Lens guide

Buying photography equipment for the first time is a daunting task. Useful guides exist to help beginners choose a good camera, but few newcomers realize that the camera itself is only the first of many pieces of equipment necessary to create a full setup for photography. In this guide, I will suggest a complete kit — everything from lens cloths to computer monitors — that will provide a beginner with high quality images (and room to grow) for a price of around 2000 US dollars.

Even if cell phone cameras keep improving and reach unimaginable levels of image quality, I’ll always carry around a larger, heavier, and more complex camera. Why is that? One word: lenses! An interchangeable lens camera opens up a vast world of photographic visions through a huge variety of optics. Choosing among the dozens and even hundreds of lenses can be confusing and intimidating, so in this beginner’s guide, I’ll explain the types of lenses available and what you should buy.

Today, we’re going to cover the first of our basic skills which is lens choice and what does “focal length” mean in photography. The focal length is usually stated on the side of your camera lens. If you got a lens bundled in with your camera, it’s probably going to be something like an 18-55mm or a 24-105mm. The numbers refer to the distance between the lens and the image sensor when your subject is in focus.

Ever wondered which lenses to get if you've just jumped into the Canon system? Today's photography cheat sheet will give you an idea.

A camera is only as good as the lens that goes with it. So we'll explain everything about the different types of camera lenses, and why and when to use which!

Lenses