There is a dizzying array of choices when it comes to choosing lenses for SLR cameras. From wide angle to telephoto, zoom to prime lenses, fish eye, fast lenses, wide aperture lenses, the choice seems to be impossible. It's not really. What it comes down to is asking yourself a simple question: What do I want to shoot?
Different Lenses for Different Subjects
If you are just beginning in photography, chances are you are still
experimenting and finding out what you like to shoot. You might
shoot a few family portraits one day and landscapes from your
holidays the next. On the other hand, you may have decided right
from the start that you love taking photos of wild animals and this
is all you want to do. Either way, the lenses required to get the
best out of these subjects differ greatly.
To fit an expansive landscape image into your viewfinder, you would need a wide angle
lens. However, trying to take a portrait with the same lens would
result in a tiny little person and not much else in the frame
unless you are right in that person's face and smelling their
breath.
While trying to take a picture of a wild bear from 100 or
more meters away is just impossible (and you really don't want to
get any closer to a wild bear). In a perfect world you would have 3
different lenses for each of these subjects. But in a perfect world
you'd also be a millionaire and be able to afford them all. So the
thing to do is to decide what type of photography interests you and
choose your lenses accordingly.
Length: Zoom versus Prime
There are benefits to using both zoom lenses and prime (fixed or
non zoom) lenses. On one hand, zoom lenses are versatile, and
reduce the need for a whole bag full of lenses that you need to
change and change again while you are out shooting. On the other
hand, a good quality prime lens can be gold.
Prime lenses, if they are well built, generally produce a crisper, better quality image.
This is because they have fewer pieces of glass and moveable parts.
Therefore the light coming in doesn't need to pass through as many
objects and so is less diffused. The other great advantage of prime
lenses is that because of this, they tend to be "faster" than zoom
lenses. Practically, this means that you can use slower shutter
speeds as the lens needs less light to create a correct exposure.
This is especially useful if you want to take portraits with
available light.
Aperture
Another important factor to consider when choosing your lens is its
maximum aperture. This is indicated in the description by an f
symbol. E.g. f/2.8. The lower this number, the wider your aperture
choices. For example, if you want to take a portrait with only your
subject's facial features in focus, you would use a wide aperture.
If you want to take a sweeping landscape where everything needs to
be in focus you would use a narrow (high number) aperture.
Selecting a lens with a wider aperture gives you more options when
out shooting.
It is well known that lenses can cost as much, or more, than
cameras themselves. It is also worth noting that with lenses you
get what you pay for. While no piece of equipment can singularly
make the difference between a good photo and a bad one, a well
built lens using quality glass, can lead to sharper pictures.
Therefore it is worth considering the lenses you buy carefully and
investing in the best quality you can afford. Knowing what sort of
photography you want to pursue can make this process a whole lot
less daunting and more cost effective.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mark Eden is a freelance travel photographer and writer, and the
founder and director of Expanse Photography, a photographic
services company offering fine art, limited edition prints as well
as stock and assignment photography and publishing services. Mark
can be contacted through the Expanse Photography website
http://www.expansephotography.com
Sony Magnetic Products - Sony Sal-70200G 70-200Mm F/2.8 G-Series Telephoto Zoom Lens - F/2.8
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