When it comes to camera shopping, you might realise that the next most important thing to your actual camera body is a camera lens! Ok, maybe the second most important thing after a camera strap. There are so many different kinds out there - here’s our beginner's guide to all things camera lenses.
Is the Kit Lens that Came With My Camera Good Enough?
When you get a camera, it might come with a ‘kit lens’. They often cover a basic focal range like 18-55mm that’s enough for getting started with photography.
While they might not have the wide apertures or the specialised capabilities of more advanced lenses, kit lenses are incredibly versatile and provide excellent value for beginners. They are designed to be lightweight and user-friendly, offering new photographers the flexibility to learn the ropes of composition, and if you’re an absolute beginner photographer, learn about how to use your camera.
Once you’re ready to graduate away from your kit lens, there’s a whole world out there that opens up! Each group of lenses has a specific purpose and is engineered for a specific type of image; some, like primes, tend to be best for portraits, while wide-angle lenses are favoured by astrophotographers. Here’s a run-down on the most common types of lenses and what they’re best for!
Prime Lenses
Prime lenses have a fixed focal length, meaning they offer a single, distinct perspective. You can’t zoom in and out on one of these!
Known for their sharpness and faster apertures, these lenses are a favourite among photographers for their ability to capture stunning detail and beautiful background blur (bokeh). Whether it's the versatile 50mm or the portrait-friendly 85mm, prime lenses encourage creative composition and are excellent for low-light situations.
Personally, my first lens after my kit lens was a nifty-fifty, as you’ll often find the cheaper 50mm lenses for most systems called. Specifically, I got the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 - this incredibly lightweight lens stayed permanently attached to my Canon 1000D for years, as I loved the smooth creamy background bokeh it would give me. It was 100% saving up my birthday money and allowance for!
Pancake Lenses
There’s also a subtype of prime lenses called ‘pancake lenses’. These are prime lenses that have a flattened appearance - hence the name! They will have a wider point of view than most primes, and their appeal is how small and unobtrusive they look on a camera compared to traditional primes.
That’s what makes them popular with street and travel photographers, as they’re much more subtle and can make the difference between a camera that fits in your pocket or not!
Zoom Lenses
Zoom lenses offer a range of focal lengths at your fingertips. From wide scenes to tight portraits, a good zoom lens can cover it all. They're ideal for photographers who need to adapt quickly to changing scenes without swapping lenses. The 24-70mm is a popular choice for its versatility, while the 70-200mm is renowned for sports and wildlife photography, offering a balance between magnification and manageable size.
For some, the drawback of zoom lenses is simply that their engineering doesn’t allow for wider apertures. The widest I’ve ever seen for a zoom lens is a f/2.8 (at least on Canon and Nikon) and for some that’s a dealbreaker! However, zoom lenses definitely have their place - I’ve seen so many wedding photographers rave about 24-70 lenses for their versatility, and even prefer them over the traditional holy trinity of 35mm-50mm-85mm.
Zoom lenses are really only limited by your imagination (and focal length)!
Wide-Angle Lenses
Wide-angle lenses are the go-to for capturing landscapes and architecture. They’re also used for property photography! Typically defined as having a focal length shorter than 35mm, they allow more of the scene to be included in the frame, making them perfect for grand, sweeping shots. However, they can distort images, especially at the edges, which can be used creatively or corrected in post-processing.
You’ll also find them recommended for astrophotography to help ensure that as much of the sky is captured as possible to create those amazing Milky Way shots.
Telephoto Lenses
Telephoto lenses, with focal lengths typically over 70mm, bring distant subjects closer. Ideal for wildlife and sports photography where you can't get near the action, they can also be used in portrait photography to compress and flatter the subject. You can think of these as giant prime lenses.
Due to their length, they often require a tripod or a good image stabilisation system to counteract camera shake.
I’ve seen telephoto lenses with focal lengths of 600mm - that’s 6 meters!
Specialty Lenses
Here are some other lenses that don’t quite fit into other categories, but you might come across them in your research.
Macro Lenses
Designed for extreme close-ups, macro lenses capture minute details and textures. They're a favorite for photographing everything from insects to the delicate details of a flower. If you’ve ever wondered how a photographer was able to capture all the tiny details of a bug’s face, this is how!
Tilt-Shift Lenses
These lenses allow you to adjust the plane of focus and correct perspective distortion—essential for architectural photography where keeping lines straight is key. However, they can create some fun perspective shots by making the world seem tiny-sized!
Fisheye Lenses
With an ultra-wide-angle view, fisheye lenses create a unique, spherical view of the world, often used for artistic and abstract imagery.
Understanding Lenses
So, the next thing you might be wondering is what do all the numbers and specs mean on a lens? Some critical things that you’ll be able to tell from these numbers are:
Focal Length
Focal length, typically measured in millimetres (mm), is the distance between the lens and the image sensor when the subject is in focus. For example, a 50mm lens has a focal length of 50 millimetres.
It primarily determines the angle of view (how much of the scene will be captured) and the magnification (how large individual elements will be).
Shorter focal lengths (<35mm):
These provide a wider field of view, making them ideal for landscapes, architecture, and interior photography. They're often referred to as wide-angle lenses.
Medium focal lengths (35mm-70mm):
This range is closer to the human eye's perspective and is great for general-purpose photography, including portraits and street photography.
Longer focal lengths (>70mm):
These offer a narrower field of view and higher magnification, bringing distant subjects closer. They're commonly used in sports, wildlife, and portrait photography to isolate the subject and create a blurred background.
Aperture
A lens's aperture determines how much light it lets in and the depth of field in your images. A wider aperture (lower f-number) allows more light and creates a shallower depth of field, ideal for portraits with soft, blurred backgrounds.
While wide apertures look amazing, the shallow depth of field can be tricky to master - for portraits, this might been that someone’s face might be in focus, but someone standing slightly in front or behind them will be out of focus. That’s not a problem with these types of lenses per se - its just important to know!
How to Understand Aperture
Apertures are formatted as ratios, such as f/1.8, to denote the size of the lens's opening through which light passes. The 'f' stands for focal length, and the number that follows is the denominator of the fraction that represents the diameter of the aperture opening. I know, it sounds like a lot - but here’s how it works.
The 'f' indicates it's a fraction. So, f/1.8 means the diameter of the aperture is the focal length divided by 1.8.
A smaller number (like f/1.8) means a larger aperture opening, allowing more light to hit the sensor, which is ideal for low light situations and achieving a shallow depth of field (blurry background).
Conversely, a larger number (like f/22) means a smaller aperture opening, letting in less light but providing a greater depth of field (more of the scene in focus).
To keep it simple, remember that the smaller the number following the f, the more light is being let in through the lens. The smaller the number also means more intense bokeh!
Two other important features of lenses are auto-focus and image stabilisation. They’re not parts of lenses per se, but they are important features that impact your photography experience!
Autofocus vs. Manual Focus
Autofocus is speedy and convenient, especially for fast-moving subjects. All modern lenses feature autofocus and manual focus - a lens can switch between these modes when you toggle the MF-AF switch.
Some camera lenses, such as vintage lenses, can only be operated manually. While this isn’t ideal for fast-moving subjects, many people still love vintage lenses for the unique images that they can product.
Image Stabilisation
This technology compensates for camera shake, allowing you to shoot at slower shutter speeds without blur. It's particularly useful in low light and when using telephoto lenses.
Ok - now that we know the different types of lenses and how to read their specs, let’s go into what goes into a camera lens - what parts actually create the aperture, and can you put any lens on any camera?
Parts of Camera Lenses
To fully appreciate your camera lenses, it's essential to understand the key components that make up a lens. Here's a breakdown of the main parts of a camera lens
Lens Body
The main structure of the lens, usually made from metal or sturdy plastic. It houses all the internal elements and provides the mounting point to attach the lens to your camera.
Glass Elements
These are the individual pieces of specially shaped glass or other materials within the lens body. They work together to focus light onto your camera's sensor. Some lenses have as few as four elements, while others have over 20.
Aperture Blades
These thin, metal plates form a circular or near-circular shape that can widen or narrow to
change the size of the aperture hole. This mechanism controls the amount of light entering the lens and the depth of field in your images. More blades generally mean a smoother, more circular bokeh effect.
Focusing Ring
Found on the outer part of the lens, this ring is manually turned to adjust the focus. Even on lenses with autofocus, a focusing ring is essential for fine adjustments and manual focus control.
Zoom Ring (for zoom lenses)
This is the ring used to change the focal length of the lens. Rotating this ring adjusts the zoom, allowing you to get closer to or further away from your subject without moving the camera.
Lens Mount
This is the part of the lens that attaches to the camera body. It's crucial that the mount is compatible with your camera, as different brands often have different mount systems.
For example, Nikon Mirrorless cameras are called ‘Z-Mount’ lenses. You can buy lenses that are the same brand as your camera body, but there are also companies such as Sigma and TT Artisan that create their own lenses for many camera mounts.
Lens Contacts
These small metal points on the lens mount allow communication between the lens and the camera body, conveying information like aperture, focus, and stabilisation settings.
Lens Hood
While not part of the lens itself, the lens hood is a crucial accessory. It attaches to the front of the lens and helps prevent lens flare by blocking unwanted light. It also offers some protection to the front element of the lens. Some lenses have these included in the box, while other brands offer them separately for sale.
Filter Thread
Found at the front of the lens, this threaded ring allows for the attachment of various filters which can protect the lens, reduce reflections, or create effects like a shallower depth of field or more saturated skies.
How to Take Care of Your Lenses
Storing Your Camera Lenses
Proper storage of your camera lenses is crucial for maintaining their performance and longevity. Always store your lenses in a cool, dry place to prevent fungal growth and optical degradation. A padded camera bag or a hard case with custom foam inserts is ideal as it protects the lenses from dust, moisture, and physical shocks.
If you're storing lenses for an extended period, consider using silica gel packets to absorb any excess moisture in the air. If you have the cash, a humidity-controlled cabinet is best for keeping moisture in the air low and preventing fungus from growing on your camera gear.
Always keep the lens caps on when not in use to prevent scratches and dust accumulation. For added protection, consider using a lens pouch or wrap, especially when transporting multiple lenses together to prevent them from knocking against each other.
Cleaning Your Camera Lenses
Keeping your lenses clean ensures you get the sharpest images possible. To clean your lens, start by using a blower tool to remove any loose dust or debris. Avoid using your breath as this can introduce moisture and further particles.
After dusting, if there are fingerprints or smudges, use a lens cleaning solution with a microfiber cloth or lens tissue. Apply the solution to the cloth, not directly onto the lens, to avoid excess liquid seeping into the lens elements.
Gently wipe in a circular motion from the centre outwards. For the lens body and hard-to-reach areas, a soft-bristled brush can be used. Never use household cleaning products or abrasive materials as they can damage the lens coatings.
Additionally, clean the lens mount and contacts with a dry cloth to ensure a good connection with your camera. Regular cleaning and proper storage will keep your lenses in top condition. This has 2 bonuses - firstly, you make sure that your lenses are always clean and ready to create amazing images.
Secondly, if you’re a photographer you’ve purchased more than your fair share of 2nd hand gear. Taking care of your gear keeps it in good condition that if you ever wanted to sell it, you could.
Key Points
Investing in the right lenses (or glass, as you may have heard other photographers call them) makes a huge difference to the kind of photography that you want to do. Different lenses have different purposes, and it’s important to choose lenses that suit what you want to do!
Understanding key aspects like focal length, aperture, and the parts that make up a camera lens empowers you to unleash your creative potential. While the technical specifications are important, the best lens is the one that allows you to bring your unique vision to life.
Take care of your lenses with proper storage and cleaning to ensure they continue to help you chase light and take photos that you love. Here's to finding the perfect lens to match your vision and making every shot a story worth telling!
