DIFFERENT TYPES OF LENSES FOR DSLR AND MIRRORLESS CAMERAS THAT YOU NEED TO KNOW - Part 2

    For producing great images in photography, role of the lens is significantly greater than that of camera. But in market there so many lens option available from different companies, so that it is little bit confusing for the buyer. That’s why it is very important to get right knowledge about lens types. Regarding this we have already seen ‘types of lenses based on their working’, in last post. (Click here to read it if you haven’t.:- Types of lenses part 1).

    However in this post we will be getting information about ‘lens types based on focal length’. For that, let’s first understand the concept of FOCAL LENGTH. Because of the concave and convex glass elements in lens, light gets concentrated at a single point inside the lens. That point is called as ‘Focal point’ of that lens. And the distance of this point from the camera sensor is called as ‘FOCAL LENGTH’ of that particular lens. 

    Generally this distance or focal length can be anything from 8 mm to 1200 mm. Some lenses even go beyond this range on both the ends. Smaller the number, wider is the field of view of the lens and larger the number, more zoomed in view we get from the lens.  

    Based on focal length, lenses can be generally categorized into 5 types as, Ultra-wide angle / fish eye lens, Wide angle lens, Standard lens, Telephoto lens and Super telephoto lens. Now let’s see these types one by one. 

1. ULTRA-WIDE ANGLE / FISH EYE LENS

    The lenses having focal length between 8 to 16 mm are called as ultra-wide angle lenses. These lenses can give us very wide field of view of the area. In some lenses the view is so wide that, the image which we get is a circular one. Those lenses are called ‘Fish eye lenses’. We can see that in above photo. If you want to see the images of this type of length, click on this link :-  Canon 8-15 mm Fish eye lens

    The front glass element in these lenses is convex and thus sides and corners of photos look warped or distorted. But this is not a problem of lens. This is just science. But to reduce this distortion effect, knowledge of engineering and science is used extensively. 

    Due to the perspective of these lenses, even though some things are nearer to the object in the background, they look like they are further away from it. So, you can get creative with it and get creative and artistic images. 

    Ultra-wide angle lenses are primarily used for landscape photography, architecture/Interior/Real estate photography, creative photography and astro-photography. 

      Links of some of the best ultra-wide angle and fish eye lenses are given below. If you want to see or buy them, check out those links.    

1) Samyang 8mm F3.5 Fish eye lens

2) Samyang 14mm F2.8 Autofocus Lens

3) Samyang 14mm F2.8 manual focus lens

2. WIDE ANGLE LENS

    The lenses with focal length of 16 to 35 mm are called as ‘wide angle’ lenses. In above we can see focal length of 10 to 18 mm. Some of you might think that this is the focal length for ultra-wide lens. It’s true, but this particular lens is designed for APSC-Crop censored cameras. So we have to multiply the focal length values by a ‘Crop factor’ of 1.6. (We will discuss the concept of crop factor in some other post.)  Thus, when mounted to crop censored camera, they behave like a 16 to 29 mm (roughly) lens, instead of 10-18 mm. 

By using wide angle lenses, we can get a wide field of view, but off course less than that of an ultra-wide angle lens. If we place the camera at same location, in same position and take one photo at 10 mm and one 18 mm, the change in field of view can be seen in following photo. 

Such wide angle lenses are used in Landscape photography, Architecture photography, Event photography, Artistic portrait photography and Astro photography. Links of some of the best wide angle lenses are given below. If you want to see or buy them, check out those links.    

1) Canon EF-S 10-18 mm lens

2) Canon 16-35 mm f4 lens

3) Canon 16-35 mm f2.8 lens

   

3. STANDARD LENSES

    The lenses having focal length between 35 mm and 70 mm are called as standard lenses. These lenses produce a field of view, which is closer to our eye’s perspective. That’s why these lenses are used mostly. A 60 mm standard prime lens and a 24-70 mm standard zoom lens is shown in above photo.  

This focal length is available in both prime and zoom lenses types. The famous standard zoom lenses are 24-70 mm, 28-75 mm, 35 mm prime, 50 mm prime, etc. These lenses allow you to do most of the work with them only. You don’t have to frequently change the lenses. 

These standard lenses are mostly used in Event photography, Wedding photography, Product photography, Portrait photography and travel/street photography. 

Links of some of the best standard lenses are given below. If you want to see or buy them, check out those links.    

1) Tamron 24-70 mm f2.8 G2 lens

2) Canon 50 mmm f1.8 lens

3) Canon 24-70 mm f2.8 lens

4. TELEPHOTO LENS

    The lenses in focal length of 70 to 200 mm are called as ‘Telephoto lenses’. As the focal length increases, length of the lenses also increases. Also generally the weight increases with increase focal length. Such telephoto lens of focal length 70 to 200 mm (with lens hood) can be seen in above photo. 

    When we see the view through a telephoto lens, the objects in the background appear closer than they actually are. So a different view or perspective is provided by telephoto lenses. So this can be also in Landscape photography.

    Other than that, telephoto lenses can be used for portrait photography, event photography, sports photography, wildlife photography, etc.

Links of some of the best telephoto lenses are given below. If you want to see or buy them, check out those links.

1)  Canon 85 mm f1.8 lens

2) Tamron 70-200 mm f2.8 Lens

3) Canon 70-300 mm Lens

4) Sigma 135 mm f1.8 lens

5) Canon 300 mm f4 Prime lens

5. SUPER TELEPHOTO LENSES

    Lenses with focal length of more than 300 mm, are known as ‘Super telephoto lenses’. These are heavier and bigger in size than other lenses. We can see such a lens in above photo. These heavier lenses can’t be just attached to the camera and used with the tripod. Because there is a risk of camera mount damage, due to more weight. 

    Thus the come with a tripod collar, which is used to mount the lens itself on the tripod and camera hangs at the back end of the lens. One more point to consider is, normal tripods can’t handle heavier lenses. Thus we have to use heavier and sturdy tripods, which are easy to setup and use. Obviously these types of tripods are not cheap.

    Super telephoto lenses are mostly used for sports photography, wildlife photography and bird photography.           

Links of some of the best super telephoto lenses are given below. If you want to see or buy them, check out those links.

1) Tamron 150-600 mm Lens

2) Canon 400 mm f5.6 Lens

From all this information, now you can understand the real reason of, photography being an expensive art or business. Also, you now have the idea about why you may have to use multiple lenses for any work. 

So, from now on if you see a photographer with multiple lenses, you can relate to the situation and be happy that you also have the knowledge of the same. 

- Prasanna Joshi

        

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‘APERTURE OF THE LENS’

The key to DREAMY portraits and much more. 

Keep smiling & keep clicking.

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