Camera Lenses Explained.
What makes a good all around lens?
Your SLR Camera Lens is one of your most important pieces of equipment. I advise newcomers that a good quality lens is essential to capturing exceptional images. A lens can cost almost an much as a camera and in some cases more. Okay what makes a good quality lens? 1) Name brands, Nikon, Canon, Pentax and Olympus are typically more expensive than off brands such as Sigma or Tamron. I have purchased Canon,Tamron and Sigma lenses and have been satisfied with each one. However the quality control of an off-brand is not as stringent as a camera brand,therefore the chances of it malfunctioning are greater. 2) Lenses are manufactured with either plastic or metal bayonet mounts. The plastic lens will be cheaper and will not last as long as a metal lens. 3) Ability to focus manually as well as automatic. There will be times when you will need to focus manually so make sure the lens you purchase has this mechanism. 4) Image Stabilization or Vibration Reduction (IS or VR) are newer features becoming standardized in newer lenses. Reviews on these features indicate that they really work. It is possible to hand-hold your camera and shoot as slow as 1/15 sec. and still have a clear image. 5) The focal length of your lens should provide you with a working zoom that you are accustomed to using in your professional or personal use of your camera. One of my favorite lens is a fixed focal length of 50mm. I prefer this lens because it opens up to 1.2 and I can shoot wide open. The beauty of this lens is not only in its quality but its price - less than $400. Also a 50mm lens is about what the eye sees and is very true to life. 6) Fast auto focus. Nine time out of ten you will be using auto focus. Your lens should be able to focus quickly in regular light and somewhat quickly in darker situations. If your lens does not focus quickly you will miss important shots. Isn't the reason you upgraded to an SLR camera so that you would take better photographs?Look for a USM lens (made by Canon). They guarantee fast and quiet auto focus so you could use it for a wedding, bar mitzvah. 7) Fast lens. Do not confuse this with fast auto focus. A fast lens has a maximum aperture of at least 2.8. Lenses in this category cost more because they are more expensive to manufacture. If you are a professional you should own at least one lens that opens up to 2.8. Some lens open up even more to 1.8 or 1.2 My favorite lens in the world is the Canon Zoom Telephoto EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM. The price is $1699 but it compares to nothing. If you are purchasing a zoom lens you will notice that the speed varies with the zoom. The lens may open up to 2.8 if you are using a wider focal length, however once you zoom in, say to 150mm, the speed changes to 5.6. This is typical however a lens that has a fixed speed throughout the entire zoom is better.
An excellent resource on camera lens can be found at
this website
Before purchasing a lens read the online reviews. I have always found this helpful and has very often the deciding factor in my final decision. I find the reviews on Amazon.com to be the most helpful with reviews from professionals and amateurs. I recommend Amazon.com for purchasing lenses because they have the lowest prices, and offer free shipping in some cases.
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