Basic Information About Camera Lenses

As there is no one cameras that can fulfill all type of shooting situation, same goes to camera lenses. Each camera lens has its own characteristics and element with distinct advantage and disadvantage over others. By learning more about how camera lenses differentiate over each other, we get to know how to apply the right camera lens according the situation and demands.

It used to be that most 35mm SLR cameras (equivalent to the full frame format for Digital SLR) in the market come together with a 'standard lens'. Standard lens here refer to a lens with focal length of 50mm and this is the format that most people regards roughly as what we normally see with our own eye. As such, 50mm is still a very popular lens among all photographers. Normally 50mm camera lens has a maximum aperture of f1.8. There are also faster lens with maximum aperture of f1.4 and even f1.2. These fast lenses prove to bring better quality and much more useful though it all comes with much expensive price.

A thing that must take note of is that all SLR/DSLR cameras have interchangeable lenses. Changing of lenses can be done easily and is differentiated by the mount of the camera. The most popular mount for most cameras used today is the bayonet mount. In order to change lens in a bayonet mount, for taking out lens, press on a switch nearby to the mount then simply turn the lens 45 degree in a clockwise direction; for inserting another lens, simply align the lens accordingly to the marking on the camera body and camera lens and turn the lens in 45 degree anti clockwise.

The ability of changing lenses in SLR/DSLR is properly one of the biggest reasons behind the creativity and vast usability in photography compare to other cameras. Thus, a camera with a standard lens would not be able to allow you in using the camera to its fullest. Generally, most photographers will consider getting or must get another two lenses in the category of wide angle lens and telephoto lens.

What is wide angle lens? Wide angle lens usually cover in the focal range of 28mm to 35mm for full frame format. It will generally provide a wide angle view of what you see. As more area in front of the camera will be captured into the photo, it is widely use in landscape photography. Using wide angle lens, photographers generally has better control over the composition of the photo as the photographed subject can be really near to the photographer while at the same time the background can be kept in focus.