I’ll keep this basic so you have just enough information to understand a little about how lenses work. What the are: The kit lens your DSLR or interchangeable lens mirrorless camera came with is probably an example of a standard zoom lens, covering a focal range of around 35-70 mm. Here’s a quick guide for buying your first camera lens. How to choose the right camera lens? Part of Digital SLR Photography All-in-One For Dummies Cheat Sheet . A wide angle lens is pretty self-explanatory, as wide angle lenses allows you to gain a wider field of view. The Sony a7 IV Will Launch in 2021, With a 30+ MP Sensor and 4K/60p Recording Insta360 One R Review: An Action Camera With a Twist Canon's Exciting New RF Lenses: The 70-200mm f/4 and 50mm f/1.8 NiSi Filter System Review (For Fujifilm X100 Cameras) … The only lighting in this shot is the moon. Popular Digital Cameras and Gear; Popular Lenses; Popular DSLRs; Popular Compact System Cameras; Smartphone Photography; Most Recent. For example, one of my favorite lenses is the Nikon 20mm f/1.8G. Knowing what types of lenses there are and what they do will help you choose the right lenses for the type of photography you want to pursue. There’s no real reason to learn the full theory behind lenses when you’re a beginner – you can take it in overtime. For a lot of people, just the process of narrowing down the selection to a handful of options is stressful enough, particularly when you start to consider third-party options at a cheaper price. The largest aperture it offers is f/1.8. Since people care so much about maximum aperture, camera manufacturers decided to include that number in the name of the lens. No single lens works for everyone, as each photographer has his own unique needs. I took this photo at f/1.8 with the Nikon 20mm f/1.8 lens. Part of Digital Photography Workbook For Dummies Cheat Sheet . What works for one may not work for another. Choosing a lens is a different game to choosing a camera, and it’s complicated by the fact that two lenses often appear the same on paper but vary in price considerably. Lenses are an important part of digital SLR photography. The first camera took around 8 hours to take the first photo, and the image was still blurry. Camera Lenses Explained for Dummies – How They Work. So know your photography requirements first before you look for a lens. Wide-Angle Lenses . Get comfortable with your digital camera by learning some digital photography lingo and tips that will help you with lighting, portraits, and depth of field so you’re off and shooting great digital photos. ISO: The camera’s sensitivity to light. This camera lens type has typically a higher maximum aperture, meaning many of these lenses won’t go below f/2.8 (creating less compression/bokeh).