So, you finally have a DSLR camera, and you’re trained in photography basics. Yet aren’t you forgetting something? Believe it when you’re told that you’ll have to upgrade your lenses eventually. Here are a few bits of information about lenses to help you out.
Focal length
If you take a close look at a lens barrel, you’ll see a measurement or range that is typically given as something like 18-55 mm. That measurement indicates the theoretical distance from the lens to the camera sensor, also known as the focal length. A short focal length allows you to shoot a subject up close to fill the frame so that things in the background seem farther than normal. On the other hand, a longer focal length is the complete opposite—you can stand farther away to allow the frame to fill up while things in the background seem nearer.F-Stop
The f-stop value is denoted by a marking on the lens barrel (i.e. f/3.5) and is derived from the ratio of focal length (f) to the widest diameter of the aperture. Ultimately, this setting determines how much light enters the camera, with the lowest number permitting the most light. If you’re looking to take sharp, focused pictures, you need to find the "sweet spot" of your lens (typically two stops from the lowest number) with reference to the appropriate shutter speed and iso setting for the given light. Some wonderful depth of field effects can be produced by varying the f-stop, so don't be afraid to experiment.Lens types
You’ll find a lot of different lens types out there, each one perfectly suited for a specific purpose. The five major types of lenses are: the standard zoom, super zoom, wide-angle, close-up/macro, and prime.Standard zoom lenses are conventional, and your camera likely came with one. They generally measure 18-55 mm and are great for portraits. Super zoom lenses are much longer (55-250 mm), and offer greater magnification. Wide angle lenses are perfect for shooting landscapes as they can fit a lot into an image with optimum clarity. Macro lenses are great for miniature photography as they allow great focusing at close distances. Finally, prime lenses are considered the best at producing high-quality photos.
There are a lot more things to know about lenses, and you shouldn’t let an alleged Louis Assoulin scam stop you from knowing them. After all, as a budding photographer, your lens is your other eye—one with the ability to vividly recreate what you can see.