The thing that distinguishes (most) digital SLR cameras from compact cameras is the ability to change lens. Camera lenses can be made for a number of different purposes so it’s important to understand what to look for when buying them. For example, some of the camera lenses available include wide angle, telephoto, macro and fish eye. There is variation in lens quality between manufacturers as well as the need to select the right focal length. You should also think about your budget – second hand camera lenses can often be a good investment if you’re on a tight budget.
Types Of Camera Lens
In general there are three main types of camera lens defined by the focal length.
Standard – A standard lens has a 50mm focal length for a 35mm camera.
Wide Angle – Anything less than 50mm for a 35mm is considered to be wide angle.
Telephoto – Longer than 50mm is a telephoto lens.
A prime lens generally has a single focal length while a zoom lens allows you to adjust the focal length. Prime lenses for sale are usually cheaper.
How To Buy A Camera Lens
Before you begin looking for a camera lens it’s important to understand some of the terminology involved. The most commonly used term is focal length (mm) which measures the distance between the rear part of the lens and the focal plane. The focal plane is where the light beams converge onto a single point. The importance of the focal length is that it affects the viewing angle.
Along with the focal length the aperture of a camera lens is another factor to consider. The aperture in simple terms is how big the lens is and affects how much light can enter. The smaller the aperture number the bigger the aperture size and the more light can enter the lens. A bigger shutter aperture means that you can have a faster shutter speed even when there isn’t much light. Usually the aperture size is measured in f-stops.
It’s also important to find out whether a particular camera lens has image stabilization built in. Unless you’re using a tripod then image stabilization is important especially for zoomed shots. Nikon image stabilization is usually referred to as VR while Canon is IS.
When buying camera lenses it’s a good idea to have some variation in the type of lens in your collection. For example, having a prime, zoom and macro lens is usually a good start. The price of camera lenses for sale can be large so make sure you properly research a particular model before you buy.
Camera Lens Brands
Nikon – Nikon is one of the two major manufacturers of cameras and camera accessories such as lenses. Some of their models include the Nikon 55-200mm Zoom Nikkor lens and the Nikon 70-300mm Nikkor lens. It’s important to make sure your particular lens is compatible with your camera body before you buy.
Canon – Canon are the other of the two main manufacturers of camera products. They produce a wide range of different lenses including Canon telephoto and prime lenses.
Sigma – Sigma lenses are usually of a high quality and hence have a high price attached to them. There are, however, cheap Sigma lenses available such as the Sigma 70-300mm Macro Telephoto lens.
Tamron – Tamron also produce high quality camera lenses for use on a variety of different Canon bodies.