| When it comes to dslr photography sometimes things | | | | used for nightclub photography where there's not |
| can get a little complicated, this is especially true | | | | too much room to move around. If money is no |
| when it comes to making the first purchase after | | | | object then the Canon 16-35mm 2.8 lens is an |
| your kit lens. Do you choose a zoom lens, a wide | | | | excellent choice which retails for around £1200. |
| angle lens, a prime lens or even a fixed aperture | | | | However if money is an object then the Tamron |
| lens? Well don't worry yourself to much because this | | | | 17-50mm 2.8 lens is an excellent alternative. The |
| article is here to help you. | | | | Tamron lacks the build quality of the canon and also |
| Zoom Vs Prime | | | | the autofocus speed, however I personally own this |
| A zoom lens will allow the photographer to zoom | | | | lens and the image quality is excellent. The Tamron |
| which isn't to surprising. The advantage of a zoom | | | | can be picked up online for around £300-£400. |
| lens is the ability to zoom in and out on your subject | | | | Medium Range lenses |
| to create the perfect composition. Zoom lenses are | | | | A medium range is not too short and not too long; |
| favoured by most photographers because of this | | | | it's in the middle, hence the name medium. Medium |
| function, however zoom lenses usually have higher | | | | range lenses are excellent for portraits, model shoots |
| f-stops than prime lenses, and this means that they | | | | and even wedding photography. The best lens in this |
| usually leave less light into a photo which will affect | | | | range is the Canon 24-70 2.8 which is a favourite lens |
| the shutter speed being used. | | | | among many professional photographers. The canon |
| A prime lens on the other hand doesn't allow you to | | | | 24-70 is an excellent lens that has an excellent build |
| zoom at all, your limited to one focal length. You may | | | | quality, however the lens is very heavy and is very |
| think this sounds rubbish, however there are many | | | | expensive, however if your thinking of shooting |
| advantages to using a prime lens over a zoom. First | | | | weddings then this is a must have bit of kit. |
| of all prime lenses usually have lower aperture values | | | | An excellent alternative is the sigma 24-70 2.8. The |
| and some of them go right down to f1.2 this means | | | | sigma offers the same focal length while being a lot |
| that a lot of light can enter the camera lens this is | | | | cheaper. The image quality one again on the sigma is |
| especially useful for low light situations. | | | | excellent, however some owners have experienced |
| Fixed aperture or non fixed | | | | focusing problems, this can be fixed by sigma but it is |
| The f stop numbers were briefly discussed above, | | | | worth mentioning just in case you do get this lens. |
| but just in case you didn't understand let me explain | | | | Telephoto Zooms |
| in a little more detail. The lower the F-stop the more | | | | If you're looking to shoot wildlife, sports or even |
| light can get into your camera while the higher the f | | | | glamour photography then a telephoto lens is |
| stop the least amount of light can enter, both ranges | | | | something you will want to invest in. Generally these |
| have their uses. | | | | types of lenses are very expensive but when we |
| Some lenses for example the canon 70-200mm 2.8 | | | | are talking about photography most things are. If |
| has a fixed value of 2.8 through its entire zoom | | | | money is no object then you will want to get the |
| range, this means that a constant aperture can be | | | | canon 70-200mm 2.8 telephoto lens. |
| achieved through out. This is very useful when | | | | The canon 70-200 2.8 is an expensive lens used by |
| shooting studio photography for the simple reason | | | | most pro photographers, it offers an impressive |
| that the aperture controls the power of the flash, if | | | | autofocus system and excellent build quality but once |
| the aperture of the lens was to change for example | | | | again this lens is pretty heavy. If you don't need the |
| the canon 18-55mm 3.5 to 5.6 then the strength of | | | | quickness of the 2.8 then you could go for the canon |
| the flash would constantly change giving you | | | | 70-200mm f4 lens. This lens isn't as heavy and |
| inconsistent results. If you can afford a lens with a | | | | creates sharper images in my opinion than the 2.8. |
| constant aperture get it. | | | | If both of the above lenses are too expensive then |
| Image Stabilisation | | | | a good alternative is the sigma 70-200 2.8 lens, it's a |
| Some lenses and some camera bodies such as the | | | | fast lens with excellent image quality and is more |
| Sony Alpha A350 have built in image stabilisation. | | | | affordable than the above two lenses. |
| Image stabilisation allows you to a certain degree to | | | | Other lenses |
| shoot at lower shutter speeds without motion blur. | | | | There are many other types of lenses which include |
| Image Stabilisation is useful in certain situations but it | | | | macro, tilt and shift, fish eye and many more; |
| can also be a waste of money. If your shooting fast | | | | however as a beginner you will more than likely only |
| moving images then chances are you won't need | | | | be interested in the lens types mentioned above. |
| image stabilisation, the same applies if you use a | | | | Choosing your lens |
| tripod. | | | | Overall choosing a lens doesn't have to be a difficult |
| Different focal lengths | | | | experience. To help you choose simply think of what |
| There are also focal lengths that you will need to | | | | you will be using your camera for, will it be for wildlife |
| take into account when purchasing a new lens. If you | | | | pictures, sports, portraits or even close up |
| shoot nightclub photography or wildlife photography | | | | photography, and this can then help you choose the |
| then chances are you will need something wider than | | | | required lens. If you can afford a fixed aperture lens |
| 50mm. So below I will explain the best type of lens | | | | then go for it, I would also recommend getting the |
| for different situations. | | | | lowest aperture that you can afford, not only will this |
| Wide angle lenses | | | | leave in more light but it will also give your images |
| As discussed above wide angle lenses are mostly | | | | the blurry background effect that you see on most |
| used for landscape photography but they can also be | | | | professional photographs. |