How to choose which camera lens to buy?

Whether you are an amateur or a professional photographer, you have certainly faced the question of how to choose which camera lens to buy. When choosing a photo lens, you need to consider four essential things: focal length, maximal aperture, stabilization, and the focusing speed.

How to choose which camera lens to buy according to the focal length

Generally, there are two categories of focal length:

The focal length is basically the distance between the optical center of the lens and the focal spot of the image. It is always expressed in millimeters.

In order to know the focal length and find out whether it is fixed or variable, take a look at the figures marked in millimeters on the lens you want to buy. With variable focal length, you will have to look at the first and last digits; for example, 24-105 mm.

You can also opt for a fixed lens that offers better quality and is lighter. It will not let you zoom in or out, but it will allow you to take beautiful portraits.

How to choose which camera lens to buy according to the aperture

As with focal length, the aperture can also either be variable or fixed. The aperture is the opening of the lens from where light enters the camera. The aperture figures are also marked on the lens or at its ring. Generally, on entry-level lenses, the opening figure is represented by two digits, e.g., 1:3.5-5.6. This means that the lens has a maximal aperture of 3.5 for zooming in and 5.6 for zooming out. The lower the number, the brighter the lens. A light lens serves two purposes: Firstly, it allows more light to enter the lens, which is a significant advantage for photographing indoors. Secondly, it makes background blurring easier. The lower the number, the more easily you will get background blur. High-end variable focal length lenses offer constant opening regardless of the focal length used. It is complex and expensive technology, but it gives the photographer a great deal of flexibility. If you have sufficient financial means, then it is preferable to acquire this type of lens.

Choose your lens based on the image stabilizer

Which camera lens to buy: The stabilizer of a lens allows us to stabilize micro movements and capture clearer photos. With this indication, you can determine which lens to choose for gaining stability, especially if you do not often use a tripod. You can tell if a stabilizer is present on your lens through the abbreviations: VR (Vibration Reduction) on Nikon, IS (Image Stabilizer) on Canon, VC (Vibration Compensation) on Tamron, and OS (Optical Stabilizer) on Sigma lenses.

Choose your lens based on focus

Each lens has a certain focal distance, and it is not possible to focus below this distance. The more focused image that a lens can take, the better it is.You should consider the Autofocus (AF) system when choosing the lens because it automatically allows you to capture focused images with ease. When deciding on which lens to choose, you should prefer a lens with ultrasonic motor autofocus because it offers a fast and quiet focus.

Choose which camera lens to buy according to the intended use

Which lens to choose: a wide-angle, a 50 mm, or a telephoto lens? This depends on the use you intend to make of it, in general:

The wide-angle lens is suitable for photojournalism, photos of nature, landscape photography, concerts, etc.
An 85 mm is suitable for portraits, close-ups, etc.
A zoom telephoto lens is versatile for sports, animals, shows, etc.
A fixed telephoto lens has a higher quality zoom, but is less flexible in use.
A Fisheye lens is for creativity.
A 50 mm lens is suitable for portraits, studio photography, etc.
A standard zoom is a versatile all-purpose lens.
An off-center lens is for architectural photography.
A macro lens is suitable for photography that is close to the subject.

Now you know which camera lens to buy.

Please give us your opinion, and also share your experience in the comments.

How to choose which camera lens to buy?

How to choose which camera lens to buy according to the focal length

How to choose which camera lens to buy according to the aperture

Choose your lens based on the image stabilizer

Choose your lens based on focus

Choose which camera lens to buy according to the intended use

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