Now in the digital market you can find a huge variety of cameras and lenses. They are represented by products of both popular companies and unknown brands. How to choose a lens among such a variety and not waste your energy and your own money? There are several universal tips that every buyer can use.
Lens device
This element is one of the main elements in the structure of the camera. We can say that this is the heart of the device. Therefore, before choosing a lens, it is very important to know how it is designed.
This element consists of several parts. The first is an optical lens. It is with its help that light is focused. Inside the design, there are also several more optical lenses that directly form the image.
Next, you can see a special thread for the filter. The purpose of this element fully reveals its name.
A bayonet mount is a special place to mount the camera and lens. It is a metal frame with grooves.
Also, all models have a basic criterion by which they can be compared: focal length and aperture. These two parameters are indicated on the frame. They are changed using a special focus ring on the lens itself.
Also, almost every model has a shutter speed dial and aperture setting ring. Moreover, their value affects the depth of the displayed space. The smaller the aperture scale, the more details are drawn. This is important when shooting any landscape where not one subject is important, but all elements of the picture.
Variety of lenses by optical characteristics
Now in any specialized store you can find a huge number of types and models of this device. Which lens to choose among such a variety? The following devices are distinguished by optical characteristics:
- With a variable focal intersubject distance. In these devices, it is regulated depending on the specific situation. The devices are almost universal and suitable for most types of shooting.
- Telephoto lenses. Here, the distance exceeds the frame diagonal by 1.5 times. Most often they are used for shooting wildlife. Image stabilization is especially important here.
- Ultra-long focus lenses. Designed for shooting particularly distant objects. Used with a tripod to avoid shaking and blur.
- Wide angle. Here the focal length is shorter than the standard. They are used in architectural and landscape photography.
- Super wide angle. The angle of view is more than 90 degrees.
- "Fish eye". These are lenses with a fairly short focal length. Very promising and linear distortions are found.
Types of lenses by the location and arrangement of lenses
The art of photography is constantly evolving and improving. New technologies and photo accessories appear. And, despite the simplicity of the lens device, it has also undergone some changes. And now you can meet such models:
- Mirrored. These are lenses in the construction of which not only lenses are used. The main optical elements are mirrors. The most famous cameras in this segment are Canon and Nikon. But there are also many nuances. How to choose a lens for Nikon DSLR? First of all, you should be guided by the instructions of the camera and the design of the mount.
- Symmetrical. These are lenses with lenses of the same configuration and shape - a classic of the genre.
- Asymmetric. Here, respectively, the shape of the lenses is not the same.
Intended lenses
In the world there are a huge number of objects for photography. Some need to be reached, others to catch in motion or highlight unforgettable features. And the lenses for each situation are completely different:
- For work under water. The main feature of these devices is waterproof.
- For macro photography. The focal length here is in the range of 50-100 mm.
- Soft-focusing lenses. Transitions between objects in the photo are almost invisible.
- Reproduction devices. These are lenses with a special aligned sharpness plane. Often used for printing photographs.
- Portrait lenses. They are used to photograph people nearby.
Before choosing a lens for Canon, Nikon, etc., you should decide on the main purpose of the camera.
Basic rules of treatment
The camera is a delicate and rather fragile business. Therefore, you need to be able to handle it correctly. Before choosing a lens, you should study the rules for working with it:
- Carefully and thoroughly study the instructions for a particular device. After all, each model has its own characteristics in service and use.
- Do not touch the lens with your hands, so as not to resort to mechanical cleaning once again.
- Do not beat or wet. If possible, any mechanical stress should be avoided. Also, you can not often clean the lens.
- Allow the lens to become accustomed to changing conditions. This is important when you leave a warm room in a cold room.
- Keep the lens open less. It is better to close the device with a special lid.
- If the environment in the room is aggressive, then it is better not to use photo equipment there.
These are just a few simple rules that will surely preserve and extend the life of any lens.
Some tips for choosing the right lens
When you want to get the highest quality photos, the search begins for the best ways to solve the problem. And, accordingly, a logical question arises about how to choose a lens. After all, this is a whole problem for any amateur photographer. Here are some practical tips:
- You should choose a device for specific shooting conditions. So you can achieve almost perfectly beautiful and clear photos.
- Universal lenses are often too expensive and bulky. In this case, the picture quality can be noticeably worse.
- You should not spend money on a super zoom. Usually, any photographer uses focal lengths in the range of 17-85 mm.
- You can choose a lens for crop or full frame. In this case, the capabilities of the camera itself and its characteristics should be taken into account.
- The aperture ratio of the lens is a very controversial moment. Quite often, it does not affect the quality of the photo at all.
- It is important to determine the availability of autofocus. There are models that do not use such an important shooting option.
- The mount for the bayonet mount may vary from one company to another. It is better to choose instances of one company. Therefore, the answer to such an exciting question about which lens to choose for Nikon is quite simple - from the same Nikon company.
Making a photo portrait
One of the most difficult and interesting is shooting people. Everything is important here: the photographer’s professionalism, model data, postures and, of course, the technique used. And a classic portrait requires a clear face and a somewhat blurred background. This can be achieved by choosing the right lens, because these parameters are embedded in the design of this element.
How to choose a lens for a good portrait shooting among such a variety of manufacturers and models? For this, experienced photographers made their own rating:
- Nikon 105 mm f / 2 DC Nikkor. This lens is especially beautiful in blurring the background. Good for shooting in dimly lit rooms. Also for more natural and laid-back shots, there are nine rounded aperture blades.
- Canon EF 70-200 mm f / 2.8 L IS II USM. The main competitive advantage of this lens can be called the speed of shooting and clarity of images. Good for indoor photography.
- Sony 135 mm f / 2.8-4.5 STF. This lens can be called almost a reference. There are 10 aperture blades in manual mode and 9 in automatic mode.At the same time, objects in the background flow very beautifully and naturally.
Choosing a landscape technique
Before buying a lens for such shooting, you should carefully study its features. There are several nuances here that will serve as the main criteria for choosing the right technique:
- The design of the photo tool should be light and not bulky. This is necessary in order to get less tired when moving and choosing the best frame.
- For landscape photography, only a wide-angle lens with a focal intersubjective distance of 24-35 mm is suitable.
- The lens aperture value should be within f / 8-f / 16. This ensures a good depth of field.
If we talk about specific models of cameras and lenses, then here we can distinguish three main manufacturers.
The Canon EF-S 17-85mmf / 4-5.6IS USM is perfect for Canon. This is a versatile photo lens with good image stabilization.
Another fairly popular company is Sony Alpha. Of course, it is inferior to other world leaders, but also has its own segment of consumers. How to choose a lens for Sony Alpha, if you plan landscape photography? Pay attention to models such as the Vario-Sonnar T * 16-35mm f / 2.8ZA SSM or SAL1855 f / 3.5-5.6 SAM.
For Nikon, Nikkor 18-200mm f / 3.5-5.6VR, Nikkor AF-S 10-24mm f / 3.5-4.5G or 28-300mm f / 3.5-5.6VR lenses are suitable. All of them have a fairly wide angle and depth.
How to choose a lens for Canon
There are only a few recognized and beloved manufacturers on the photographic market. Canon is a prime example and one of the leading developers of precision optical instruments. At the same time, for almost any professional camera, you can purchase several suitable photocells and accessories at once. How to choose a lens for Canon? First of all, you need to trust the manufacturer. Almost every instruction manual contains a list of the most suitable lenses. You can also turn to professionals and study the ranking of the best models:
- Canon EF24-85 f / 3.5-4.5 USM II. Great budget zoom lens. Provides excellent color reproduction and clarity.
- Canon EF24-70mm f / 2.8L USM. This is a high quality and fairly expensive fast lens. The only negative is the large weight and impressive size.
- Canon EF35 mm. f / 1.4L USM. This item refers to wide-angle lenses with a good internal focusing system.
You can also purchase "partners" for specific models of cameras. For example, before choosing a lens for the Canon 600D, you should carefully study the product labeling. Elements with the designation EF (full-frame cameras) and EF-S (cropped matrix) are suitable for this model.
Buying a lens for Nikon
This Japanese company is the main, if not the only competitor for Canon. One of the most popular and popular models of this brand is the Nikon d3100 camera. This is practically the best entry-level camera. With it, you can shoot everything: portraits, landscapes, architecture and even reporting.
How to choose a lens for Nikon d3100? The main advice is to refer to the user manual. It is there that the capabilities and technical characteristics of the camera are indicated, which will contribute to the selection of an adequate lens. In addition, some of them even have specific recommendations for models.
The most suitable lenses for the Nikon d3100 are as follows:
- Nikkor AF-S50mm f / 1.8G. Standard DSLR model with constant focus.
- Nikkor 1 10-30mm f / 3.5-5.6VR. Universal photo lens with variable focal length.
- Nikkor AF-S85mm f / 1.8G. This is a good telephoto lens with a fairly large aperture.
Improving Sony Alpha
This brand is also included in the top rating of the best photographic equipment. The Sony Alpha series appeared a few years ago, in 2006, thanks to a very successful acquisition of the production of Minolta cameras.
If you became the happy owner of a device of this particular brand, but the basic characteristics and existing quality do not suit you, you can improve them a little. To do this is quite simple - choose a different lens. After all, it is the specified element that is responsible for the beauty of the picture.
But before choosing a lens for Sony Alpha, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the best models. You can choose among devices such as Minolta 50 / 1.7, Sony 50 / 1.8, Sony 18-70 / 3.5-5.6, Minolta 70-210 / 4 or Tamron 18-250 / 3.5-6.3. If none came up, purchase a special adapter, for example, M42.