Choosing the right interchangeable lens for your digital camera will depend on several factors, including what you’re photographing. If you’re serious about photography, you will need to invest in a high-quality lens or two. Learn about several different options below.

A Guide to Selecting Digital Camera Lenses

How to Begin?

To find the right lens, you will first need to determine the type of photography you intend to do. If you want to shoot landscapes, it will require a different type of lens than if you’re shooting portraits or close-up shots of butterflies. The larger your collection of lenses, the more types of photographic images you will be able to take.

Among all brands, the main differences among lens options are the focal length and the field of view. Focal length is represented in millimeters (mm) and calculates the optical distance at which the lens begins to focus. A 35mm focal length is standard because it imitates the human eye’s line of sight. The field of view is the area of the lens that is visible through the camera frame. If you take photography classes, you can learn more about how to use your lens.

How to Pick a Lens Type

A fixed lens is often used for portrait photography because it has a wider maximum aperture and produces high-quality images. It has a set focal length; 35 mm and 50mm are the most common fixed lenses. They lack zoom capability and are very simple to use.  A zoom lens, on the other hand, can be adjusted to take shots at a varied range of focal lengths commonly between 18mm to 200mm. Using a long zoom lens requires a tripod if you want to prevent blurry images.

Another option is the telephoto lens, which has powerful magnifying capabilities. You can capture subjects from a great distance while making it appear as though they were shot in front of you. A telephoto lens is perfect for wildlife and sports photography or any other application that requires distance shooting.

Let the experts at The Shutterbug in Portland, OR, help you select the perfect lenses for your digital camera. This family-owned and -operated camera store features a wide range of new and pre-owned cameras, including some of the industry’s top brands like Canon® and Nikon® cameras. Call (503) 227-3456 to speak with a representative or visit them online to learn more about their products and services.