Since they are right in the mid-point of focal ranges, there’s very little distortion or magnification in your image. The lens elements on a nifty fifty are usually made of affordable materials and are known for their ability to interpret images in a similar way as the human eye. Nifty fifty is a nickname for a 50mm lens that has a wide aperture. “If you're shooting street photography, you might want to shoot with a fixed lens that’s around 35mm, which is on the higher end of wide.” “If you shoot landscapes, a variable wide-angle lens would support that type of photography,” says photographer Pablo Diaz. “And if you’re very far away from your subject, like in bird photography, you’ll want a telephoto.”Īt the low end of the focal range spectrum are wide-angle lenses, typically 12mm to 35mm. Are you taking pictures of people? Then you’ll want a medium range,” says Kriesel. “Do you like to take pictures of landscapes? Then you’re going to need a wide-angle lens to fit everything in.
Those are wide angle, medium, and telephoto,” says photographer Wes Kriesel. “Focal length can be broken down into three categories for the beginner. Whether you use film cameras, DSLR cameras, or mirrorless cameras, you will encounter a similar range of available focal lengths in your lenses. Your lens will also determine your focal range, or what parts of your scene can be in focus in your image. The lower the focal length of your lens, the wider its field of view - shorter focal lengths capture more wide-angle scenes. And your lens decision will mostly hinge on focal length.
The right lens for you depends on what type of photography you want to shoot. But if you’re just starting out, you can experiment with the kit lens first, and then invest in a higher-quality lens with a more specific purpose.
Photographers who know what they want can purchase a camera body on its own and then choose their desired lens. You likely won’t be able to achieve certain effects like a shallow depth of field with a variable kit lens, as their apertures (measured in f-stop numbers) are usually on the higher end. They are typically affordable zoom lenses that offer versatility to beginners. Some lenses are “fixed” (also known as prime lenses) and have a single focal length, while others are “variable” (also known as zoom lenses) and can adjust to different focal lengths.Ĭamera bodies are often sold in combination with a lens. Focal length is measured in millimeters (the magnification capability of the lens) and determines how much of a scene is visible in your viewfinder.
CAMERA LENS DISTORTION GRID PROFESSIONAL
All professional camera brands, such as Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Sigma, offer similar arrays of lenses that you can swap out.Įach interchangeable lens has a different focal length, which is good for different types of photography projects. But if you dip your toe into more advanced photography, you will likely work with a camera that has an interchangeable lens system. Some cameras, like the one on your phone, have a fixed lens that cannot be removed.