The only thing I don't really know when buying a new camera, is the lens. There is plenty of lens out there for SLR's and I don't know which one to buy. I think you're suppose to buy the same brand lens as your camera but I'm not sure about the size and etc.
Can anyone explain what do I need to look for when buying lens? I'm new to it. Thank you!! Hello. The reason you get different lenses is because each kind of lens is much more specialized as to what it can do so as to perform better, versus a point and shoot lens which is designed to do a lot of different things in an acceptable, but not necessarily outstanding way.
So, what do you look for when buying a lens? Well, price always matters, but I'll ignore that for the moment. Instead ask yourself:
1) What kind of photography do I want to do and what kinds of photography do I do the most?
--examples of answers: photos of people, landscapes, pets, close-up shots (macros), weddings, sports shooting, long distance shots, travel/vacation, etc.
Then ask yourself 2) what can I afford.
The answer to #1 will determine what kind of lens you should start off with. For example if you do landscapes, you'll probably want a wide angle lens, while if you do portraits/photos of people, you'll want more of a "normal to telephoto" kind of lens.
Okay, so there's two basic variables to look at in lenses. One is known as "maximum aperture" or how much light will the lens let in when the aperture is wide open. Better, more expensive lenses have a wider maximum aperture, usually f/2.8 or better (in this case a smaller number is better). Less expensive, more consumer oriented lenses will have a less wide maximum aperture (like f/4, f/5.6, etc.).
The other variable is known as "focal length" or for a zoom, the range of focal lengths. Focal length, among other things, helps determine the field of view, from wide angle to telephoto, based on the millimeter rating on the lens. For example an 18-55mm lens goes from wide angle to a very mild telephoto field of view. So you'd think that a lens that goes from 18mm to 200mm would be a good lens to have because you could see from wide angle to a long telephoto field of view....except that the more zoom you put on a lens, the more optical compromises that have to be made to achieve that huge range, which compromises quality somewhat.
Focal lengths ranges for digital often can be looked at this way (and this is just my view; others may disagree somewhat):
-less than 24mm = wide angle (good for landscapes)
24mm to 35mm = normal (all around shooting)
50mm to 85mm= mild telephoto/portraits
above 85mm = telephoto/portraits/sports/birds
Generally, the standard lens on a digital SLR these days is something like an 18-55mm or 18-70mm zoom. That gives you from wide angle to mild telephoto--a very useful range.
You can increase the usefulness of your lens by getting a lens with a bigger maximum aperture, so for example an 18-50mm f/2.8 lens would be better than the kit lens, especially in low light or for portraits.
Now, as for saving money....look at third party alternatives to the original equipment lenses. Examples of reputable third party lenses include Sigma, Tamron, and Tokina lenses.
Remember: the basic things to look at are focal length(s) and maximum aperture. Then look at price, fit/finish/quality. And feel free to test the lenses on your camera at the store! Quality can vary from lens to lens.
Message me if you need more information. First of all, unless you are an experienced photographer, you will be frustrated using a DSLR because they require a much higher level of experience, education and skills.
If you really want to pursue this, start with a 35mm SLR and take some classes at your local community college.
Later, if you want to go digital, buy a camera body that matches the lenses you bought for your 35mm. Nikon and Canon are the ones the Pros use. Most major manufacturers package the 18-55 lens in a kit with their popular bodies. The reason for this is that most photographers find this to be the most useful size.
Just stick to the "kit" lens for a month or more before you decide which direction you want to go with future lens purchases.
SLR's ALLOW you to change lenses, but they do not REQUIRE it. You might find that the 18-55 is all you really need. It's the best place to start in the digital world.
For instance, see this page http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d40.htm where Rockwell says that the 18-55 is a "little jewel of a lens" and his "favorite mid-range zoom other than [the] 18-200."
See more of his praise on: http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/18-55-i... |
