Tags: Photography lessons. Classes. Tutorial. Lenses
Even though photography is an ART, besides knowing your DSLR camera (and, sometimes, besides knowing your compact one, or, even, your smartphone) you might need some technical know-how. This tutorial has no aim other than to help the beginners. For deeper learning, please consult the Internet.
LESSON 4: LENSES
Our first question when we are buying a lens is: fixed lens or zoom? Let’s see some differences between them.
Price
Generally, good zooms are more expensive than fixed lenses.
Reliability
A fixed lens is more reliable than a zoom as all its components are fixed.
Light (aperture)
Fixed lenses have better light abilities and, therefore, take better images.
Range of the angle of view
The range of a zoom is larger.
Size and weight
Zooms are bigger and heavier.
Versatility
With a couple of zooms, you can have a wide range of focal lengths.
Photo composition
Contrarily to the zoom, with a fixed lens you must go backward or forward to modify your composition (sometimes, you must change the lens). How many you need? Zooms, a couple. Fixed lenses, minimum three (but you can have 2 zooms and one fixed lens…).
WHICH LENS TO USE? (see attached picture)
Fish-eye: special pictures of landscapes, architecture or interior.
Ultra-wide angle
landscapes, architecture, interior
Moderate wide-angle
landscapes, general purpose, meetings
Normal
general purpose, scenes with people, pets
Medium telephoto
sports, portraits, streets, wild life
Super telephoto
sports, wildlife, birds