Sunday 4 October 2009

Lens Choices

If you want to capture images in more than one style or genre, you need to have the right gear. The first rule of photography is supposed to be that its not the gear, its the artist and their ability to create with a sense of composition, colour, light and timing. All true but the right gear also helps. So lens choice counts when you know what type of images you want to make. You need the optimal focal length and field of capture to suit the style you want. Focal Length and Angle of view of a lens are related, focal length is used to describe a lens. A 35mm f2.0 is a lens with a fixed focal length and a 70 - 200mm f2.8 is a zoom lens. The angle of view or field of view describes the amount of a scene that can be captured by a camera.
This diagram helps describe this. CLICK ON IMAGE FOR A LARGER VIEW
.......... Wide Angle - Normal / Portrait - Macro/Portrait - sport/Nature

Typically, but depending on preference and style a broad selection of lenses and their general use might be;
  • 11-16mm f2.8 Zoom - ULTRA Wide - great for indoor, close up indoor architecture and landscapes.
  • 35mm f2 - Normal Prime - portrait, indoor happy snaps and walk around versatile.
  • 105mm f2.8 - Macro prime - close work for insects, product and detailed close up, also a fantastic portrait lens.
  • 18-200mm f3.5-5.6 - versatile zoom for a wide range of uses but not so fast so low light can be an issue.
  • 70-200mm f2.8 - super zoom - sports and action, great for picking people out at a distance, pro's event lens.
Hmm looks familiar :-)
Photography Genres I'm interested include:
Other genres are Travel, Wedding, Aerial, Black and White, Documentary, Fashion, Forensic, Glamour, Nude, Photojournalism, Still life, Stock, Underwater, Wildlife and more . . .

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