | | degrees angle or even more. |
| different types of errors in different focal lengths | | | | Wide and ultra wide lenses normally have |
| while prime lenses have the least amount of such | | | | perspective distortion. This kind of distortion |
| errors. Prime lenses are very compact and much | | | | causes the nearby images to be photographed |
| smaller than zoom lenses. Their price is also | | | | very much bigger than far away objects. These |
| cheaper than zoom lenses in an equal aperture | | | | lenses are suitable for taking photos inside |
| size. You can buy a 50mm f/1.8 lens for a Canon | | | | buildings, street photography and so on. |
| or Nikon camera for around $100 while a zoom | | | | If you mostly shoot inside buildings, a lens |
| lens with the same aperture size might cost | | | | covering focal lengths of 28mm or below will be |
| above $1000. | | | | suitable. This kind of lens allows you to capture a |
| Aperture Size: Bigger aperture sizes (i.e. smaller f | | | | considerable angle of a scene without the need to |
| number) like f/1.4, f/1.8 and f/2 provide more | | | | have a big distance with the subject(s). However, |
| light to the camera sensor and therefore are | | | | if you shoot portraits and nature a longer range |
| faster lenses (photo can be taken in a faster | | | | lens will be more useful. In these cases a |
| shutter time). However zoom lenses with bigger | | | | 35-135mm lens is very good. |
| aperture size might be unbelievably expensive. F | | | | Long telephoto lenses: Lenses with a focal length |
| number is calculated by dividing the focal length to | | | | of 135mm or above are normally considered as |
| the aperture diameter. As an example if the | | | | long telephoto lenses. Tele lenses which have |
| aperture size (i.e. diaphragm window) of 50mm | | | | varying focal length are called telephoto zoom |
| lens is set to 6.25mm the f number will be 50mm | | | | lenses while those with a fixed focal length are |
| 6.25mm=8 meaning that with this aperture size, | | | | simply called telephoto lenses. You can easily find |
| lens has been set to f/8. | | | | 55-200mm, 55-250mm, 70-300mm, and similar |
| Normal Prime Lens: A prime lens (i.e. with a fixed | | | | telephoto zoom lenses for most of the DSLR |
| focal point) with a focal length of 50mm is called a | | | | brands. However because of the big range of the |
| normal lens. Photos taken with a 50mm lens seem | | | | lens and complicated design, different focal lengths |
| similar to what our eyes see at the scene | | | | of the lenses might show different errors and |
| (perspective, angles etc). Canon, Nikon and some | | | | quality. These lenses normally have a lower |
| other DSLR brands, as mentioned in previous | | | | performance than short zoom lenses and fixed |
| section, sell normal lenses with f/1.8 aperture size | | | | focal length telephoto lenses. A 200mm telephoto |
| or better (like f/1.4) with a cheap price. An f/1.8 | | | | prime lens is an example of non-zoom telephoto |
| normal lens is suitable for relatively low light | | | | lenses. |
| conditions and produces sharp and bright photos. | | | | Medium telephoto lenses: Lenses with focal length |
| Short Zoom lenses: Zoom lenses which cover the | | | | of the range 85-135mm are sometimes referred |
| range of up to 50-60mm can be considered in this | | | | as portrait lenses. This is because their |
| category. Examples of these lenses are 35-70mm | | | | perspective distortion is low and a suitable |
| f/3.4-4.5 and 28-70mm f/3.5-4.5 lenses. | | | | distance between the subject person and camera |
| Nowadays some Canon and Nikon models are | | | | can be maintained. Many telephoto zoom lenses |
| offered with a cheap 18-55mm f/3.5-4.5 lens. | | | | can be used in this range, but they are heavier, |
| These lenses can be considered short zoom | | | | bigger and their maximum aperture size is smaller |
| lenses while they also cover wide and super wide | | | | than prime lenses. However if you shoot a lot of |
| range. | | | | portraits, you would rather use medium prime |
| Super zoom lenses: These are the types which | | | | telephoto lenses like with a focal length of |
| cover a super big range. Super zoom lenses like a | | | | between 85mm and 105mm maximum aperture |
| 18-200mm lens cover wide-angle as well as | | | | size of f/2. Prime medium telephoto lenses have |
| tele-focal lengths. | | | | less perspective error and as mentioned earlier |
| However the most important feature of these | | | | their image quality is sharper and brighter and |
| lenses is their convenience of avoiding lens change. | | | | bigger aperture size prime lenses are cheaper |
| These lenses can offer almost every focal length | | | | than zoom lenses with the same maximum |
| you need and therefore they are sometimes | | | | aperture size. |
| being called as "walk around lenses". If | | | | |