Selecting the right lens

1. Selecting the right lens

2. Selecting the right lens The choices in camera lenses are mind boggling. They come in wide angle, telephoto and zoom. They offer a variety of apertures and handy features. They are also the key to image quality and how the image is captured on the camera sensor. So, how do you know which lens is right for you and the assignments you shoot?

3. Selecting the right lens Most are using cameras with interchangeable lenses. A lens may come with the camera when it is purchased, but more and more, the camera body is sold separately. • Select a price range. • Consider the variety and types of assignments that need to be covered. • Decide which additional features, like image stabilization, you need for the work you do. • Go with quality optics and mechanics over size.

4. Selecting the right lens Types of lenses — fixed focal length • The focal length of a lens refers to its angle of view and its wide-angle or telephoto characteristics. • Although they are less popular than multiple-focal-length zoom lenses, the single-focal-length lens usually costs less and has other advantages. • It focuses more quickly. • It offers larger apertures at a lower price. • It is well-suited for sports action because of lighter weight, ease of focusing, greater depth of field and larger apertures.

5. Selecting the right lens Types of lenses — zoom The zoom lens is the most popular option primarily because it offers several different focal lengths in a single lens. The lenses come in a variety of focal-length ranges and quality levels. Select a zoom lens that has focal lengths suited to the types of assignments where it will be used.

6. Selecting the right lens Buying a zoom lens requires careful consideration. • Consider the largest aperture, and whether that is sufficient for available light assignments. Because of their complex optics, they let in less light at any given aperture. • Zoom lens with large apertures carry a hefty price tag. • Zoom lens optics produce reduced depth of field even at medium to small aperture settings. • Buy the best lens construction, optics and mechanics you can afford. This will affect how quickly and accurately the lens focuses and how well the lens will hold up under heavy use. • Consider getting useful features such as image stabilization for telephoto zoom lenses. This will help maintain sharpness at longer focal lengths and slower exposure times.

7. Selecting the right lens Types of lenses — wide angle Lenses that have a broad view are called wide angle lenses. Wide angle lenses allow the photographer to work close to subjects and still include a lot of visual information in the image. Many zoom lenses offer a range that includes focal lengths of 18-38 mm.

8. Selecting the right lens Types of lenses — wide angle • They allow hand-held shooting at slower shutter speeds. • Their optics tend to provide greater depth of field. • They tend to distort the size of objects close to the lens. • Super wide-angle lenses can produce a curved image distortion at the frame edges.

9. Selecting the right lens Types of lenses — telephoto Lenses that seem to magnify subjects, giving a narrow field of view, are telephoto lenses. These lenses have focal lengths of 80mm or larger and allow the photographer to fill the viewfinder frame with distant subjects. They are especially useful in outdoor sports and other activities where it may be difficult to get close.

10. Selecting the right lens Types of lenses — telephoto They require hand-held shooting at faster shutter speeds. Their optics provide less depth of field as the focal length increases, especially telephoto zoom lenses. They tend to compress the visual distance between foreground and background objects.

11. Selecting the right lens Types of lenses — classrooms • Put away the telephoto lenses here and move in close to subjects. • 18-55 mm zoom lens or 24-55 mm fixed lens • Largest aperture of 2.8-3.5

12. Selecting the right lens Types of lenses — portraits • A medium to telephoto lens is the best choice for this assignment. • This will avoid edge distortion and a telephoto will tend to soften the background. • 55-135 mm zoom lens • Largest aperture of 2-3.5

13. Selecting the right lens Types of lenses — night football • Night football presents significant challenges for sports photographers. The lens needs to be able to take in a maximum amount of available light, be quick and easy to focus, and retain enough depth of field to keep a moving athlete in sharp focus. The zoom lens is not a good choice. • 135-200 mm fixed lens • Largest aperture of 2.8-3.5

14. Selecting the right lens Types of lenses — indoor sports • Since the action is fairly close, a larger aperture is more critical than a longer focal length. A fixed lens will be sharper and easier to use, but a good zoom lens will also work. If flash is not an option, it is critical to use a lens with a larger aperture and adequate depth of field. • 55-105 mm zoom lens or 55-105 mm fixed lens • Largest aperture of 2.8-3.5

15. Selecting the right lens Types of lenses — daylight sports • The focal length required for daylight sports depends on the sport and the ability of the photographer to get close to the action. One sport, baseball, always calls for a longer focal length to reach the action on the field. • 135-200 mm zoom lens or 200-400 mm fixed lens • Largest aperture of 5.6

16. Selecting the right lens Types of lenses — groups • The best choice for this assignment is a fixed lens with a medium focal length because it will provide the greatest depth of field and no edge distortion. • 35-55 mm zoom lens or 35-55 mm fixed lens • Largest aperture of 5.6

17. Selecting the right lens The bottom line The ability to capture excellent images requires a careful choice of lenses before heading off to the assignment.