HOW TO CHOOSE LENSES

Don’t pair your new camera with the wrong lens. Here’s a primer into the different optics to look into…

The first lens you’re likely to own is the standard kit lens that comes bundled with your camera. This as an okay ‘starter’ that’s designed for some level of versatility, but it doesn’t go beyond that. So what do you need? It may sound obvious, but different lenses are suited to different subjects and situations. We won’t recommend specifics here, because that will depend on your choice of camera, but we can tell you what to look out for.

Starting with wildlife shots, you’ll need a long lens with a wide aperture, such as a 300mm f/2.8 prime lens. This is ideal because it’s fast and will compress the background behind your subject, as well as any distracting elements around it. If you enjoy capturing birds or smaller creatures, you could couple a telephoto lens with 1.4x or 2x converter to reach a magnified focal length.

If you’re into landscape photography, you’ll know that great shots convey the scale and grandeur of the great outdoors. An ultra wide-angle lens such as a 14mm will add drama and manipulate perspective, but you might find it limiting. A more flexible focal length, such as a 17-40mm f/4, will allow you to capture a greater variety of scenery. If you’re a keen traveller, this is also a versatile companion.

For pro-style portraits (and weddings) the best tool is a prime lens with a wide aperture, tailored for the space you’ve got to work with. Outdoors in wide areas, a focal length of 85mm is optimum, but in tighter spaces you’ll want a shorter focal length such as 50mm. A wide aperture of f/2.8 or more will generate portraits with dreamy background blur, and also give you better performance in low light.

If bugs are your bag, and you want to photograph close-up subjects like flowers and insects, then the obvious choice is a macro lens. These come in a range of focal lengths; if you know that your subject is flighty or fidgety, go for the longest possible option your budget will allow. You can go further away from your subject with a 100mm lens than a 50mm one.