The cameras steal most of the headlines in the photography world. But it’s important to remember a camera is only as good as the lens that goes with it.
Here at Expert Photography, we know how essential lenses are to photography. So to help you get started, we’re going to take a look at the different types of camera lenses. We’ll show you which types of lenses are available and what you’ll use them for.
Camera Lens Basics
Photography is all about light. The camera needs the light from the scene to make an image. And the camera lens channels the light in the right direction, bringing it to the film strip or digital sensor.
The camera lens directs the light and determines how much passes through. This is partly done through the aperture settings. But also, the different types of lenses have a wider or narrower field of view. It means they see more or less of the scene in front of you.
The glass elements direct the light to a single point in front of the camera sensor or film. This is called the focal point. And from the focal point, we can determine the lens’s focal length.
A focal length is the distance between the focal point and the sensor. For a 50mm prime lens, the focal point is 50mm in front of the sensor.
The focal length helps us categorize camera lenses. A lower focal length, like 28mm, gives us a wide angle of view. A higher number, such as 200mm, gives us a narrower angle of view but greater magnification.
Prime and Zoom Lenses
Prime and zoom are both umbrella categories for lenses. The prime or zoom label denotes how the lens functions rather than what lens it is.
A prime lens has a fixed focal length. They have fewer moving parts than zoom lenses, making them lighter and cheaper. And prime lenses often have a wider maximum aperture. The downside is that they’re less versatile, and you might have to change lenses more often.
A zoom lens has a focal length that can vary between a particular range. With an 18-55mm zoom lens, the focal point can be moved anywhere within that range. The higher the number, the further you can zoom.
Zoom lenses are more versatile than primes. They give you more control over the shot without moving your vantage point. But zoom lenses are heavier and sometimes have smaller maximum apertures. And they’re often more expensive.
The Different Types of Camera Lenses
Now we’ll look at the different types of camera lenses you’ll come across in photography. We’ll see what makes each lens type unique. And we’ll find out how and why photographers choose these different lenses.
A standard lens has a focal length between 35mm and 85mm. They’re called standard or normal lenses because they give a field of view similar to the human eye. When we look through the viewfinder of a camera with a standard lens attached, it’s not so different from our normal vision. Prime and zoom standard lenses are both common.
The natural field of vision makes the standard lens a popular choice for many photographers. Standard lenses are common among street photographers, travel photographers, and photojournalists.
These characteristics also make them a suitable lens type for portrait photography. You can use a standard lens for close-cut intimate portraits. Or you can go for full-body fashion photography.
A 50mm prime lens is often called a nifty-fifty. It gets its nickname from being a versatile and reliable lens, popular in many areas of photography. This is also why they’re one of the most common lenses you’ll find.
The focal length of a wide-angle lens is between 14mm and 35mm. They give a wide field of vision, with a more broad scope from side to side. It’s more panoramic than a standard lens, similar to widescreen in cinematography.
Wide-angle lenses are essential for serious landscape photographers. This is because the wide-angle captures large and spacious scenes. The wide-angle stretches the horizon, allowing your camera to view more of the landscape.
A wide-angle lens is also vital equipment for architecture and real-estate photographers. For exterior property photography, they allow you to capture the whole building without moving further and further away. This is equally valuable with interior real-estate photography. You can photograph entire rooms from the inside.
Ultra-Wide-Angle / Fisheye
A lens with a focal length of less than 14mm is called an ultra-wide-angle lens. The field of vision is so wide the picture is bent and curved around the edges. This effect gives it the name of the fisheye lens because it’s like looking through the eye of a fish.
Ultra-wide-angle lenses offer an enormous field of view. But the warping effect means fisheye lenses have a limited appeal with photographers. They’re mainly used for the visual effect in fine art photography. But they are often used with extreme sports like skateboarding and surfing.
A telephoto lens has an incredible level of magnification. They contain many glass elements, which work much like a telescope. A telephoto lens allows the photographer to get close shots of far-away subjects.
There are two subcategories for telephoto lenses. There are short telephotos, with focal lengths between 85mm and 135mm. Then you have the standard telephoto lenses, which have a focal length between 135mm and 300mm.
A telephoto lens gives you excellent magnification, allowing you to shoot far-off objects. But the angle of view is very narrow. And a telephoto zoom lens will have a small maximum aperture.
The magnification quality of a telephoto lens makes them popular with sports and wildlife photographers. A sports photographer can capture action shots without venturing onto the pitch. And wildlife photographers can get intimate images of animals in the wild without scaring them or getting in harm’s way.
A super-telephoto lens has an even greater level of magnification than a standard telephoto. The focal length of a super-telephoto lens is anything above 300mm.
They’re big, heavy, expensive pieces of equipment. You won’t be buying one of these on a whim. But they’re excellent pieces of kit with incredible ingenuity. They have upwards of 10 glass elements, all precisely crafted.
Like the short and standard telephoto lenses, you’ll find them in the kit bags of sports and wildlife photographers. And their telescopic abilities make them ideal for astrophotography. You can capture incredible details of galaxies and nebulae in the night sky.
While telephotos lenses work like a telescope, macro lenses work like a microscope. They allow you to take pictures of things at very close range. You can capture tiny objects with a small minimum focus range.
Unlike the other camera lenses, you can’t categorize a macro lens by the focal length alone. They can have anything between 35mm and 200mm. The macro lens is defined by the ability to focus at a very close range.
Macro lenses are used for extreme close-ups and shots with tiny subjects. They don’t have a wide application, making them a specialist piece of gear. They can be used for portraits, giving an excellent bokeh effect. But this camera lens is mainly used for shooting very small subjects.
Tilt-shift lenses allow you to distort and change the perspective of the shot. You can tilt and shift the lens’s optics in relation to the camera sensor, which manipulates the focal plane.
Tilting the lens gives greater control over the depth of field. It allows you near-infinite depth at the greater end or pin-point focus point at the narrow end.
Shifting the lens controls perspective. This makes tilt-shift lenses ideal for architectural photography when shooting tall buildings. They can make it appear if the building is leaning over or ensure the vertical lines stay vertical.
The perspective control also gives you excellent creative options. For example, you can use a tilt-shift lens when shooting with mirrors. You can take the shot from the side of the mirror but change the perspective so that it looks like it was taken directly in front without the camera in the photo.
Tilt-shift lenses are sophisticated pieces of equipment. And they don’t come cheap. But they are excellent for visual effects and for capturing otherwise impossible shots. Many architecture and real-estate photographers swear by them.
Camera lenses can seem like a confusing topic. It’s easy to get lost in the jargon and specifications. But once you break down the different types of camera lenses, it all comes into focus.
There are prime lenses and zoom lenses. And within those categories, you have standard, wide-angle, and telephoto. For more niche areas of photography, there are super-telephoto, tilt-shift, and macro lenses. And if the names don’t stick, you can often find what you need with the focal length.
I hope you’re now ready to dive further into the world of camera lenses. It’s a vital area of photography. And once you get to grips with your camera lens, your photography will only improve.
Kamera huiba vichwa vingi vya habari katika ulimwengu wa upigaji picha. Lakini ni muhimu kukumbuka kamera ni nzuri tu kama lensi ambayo huenda pamoja nayo. Hapa katika Expert Photography, tunajua jinsi lenses muhimu ni kwa upigaji picha. Kwa hiyo kukusaidia kuanza, sisi ni kwenda kuchukua kuangalia katika aina tofauti ya lenses kamera. Tutakuonyesha ni aina gani za lensi zinazopatikana na ni kwa nini utazitumia. Camera Lens Basics Upigaji picha ni wote kuhusu mwanga. Kamera huhitaji nuru kutoka mahali pa tukio ili kutengeneza picha. Lens ya kamera huelekeza mwanga kwenye njia sahihi na kuufikia kwenye filamu au sensorer ya digital. Lens ya kamera huelekeza nuru na kuamua kiasi kinachopita ndani yake. Hii ni sehemu kufanyika kupitia mipangilio aperture. Lakini pia, aina tofauti-tofauti za lensi zina uwanja wa macho ulio pana au mwembamba zaidi. Inamaanisha kwamba wanaona zaidi au chini ya eneo lililo mbele yako. Vipengele vya kioo huelekeza nuru kwenye sehemu moja mbele ya sensor ya kamera au filamu. Hilo huitwa sehemu ya katikati. Na kutoka kwa uhakika wa focal, tunaweza kuamua lens ya umbali focal. Focal urefu ni umbali kati ya hatua ya focal na sensor. Lens ya 50mm ni lensi ya msingi ambayo inaweka lengo la 50mm mbele ya sensor. Urefu wa mwelekeo hutusaidia kuainisha lensi za kamera. Kwa sababu ya urefu wa focal ya chini, kama vile 28mm, inaonekana vizuri zaidi. Nambari kubwa, kama vile 200mm, inatupa pembe nyembamba ya kuona lakini upanuzi mkubwa. Lens za Prime na Zoom Lens za Prime na Zoom ni makundi yote mawili ya mviringo kwa lensi. Lebo ya msingi au zoom inaonyesha jinsi lensi inafanya kazi badala ya lensi ni nini. Lens ya msingi ina urefu wa fikira uliowekwa. Zina sehemu chache zinazoweza kuhamishwa kuliko lensi za zoom, na hivyo ni nyepesi na za bei nafuu. Lens za kawaida huwa na aperture kubwa. Ubaya wake ni kwamba hazitumiki kwa njia nyingi, na huenda ukalazimika kubadilisha lensi mara nyingi zaidi. Lens ya zoom ina urefu wa focal ambayo inaweza kutofautiana kati ya mbalimbali maalum. Lens ya zoom ya 18-55mm inaweza kuelekeza mwelekeo wa lengo kwa njia ya mstari wa juu. Kadiri nambari inavyokuwa kubwa, ndivyo unavyoweza kupanua. Lens za zoom ni zenye matumizi mengi kuliko lens za msingi. Wao kukupa udhibiti zaidi juu ya risasi bila kuhamisha mtazamo wako. Lakini lensi za zoom ni nzito zaidi na nyakati nyingine huwa na aperture ndogo zaidi. Na mara nyingi ni ghali zaidi. Aina tofauti za lensi za kamera Sasa tutaangalia aina tofauti za lensi za kamera utakazokutana nazo katika upigaji picha. Tutaona nini hufanya kila aina ya lensi kipekee. Na tutajua jinsi na kwa nini wapiga picha huchagua lensi hizi tofauti. Lens ya kawaida ina urefu wa focal kati ya 35mm na 85mm. Zinaitwa lensi za kawaida au za kawaida kwa sababu hutoa uwanja wa kuona unaofanana na jicho la binadamu. Tunapotazama kupitia kioo cha kamera chenye lensi ya kawaida, haitofautiani sana na uwezo wetu wa kuona wa kawaida. Lens za kawaida za zoom na za kawaida za zoom ni zote mbili za kawaida. Lens hiyo ya kawaida ni chaguo maarufu kwa wapiga-picha wengi kwa sababu ya uwezo wake wa kuona. Lens za kawaida ni za kawaida miongoni mwa wapiga picha wa barabarani, wapiga picha wa kusafiri, na waandishi wa habari. Sifa hizo pia huwafanya wawe aina inayofaa ya lensi kwa ajili ya kupiga picha za picha. Unaweza kutumia lensi ya kawaida kwa ajili ya picha za karibu za karibu. Unaweza pia kuchagua picha za mtindo wa mwili mzima. Lens ya 50mm ni moja ya lensi za kawaida za kawaida za kipekee. Linapata jina lake la utani kwa kuwa lensi yenye kutumika kwa njia mbalimbali na yenye kutegemeka, inayopendwa sana katika maeneo mengi ya upigaji picha. Hii pia ni kwa nini wao ni moja ya lensi ya kawaida utapata. Lens ya pembe pana ina urefu wa kati ya 14mm na 35mm. Wao hutoa uwanja mpana wa maono, na upeo mpana zaidi kutoka upande mmoja hadi mwingine. Ni panoramic zaidi kuliko lens kawaida, sawa na widescreen katika cinematography. Lens za pembe pana ni muhimu kwa wapiga-picha wa mandhari wenye bidii. Hii ni kwa sababu pembe pana huchukua mandhari kubwa na zenye nafasi. Pande pana hupanua upeo wa macho, ikiruhusu kamera yako kutazama sehemu kubwa zaidi ya mandhari. Lens ya pembe pana pia ni kifaa muhimu kwa wapiga-picha wa usanifu-ujenzi na wa mali isiyohamishika. Kwa ajili ya picha za nje za mali, zinakuruhusu kupiga picha jengo lote bila kuhamia mbali zaidi na zaidi. Hii ni ya thamani sawa na picha ya ndani ya mali isiyohamishika. Unaweza kupiga picha vyumba vyote kutoka ndani. Ultra-Wide-Angle Fisheye Lens: Lens yenye urefu wa focal chini ya 14mm inaitwa ultra-wide-angle lens. Eneo la kuona ni pana sana hivi kwamba picha imepindika na kupindika kando-kando. Athari hii inatoa jina la lensi ya jicho la samaki kwa sababu ni kama kuangalia kupitia jicho la samaki. Lens za pembe pana sana hutoa uwanja mkubwa wa kuona. Lakini athari ya warping ina maana lenses fisheye kuwa na rufaa mdogo na wapiga picha. Wao ni hasa kutumika kwa ajili ya athari ya kuona katika sanaa nzuri upigaji picha. Lakini mara nyingi hutumiwa katika michezo mikali kama vile kuteleza kwenye ubao wa magurudumu na kuteleza kwenye mawimbi. Lens ya tele ina kiwango cha ajabu cha kuongeza ukubwa. Zina sehemu nyingi za kioo, ambazo hufanya kazi kama darubini-upeo. Lens ya telephoto humruhusu mpiga-picha apate picha za karibu za watu walio mbali. Kuna makundi mawili ya chini kwa ajili ya lenses telephoto. Telephoto ni aina ya picha ya muda mfupi, ambayo ina urefu wa focal kati ya 85mm na 135mm. Lens za tele za kawaida zina urefu wa focal kati ya 135mm na 300mm. Lens ya tele hutoa upanuzi bora, ikikuruhusu kupiga picha vitu vilivyo mbali. Lakini pembe ya kuona ni nyembamba sana. Lens za tele zoom na lens za tele zoom zina uwezo wa kupanua aperture ya kipekee. Ubora wa kuongeza ukubwa wa lensi za tele hufanya ziwe maarufu kwa wapiga-picha wa michezo na wanyama-pori. Mpiga-picha wa michezo aweza kupiga picha za vitendo bila kwenda uwanjani. Na wapiga picha wa wanyama wa porini wanaweza kupata picha za karibu za wanyama katika porini bila kuwaogopesha au kuwa hatarini. Lens ya tele-tele ina kiwango kikubwa zaidi cha kuongeza kuliko tele-tele ya kawaida. Lens ya Super-Telefoto ina urefu wa focal zaidi ya 300mm. Ni vifaa vikubwa, vizito, na vya bei ghali. Huwezi kununua moja ya haya kwa whim. Lakini wao ni vipande bora vya kit na ubunifu wa ajabu. Ina zaidi ya vipengele 10 vya kioo, vyote vilivyotengenezwa kwa usahihi. Kama vile lensi fupi na za kawaida za telephoto, utazipata katika mifuko ya michezo na wapiga picha wa wanyama wa porini. Na uwezo wao wa kutazama mbali unawafanya wawe bora kwa ajili ya upigaji picha wa nyota. Unaweza kukamata maelezo ya ajabu ya magalaksi na nebulae katika anga la usiku. Lens za telephoto hufanya kazi kama darubini-upeo, lens za macro hufanya kazi kama darubini-upeo. Zinakuruhusu kupiga picha za vitu kwa umbali wa karibu sana. Unaweza kukamata vitu vidogo na kiwango kidogo cha kuzingatia. Tofauti na lensi nyingine za kamera, huwezi kuainisha lensi ya macro kwa urefu wa mwelekeo pekee. Inaweza kuwa na urefu wa kati ya 35mm na 200mm. Lens ya macro hufafanuliwa na uwezo wa kukazia fikira katika eneo la karibu sana. Lens za macro hutumiwa kwa ajili ya picha za karibu sana na picha za watu wadogo. Wao hawana matumizi pana, na kuwafanya kipande maalumu ya gear. Zinaweza kutumiwa kwa ajili ya picha za watu, zikitoa athari nzuri sana ya bokeh. Lakini lensi hii ya kamera hutumiwa hasa kwa ajili ya kupiga picha za vitu vidogo sana. Lens za kugeuza mwelekeo hukuruhusu kupotosha na kubadilisha mtazamo wa picha. Unaweza kugeuza na kuhamisha lens's optics kuhusiana na sensor kamera, ambayo manipulates ndege focal. Kuinamisha lensi hutoa udhibiti mkubwa zaidi juu ya kina cha uwanja. Inaweza kupanua kina cha karibu bila kikomo katika mwisho mkubwa au pin-point lengo katika mwisho mwembamba. Kubadili lensi husimamia mtazamo. Hilo hufanya lensi za kugeuza mwelekeo ziwe bora kwa ajili ya kupiga picha za usanifu-ujenzi zinapopigwa picha za majengo marefu. Wanaweza kufanya kuonekana kama jengo ni leaning juu au kuhakikisha mistari wima kukaa wima. Udhibiti wa mtazamo pia hukupa chaguzi bora za ubunifu. Kwa mfano, unaweza kutumia lensi ya kugeuza mwelekeo unapopiga picha kwa kutumia vioo. Unaweza kupiga picha kutoka upande wa kioo lakini kubadilisha mtazamo ili kuonekana kama ilichukuliwa moja kwa moja mbele bila kamera kwenye picha. Lens za kugeuza mwelekeo ni vifaa vya hali ya juu. Na hazipati bei nafuu. Lakini ni bora kwa ajili ya athari za kuona na kwa ajili ya kuchukua picha ambazo vinginevyo haziwezekani. Wapiga-picha wengi wa usanifu-ujenzi na wa mali isiyohamishika huwatumaini. Lens za kamera zaweza kuonekana kuwa habari yenye kutatanisha. Ni rahisi kupotea katika jargon na vipimo. Lakini mara tu unapovunja aina tofauti za lensi za kamera, yote huja katika lengo. Kuna lensi za msingi na lensi za zoom. Na ndani ya makundi hayo, una kiwango, wide-angle, na telephoto. Kwa ajili ya maeneo zaidi ya niche ya upigaji picha, kuna super-telephoto, tilt-shift, na lenses macro. Na kama majina si fimbo, unaweza mara nyingi kupata nini unahitaji na umbali focal. Natumaini sasa uko tayari kupiga mbizi zaidi katika ulimwengu wa lensi za kamera. Ni eneo muhimu la upigaji picha. Na mara tu unapopata ufahamu wa lensi ya kamera yako, upigaji picha wako utaboresha tu.