Shopping for lenses can be pretty intimidating with all the different options. Prime lenses, zoom lenses, macro lenses... what does it all mean?
We've put together a quick guide to help demystify some of your options, so you know what you're looking for on your next shopping trip.
Prime Lenses
Prime Lenses have a fixed focal length that cannot be zoomed in or out. They are oftentimes lightweight, good in low light conditions, and tend to produce sharper images than zooms.
Common Focal Lengths: 35mm | 50mm | 85mm | 135mm
Uses: Weddings | Portraits | Street Photography
Zoom Lenses
Zoom Lenses allows the user to zoom in or out to various focal lengths while maintaining focus. These versatile lenses allow users to stay in one spot which is great for wildlife, sports, and wedding photography.
Common Focal Lengths: 55 - 200mm
Uses: Weddings | Portraits | Wildlife | Sports
Telephoto Zoom Lenses
Telephoto Zoom Lenses are perfect for sports and wildlife photography due it their powerful zoom capabilities allowing you to get close to the action from very far away.
Common Focal Lengths: 100 - 600mm
Uses: Sports | Wildlife | Astronomy
Wide Angle | Ultra-Wide Angle Lenses
Wide Angle and Ultra-Wide Angle Lenses give a wide field of view and good depth of field which makes them a favorite among landscape photographers.
Wide Angle Common Focal Lengths: 24-35mm
Ultra-Wide Angle Common Focal Lengths: 8-24mm
Uses: Landscapes | Interiors | Cityscapes | Abstract | Panoramics
Macro Lenses
Macro Lenses are designed specifically to capture extreme close-ups of small subjects highlighting the subject’s fine details.
Common Focal Lengths: 50 - 200mm
Uses: Macro Photography - Nature | Animals | Jewelry | Abstract
Protective Lens Filters
There's so much more to a protective lens filter than its name: "protective." Whether you're using a protective filter strictly for protection or for UV glare--filters have many unrealized benefits. Keep reading to learn more about filters and how at least one should be in your kit!
