Choosing the right camera lens – DIY in 5 Ep 219

Опубликовано 24 марта 2024, 13:00

Some camera lenses can be more expensive than the digital camera itself, which is why we want to help people make the right choice for their needs. This video will help you pick out the best lens for you.

Your camera sees the world through the lens you choose. Obviously, you should only consider lenses that are compatible with your camera. Canon, Sony, Nikon, and others all make their own lenses, with third party options available as well. Different cameras will use different mounts, so the lens you purchase will need a compatible mount. Look at your user manual and filter your search by lenses with the same mount type.

Prime vs zoom
There are two main lens classes: prime and zoom. Prime lenses offer just one focal length, while zoom lenses zoom (obviously). If you see a lens which lists a focal range of 18-300mm, that’s clearly a zoom lens. Why use a prime lens if zoom lenses offer more options? Prime lenses are typically smaller and lighter, with brighter, faster apertures. Some insist prime lenses result in better image quality. However, zoom lenses are more versatile in the moment, and more cost-effective and convenient than traveling with multiple prime lenses. If you need versatility or you’re traveling light, go zoom. However, if you’ll only really need one focal length, such as for stationary setups, or if you have unlimited studio space to store lenses, why not go prime?

Focal length
How does focal length affect your photo? A smaller focal length number, such as 8-35mm, is considered wide-angle. A wide-angle lens sees a wide field of view, allowing you to fit more in the photo. Think of a large group of people, or a landscape shot. A standard lens is the middle ground (40-55mm), and is said to be a good natural look, similar to how the human eye sees. In fact, the most common prime lens is a 50mm lens, sometimes called the “nifty fifty”. The next lens up is a telephoto lens, with a focal range of 70mm and up (if it’s 300mm or higher, it may be referred to as a “super telephoto”). These lenses allow you to see and photograph distant objects, making them perfect for wildlife photography, sporting events, and even some portrait work. Finally, a macro lens is specifically designed for close-up photography, especially tiny subjects like flowers, insects, small product shots, and more. You may see a 1:1 or 1.25:1 designation on a macro lens, signifying a life-sized, or slightly larger-than-life representation of the subject.

When shopping lenses, you should also look into other features like auto-focus, image stabilization, and aperture number. This recent video expands on aperture and how it affects your image: youtube.com/watch?v=7FfzNwPjEc

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0:19 Intro
0:31 Compatibility
0:59 Prime vs Zoom lenses
1:51 Focal Length
2:24 Telephoto lenses
2:42 Macro Lens
3:01 Other feature considerations