Do you wish to know how to decide on a digital camera lens?
Don’t fear. Because whereas choosing the proper
lens is just not a straightforward job, I’m going to indicate you a fast solution to decide the
excellent lens on your wants.
I even created an interactive Lens Finder for you.
I like to recommend studying the article the place you’ll study my method to choosing the precise lens.
Next, run the Lens Finder to find the precise lens based mostly on the digital camera you employ and the kind of images you do.
How to Choose a Camera Lens: 4 Step Approach
The methodology works by means of elimination – the place you determine the lenses that you simply can not purchase and are left with those which can be nice on your functions.
Let’s get began.
1. Lens Mount
When it comes to selecting a lens, the primary
factor it is best to take into account is the lens mount.
This is the world of the lens that attaches to
the digital camera. And as a result of every lens producer typically makes their very own lens
mount, most lenses can solely be mounted on one sort of digital camera.
So earlier than you select a lens, it is best to know
precisely what mount your cameras will settle for.
It’s additionally value mentioning that you would be able to
technically purchase adapters that may allow you to mount one lens on an incompatible
digital camera physique. But these adapters can have issues, so I like to recommend utilizing absolutely
appropriate lenses each time doable.
Note that you simply don’t all the time have to purchase a model lens on your model digital camera. Manufacturers do all the time make lenses for their very own digital camera our bodies, however there are many third-party lens producers; these corporations produce lenses for numerous branded mounts, equivalent to Canon EF, Nikon F, Sony E, and extra.
For instance, if you’re on the lookout for a lens on your Canon digital camera, you not solely can purchase fashions from Canon but in addition from Sigma, Tamron, Tokina, and others. But, it’s a must to make sure that the lens mount matches your digital camera mount.
In truth, third-party lenses are sometimes wonderful decisions, as a result of they typically have low worth tags however superb optical high quality.
2. Camera Sensor Size
Whenever you select a lens, it is best to
take into account the sensor dimension in your digital camera.
You see, totally different cameras characteristic totally different sensors. The principal two sensor varieties are full-frame and APS-C (crop) sensors, the place APS-C sensors are notably smaller. This leads to a “crop” impact, the place the sphere of view on APS-C cameras is narrowed.
For an in-depth look, see my earlier article on the subject: Full Frame vs APS-C Cameras
When it comes to selecting lenses, the primary consequence is when it comes to picture high quality: Full body lenses don’t carry out as properly on APS-C cameras as on full body cameras.
Take a have a look at the diagram beneath:
Note how sharpness and general efficiency of probably the greatest Canon lenses (24mm f/1.4) are a lot decrease on the 7D Mark II in comparison with its full-frame 5D Mark IV counterpart.
That’s why I like to recommend utilizing lenses made particularly for APS-C cameras in these conditions; APS-C lenses are typically far cheaper than their full-frame counterparts, but they nonetheless supply nice picture high quality.
And if in case you have a full body digital camera, be sure you accompany it with the complete body lens.
3. Prime vs Zoom Lens
When selecting a lens, you’re going to wish to
determine between two broad classes:
Prime lenses vs zoom lenses.
For an in-depth look, see my earlier article on the subject: Prime vs Zoom Lens
Otherwise, simply know that prime lenses are inclined to
be cheaper but supply nice optical high quality. They’re additionally smaller and lighter.
Zoom lenses, nevertheless, are very handy. You
received’t have to hold three totally different lenses in your digital camera bag if in case you have a
good zoom.
Of course, this comes with a tradeoff: If you
need zooms with stellar picture high quality, you’ll pay for it. So for photographers
who favor comfort over worth, go together with a zoom. But should you’re on the lookout for the
greatest picture high quality with the bottom price ticket, choose a major.
4. The Type of Photography You Are Planning to Do
Your ultimate consideration when selecting a lens
is the style of images you want essentially the most. In some ways, that is essentially the most
essential factor to consider.
Let’s check out some images genres
and the sort of lens they require:
Portrait Photography
Portrait images lenses want to supply a
huge most aperture, with the intention to create a pleasant separation between the topic
and the background. They additionally are typically both in the usual (50mm) focal
size vary.
- For occasion, full body shooters will admire a major lens within the 50-100mm vary, with an f/1.2-f/1.8 most aperture.
- APS-C shooters will like a major lens within the 35-70mm vary, with an f/1.2-f/1.8 most aperture.
Landscape Photography
Wide angle lenses are the cornerstone of panorama images. Pretty a lot each skilled panorama photographer carries a large angle lens of their bag, and so it’s what I like to recommend you begin with.
See additionally: Best Nikon Lens for Landscape Photography
Landscape photographers typically shoot utilizing
a tripod, so there’s no want for huge most apertures. And whereas you may get
away with utilizing a major lens, zooms are significantly better for panorama images.
- Full-frame panorama shooters will like a zoom lens within the 15-36mm focal size vary, with a most aperture of f/4.
- APS-C panorama shooters will like a zoom lens within the 10-24mm focal size vary, once more with an f/4 most aperture.
Street Photography
When doing avenue images, you’re going to
wish to preserve your gear good and compact. That approach, you received’t entice consideration
whereas out capturing. You’ll additionally need a lens with a large most aperture so that you
can cope with many alternative lighting situations.
- If you shoot on a full-frame physique, you would possibly go for a major lens within the 35-50mm focal size vary with an f/1.2-f/1.8 most aperture.
- If you shoot on an APS-C physique, you would possibly go for a major lens within the 23-35mm focal size vary with an f/1.2-f/1.8 most aperture.
General Family Photography
If you need to have the ability to shoot indoors
with out flash, you then’ll want a lens with a large most aperture. You’ll
additionally wish to get one thing with a comparatively huge focal size so you may shoot
in tight areas.
- I like to recommend a major lens within the 24-35mm focal size vary for full-frame shooters, with a f/1.2-f/1.8 most aperture.
- And I like to recommend a major lens within the 16-23mm focal size vary for APS-C photographers, with the identical f/1.2-f/1.8 most aperture.
Travel Photography
If you’re a journey photographer, you’re going to need one lens that you should utilize on a regular basis–one which’s comparatively compact, and with a zoom vary that’s helpful for a lot of sorts of photographs (e.g., landscapes, avenue, even portraits). You’ll additionally most likely admire a lens with climate sealing, as a result of the skies don’t all the time cooperate!
See additionally: Best Fuji Lens for Travel Photography
Here’s what I like to recommend:
- For full-frame photographers: A zoom lens within the 24-120mm vary, with an f/4 most aperture.
- For APS-C photographers: A zoom lens within the 16-80mm vary, additionally with an f/4 most aperture.
Sport and Wildlife Photography
If you’re a sports activities or a wildlife photographer,
you then’re going to be ready to spend so much, as a result of these lenses don’t
come low-cost. The greatest sports activities and wildlife lenses have lightning-fast autofocus,
a protracted focal size, and a large sufficient most aperture to shoot at nightfall,
indoors, or in shade.
If you’re an APS-C or full-frame sports activities
shooter, a quick 70-200mm zoom will do the trick. Wildlife photographers, on the
different hand, will admire one thing longer: 300mm on the widest, with 400mm,
500mm, and even 600mm providing higher attain.
How to Choose a Camera Lens: Conclusion
Now that you simply’ve completed this text, you
ought to have a greater sense of the right lens on your wants. Hopefully, the
means of elimination method has helped you establish the very best
lens!