Lenses

Lenses - that realize photographic vision

Lenses - that realize photographic vision
Photo amateurs and professional photographers alike depend on them: lenses. Single-lens reflex cameras or system cameras impress with an ever-increasing number of continuous shots and with astonishing megapixel numbers. But the factor that is far more essential for a razor-sharp image are the lenses. On photo tours, when flexibility is a great advantage, camera systems with interchangeable lenses show their strengths. The digital SLR and also medium format cameras are defined by the variety of optics on offer. If the photographer decides on a system, i.e. a lens mount, also known as a bayonet, this is a long-term decision. As a rule, camera manufacturers have been using a bayonet for decades, so buying a new lens is an investment for the future.

Numerous setting options and groundbreaking light intensity
There are fixed focal lengths and zoom lenses for mirrorless system cameras and DSLRs. Fixed focal lengths in particular are characterized by their optically superior performance and their light intensity. The light intensity of the lens results from the maximum aperture opening. The faster a lens is, the easier it is to take pictures in the evening or in poor light conditions. The maximum aperture opening also results in the potential for separating people or objects. The advantage of zoom lenses is their flexibility. They cover several focal lengths and are therefore ideal for travel or reportage where the weight of the equipment is an issue. So if you ask yourself which f-stops are good for the lens, you should ask yourself whether a single focal length is sufficient or whether the zoom, with the disadvantage of a smaller open aperture, is the better solution.

Which lens for which type of photography?
If the photographer would like to work on reports or create an image look that is as natural as possible, the so-called normal focal lengths between 35 mm and 50 mm are best suited. If you like to make portraits, you should ask yourself which fixed focal length is suitable for which purpose. In portrait photography, fixed focal lengths in the shorter telephoto range are primarily used. A telephoto of 85mm or 135mm promises a one-time exposure of the subject and helps the photographer to compress the background. If you ask yourself which lens is suitable for sports, animal and street photography, you have to decide primarily on the basis of your own image style. In sports or animal photography, a moving subject is usually photographed at a certain distance. That's why you need a combination of a camera with fast continuous shooting and a fast telephoto lens. An electronic image stabilizer, like the one offered by Canon with IS and Nikon with VR, can't hurt either.

Wide-angle optics - amazing image look and extraordinary architectural shots
A wide angle is always used when space is limited or when you have to work at a close distance from a subject. The super wide-angle range with a focal length of 10 or 8 mm is only surpassed by the so-called fisheye lens, which, however, leaves a strong round vignetting on the image.

Which 50mm lens should I buy?
The 50 mm lens is a must in every photographer's repertoire. Beginners in particular make quick progress with it and the number of such focal lengths is therefore particularly large. Which 50 mm lens is the right one should not be made dependent on accessories such as lens hoods or the filter thread. Rather, the question should first be asked what is the so-called crop factor. This appears when a lens that was actually optically calculated for a full-frame camera is attached to a camera with a smaller sensor. The image section changes depending on the relationship between the two sensors. So if you want to have the classic look of a 50 mm lens on a 35 mm camera on a camera with an APS-C sensor, you are better served with a 35 mm lens due to the crop factor..